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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be down that my whole life will be spent 'caring'

221 replies

AnuSTart · 16/10/2022 20:44

In as small a nutshell as I can manage;

I'm 50. It'll be 10 years before my youngest leaves home (at the very minimum). My DPs parents are in early 70s and not in good health. His expectation is that we move in with them in next 5-10 years and will look after them as they did with his grandparents. In same house no less.
I've just realised that I've spent my whole adult life caring for others (was a mum at 21) and will continue until I'm too old to do anything else- assuming we look after his parents.
It makes me utterly down.
I have siblings who will bear the brunt of my parents' old age and I very selfishly I realise now, always lives far away (my parents were very bad to me and I felt -and feel- no guilt for this). I admire the dedication of my partner and his sense of duty towards his parents but my relationship with them is hard often on a very simplistic level it feels like my raison d'être in my 60s will be to serve them. I am aware that this has been the lot of women for hundreds of years and it makes me angry.
I know this is superficial in many ways but I'm sad. Aibu? I need to suck it up. I know. They have that expectation but I do know that it messed with the mind and happiness of my mother-in-law yet she expects me to downgrade she did in the 80s!

OP posts:
MermaidMummy06 · 17/10/2022 01:48

You have always had, and still have choices. When MIL passed it was suggested FIL move in with us. DH said it was a good idea, even started looking at larger & dual living homes, forgetting I've been clear for years I'd never live with IL's (all have been very abusive towards me & make me very uncomfortable).

Instead of telling DH how it affected me, I pointed out how it negatively affected DH's life. Said I wasn't doing more caring on top of DC, so DH would have to manage caring while still working, since we'd be working longer to pay a bigger mortgage off if we moved (DH can't wait to retire). Also he'd have to cut back his beloved hobby, as I wasn't sitting at home doing even more washing, housework, caring etc., while DH swanned off for every event. He changed his mind very quickly and now supports FIL to look after himself (he's perfectly capable) and admits when FIL can't look after himself it'll be helpers or a home.

Men don't think about how much work it is, just pride and 'responsibility'. Once hit with the reality that THEY'LL be the one wiping arses and sitting in doctor's offices, grocery shopping, etc. and not their wife, they often change their minds very quickly and find a more suitable model of care. DH had to do some of this when his DM was ill, yet forgot, until reminded how unpleasant it is. I suggest your DH goes for a holiday to visit on his own and see how dull and draining a life it is.

If he insists, compromise. Let him live close by (not in same house) and stay home to do the caring and find friends or go on your own and go off and enjoy your travels. DO NOT concede your life to caring for them.

NumberTheory · 17/10/2022 01:52

Just want to add another voice telling you to put yourself first.

I would start by simply telling your DH what you’ve said here - that the thought of your whole active life being dedicated to caring for others fills you with horror and sadness.

Maybe suggest that he needs to consider the fact you just aren’t going to be doing it and that in 10 years time when your youngest is an adult you intend to go traveling/join a circus/whatever. That there is no way you will be moving 400km away to somewhere you don’t really know unless it is your dream retirement location (point out his parent’s house is not a dream retirement location. That there is room for compromise and helping each other achieve dreams, but you won’t be doing so at the cost of your soul.

AntimemeticsDivision · 17/10/2022 02:06

You chose to have a child at 21 and 42.

They were your choices.

I'm the same age as you and the thought of having an eight-year-old is pretty overwhelming.

You chose that.

Re your DP's parents, I'm not sure why you're seeing that as your problem. It's not. Put a lid on that immediately.

HoppingPavlova · 17/10/2022 02:06

Why are you looking at this as a done deal with you having no choice? Just tell your DH that you will not be doing this and if they need care then they will need to go to a home/home care package etc. You are in no way obligated here.

GingerScallop · 17/10/2022 02:46

mydogisthebest · 16/10/2022 22:19

You chose to have children and you also chose to have more than one with a big age gap. Not a very wise choice and now you regret it.

How much do you reckon it would cost you to be kind to a person feeling down? And if you can't afford it, walk on by. But I guess that smug feeling, hey? When we press the heel on someone already feeling down

TheOnlyBeeInYourBonnet · 17/10/2022 03:13

It's 5-10 years away and completely hypothetical!

In your situation I'd put it out of mind for now. Enjoy life, build your independent wealth and social life so IF you are ever asked to do this you are in a good position to say no.

IF it happens... they may die suddenly. Heck, your DP might die or leave you. They may be fighting fit and independent until death. They might get sick and need residential medical care. Something might change in your life that makes you more inclined to agree. You just never know, you can stop worrying just yet!

greenteafiend · 17/10/2022 03:16

Instead of telling DH how it affected me, I pointed out how it negatively affected DH's life. Said I wasn't doing more caring on top of DC, so DH would have to manage caring while still working, since we'd be working longer to pay a bigger mortgage off if we moved (DH can't wait to retire). Also he'd have to cut back his beloved hobby, as I wasn't sitting at home doing even more washing, housework, caring etc., while DH swanned off for every event. He changed his mind very quickly and now supports FIL to look after himself (he's perfectly capable) and admits when FIL can't look after himself it'll be helpers or a home.

This.

OP, tell your partner (I notice you say partner not husband so it looks like he isn't even legally married to you, even while he assumes that you are there to be his parents' care plan) he is welcome to look after his parents in person if he wants to, and list up for him exactly what will be involved. He'll change his mind very quickly once it becomes obvious that Dear Girlfriend isn't going to be the family's unpaid drudge.

missmamiecuddleduck · 17/10/2022 03:44

I'd run far far away before I'd look after inlaws.

starrynight21 · 17/10/2022 04:13

You need to stop being so defeatist. Your 8 year old won't need "care" for 10 years, you know that. And your partner's parents may not need care either . Even if they do, it doesn't have to be you that gives the care. You live far away - I'd be looking at community care for them in the future, not just assuming that you'll be the carer.

Weatherwax13 · 17/10/2022 05:11

Set expectations now so everyone knows that you will simply not be doing this and can plan accordingly.

DeannaFromHumanResources · 17/10/2022 06:09

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 16/10/2022 22:35

Why didn’t FIL go to the doctor?

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet 92, stubborn and like most of his ailments in the last few years of his life he only disclosed what he wanted to.

Bramblejoos · 17/10/2022 06:25

I don't think I know anyone who moved in with DPs or ILs. I'm 70 now.
What are the finances like?

In the next 10 years anything could happen - I would think, as the ILs have poor health now, that the decision regarding care homes etc will have been made before DS leaves home.

speakout · 17/10/2022 06:45

Caring roles vary enormously.
I am a carer for my adult son and elderly rmother ( who both live with me)
In practice neither need much hands on caring.
They would struggle alone in paying bills, keeping a roof over their heads, but don't need washing or personal care. I do cook to some extent, maybe three meals a week, and always home made soup on the go- otherwise they graze , there is always bread, fruit, a full fridge of meats, cheese, salad, ready meals.
They are welcome to cook, but neither do.
Although I am technically a carer, I prioritise my own needs.
I attend 5 yoga classes a week, meet friends, have other hobbies and run a small business working almost full time from home.
I appreciate not all caring roles are like this, but some are.

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 17/10/2022 06:47

I’ve either been or worked with carers all my life (I’m 68) and I know all too well what it can do to people and their lives. Whilst for some it’s not a chore that isn’t the case for many.
My DH didn’t go anywhere near his parents when they needed practical care 🤬, it all fell on his sisters and me. He’s utterly useless when it comes to practical help for someone who’s ill.
There’s no way I’m expecting our DCs to care for us when that need arises, I’d rather pay out every penny I own than expect them to become carers.

Redkettle · 17/10/2022 07:19

I'm shocked at some of these posts. If my husband wanted to look after his elderly parent and it meant a lot to him I would do what I could to chip in and help as he would (and has) with mine. The put them in a home comment seemed heartless .

User112 · 17/10/2022 07:29

Are you Indian/Asian ? Is this a cultural expectation?

As an alternative, can they move closer to you so your husband can “supervise” outsourced care?

User112 · 17/10/2022 07:33

Being old, vulnerable and alone can be very scary. Please be kind to them (especially if they were nice to you). Make it clear to your husband though that HE will be doing all the caring and not you. You can perhaps support by picking up his share of the housework (in your house) when he goes to help his parents.

They must be the ones moving - not you.

deathofthesnark · 17/10/2022 07:35

Cuppasoupmonster · 16/10/2022 20:55

His sense of duty towards his parents?! He won’t be the one wiping their arses and cooking the meals. Just say no for fucks sake.

And if he wants them to live with you, then he has to be the carer

Brefugee · 17/10/2022 07:36

I'm shocked at some of these posts. If my husband wanted to look after his elderly parent and it meant a lot to him I would do what I could to chip in and help as he would (and has) with mine. The put them in a home comment seemed heartless .

people have different lives to you! What a shocking revelation.

OP, in your shoes i would wait until the next time he mentions it and then just say: nope, that's not in my plans for my future. If he insists, do as pp did and point out the reality of caring for an aging parent. And reiterate that it is not your plan for your future.
Push comes to shove? he can do it, you can do what the heck you like: it won't be as if you hadn't warned him

User112 · 17/10/2022 07:39

Having said that, Please make it CLEAR to your partner that he’ll be the one doing everything for his parents. Don’t be tempted to chip in - it’ll slowly get offloaded to you.

User112 · 17/10/2022 07:40

deathofthesnark · 17/10/2022 07:35

And if he wants them to live with you, then he has to be the carer

This. And don’t move them in! Move them closer to you.

Comedycook · 17/10/2022 08:08

I'm shocked at some of these posts. If my husband wanted to look after his elderly parent and it meant a lot to him I would do what I could to chip in

I'd rather leave my DH than look after my in laws.

perseverence · 17/10/2022 08:26

It's a difficult one. I can totally understand you feeling overwhelmed at the thought of it.

Lots of people refer to the 'sandwich generation' - meaning 'older' mums also having other caring responsiblities.

There comes a point where you have to realistically look at what personal (and financial) resources you have. And also what you can sustain in the long term.

It doesn't help you are this point to judge you for having an eight year old. It is what it is and you have significant stages in a young person's life journey to navigate particularly after the pandemic when so many have missed schooling.

Even after teenage years, they may be independent on the scale of it but still require you being there in the event of an emergency through the uni years at least.

Perhaps as others have said there is a mismatch in your household with caring responsibilites and the mental load/housework involved already in child care and life responsiblilities.

I would start there. If you wish to continue in your marriage - I would look at that. Take one day and one week at a time to try to redress this balance. Consider what it is your are prepared to do going forward. How much disposable income you have to buy in support.

At the same time I think you are right to consider expectations about the future. No wonder you are feeling down about the prospect of taking on all this. How is your own health? Have you kept up with routine health checks - for your age?

I thought the point was valid that caring responsiblities can vary greatly. My own mother after four kids - had been in a role where she was the one who cooked all the time for example. But later in life she entirely stopped doing so - having had enough of it and went back to college and got her own paid work. This brought her and the family a different kind of freedom (and more money).

Time to consider what you are and are not prepared to do going forward and keep revising and checking your boundaries - my inkling is that you will be judged whatever you decide. I often find women are. The teenage years can be rough as you will already know - and also very demanding.

As a single parent I was judged because I prioritised looking after my DD and labelled 'selfish' because I drew my boundaries around caring for elderly relatives as well (there were other siblings in the mix).

It was tough to be labelled like that - but I'm not sorry - you are dealing with the next generation here and it has been tough for them in the pandemic.

Yes, we all are to a certain degree vulnerable when we get older and possilby will have care needs but at the same time we all have a responsiblity to plan for that eventuality and strive to remain as independent as possible surely?

What would be the sense in taking on too much and running the risk of harming your mental and physical health going forward. Doesn't seem that you could sustain the burden of that in any event. You are allowed to have rest and recovery time from caring responsibilities and also heavens about something interesting to do and dare i say it? A bit of joy in your life. Where is that?

DarkMa · 17/10/2022 08:54

UK born Asian. Moved my DM in with me and kids. It was the most enriching experience. Kids were devoted to her. I arranged twice daily carer visits for her when she needed that. Mentally she was sharp but 90 year-old in body.

Multi generational homes are the norm in eastern culture. We miss her so much as she was support to us with her patient love and wisdom, not a burden.

LaSenoraPerez · 17/10/2022 09:24

@EilonwyWithRedGoldHair I was responding to the OP not to every single carer in the world.
I too am a carer- widowed with 2 DSs under 10, one of whom has now had a decade of severe mental health issues and is unable to work or study.
The first rule of being a carer is to resource yourself, so that you can have the emotional and physical reserves to be caring and compassionate for someone else long term.