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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My mother is literally refusing to help full stop!

1000 replies

Mymotherdontdoalot · 17/09/2023 17:30

OK so there is a lot of back story here which I won't go into as it is just so long and winding, but the general gist is that my mother will literally do as little as possible to make life easier, to the point where I received a text the other day saying that it's not to her benefit to help me out!

Anyway the aibu is I'm 32 weeks pregnant with my 5th baby and am due a csection in 6 weeks time, and am getting incredibly stressed out about the general procedure and stress that comes with of being in hospital as I always seem to have complications! Dh is also stresssed aswell! So I have broached my mother who I thought might have been a little bit more supportive of my situation (god knows why she never has been before, usually couldnt give a shit about mine or my families wellbing in general,) being that it's my 4th csection so unsure of how it will pan out, from how long my stay in hospital will be to general health after etc! I stressed the situation to my mum and basically said, when I go in hospital can you come up and look after children obviously so dh is with me during csection and then if all goes well I'll hopefully be out next day, so can you come up and look after kids next day so dh can come and get me and baby in taxi and bring me back home to save dragging 4 extra dcs down the hospital and more added stress (taxis cancelling all the time where I am so a pain especially with 4 extra dc in tow not to mention, size of taxis no guarantee etc!)
I also added that if and it's a big IF I'm in hospital for one extra day after csection could she come then and stay with kids, so dh can come and see that his newborn and me are all OK, bring me things I may need/forgotten, general give me a break from being on a ward with every other person, on little or no sleep, so I can go for a wee in piece have a wash, you know the drill! Well that's when she went batshit stating, she's 60yrs old she not doing all that running around she's going to be tired, all that driving nope she's not doing it what about her husband and the dog (who she can actually leave at home perfectly fine) she's just not doing it, point blank i need to her actual words "get over it"and also why can't I leave my dc5 in the hands of there siblings 14,11,10 (we all know how much 5 year olds don't listen to siblings and decide to get mischievous once no responsible adults are around) when dh comes to pick me up with the baby at discharge, we all know discharge in hospitals can take bloody hours! At this point I did mention her staying over in the spare room to accommodate for driving etc, just for reference she lives 60 miles away but it takes her an hour to get to mine, I'm in london but so is my brother who she's visits very, very regularly and doesn't bat an eyelid to helping him out at all, it's never nope with him, no matter what it is, also when she met her husband he lived in london then and she would travel nearly everyday to see him also! She again still nope not doing it, her words again "it's not beneficial for me to do that" to be quite honest, no words could describe the shear anger and upset that I felt and have been feeling, so I got a bit upset and started crying, to which she replied "why on earth are you crying, for godsake" my dh is livid about the way that she has spoken to me and I am not really sure what to do now because I'm just shocked that she would come out with such a blasé/ nasty attitude towards helping me or lack of I should say!

I have had numerous texts from her since completely ignoring my situation and what I have asked of her and when I have broached the subject again been told I'm a fucker, I need to get a grip and grow up and things along those lines, when I have asked her why are you being so mean to me what exactly have I done, she's told me "if you think I'm being evil, you need help, you need to see a doctor" her exact words!

Also so as not to drip feed mine and my mother's relationship has been strained through the years because of actions on her part which were unreconcilable, but I let it go so as she could have something to do with her grandchildren, but that proved pointless because she seems to pick and choose as and when it suits her when she sees them and also tries to control how they behave around her (she has to be centre of attention all the time) there's alot more but I won't go into it as its just to much!

Me and dh just need some bloody help for that snippet of time when I'm in hospital, it is so much to ask aibu, it's literally like 3 days out of her time (which she spends doing nothing, everyday, she doesn't work never has done!)

Also before I forget her husband has 3 daughters and are roughly the same age as me, and she has rallied around after them no end, one time they all rushed down to hospital because one of his daughters was having extreme period pains (turned out she was jealous of her dad and my mums relationship and just wanted some attention, the same daughter, my mum has gotten up crack of dawn with to do carboot sales with her, and not batted an eyelid, the other daughter is a horder and actually has had my mum round cleaning her catshit off the floor in her house and cleaning in general because she doesn't do it, each time my mum has never batted an eyelid and more than happy to do anything for his daughters! These are just a few of the many things she does for his grown adult children!

OP posts:
MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 20:24

@PyongyangKipperbang no matter what the age gap you simply cannot give six children everything they need at once like you can 1 or 2. Keep deluding yourself otherwise

zmq3Zm96uijcs2c · 17/09/2023 20:24

PatientZorro · 17/09/2023 20:16

A win from her side certainly.

If someone worries about whether supporting me at a time of crisis is “worth it” they have told me who they are and I will act accordingly. Her mother was then cruel to her heavily pregnant daughter I wouldn’t tolerate from an acquaintance, much less a friend - from family it is unforgivable.

Dotcheck · 17/09/2023 20:24

I voted yabu because she has never helped, so one wouldn’t be helping now.

Fatbirthdaygirl · 17/09/2023 20:24

MrsMara · 17/09/2023 17:36

You have chosen to have 5 children. Your mother is under no obligation to help you. Quite frankly, in her shoes I would be baffled by the number of kids you are having and wouldn't be helping either.

Sorry, but this sums it up

ButterCrackers · 17/09/2023 20:26

Posters here always defend the family not helping. I don’t get this attitude. Her grandkids and daughter and her son in law need help. She’s physically able to help but she’s probably read here that she shouldn’t help and also it’s free help. As she won’t help you do look for an experienced babysitter. Ask your local parents group for recommendations. Tell you mother that because she wouldn’t help you’ve got paid childcare instead. You’ll let her know when you’re up to visits but that will be in a few weeks time. Say that your dh will message her when you’ve given birth so that she knows. Put her in the background and get on with your family and friends who do help and are bothered about you.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:26

@zmq3Zm96uijcs2c what time of crisis?

It's a presumably planned pregnancy and having had three sections previously, a known c section!

Where is the crisis?

diddl · 17/09/2023 20:26

I think the problem is that the relationship just isn't there-with you or your kids by the sounds of things.

PyongyangKipperbang · 17/09/2023 20:27

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 20:24

@PyongyangKipperbang no matter what the age gap you simply cannot give six children everything they need at once like you can 1 or 2. Keep deluding yourself otherwise

What you mean is that YOU couldnt.

Other people can. Get over it.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:28

@PyongyangKipperbang you've got more than 24 hours in a day GrinGrinGrin

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/09/2023 20:28

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 20:17

And please don’t think by working your children aren’t costing the taxpayer. Six times schooling, six times giving birth, 108 years worth of free healthcare - you’d have to be millionaires to give back what you take out.

Well the kids are all here now, so what use or ornament is that comment.

Goodornot · 17/09/2023 20:28

Maybe each of the OPs 5 children will have 5 children each.

Hopefully she'll have to provide support 25 times for her 25 grandchildrens births and they'll complain their mother does fuck all else as she's retired.

You reap what you sow.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:29

Goodornot · 17/09/2023 20:28

Maybe each of the OPs 5 children will have 5 children each.

Hopefully she'll have to provide support 25 times for her 25 grandchildrens births and they'll complain their mother does fuck all else as she's retired.

You reap what you sow.

Exactly I've said the same to @PyongyangKipperbang!

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 20:29

PyongyangKipperbang · 17/09/2023 20:27

What you mean is that YOU couldnt.

Other people can. Get over it.

Well I don’t have that problem because I didn’t choose to have more children than the whole cast of some west end shows, but you keep projecting if it makes you feel better.

If nothing else it’s basic maths. Time is finite - you can’t give six people with similar needs the same time as you can two. Just own it!

Goodornot · 17/09/2023 20:29

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:29

Exactly I've said the same to @PyongyangKipperbang!

Ah I missed that! 😄

PyongyangKipperbang · 17/09/2023 20:30

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:28

@PyongyangKipperbang you've got more than 24 hours in a day GrinGrinGrin

No I 'm just better I suppose 😃

zmq3Zm96uijcs2c · 17/09/2023 20:30

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:26

@zmq3Zm96uijcs2c what time of crisis?

It's a presumably planned pregnancy and having had three sections previously, a known c section!

Where is the crisis?

The crisis is a potential one - the risk of complications that the OP referenced - I wouldn’t want my child to feel so disregarded with that as a possibility; but I suppose that’s what happens when you actually love your kids…

KingOfThieves · 17/09/2023 20:30

Respectfully, you have a lot of children. That is hard work. Many people don’t have so many children BECAUSE it’s such hard work. I wouldnt expect help in that scenario. I am lucky my parent has helped in the past but I was so grateful she could still help when I made the jump from 1-2! I could never ask someone to take on childcare for so many children. That aside it doesn’t sound like you have a healthy relationship with your mother anyway so I wouldn’t want her with my children regardless. Your OH need to stay home with the kids. I’d try and find a friend to go to hospital with you.

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 20:31

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:26

@zmq3Zm96uijcs2c what time of crisis?

It's a presumably planned pregnancy and having had three sections previously, a known c section!

Where is the crisis?

Exactly!!

Its anything but.

A PLANNED c-section in term time during the week when all her kids are at school - it’s a dream situation for anyone expecting a baby.

EggInANest · 17/09/2023 20:31

She sounds horrible.

So:

If your CS will be on a weekday / school day your DH can be with you while kids are at school

And

Ask you brother for help.

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 20:32

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/09/2023 20:28

Well the kids are all here now, so what use or ornament is that comment.

Because the poster with six kids reckons they don’t cost the taxpayer any money

ihadamarveloustime · 17/09/2023 20:32

Paintingonthewall12 · 17/09/2023 20:08

And with a c section which is planned I would be taking annual leave to help out my family no? It’s not completely crazy is it?

Not sure my head teacher would agree... this is not an emergency. This is something they need to and can plan for themselves.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 20:33

@zmq3Zm96uijcs2c loving your kids doesn't mean allowing them to be totally irresponsible and condoning that!

So when OP has 25 grandchildren how does she chose which to support over others!

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 20:34

PyongyangKipperbang · 17/09/2023 20:30

No I 'm just better I suppose 😃

Dragging six kids along to caring duties? Yeah sounds fantastic

LindaMo2 · 17/09/2023 20:34

I would love a chance to have grandchildren and would do whatever I could to help my daughter with them. She’s 30 and focussed on her career but I’m ever hopeful. Be it one of 5, I’d help out whenever I reasonably could, as I’m sure most mothers would. I’m sorry you have a mother that is so self centred she wouldn’t give up a couple of days to help whilst you give birth. How many children you have is not her business. Her job is to be your mother when you really need her to be. That responsibility doesn’t cease the moment it doesn’t suit her.

Goldbar · 17/09/2023 20:36

Five children sounds like my worst nightmare but (like much of the developed world) we have what is going to become a very real demographic issue with low birth rates in this country.

Apart from perhaps for the children themselves, a couple having 5 or 6 children doesn't really pose that many issues when so many people are having one or none, so long as they have the time and money to take care of them. Vanishingly few people want large families.

In any case, it is what it is, the OP is past the legal limit for abortion and this baby is coming however much opprobrium is thrown the OP's way.

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