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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:
MsRosley · 17/09/2023 23:21

5128gap · 17/09/2023 23:18

We should respect women's choices and support their rights to do as they see fit with regards to children.
But only until they get older and their children are grown up. After that, if they make any choices to suit themselves that don't facilitate the lives of younger women? Well we can seemingly all judge the hell out of them then.

Yes, the intersection of misogyny with ageism is very telling, isn't it?

SuffolkUnicorn · 17/09/2023 23:21

If you have more than two children on mumsnet the nails come out

CheshireCat1 · 17/09/2023 23:22

I hope everything goes well with your new baby and you recover quickly. I’m sorry that your Mum refuses to help out. Have you spoken to your midwife to see if she can suggest anything, would any neighbours or friends help you. I think it’s sad when extended family don’t muck in and help out, but I also understand that some can’t for various reasons.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:26

Mymotherdontdoalot · 17/09/2023 23:14

@Lahdedahiam I've updated my post and made it abundantly clear this is totally a wanted pregnancy! very assumptious of you to think it's unwanted and with endo it's nion impossible to become pregnant once it has really progressed which it had for me, but obviously there is always that luck! Which it was for us!

So was it planned or unplanned?

VeronicasCloset · 17/09/2023 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Stop using Karen as an insult. It makes you sound ignorant.

thebunnies · 17/09/2023 23:29

Congrats on the impending arrival! Hope it all goes well. I’m sorry you don’t have family support. I didn’t either - for different reasons - so paid for some temporary help when I most needed it. Lots of options for that in London. Wishing you all the best and enjoy having your lovely DH and kids.

jessnoah · 17/09/2023 23:32

Thegoodbadandugly · 17/09/2023 17:41

Why do people feel so entitled? You had kids so look after them it's not her job if you keep having kids, she's had her kids and brought them up this is her time now, you knew all this when you got pregnant.

I have kids, I do it on my own, I don't ask for anyone's help they are my kids, can't remember the last time I had a night out or holiday without kids.

Oh my god she's not asking for a night out is she?! She's asking for help for one day while she's in hospital!

Clearly you're just judging the number of kids she has, and really that's not the point of the post. She's clearly not really helped with 1,2,3 or 4 so the previous kids are irrelevant to the ask.

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:34

Biscuitburglar · 17/09/2023 23:17

I’m really hoping now that all of the snipey posters on here tonight have DC that turn out ten kids.

As long as they aren't expecting any parental help. :-P

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:35

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:26

So was it planned or unplanned?

OP has made it clear it is unplanned but wanted. Unplanned doesn't necessarily mean not welcome.

CrissieB · 17/09/2023 23:35

ButterCrackers · 17/09/2023 21:41

How is it sexism? I said people… that includes men. People are jealous of big families.

You're a better person than I am. I assumed that when you said "people", men were not included in this terminology.

jessnoah · 17/09/2023 23:36

Wow I can't believe how many nasty people there are judging your family size. Yes your mum could help, she's chosen not to and if I were you I'd cut her out. She'll miss out on the relationship with her daughter and grandkids. Very sad. When she gets a bit older and starts having health issues, let her sort herself out.

watcherintherye · 17/09/2023 23:39

To paraphrase Julia,
“I'm sorry mother, I've been a little busy looking after YOUR grandchildren. Unbelievable!!”

fliptopbin · 17/09/2023 23:41

During the pandemic I gave birth alone, had complications and ended up un ITU alone
I saw my husband two weeks later. He was looking after the kids not knowing if I would survive. We both survived and have the ptsd to prove it. So I cant be sympathetic to a planned c section alone.

Piglet89 · 17/09/2023 23:42

my parents are:

a) miles away; and
b) fucking useless even if they were round the corner.

So I’ve stopped at one kid. It’s not hard, these days.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:43

@TheMountainsCall so why didn't she use contraception. To avoid the medically dangerous situation?

301963Laurie · 17/09/2023 23:43

HNRTFT but I am 60 and look after and care for my one grandchild overnight once a week. Love the child to bits and had child for two nights this weekend…am exhausted. So having four grandchildren to be responsible for actually scares me .
Thunk you need to share the care with someone else.

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:45

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:43

@TheMountainsCall so why didn't she use contraception. To avoid the medically dangerous situation?

Because she didn't think she could get pregnant. Plenty of people have been told they can't get pregnant only to find they have a baby.

Neverwatchedgameofthrones · 17/09/2023 23:46

On second child, 1st one went to nursery. Dad left to drop him off and pick him up. I got a taxi home by myself rather than drag DS1 out to a hospital. I also got home to find out that the new cot hadn't been put together as promised and did that too. No help from anyone else. Get a grip.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:48

@TheMountainsCall why didn't she think she couldn't get pregnant when she could??

Moveoverdarlin · 17/09/2023 23:49

Having five children is quite a decision and one which I can imagine many may find surprising - your Mum is probably one of them. Looking after four children is a big ask. If she doesn’t want to do it, you have to respect that. I’m Utterly exhausted looking after two children, at 60 your Mum may be two tired, especially as she’s not local. If you can’t find someone to look after your current four, you’re going to struggle to get a babysitter for 5 children.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:49

@TheMountainsCall who totally assured her she couldn't get pregnant? Like 100%

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:50

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:48

@TheMountainsCall why didn't she think she couldn't get pregnant when she could??

Have you read OP's posts? She says clearly why she didn't think she could get pregnant a fifth time.

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:50

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:49

@TheMountainsCall who totally assured her she couldn't get pregnant? Like 100%

You'd have to ask OP that. There is almost never 100% though.

Fallingthroughclouds · 17/09/2023 23:50

If you have a poor relationship with your mum, don't ask her to look after your children. You obviously dislike her, so seems hypocritical to call on her just because you need help.

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:51

Moveoverdarlin · 17/09/2023 23:49

Having five children is quite a decision and one which I can imagine many may find surprising - your Mum is probably one of them. Looking after four children is a big ask. If she doesn’t want to do it, you have to respect that. I’m Utterly exhausted looking after two children, at 60 your Mum may be two tired, especially as she’s not local. If you can’t find someone to look after your current four, you’re going to struggle to get a babysitter for 5 children.

I never struggled to get a babysitter among family friends for a large family. Not that I used one much. Almost never.

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