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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:
Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:52

Exactly, so she should've doubled up on contraception to avoid the situation she is in.

Redmat · 17/09/2023 23:52

Grandparents are being judged here by people in there 30s and 40s. I'm certainly not a cold-hearted witch but I would find it hard to look after that many children for 3 days. Your energy starts to dip.
One or two yes not four!

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:55

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:52

Exactly, so she should've doubled up on contraception to avoid the situation she is in.

Too late to worry about that now. :-) And as she said, unplanned doesn't mean unwelcome. If OP wants more children though, or to take the chance, she'll have to know she's doing it without family help. That's just how it is for some people.

aduckinarow · 17/09/2023 23:56

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:52

Exactly, so she should've doubled up on contraception to avoid the situation she is in.

Jesus Christ .

FSTraining · 17/09/2023 23:58

Your mother has the choice whether to help you out or not. But you also have a choice whether you want this woman in your life or not. She sounds horrible.

At the very least I would keep these messages and use them to explain why strangers are going to be caring for her rather than you when she reaches her final years.

Ella31 · 18/09/2023 00:00

This thread has been a horrible read from the start. I hope your delivery goes well, OP.

ToWhitToWhoo · 18/09/2023 00:00

She sounds unpleasant; but to be honest, if she's like that, I wouldn't trust her to look after your children anyway. Could your dh stay at home for a couple of days? Could you afford to pay for childcare for just those few days?

zmq3Zm96uijcs2c · 18/09/2023 00:04

Redmat · 17/09/2023 23:52

Grandparents are being judged here by people in there 30s and 40s. I'm certainly not a cold-hearted witch but I would find it hard to look after that many children for 3 days. Your energy starts to dip.
One or two yes not four!

This is Mumsnet, one would assume that the main demographic would be those who are actively parenting currently.

Like how Gransnet is predominantly filled with parents of adult children. As a side note, from some boards over there it also seems that being cut off by those same children is endemic. Can’t think why… considering how supportive parents of adult children have been on this post!

Grumpy101 · 18/09/2023 00:07

YANBU, it is sad your own mum cannot be relied on at a difficult (and joyous!) time. It's sad but YABU to ask when you know she's such a pain. Distance yourself. And DO NOT FORGET THIS when she's old and her clearly shittty son is no use and she needs help. You don't get to be a shit mum & grandma and also get help when you're old and frail. Fuck her.

ZiriForEver · 18/09/2023 00:09

I've read the updates, and it still sounds that it might be worth checking with your brother - with some preparation the children can be nearly self sufficient for a few hours, they just need someone adult to be there.

Even if he would cover only one day, it would be one day solved

Dita73 · 18/09/2023 00:20

You and your mother just don’t have a great relationship. End of. If you live in London with five children,you can afford a temporary nanny or babysitter. You made your choices,just get on with it

Grumpusaurus · 18/09/2023 00:31

Why should anyone else feel obliged to look after YOUR children? You choose to have so many kids. I seriously loathe posts like yours.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 18/09/2023 00:31

TheMountainsCall · 17/09/2023 23:45

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.

This is exactly why you should still use contraception even if the doctors tell you you cannot get pregnant because at the end of the day, doctors can and do get it wrong.

Lavender14 · 18/09/2023 00:34

Would it be feasible to hire a doula/ babysitter to give you some extra support in the early weeks after you have your baby? I'm sorry your mum is so unsupportive. Tbh it sounds like the best approach you can take is to expect absolutely nothing from her so you can't be disappointed although at certain times like this, you do want your mums support and it's hard when you don't get it. Your feelings are justified and you don't owe anyone an explanation of your finances, family size etc.

TheMountainsCall · 18/09/2023 00:40

ReadingSoManyThreads · 18/09/2023 00:31

This is exactly why you should still use contraception even if the doctors tell you you cannot get pregnant because at the end of the day, doctors can and do get it wrong.

Maybe OP was in the 'not trying and don't think it will happen but don't mind if it does' group? It doesn't matter now anyway, as there is a baby, and OP obviously knows it can happen for her. OP now has to think about what she wants to do about it after this one is born.

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 00:58

This reply has been deleted

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

Ah good old fashioned misogyny on MN. We are Karen’s AND witches because we don’t think older women should provide unlimited manual labour for someone else’s choice to have too many kids?

Back in the kitchen we go!

ittakes2 · 18/09/2023 01:04

Unless your 14 and 11 year old have SEN I would have thought they were old enough to be left at home. Surely the 14 year old at least?
I hope the birth goes well.

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 01:06

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.

If that’s what my kids want to do that’s on them. I ain’t babysitting though

oakleaffy · 18/09/2023 01:07

Why have so many children if you can't manage them by yourselves?

It's ridiculous to complain about lack of outside help in this instance.

Your choice- you deal with that choice, surely.

oakleaffy · 18/09/2023 01:12

FSTraining · 17/09/2023 23:58

Your mother has the choice whether to help you out or not. But you also have a choice whether you want this woman in your life or not. She sounds horrible.

At the very least I would keep these messages and use them to explain why strangers are going to be caring for her rather than you when she reaches her final years.

Most parents wouldn't WANT their child/ren looking after them in old age.

I sure as heck don't, and don't know anyone who does.

CherryMaDeara · 18/09/2023 01:15

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 00:58

Ah good old fashioned misogyny on MN. We are Karen’s AND witches because we don’t think older women should provide unlimited manual labour for someone else’s choice to have too many kids?

Back in the kitchen we go!

Why make stuff up? It destroys all credibility .

Nowhere has OP said unlimited manual labour. She just wanted her mum to come up for the day so DH can bring her and baby home, or at most stay the night if there is a delay, which is unlikely.

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

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 01:23

CherryMaDeara · 18/09/2023 01:15

Why make stuff up? It destroys all credibility .

Nowhere has OP said unlimited manual labour. She just wanted her mum to come up for the day so DH can bring her and baby home, or at most stay the night if there is a delay, which is unlikely.

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

I’m not talking about the OP. I’m talking about @etherealfae assertion that women who have too many kids should be entitled to have their mothers help and quantity of children shouldn’t be a barrier to free labour - and if you don’t agree you’re a witch or a Karen.

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 01:24

But to answer @etherealfae question - yes having 5 children is a perfectly valid reason as to why someone shouldn’t babysit. If she can’t look after so many kids then she shouldn’t have so many kids. It’s not rocket science

CherryMaDeara · 18/09/2023 01:25

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 01:23

I’m not talking about the OP. I’m talking about @etherealfae assertion that women who have too many kids should be entitled to have their mothers help and quantity of children shouldn’t be a barrier to free labour - and if you don’t agree you’re a witch or a Karen.

women who have too many kids should be entitled to have their mothers help and quantity of children shouldn’t be a barrier to free labour

But she hasn’t said any of that. She just said help. And the help OP is asking for is one day of childcare whilst she gives birth.

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 01:28

CherryMaDeara · 18/09/2023 01:25

women who have too many kids should be entitled to have their mothers help and quantity of children shouldn’t be a barrier to free labour

But she hasn’t said any of that. She just said help. And the help OP is asking for is one day of childcare whilst she gives birth.

Like I’ve already said - I wasn’t talking about the OP.
It was in response to
@etherealfae who said something like “What she shouldn’t ask her mum to babysit just because she has 5 kids”. Well yes exactly that. It’s ludicrous to say the amount of children shouldn’t be a barrier to babysitting

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