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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:
Poorunfortunatesoul · 18/09/2023 19:20

People on here are batshit. I don't think your wrong at all op to want some help from your mum. That's what families are meant to be about, helping when needed. I can understand why your upset that's she's refusing to help you, I would be too if that was my mum. I hope you manage to sort the child care out and have a smooth c section.

Fuckthatguy · 18/09/2023 19:21

Well @Mymotherdontdoalot if you speak to your mother the way you’re responding to listers on here at this point I don’t blame her, do you always throw your toys out the cot if you don’t get what you want.

Fuckthatguy · 18/09/2023 19:21

Posters*

Fuckthatguy · 18/09/2023 19:22

And again I ask, how was she the first 4 times around.

Your husband is going to have to watch the children if nobody else can, this is a fact.

Teenyweenyitsybitsy · 18/09/2023 19:23

@MartinChuzzlewit oh god little miss verbal diarrhoea is back...... yawn

I feel sorry for your poor nan having to look after you when you were little

I don't think your opinion counts for anything tbh your a troll

Cherrylily7 · 18/09/2023 19:23

I cannot see why you feel entitled to childcare from your mum for your four children
A child can have expectations from a parent but you are an adult. Any help
your mum does or does not give you is a bonus not your right
I also agree with others comments about having five children if you don't feel able to arrange or provide care for them yourselves.
And personally I have to add, which I am sure nobody will agree with, but what about the planet and over population? Does anyone really have to have five children in these days of effective contraception choices?

Vettrianofan · 18/09/2023 19:24

It's always best to not expect any support. Any that you do get is a brucey bonus.

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 19:24

That's what families are meant to be about

Apparently it’s what WOMEN are meant to be about. The nearby man isn’t being asked. Funny that

KittyKingdom · 18/09/2023 19:25

Wow this thread is soo wrong. I’d be there for any of my family in this situation and have been. I’m sorry your mum is being so unreasonable. For everyone saying that it’s the number of children just because she’s had more than you does that mean I get to judge everyone that ever feels any stress that’s child related as I have none. What should I say to my family. You had a child hard cheese and really when you get to three children as long as they all live in the same house it’s not that different really they form a bond and have a kind of ranking system of their own.

SquirrelSoShiny · 18/09/2023 19:25
Confused
Rinks31 · 18/09/2023 19:25

what about sending kids to school, nursery and after school clubs? out of office hours husband can be home with the kids. what's wrong with bringing kids to hospital to see the new arrival. i know you have done it for 4 times before but its a new addition to the family so let them play their part in a taxi.
your mum is not obliged to help if she doesn't want to. what about your friends?what about his family?

Thegoodbadandugly · 18/09/2023 19:26

Op who watched your children last time you were in labour? Also so you expect your mother to drive 60 mile's to spend a few hours looking after your kids, to then drive 60 miles back home, to then drive 60 miles again the next day and back home again? Perhaps even the day after that, that's a huge ask.

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 19:26

Teenyweenyitsybitsy · 18/09/2023 19:23

@MartinChuzzlewit oh god little miss verbal diarrhoea is back...... yawn

I feel sorry for your poor nan having to look after you when you were little

I don't think your opinion counts for anything tbh your a troll

Lol!
Its you’re, BTW

Oh noooooo some random on MN feels sorry for my Nan! Waaaaaaaah 😭😭😭

Oh wait - I don’t actually give a shit 🤣🤣sorry not sorry

MartinChuzzlewit · 18/09/2023 19:27

Thread is nearly over sadly so we will never know who looked after her other 3 (I bet it was her mum)

Coyoacan · 18/09/2023 19:28

The lack of sympathy for this lady's plight are really sad

But what is the use of sympathy or all this judgement of the mother or grandmother for that matter?

We know that there is some back story, so we do not know whose fault it all is, not that it would help if we did.

BlueSapphireEyes · 18/09/2023 19:30

Four previous sections.

LuckySantangelo35 · 18/09/2023 19:30

Oh yeah! The usual mumsnet trope of - “middle aged women!! Listen up, if you don’t sacrifice yourself and do everything and anything for your adult offspring then they will fuck you off and chuck you in a shitty home and never speak to you again!!”

its OP’s and her husbands choice to have five kids - no one else’s.

Carol52 · 18/09/2023 19:32

Hi I am so sorry you are stressed. Families are complicated and you can’t relay on them Believe me I know from my sisters
has your dh any family that can help.
it May be all your children have to make the journey to the hospital to drop off and collect you and come with their dad to visit your new baby.
Prepare yourself for that and it will not be so stressful at the time . Book or look into a taxi so you can fit everyone in to travel .
If your mum changes her mind great if not you have a plan in place.
i know it’s hard but you will feel better if you do.
I hope everything goes well for you.

PeachyPeachTrees · 18/09/2023 19:33

It doesn't seem too much to ask. 60 isn't old, she doesn't work, she can stay over night in spare room. Mainly looking after 5 year old as others pretty easy and she does plenty for her son and step daughters. But she doesn't want to and doesn't have to. Better to know now than her pulling out the night before.

Teenyweenyitsybitsy · 18/09/2023 19:33

My god there is so many dicks and selfish people on this thread

It hasnt restored any faith in humanity whatsoever

At what point is it OK to question any bodies right to have however many babies they choose

Utterly utterly disgraceful behaviour

Lahdedahiam · 18/09/2023 19:34

restingbitchface30 · 18/09/2023 19:13

I can’t believe the responses. You know parenting doesn’t stop when your child reaches 18. If any of my children needed help I’d be there in a heartbeat. They’re her grandchildren and she sounds like a nasty old boot tbh! Just remember this when she’s old and needs your help.

The OP sounds like a petulant child! I want .... suck it up sweetie and start being an adult and sorting out your own life, your choices mean you give birth alone.

Coyoacan · 18/09/2023 19:35

I must admit I love the cut of your jibe, @MartinChuzzlewit

Natbro · 18/09/2023 19:35

people making negative and sly comments about how many children you have really need to wind their neck in!

but the answer to your question is your mum probably should be doing more for you... but she is under no obligation to do so!

Katrinawaves · 18/09/2023 19:36

Could the 5 year old and 10 year old have whole day play dates on Day 1 with separate families.

On Day 2, your DH brings as many of the children with him as want to come to see their new sibling and fuss over him/her whilst you have your shower and some respite. If you are unexpectedly discharged on Day 2, you will need two taxis home but that’s not the end of the world.

On Day 3, DH and 5 year old come to pick you up from hospital and the two older children look after the 10 year old until you are all home.

I don’t have a DM who would have helped me either though did have a lovely MIL who did help with the two eldest when I had my third even though my middle child is disabled and generally speaking MIL would not babysit her as she struggled with her.

BooBooDoodle · 18/09/2023 19:37

I’d have to agree but maybe if mum has been like this over the years and shown lack of support time and time again, I can’t understand why you would automatically think she’d do you a solid and go ahead with child number 5 regardless. It isn’t an ideal situation to be in and maybe OP thought this may help mend their relationship and took a punt. If mum has never been one to show willing over the years with the other children and her then I personally wouldn’t have asked and wouldn’t be having more children due to the lack of support, especially when you will need it. A little irresponsible but who are we to question those who chose to have the amount of children they do? Tough one coming from someone who would do anything for their children. I’d cut ties with the mum. OP owes her nothing and I personally wouldn’t give her the time of day. I’ve had a C-section myself and recovery is rough and I had a toddler at the time, not 4 others. I also know that having our partners there when we are vulnerable having given birth and beforehand is a must. Shame all round, cut out the toxic mother and crack on.

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