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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:
luckylavender · 17/09/2023 17:58

Maybe you should have thought of this before

Catusrusty · 17/09/2023 17:58

Fuck me, this place!

Of course she doesn't have to help. What kind of mother would not give up a few days to help their daughter through C section when they have sod all else on?

I'm sad for you Op, but your mum quite clearly enjoys hurting you. She's happy to lavish time and attention elsewhere but not on you, even in your time of need.

Please don't waste your time on this relationship. There no point and no point in letting your kids watch you being belittled and ignored.

At least you know you won't have to care for her when she's elderly as it wouldn't be beneficial to you.

Noicant · 17/09/2023 17:58

I’m usually very much in the “parents don’t owe you babysitting” camp but given it’s a one off so OP can have a c-section it does seem really shitty to say no.

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 17:59

Thegoodbadandugly · 17/09/2023 17:46

Or what about if she can't handle looking after 4 kids but op keeps churning them out?

Exactly.

Im not “Women should never help their adult kids out” but also when do we stop? 7 kids? 8? When they’re 90 years old?

readbooksdrinktea · 17/09/2023 17:59

Your husband can look after them. Asking anyone, even your mother, to look after four children for three days is a lot. It is.

You chose to have a lot of children. It is up to you and your partner to deal with their care.

Lilibert456 · 17/09/2023 17:59

You choice to have five children. They are your responsibility. You know where you stand.

Effervescent999 · 17/09/2023 17:59

YABU. You are not entitled to being able to call up your mum for servant duties as and when it is convieniant to you. She doesn’t want to help you. That’s all there is to it

Viviennemary · 17/09/2023 17:59

No you can't rely on the goodwill of your mother. You can't have five children and expect other folk to support your decision and drop everything to help out when you can't cope. YABU.

AllOfThemWitches · 17/09/2023 17:59

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.

This is so fucking rude for the sake of it.

Purplecatshopaholic · 17/09/2023 17:59

Blimey, it’s 4 kids - I wouldn’t be volunteering either, that’s just too many! Your DH is going to have to stay home if you can’t find someone.

anicecuppateaa · 17/09/2023 17:59

When I read your OP I knew you would get the ‘you chose to have 5 kids’ comments.

Honestly, your mum sounds awful. But, you need a new solution for this. I would go low contact with your mum after this too.

Scottishskifun · 17/09/2023 18:00

No OP your not being unreasonable my mum drove over 600 miles to help when I was due with DS2 then stayed 2 weeks to help out further.
I would do the same for my boys, 2 or 3 days out of a whole year is not a huge inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

Sadly though it doesn't sound like your mother is ever going to be the mother you wish for.

Do you have a friend that can come sit in the house or your DHs family? Or even just the youngest 2?

LaLaFlottes · 17/09/2023 18:00

Wow! I'm shocked at the replies from some people.

OP isn't asking for ongoing childcare, or loads of support. It's a one off request from a daughter to her Mum for some assistance at a very important time.

Given the excuses being made seem only to apply to OP, I think it's very sad and OP is right to be upset.

OP could you brother help? Or SIL if he's married? Such a shame your Mum is like this. You can't change it sadly but maybe just in a peaceful way say to your Mum that you accept her decision, you thought under the circumstances she might be happy to help you out, as she does with others, but you won't bother her again. Then create some distance perhaps.

Best wishes for the birth and I hope all goes well. x

Autumndays22 · 17/09/2023 18:00

This!

howshouldibehave · 17/09/2023 18:01

You have chosen to have 5 children. Your mother is under no obligation to help you.

This. Does she perhaps think you shouldn’t be having that many children if you need her help?

MartinChuzzlewit · 17/09/2023 18:01

This reply has been deleted

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

melj1213 · 17/09/2023 18:02

Noicant · 17/09/2023 17:58

I’m usually very much in the “parents don’t owe you babysitting” camp but given it’s a one off so OP can have a c-section it does seem really shitty to say no.

Considering this is the OPs 4th C-section and her 5th child then it very much is not a one off, and for all we know the OP has asked the same of her mum for every other one before this.

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 17/09/2023 18:02

3 previous sections and you got pregnant again knowing that it would likely lead to a 4th section and that you would need childcare. Why the fuck didn’t you sort this out months ago?

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 17/09/2023 18:02

OP isn't asking for ongoing childcare, or loads of support. It's a one off request from a daughter to her Mum for some assistance at a very important time.

Asking someone to stay away from home to look after four children for an indeterminate amount of time is a huge ask, even if it just a one off.

OP has had months to figure this out. She's not a first time mum - she knows what happens when you go into labour and she knew she'd need to find someone to care for her other kids. Waiting until you're 32 weeks pregnant to find care for your four children is bloody daft.

kitsuneghost · 17/09/2023 18:03

Hire a nanny for the week. You must be pretty affluent to live in London with 5 kids.

TadpolesInPool · 17/09/2023 18:03

Why can't DH come with just the 5 year old to fetch you?

14, 11 and 10 can stay alone.

Or depending on personalities and squabbling, he can also bring the 10 or 11 year old. Absolutely no need to drag all 4 to the hospital!

OriginalUsername2 · 17/09/2023 18:03

Leaving aside the woman’s language, perhaps she is exhausted from providing support to multiple children having multiple children. She’s 60 so is presumably hoping to be left in peace by now, but dd is on her 5th child and still requiring her mothers help.

I wouldn’t look after 4 kids for an unspecified time and I’m much younger.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 17/09/2023 18:03

Personally I’d drop the rope and stop facilitating a relationship with her grand kids.

BalletBob · 17/09/2023 18:03

She sounds bloody awful. Swearing at you, calling you nasty names, insinuating that you are mentally unwell etc. Why do you bother with her at all? She doesn't seem like much of a mum tbh, especially given that she has all the time in the world to help other people and is singling you out for this treatment.

I just knew there would be the predictable "she's not obliged to help you" response. Well obviously. Nobody is forced to help anyone. But it's a sad state of affairs when a mother won't help her own daughter. What's the point of family if you can't rely on each other in good times and bad/difficult?

Zeroperspective · 17/09/2023 18:03

YABU only because you expected a different answer when she's shown you time and time again who she is. You clearly can't rely on her and that's sad, really sad, the one person we should be able to rely on is our mam. You need to make different arrangements and accept she isn't who you would like her to be, you either can accept what she is offering (I wouldn't personally as you are worth more) or don't accept it and walk away but chasing a relationship with her isn't doing you any good. Good luck with the new addition x

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