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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask why there is an extra child in my house?

258 replies

SusanTheShocked · 21/10/2023 14:58

My daughter’s (9 years old) friend from school just turned up at my house. My DH answered the door as I was in the bath and her dad dropped her off.

My partner assumed I’d made plans and didn’t tell him…but I didn’t make plans. I assume dd did, but didn’t tell me? I don’t want to say anything as they are playing nicely and I don’t want to make the girl feel bad, though I will be having a word with dd later.

I have the mums phone number and need to message her as I’m not sure what’s happening/when she’s being picked up etc.

I need some advice on how to word the message to the mother in a way that doesn’t make it seem like I’m unhappy she is here, but letting her know that I had no idea this was happening.

(For context I am very socially awkward so worrying about how to word this probably more than I should be)

OP posts:
All2Well · 21/10/2023 17:17

Genuine feedback: I'm someone who appreciates direct honesty, but the message comes off as very passive aggressive, not honest or direct at all.

@All2Well did say "You run the risk of them just dumping their child on you whenever they feel like it, you need to be honest but nice." So I do think the message was intended to have passive aggressive elements ("please don't send your child round like that again" – only it doesn't actually say that and just beats around the bush in an accusatory way).

"Will have a chat with her later and explain she needs to ask me first as we might not have been in and I'd hate either of them to be disappointed" – why would she need/want to know what you're chatting with DD about and why? Why should she care about what your DD gets up to, and what your home set up is – unless it involves her somehow? It sounds like you're indirectly telling the mother about the potential inconvenience her own child's presence could have caused, by claiming you would talk to DD about that.

Essentially there's no direct request / conclusion to do with the recipient parent (e.g. for the parent to check with OP in future) in the message. It's just a long random ramble about why OP's DD shouldn't randomly invite others home, and how it's lucky that OP could take the child in today ("luckily our plans today can be flexible"). The message is "be guilty and grateful".

UNLESS you have a request for her like "please check with me in future", then the background / reason (about the inconvenience) is important. But just directly and nicely tell her that it might be inconvenient as you might not be home. Don't tell her that under the indirect guise of "I've had a chat with my DD about the inconvenience".

Also, I think it's arguably fine to honestly say you weren't expecting her child, but you can do that without talking about why DD shouldn't invite random children home in the long term etc. If you go on about how DD's actions were a mistake in such a long message in such a faux tinkly laugh manner, it makes the reader wonder what point you're trying to make about their child's presence in your home.

Wow, I'm pretty gobsmacked that this is how the text reads.

Firstly, I don't do the passive aggressive, faux tinkly laugh thing at all...I didn't think for a second that sort of reading would be put on it. I say what I mean, no intended subtext.

I think where I attempted to put the responsiblity on OP's DD and tried to reassure that she'll be spoken to to avoid embarrassing situations like this in the future, it's come across as aggressive rather than what I intended. I.e please don't feel bad, it's DDs error and it won't happen again as I can assure you she'll be spoken to.

It's true, I did infer they might make a nuisance of themselves in the future in my opening sentence but the text was never intended to make someone feel bad or guilty. My brain has literally exploded that someone would think that! All the luckily our plans can be flexible stuff etc to me was intended to say "please don't feel bad, we don't have to be anywhere so don't rush to pick her up" and letting them know, if they did just drop her off without an arrangement that they might show up to an empty house and I wouldn't want their DD to be disappointed or sad.

Anyway, like I said, I accepted I got it wrong and honestly my brain hurts and I can feel myself starting to feel shit about myself and overanalysing my personality so I'll bow out.

Glad it's all sorted OP and that the girls had a good time. I'm so sorry for the upset I caused and if I've gave you the complete wrong advice.

Apparentlystillchilled · 21/10/2023 17:18

Well done OP. My eldest DD is also autistic so I can see how this might arise so I think you’ve handled this splendidly!

Singleandproud · 21/10/2023 17:18

@PabloandGustheGreySquirrels Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) is used more often now as it is not a disorder.

NumberTheory · 21/10/2023 17:20

PuppyMonkey · 21/10/2023 16:59

I think their child did tell them, I guess they assumed my dd had told me.

But most people wouldn’t just assume that, they would check with you, the parent, themselves.

I wouldn’t get hung up on this. Mediating kids relationships is a pain in the arse. If you trust them not to lie to you, better to let them do as much of the back and forth as possible. The dad did come to the door and meet DH, so it’s not as though he didn’t have reason to think it was all okay before he left her there. He wasn’t to know DH was just fronting!

jammyhand · 21/10/2023 17:21

Ktime · 21/10/2023 17:08

Did you mean to be so patronising?

Ooh is this a bonus textual analysis question? The answer is yes

jammyhand · 21/10/2023 17:23

@Ktime ok sorry, that was pretty rude but I couldn't resist.

I did initially consider replying that for many reasons I rarely assume people (especially online) are NT/ND and hadn't assumed you were NT. But I decided to stop engaging due to the hostile tone, plus wasn't sure what you wanted – congrats? A grovelling apology? So, I settled on great for you!

(Which, yes, was intentionally a bit patronising, sorry – but then I could say that your use of "patronising" implies you're assuming I'm NT, which I'm not, but let's not go in circles eh? ;))

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 21/10/2023 17:29

Apparentlystillchilled · 21/10/2023 17:18

Well done OP. My eldest DD is also autistic so I can see how this might arise so I think you’ve handled this splendidly!

And from me too Wink

Spanglemum02 · 21/10/2023 17:34

By 'dinner' she might have thought you meant lunch.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 21/10/2023 17:35

Spanglemum02 · 21/10/2023 17:34

By 'dinner' she might have thought you meant lunch.

I thought that too. I always called Lunch Dinner as a child.

sheflieswithherownwings · 21/10/2023 17:35

If I was the friend's mum, I would have texted you first to make sure you knew! My DD (also 9) sometimes comes home and tells me that she's been invited round to a friends at the weekend, which I don't doubt, but I wouldn't drop her off without having checked that the parents know and are expecting her! In your shoes, I would just text the mum to say, does it work to come and pick the DD up at X time? They're having a lovely time, or something similar and not make a big deal about not knowing and then speak to your DD later. (or ask your DD if she knows when the playdate is supposed to end!)

wishon · 21/10/2023 17:36

@All2Well I feel that direct clarifications can actually help things sound less passive aggressive. If you think it's DD's fault, and if you don't want them to feel bad or to rush, you can state all of this directly.

Like "Oh I wasn't expecting xyz but it's on DD and not your child, and I'll have a chat with DD about it. Please don't feel bad, we don't have to be anywhere so don't rush to pick her up" just sounds a bit better than "I wasn't expecting xyz, I'll have a chat with DD about not inviting kids home without permission. Luckily we don't have to be anywhere today". To me at least.

Namerequired · 21/10/2023 18:06

This happened with my son a while back, though the other way around. He’s a teenager though (also ND as is this friend). So my son tells me his friend has invited their group round to his house for their birthday. I drop him round about midday as arranged. Takes the parents a few minutes to answer which should have been my 1st clue. The parents didn’t turn it, just let him in, and off I went. Didn’t find out until pick up that his friend wasn’t up, and the parents didn’t know ds was coming round. I was mortified. I messaged the parents to apologise, but they were fine. I will check in future.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 21/10/2023 18:14

Neurodiversitydoctor · 21/10/2023 16:34

OP is clearly North of Lincon therefore has dinner at 12 and tea at 5.

That's rather rude of you. I was brought up in Bristol, Cornwall and Wiltshire. Dinner ( at 1) and tea (at 6) all the way. I do say lunch now though, to avoid confusion because some people do seem easily confused, but actually live way north of Lincoln. We still have tea though.

Bertiesmum3 · 21/10/2023 18:14

TiredMamOfTwo · 21/10/2023 15:08

Dinner already it's 3pm? I would just ask what time they're planning to pick her up and leave it at that then.

We have dinner around 12/1 o’clock and tea around 5/6 o’clock!

Noicant · 21/10/2023 18:16

I’d just be honest and say you had no idea that DD had invited her DD over (laughing emoji) , they are playing happily so that worked out fine but what time are you collecting her?

Tbh though I’d never have dropped DD over without speaking to the other parent first. Thats a bit odd.

Thighdentitycrisis · 21/10/2023 18:20

Surely the parents of visiting friend should have called you before to confirm? Unless your DD told them it was all checked with you, in which case she needs a conversation about telling the truth

OnGoldenPond · 21/10/2023 18:20

AlexandriasWindmill · 21/10/2023 15:02

Just say something like 'hi I missed your DH when he dropped DD off and my DH forgot to check about whether we're dropping off or you're collecting. The girls are having a lovely time.'

OP has said she has no idea where the friend lives so shouldn't go offering to drop her off!

Also never offer to drop off, parents should always pick up when their child has had a play date. Any hint otherwise opens the door to massive piss taking. Voice of hard experience here.

spidermonkeys · 21/10/2023 18:23

Is your house usually the 'default house' ?
Mine is like this and I never know how many kids I am cooking for. I usually just message the mum and say XX is here, happy to do dinner, can you pick they up by X o'clock.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/10/2023 18:24

You might need to remind your DD to check with you before inviting her friend to anything (saying it once might not be sufficient, a 'That's good, thank you for asking me first, you should always ask me or your Dad first before getting your friend excited, as it would be sad for her to be disappointed if we couldn't do it')' - otherwise you could find her coming in with not just a phone, but a pair of pyjamas and a teddy bear for a sleepover!

jrc1071 · 21/10/2023 18:27

I think being straight into the point, and honest is the best thing here.

Just leave a message with the mother stating that it’s possible the children arranged a play date without you being informed, the father just dropped off your daughter. If you want to know what she and the father discussed as for pick up if you need to know as your child did not discuss with this first. and then ask in the future if they could just check in with you first to make sure that this is truly the plan

Advicerequest · 21/10/2023 18:33

At that age surely this is always arranged with parents?

PuppyMonkey · 21/10/2023 18:36

Anyone else wondering what the OP would have done if SHE had opened the door to the dad when child was dropped off. Just let her in and pretended she knew the kid was coming without questioning it to save his embarrassment? Grin

Lndnmummy · 21/10/2023 18:37

It is really odd to drop your 9 year old to a strangers house without any conversation between the adults.

Starzinsky · 21/10/2023 18:38

Back in the day kids used to call round for their friends, play for the afternoon then make their own arrangements to go home, parent didn't do any organising. Seems a shame every play date has to be formally arranged in advance.

LuluBlakey1 · 21/10/2023 18:41

SusanTheShocked · 21/10/2023 14:58

My daughter’s (9 years old) friend from school just turned up at my house. My DH answered the door as I was in the bath and her dad dropped her off.

My partner assumed I’d made plans and didn’t tell him…but I didn’t make plans. I assume dd did, but didn’t tell me? I don’t want to say anything as they are playing nicely and I don’t want to make the girl feel bad, though I will be having a word with dd later.

I have the mums phone number and need to message her as I’m not sure what’s happening/when she’s being picked up etc.

I need some advice on how to word the message to the mother in a way that doesn’t make it seem like I’m unhappy she is here, but letting her know that I had no idea this was happening.

(For context I am very socially awkward so worrying about how to word this probably more than I should be)

You need to speak to your daughter and find out what's going on before you start asking for advice on any messages you might send.