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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do not want to look after someone's DC

466 replies

howan · 03/01/2024 18:35

My DH's family member has 2 DCs. Second just turned 1 and is, obviously, hard work, so she v ofter 'organises' sleepovers AT OUR HOUSE for her older DC, who is 6 and lovely, but I am fed up with looking after them! DH thinks that it is 'lovely for cousins to spend time together' ( they are not even cousins!), but our DCs are 14 and 12, so do not have patience or will to entertain their younger 'cousin' all w/end. DH just announced that the child will be coming this Friday and i have just texted the mother that we are going to see my family, so that will not be possible. Mother texted back that 'the child is very upset'. Honestly, I don't give a damn 😤 No amount of talking to DH helps, as he thinks that we need to help, but I have not received any help when I had young DC, why should I'help' them now? AIBU to say no every time from now on? My DC are not interested in having their little ' cousin' for sleepover, either.

OP posts:
Crikeyisthatthetime · 05/01/2024 11:18

Aha. We've arrived at the actual problem. Your 'D' H doesn't like you working. He probably hadn't given much thought to the impact it would have on his life if you weren't always there to pick up the slack (any old thing he decides needs doing but he ain't doing them).
Sulking is immature and manipulative. Take him at his word, don't cook for him tonight. Keep saying on repeat that you aren't babysitting great-nephew any more, you need your weekend with your children... Except when YOU choose, on YOUR terms. Being asked first being one of them.
Let him stamp his feet, stay unruffled.

LadyBird1973 · 05/01/2024 11:29

Stop cooking for your husband. His behaviour is outrageous - verging on bullying tbh. It's 'do as I want or I will punish you with sulking and snarky remarks'. This needs dealing with as a matter of urgency.
If he was mine, he'd be hating right now that his attitude and behaviour is bang out of order, that he has no right to be volunteering anyone else to do unpaid labour for his lazy cousin and if he didn't get his head out of his backside right now, he'll be finding himself single in the imminent future!
Dont let him treat you like shit. I get if you look at your life, there are lots of instances where he behaves selfishly and at your expense.

Newestname002 · 05/01/2024 11:29

@howan

DH is almost not talking to me still. Yesterday, didn't even eat his dinner, as 'I don't want to burden you'

What an idiot. Him - not you. What else doesn't he want you to do for him, I wonder? 🌹

MarkWithaC · 05/01/2024 11:34

LadyBird1973 · 05/01/2024 11:29

Stop cooking for your husband. His behaviour is outrageous - verging on bullying tbh. It's 'do as I want or I will punish you with sulking and snarky remarks'. This needs dealing with as a matter of urgency.
If he was mine, he'd be hating right now that his attitude and behaviour is bang out of order, that he has no right to be volunteering anyone else to do unpaid labour for his lazy cousin and if he didn't get his head out of his backside right now, he'll be finding himself single in the imminent future!
Dont let him treat you like shit. I get if you look at your life, there are lots of instances where he behaves selfishly and at your expense.

Totally agree with this. Don't just not cook for him; that's tit-for-tat and you are better than that (than him!). Ask him outright for an adult conversation about this issue and tell him sulking and pass-agg martyrdom is not acceptable. Make clear that either he engages properly with you and the issue to resolve it, or you will think very hard about the future of the relationship.

DillyDilly · 05/01/2024 11:55

You are quite right in not wanting or accepting this girl into your home every weekend or even once a month. You work FT, there is a huge age gap between her and your own DD's. You've reared your children way past this age. Neither yourself or your DD's should be expected to care or entertain this child.

It might be somewhat a different matter if there were exceptional circumstances, but not the case here.

Stick to your stance on this issue and ignore your DH's sulking. If the girl were to turn up, go out and leave your DH to care for her or else drive the girl back home straight away.

DillyDilly · 05/01/2024 11:57

Today, don't cook for your DH and if wonders why - just say that he said yesterday he didn't want to burden you with cooking. Don't pander to him.

MachineBee · 05/01/2024 12:17

howan · 05/01/2024 10:16

👍👍
This will be my position from now on.
I don't want to hide behind my children, their mocks, I don't want to invent visits to my family every w/end, I don't want to leave my house and check into a hotel for the whole w/end, I don't want to leave my children in the house when I go out, as the 6yo becomes their responsibility, I don't want to send my children to nephew's house for the weekend, as they will be looking after the 1yo too, while mother 'catches up on her sleep'.
I DO NOT WANT TO DO ANY OF THIS! I want to be left alone at weekends in my house, with my DCs.
Thank You All who took their time to answer my AIBU question, as I was made to almost believe that that is 'what families do'.
DH is almost not talking to me still. Yesterday, didn't even eat his dinner, as 'I don't want to burden you'- well, I have already cooked by that point!- so, as you can see, problems in our family run much deeper than 6yo's childcare. I only started working FT in September and, maybe, started asserting myself more, as I don't want to take s* from my Dh or his family any longer.

You just starting FT work really stood out for me here and the fact that you note you’ve started asserting yourself more.

When I returned to FT work after my DCs left primary education, I naively expected household labour to be shared more equally. After all, I was now contributing financially and assumed it would be understood I needed some downtime just as my ExH had demanded when I was a SAHM.

Didn’t happen. Lots of rows, accusations of me being unreasonable and selfish. He also used to volunteer me to help his parents after they moved house - EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND! Oh and then he changed jobs that meant he wasn’t around much at weekends and got himself a mistress - because I just didn’t understand how hard it was being him!

OP - please keep asserting yourself. If you still love him and want to make life better you’ve got a big challenge on your hands to teach him how to be a better man, father and husband.

Daleksatemyshed · 05/01/2024 12:39

He's got used to you being the housekeeper cum childminder Op, your DH probably loved you not working. He's going to have to get used to it, you don't have endless free time he can make use of to impress his family.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 05/01/2024 12:53

T1Dmama · 05/01/2024 09:36

But how is this OP’s responsibility? If HE wants to help his nephew then surely HE should provide the childcare!!… it’s totally unfair that he’s offering his wife to look after someone else’s child without even asking her first!

This is MN. There are so many women here who genuinely believe that random women should be more responsible for random children than their actual parents are.

Greenpolkadot · 05/01/2024 12:55

Some of the suggestions on here have been ridiculous,,
Send your kids to their house,
Go out and leave your kids at home,
This child is dh's love child...ffs
Some Mumsnetters have been eating way too much Quality Street,,,

Good on you OP..stay firm

pictoosh · 05/01/2024 13:20

"I don't want to hide behind my children, their mocks, I don't want to invent visits to my family every w/end, I don't want to leave my house and check into a hotel for the whole w/end, I don't want to leave my children in the house when I go out, as the 6yo becomes their responsibility, I don't want to send my children to nephew's house for the weekend, as they will be looking after the 1yo too, while mother 'catches up on her sleep'.
I DO NOT WANT TO DO ANY OF THIS! I want to be left alone at weekends in my house, with my DCs."

Quite right. Honestly people do come up with silliest and most deceitful advice don't they? None of them would actually do as they suggest themselves of course.
Honesty is always the best policy in these situations. You're not doing anything wrong to say no more. It's an unrealistic expectation to have of you. There doesn't have to be a convoluted plan or a slimy lie...a simple 'I won't be continuing because dh offers but leaves everything to me' is fine.

Sceptical123 · 05/01/2024 14:12

Yes it does all sound a bit punishy to me now that you’ve altered your ‘role’/ availability within the household. But I’m assuming going FT was an agreed decision. If not, maybe even more of a reason he’s trying to tie you down at the wknds or show you who really calls the shots with your spare time. You’ve presumably gone FT to allow you to contribute more £ (which some men don’t like bizarrely as it means you are less dependent/beholden) and it also means you’ll be out the house more so might he have trust issues? This is all speculation and there may be nothing in it in it other than an abundant lack of consideration on his part, which don’t get me wrong is a fairly big issue - as you can tell from all these responses on this thread.

Sceptical123 · 05/01/2024 14:13

Also - it’s interesting that you said he wants to be the ‘ruler’ etc - his favourite film isn’t ‘The GODFATHER’ by any chance?? All a bit male Head of the Family, male underlings seeking favours etc. When he starts stuffing his mouth with cotton wool, growing a thin moustache and talking about offering people “protection” then I’d be really worried 👀

Sceptical123 · 05/01/2024 14:15

(sorry, I don’t mean to be flippant as this is a very serious issue, just trying to add a bit of humour to a difficult situation, I’m not poking fun at you x)

LaurieStrode · 05/01/2024 14:18

It's good you are working fulltime. You need options for yourself because this marriage doesn't sound good for you.

Please do state that to nephew's wife and let us know. We are rooting for you!!

theconfidenceofwho · 05/01/2024 14:22

LolaSmiles · 05/01/2024 10:24

DH is almost not talking to me still.Yesterday, didn't even eat his dinner, as 'I don't want to burden you'- well, I have already cooked by that point!- so, as you can see, problems in our family run much deeper than 6yo's childcare. I only started working FT in September and, maybe, started asserting myself more, as I don't want to take s from my Dh or his family any longer.

He's sulking and trying to guilt trip you because you're not playing the expected role of support human to his white knight, head of the family act.

Working full time, having your shit together, knowing your worth and telling DH you're not free childcare for his family is probably really annoying him right now.

Absolutely this! Well done Op! Continue being the strong woman that you are!

Iamnotalemming · 05/01/2024 14:57

Well done OP 💪

WhereYouLeftIt · 05/01/2024 16:10

howan · 05/01/2024 10:16

👍👍
This will be my position from now on.
I don't want to hide behind my children, their mocks, I don't want to invent visits to my family every w/end, I don't want to leave my house and check into a hotel for the whole w/end, I don't want to leave my children in the house when I go out, as the 6yo becomes their responsibility, I don't want to send my children to nephew's house for the weekend, as they will be looking after the 1yo too, while mother 'catches up on her sleep'.
I DO NOT WANT TO DO ANY OF THIS! I want to be left alone at weekends in my house, with my DCs.
Thank You All who took their time to answer my AIBU question, as I was made to almost believe that that is 'what families do'.
DH is almost not talking to me still. Yesterday, didn't even eat his dinner, as 'I don't want to burden you'- well, I have already cooked by that point!- so, as you can see, problems in our family run much deeper than 6yo's childcare. I only started working FT in September and, maybe, started asserting myself more, as I don't want to take s* from my Dh or his family any longer.

You started working FT in September - when did these weekend sleepovers start? If it was around then, I'd be deeply suspicious that he was trying to make it difficult to hold down your job. But it also sounds as if loading you up with work has been his hobby ongoing for a loooong time to, so probably not.

It very much sounds as if your husband has a vanity problem. He wants, as you put it "taken a role of a family 'ruler' and problem solver" . Also, "Parents/grandparents all live few hours away, so not very involved" - the 'parents' being his sibling and their partner, 'grandparents' being his parents/your in-laws. Are there any more family around that he likes to assume responsibility for? Any other nieces/nephews/cousins, or is it just this one nephew? If there are more family, is he the generation 'up' from them (regardless of actual ages)?

If it's just this one nephew, it's easier, because then you've just got to deal with one couple directly. Just as you texted the mother that this weekend was not happening, you text BOTH of the cheeky fuckers that there will be no more sleepovers. No ifs, no buts, no excuses, no justifications; just that there will be no more sleepovers.

If there are other family members for whom DH is the Problem Solver, do similar. No ifs, no buts, no excuses, no justifications; just that there will be no more lifts / money / outings where you always pay / whatever family shit he has signed you up to provide. No more.

That leaves the problem of your petulant sulking husband.

Why did he do what he did? Well my guess is that this makes him feel like a very fine fellow indeed. It's about how he sees himself - Head of the Family, Problem Solver, the go-to guy and all-round Good Guy.

You telling him sleepovers are off has held up a mirror to him and shown him that he is none of these things; that actually he's a bit of a fraud, riding on your coat-tails.

All you can do is point out to him that his primary responsibility is to his own children, and his constant dumping of a 6-year-old on them is twattish to the extreme. Your eldest is coming up to the important years educationally, and should not be hampered by a chaotic home / mewling child / however you care to put it to him. I'd also point out that he's infantilising the family members to who he masquerades as Problem Solver - how will they ever learn to solve their own problems if he keeps stepping in? His 'kindness' in the short term actually works out as being very unkind to his nephew and nephew's wife, in the long term. And so, it needs to stop.

He won't take kindly to being shown that he is not, in fact, a Good Guy. That he has been kidding himself. Anticipate more petulance and sulking! But hold firm. He's just going to have to accept that any 'support' he offers family members will have to be provided by himself (and ONLY himself). He may actually do that, or he may learn not to offer what he won't provide. Either way - hold firm, and ride out the petulance and sulking.

(Oh, and don't cook for him tonight. His first lesson should be that you'll take him at his word when he says he doesn't want to burden you. In other words, don't cut off your nose to spite your face.)

verdantverdure · 05/01/2024 16:58

Well done @howan I'm sorry your DH is being a bit of a silly man child and I hope he gets over it soon.

Shinyandnew1 · 05/01/2024 17:00

Isn’t be tempted to say, ‘when are you going to stop sulking? You can help your great nephew/his wife as much as you want-you can go and babysit there, you can take their child out if you want, I just don’t want you to volunteer me into doing childcare for them-I don’t think that’s unreasonable, do you?’

Jeannie88 · 05/01/2024 17:56

Shouldn't be expected, I could and wouldn't ever palm my DC off on anyone else apart from a rare night away. Once you do something a few times it becomes a norm, time to change that! It does seem as free babysitting is being manipulated, especially oh so upset, that's just emotional blackmail and not right.

Fullofxmascbeer · 05/01/2024 18:28

Tell him that you’ve offered to help out a friend next weekend so he’s expected to be there for 9am for a whole weekend of decorating. They are really grateful to him…

When he obviously protests, tell h8m that is what he’s effectively doing to you. Only not just one weekend!

InAPickle12345 · 05/01/2024 18:30

Fullofxmascbeer · 05/01/2024 18:28

Tell him that you’ve offered to help out a friend next weekend so he’s expected to be there for 9am for a whole weekend of decorating. They are really grateful to him…

When he obviously protests, tell h8m that is what he’s effectively doing to you. Only not just one weekend!

This is excellent! 👏 And if I were OP I would absolutely do this...

wronginalltherightways · 05/01/2024 18:39

I agree with the above example: tell him you've agreed to help a friend with decorating this weekend, and he needs to be there in the morning to help.

It is EXACTLY the same things ... tell him that!

Sceptical123 · 05/01/2024 18:49

It’s a brilliant idea, the only thing is ‘D’H may retort that a friend isn’t the same as a family member so it’s not the same obligation to help. Perhaps say a family member of YOURS needs the help, then he won’t really have a leg to stand on.