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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not do more for my aunty?

12 replies

WannabeCatLady · 09/03/2024 17:04

My lovely grandma is in hospital due to an infection exacerbating her COPD symptoms. She's not on - to put it bluntly - deaths door but her condition is getting worse.

My grandma has my aunty and there are 4 gcs. One, my auntie son, currently lives with her and the plan is for my grandma to move into my aunties when her health declines to the point she can't live at home anymore.

I didn't visit her during this hospital stay until my cold symptoms had been clear for two days. I have rang her twice a day, made her laugh etc. She's had lots of visitors inc her other 3 gcs, her neighbour, her cleaner and her brother. My grandma actually likes being in hospital on a ward as she - in her own words - gets to stay in bed and the staff do everything for her (also why her COPD gets worse because even at home if she can lie down reading all day she will).

I had an awful t/c from my cousin telling me how upset his mum is that I haven't been in, it's her final days, my cold won't make a bit of difference as it's the end (my grandma told me the same day she was coming home in a day or two) and so I went up there with a mask on expecting the worse and actually she's not near the end of this illness. She's still expected to have a year or two left. The only reason why she's still in hospital is because OT haven't signed her off yet but the oxygen nurse has.

I keep feeling that my aunty expects me to do more in general than what I do (when my grandma is at home and when she's in hospital). I usually pop in to see her once a week, ring her most days, my dd (18) cleans her house once a week (it needs twice weekly cleans as my cousin is so messy) and will do adhoc things that she needs but we've sorted meals on wheels, milkman and the social worker sorted a stairlift etc out a year or so ago. I can't do more. I work FT and often work late/evenings on top, am a single parent to two, am stretched thin as it is. Work has been so stressful lately that I'm on zopicane to sleep. My aunty has retired early, in good health, neither of my siblings or my cousin have dc. My cousin doesn't work a FT job as he's an actor. He doesn't do 'care' for her as such but he is company for her which is what she needs.

Is this just an eldest daughter thing? I feel the weight of expectations and disappointment from my aunty - whereas my grandma is perfectly happy with what I do and how often she sees me and speaks to me. I did ring her and my cousin and tell them what they did was unfair, but I'm not over it. I really can't do anymore and I'd much prefer her to go into a home rather than add caring duties to my ever growing to do list. AIBU, should I be doing more to help my aunty?

OP posts:
LittleWeed2 · 09/03/2024 17:16

Sounds to me like she is just realising the responsibility she has taken on. Even though she has the time she possibly isn’t wanting to have her aged DM with her every day.
As even when they live with you you can still feel more is expected of you in the caring role.
I would say you and your DD do more than enough.
It’s difficult -my DM assumed I’d take her out when I went, eg to supermarket when in fact I just wanted a break and to listen to a good audiobook in the car -not chat more. But how selfish does that sound!
Will DGM have some independence, friends visiting her or taking her out for example?

WannabeCatLady · 09/03/2024 18:23

@LittleWeed2 thank you for getting through my post!

When she's home she has her neighbours that visit, she also goes out for lunch once in the week and the hairdressers and lunch again on the weekend. My teenage ds usually pops over once every couple of weeks and spends an evening playing cards with her. She's not lonely but will stay in all day in her pyjamas if she can.

I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and have a conversation that I'm not able to do any personal care or do any more than once a week visit (I'll obviously cover if anyone goes away and make sure she doesn't go a day without seeing anyone but even that will be hard when a few times a month I don't finish work till 9pm ish).

You're definitely not selfish for wanting to go shopping by yourself!

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WannabeCatLady · 09/03/2024 18:25

She gets taken out for lunch and the hairdressers etc - she can't drive and is on oxygen all the time.

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Daffidale · 09/03/2024 19:53

Are the other 3 GCs by any chance all men? Cos yes I do think this could be an eldest daughter thing and because you are a woman they expect you to take on more caring stuff. It sounds to me like your grandma is OK and you already do plenty. I’m sure it’s hard on your Aunt but you have DC and work full time.

Inkyblue123 · 09/03/2024 19:59

She’s doing alright tbh. I work FT have a child and 2 siblings living over seas, it’s just expected that I magic time out if my day. Even the hospital and social worker expected me to be a full time carer ; which is ridiculous. Stand your ground, there is only so much you can do. Commit to what you can actually do and do it. Draw a line and tell your family that other members have to step up.

SaggyCushionCover · 09/03/2024 20:07

How are you using the attendance allowance? That may only be £100 a week but it can pay for a few hours of care/cleaning

pootlin · 09/03/2024 20:09

Why is your dd cleaning the cousin’s mess?

WannabeCatLady · 09/03/2024 20:27

pootlin · 09/03/2024 20:09

Why is your dd cleaning the cousin’s mess?

Because my aunt doesn't want my grandma living in a mess and he just doesn't clean up after himself. She would pay for the cleaner twice but dd likes earning a bit extra money - I think it's ridiculous that my aunty pays for this but he is her only child (he's almost 30) and the apple of her eye... and it means my grandma isn't living by herself.

I do have a sister but she's not expected to do anything and doesn't see any of the family regularly. My brother doesn't do anything, visits her a couple of times a year. My aunty is very lovely and I feel a bit guilty complaining, she's given up her share of my grandmas house and money for it to be split 4 ways between the gc - but I'd rather my grandma was properly looked after with that money! I do not have it in me to share the load equally with my aunt.

I've never heard of attendance allowance. I have advised my aunty to ring age concern for advice on what support my grandma can get and what she can't but I don't think my aunt has. I have to be honest, I don't have the headspace to sort that out either.

I also feel guilty because I did live with my grandma for a year or so as a teenager and she really has been so caring and supportive over the years. It's not that I don't want to help more, it's I'm in the office 8.30 to 5, add in an evening or two a week, two dc with A levels etc, shopping/cooking/cleaning, let alone anything for myself like gym or friends. I just don't have it in me to organise her and have all that in my head to. I also have adhd and can't even do my own paperwork!

Sorry these posts are so long. I'm feeling very guilty and selfish, yet exacerbated that my aunty expects more.

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JustCleaningtheBBQ · 09/03/2024 20:29

That's what I was going to say! Your cousin should be cleaning the home he lives in and not just his own mess. Why is he making a mess anyway - how disrespectful to your GM. Does he pay to live there?

WannabeCatLady · 09/03/2024 20:37

JustCleaningtheBBQ · 09/03/2024 20:29

That's what I was going to say! Your cousin should be cleaning the home he lives in and not just his own mess. Why is he making a mess anyway - how disrespectful to your GM. Does he pay to live there?

I'm not sure whether he pays or not.. I think he's supposed to give her £250 a month. But tbf he doesn't have to live there. He could still be living at home, she wouldn't be able to live there by herself without much more visitors so she'd be living with my aunty if he wasn't there. It suits them all that he's there.

What has annoyed me though is he wants to be a 'influencer' so keeps recording her in hospital, and recording her at home coming down the stairlift and posting it all over his socials 🤬

She can't live with me as there are too many steps leading up to mine. I can't move in with her and my two teenagers plus cat so really I have to bite my tongue and roll my eyes internally because he is doing more just by living with her so she can stay at home.

OP posts:
LittleWeed2 · 10/03/2024 13:46

, she's given up her share of my grandmas house and money for it to be split 4 ways between the gc - but I'd rather my grandma was properly looked after with that money! I do not have it in me to share the load equally with my aunt.

sound as if everyone is ‘doing so much for DGM’ when in fact it fits into their own wants and life. The influencer in particular.

And obviously you have more than enough on your plate without taking on more. You need to tell aunty that.

so someone is caring for DGM to the end so dgcs get an inheritance - we’ll see how that pans out -most likely a care home as no one wants to be a full time carer.

WannabeCatLady · 10/03/2024 16:21

LittleWeed2 · 10/03/2024 13:46

, she's given up her share of my grandmas house and money for it to be split 4 ways between the gc - but I'd rather my grandma was properly looked after with that money! I do not have it in me to share the load equally with my aunt.

sound as if everyone is ‘doing so much for DGM’ when in fact it fits into their own wants and life. The influencer in particular.

And obviously you have more than enough on your plate without taking on more. You need to tell aunty that.

so someone is caring for DGM to the end so dgcs get an inheritance - we’ll see how that pans out -most likely a care home as no one wants to be a full time carer.

Yes I think that too, I really do feel my cousin is exploiting my gran with these videos - plus it's not altruism to why he's living there. He prefers it to home as he doesn't get asked to tidy up after himself, my nan doesn't notice his drinking and cocaine use. It suits him and he gets to be the martyr grandson who is all so special as he watches telly with her on an evening when he's in for the night.

I'm going to ring age concern tomorrow and arrange for them to go out and see her.

And I'm going to ring my aunt tomorrow once I've done it to have the conversation that I can't do more. If she can't manage then the house needs to be sold/care paid for, instead of getting upset by unvoiced expectations.

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