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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Family drama

5 replies

GED1310 · 23/07/2024 08:40

It was my mother’s 65th birthday recently and because we’re such a big family I arranged for a surprise party - everyone in agreement at the cost per head. When it came to payment despite asking and said to private message me if there was an issue a few took ages to respond, to the point I actually paid for everyone which spurred them into action. Frustrating but not too much of an issue. I then paid additionally for extra food, one family said they would bring a packed lunch for their kids so not to count them - I ended up paying for one kids portion as I knew they’d likely eat and told my DB - just got a ‘thanks’, rather than an offer to buy me a drink or something. Come the day, again I offered to go to the bar, DSiL wanted a drink but no ‘how much do I owe?’. Again, I wouldn’t have accepted but it’s just politeness! The hotel staff brought take away boxes and before most of us got a look in, DB and his kids and DSiL were clawing at the food leaving nothing for the rest of us - there was a fair bit left too! Given I’d paid more than my share, arranged everything I’d have thought it’d be polite for my mother and I to have first dibs! None of them are particularly struggling financially- just frustrated at how rude they were! AIBU?

OP posts:
Lurkingonmn · 26/07/2024 07:18

Of course you are not being unreasonable. Your DB and DSil are cheeky af but either you call them up on it or let it slide. Surely 99% of people would give first dibs to the person who was having a bday and then the person who organised it/incurred extra costs.
Probably should've addressed it at the time as it's not likely to be a recurring event. You need to pick which things you can let slide and which you deal with. I feel like there is now some building resentment (if there wasn't already- cos people don't suddenly act like cf from nowhere) so you need to decide when/if you will address it.

Quitelikeit · 26/07/2024 07:22

I think you should have just said let’s split the bill between us all or said I will pay the bill, screenshot it and you can send me what you owe after the event.

Im not sure from your op how you paid upfront for things if you were eating out?

Brefugee · 26/07/2024 07:23

you've probably missed the boat on this. When SIL asked about the drink you could have said "I'll add it to your tab, you owe me XX quid. Do you prefer cash, paypal or a bank transfer?"
With the meal - that's on you, you shouldn't have ordered it.

Leftovers? dive in while they're filling boxes and say "thanks for helping everyone" grabbed a load and passed them round.

All you can do now is pick your moment and tell them what they did and why it is CF and why they are organising the next big family shindig.

Starzinsky · 26/07/2024 14:25

Don't offer to get a drink if you don't really want to. Organising can be thank less task, you have to be in it for the love of it. But no harm telling your brother he was inconsiderate though.

Izzynohopanda · 26/07/2024 14:32

If you offered to go to the bar, sil probably presumed that you were offering to buy her a drink.

Did people know that you paid extra? Maybe they presumed everyone had paid the same.

Organising events like this is always thankless.

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