Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband trying to compete which grandparents see DC more

294 replies

hmhwd · 10/08/2024 14:54

More like, is he being unreasonable or is this a normal reaction from him?

DC Is 2.5. My family is quite wealthy, his is pretty average. In laws live closer so we see them for day trips once a month, my mum lives further so I will visit her overnight for a couple of nights but also about once per month.
Sadly my DF died when I was a teen but he was highly successful, left a large inheritance to my mum and I. My mum, having raised me, now mainly travels the world, enjoys life and helps me out with raising DC when I need it. On a few holidays (3-4 per year) she will invite me and DC along, DH is invited too but can't join for all of them because of limited annual leave, he does join for probably half (sometimes joins part way through a holiday, sometimes doesn't join at all and sometimes joins for the full length). These holidays are fully paid for by my mum. When not on holiday, I'll sometimes go to stay with my mum for a night or two if DH knows he will work late - her house is large enough for DC to have their own room, all the "child" equipment that I need can be and is stored at hers. On other days, my mum will just pop over to ours to help out, play with DC etc - this doesn't affect DH because he is out at work and it'll be in the daytime.

My ILs see DC far less. They can't afford to take us on holiday and my DH wouldn't pay for them to go with us. They visit maybe once a month. Staying at theirs is more difficult because a) it would need to be over a weekend when DH can come and b) the house is a squeeze, we don’t have anything there that we need (baby chair, cot, all the nappies / bottles / aprons / toys) so have to bring everything. I guess I also don't ask for help from my ILs the way I do from my own mum (for example if I need someone to watch DC whilst I have a doctors appointment - I will ask my mum or move it, never ask my ILs), largely because I just don't have that kind of relationship with them. We are civil and no arguments but we don't "get on like a house on fire" in that we have very different views, not many common interests. I find their visits tedious and exhausting for many (very subtle but many) reasons - none because they're terrible people, just that I find them difficult to be around, we run out of conversation fast and we have to fake agreeing on topics.

I've noticed recently my husband really tries to compete and compensate. He's trying to squeeze us into their house at Xmas (as opposed to hotel like we've done previous years) even though that meant 6 adults and 1 child in a 2/3 bedroom house (3rd bedroom is a study that will have a blow up bed in the middle, the bedroom we stay in will mean either someone sleeps on a floor mattress so we physically can’t open the door or walk around until mattress lifted, or all 3 of us sleep in a small double bed). Or he is irritable when he sees that DC will run towards my mum shouting GAM-GAAAAAAM ("grandma") or when the two have little inside jokes or games. If I ask about it he claims he's absolutely fine and just wants DC to give "gam-gam" a rest (my mum is thrilled with it, doesn’t want a rest). I can just feel resentment towards my mum for being able to spend more time with DC?

OP posts:
pleasantgreenery · 11/08/2024 21:04

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 20:50

Oh and @pleasantgreenery do I love DH? Yes. I love him but I also love myself and my DC and I ensure we're all happy rather then cramming myself and my child into a room where we can't get out of bed without lifting the mattress just to please PILs. And not in love enough to lose my mind and leave assets unprotected.

thanks for answering.

I see lifting mattress is by you in your room_ but then there will be 2 or 3 people on that mattress so one of you can't just lift it to go out without everyone moving. Is there even an ensuite in that room? I might accept it if it came with an ensuite and only need to get out of the room together as a family.

hotel it is or Dh goes alone with DC for their sleep over.

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 21:08

@pleasantgreenery no en-suite. I guess they see it as a place to just sleep, no one hangs out in the room in the daytime so who cares if the room is cramped for the visit. I care!!

OP posts:
Whycantitbetwentydegreesandsunny · 11/08/2024 21:09

You sound very spoilt snd entitled OP. I haven't read such a mean spirited thread in a long time. Money isn't everything you know. Everything is about you and what you want and all the money you and your mum have. Good people are generous people.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 11/08/2024 21:38

I would not be sleeping in that bedroom either, not with my child and my dh. that's what hotels and AirB&B's are for !!!

and I would only be considering staying near to the gp's every 3rd year at the most ! so year 1 at home, year 2 at one set of gp's and year 3 the other set of gp's

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 11/08/2024 23:11

Two adults and a small child in a double isn't so terrible. Especially for what I assume is just one night?

A hotel and then driving over on Christmas Day doesn't seem terribly fun. Watching drinking, constant "ok but we need to leave by X to get back", carting presents around...

Lawnorder · 11/08/2024 23:24

Your life sounds transactional

sunights · 11/08/2024 23:33

I'd suggest an assertive approach where you don't compromise to the point of discomfort- even if it means you and DC in a hotel and DH on the air mattress at PILs.
life is too short....

HotandBigandSwollen · 12/08/2024 00:16

YANBU at all. I am very close to my parents so they are naturally much more involved grandparents because of their relationship with me. Not everything is about the baby. I am a person in my own right who has a right to be close to whoever I am close with and rely on the people I trust.

Those years when kids are small are brutal on the woman if she has to do everything on her own. And I can see from here that some women are just martyrs. Personally, I wouldn't make my life harder.

Your DH is being petty but I would suck up the Christmas thing for his sake.

The thing about grandma though is awful and I would nip that in the bud.

Pallisers · 12/08/2024 02:44

Now, maybe take up the advice to spend 8am to bedtime one day a month with his family or 2 half days? As someone said, consistent routine of trips to park to feed ducks is enough for DC to bond with his parents. DH is useless, so try to make an effort. Unless you have your eyes on divorce so want to say they were never involved!

Probably decent enough advice but aren't you all depressed that the relationship dh wants his parents to have with his child is ... not his responsibility, not his parents' responsibility but his wife's. Seriously? OP needs to spend time with dh's parents because dh wants that to happen but he won't bring his child over on his own because ... he struggles with a toddler.

His parents not having a close relationship with their child is on him. not OP.

And god forbid a woman doesn't want to sleep on an airbed on the floor for christmas - how entitled!

EverywhereYouGo · 12/08/2024 04:55

LuckySantangelo35 · 11/08/2024 12:20

We all have to rough it sometimes Op @hmhwd
🤷‍♀️

Do we?

We don't have to. It doesn't sound like OP has to either

EverywhereYouGo · 12/08/2024 05:05

I certainly wouldn't be staying in a cramped house when a hotel is an option.

Your husband doesn't sound the best, he needs to put more effort and time in if he wants to get able to settle his own child and generally gave a closer bond. If he wants that closer bond between his parents and his child, that's also his responsibility. It sounds like he just can't be bothered.

I can't imagine not properly sharing finances though, you sound quite detached from your husband in a lot of ways. Maybe that's because he's a bit shit though, in which case I can't blame you.

autienotnaughty · 12/08/2024 05:07

I'd compromise and occasionally ask them to babysit. (It will help ds get use to them) on a weekend encourage dh to take ds to visit them .

I'd get a hotel at Xmas if you can afford it.

saraclara · 12/08/2024 07:48

What a bunch of princesses a lot of Mumsnetters are. Two adults and a toddler in one room is inconceivable and requires a hotel room instead?

OhmygodDont · 12/08/2024 07:56

Why would you stay in a cramped room when you can get a hotel easily.

If dh can’t be arsed to take his own child to see his own parents it shouldn’t be ops responsibility she’s clearly already the only one who can parent the child as the dh is useless don’t reward such shit parenting by taking over more of his responsibility’s

JustMarriedBecca · 12/08/2024 08:00

Skimmed through and read all OPs posts.

It's not unusual to have a better relationship with your own parents than with in-laws. And I don't think there's anything wrong with holidays with your Mum either. She's alone (isn't she) having unfortunately lost your Dad. And your husband needs to have some sympathy for that

I do think Christmas is a suck it up experience. Christmas Chaos is part of it and it's only 2-3 days. Then do your Mum next year.

In terms of holidays with your in-laws, just do different holidays. Chalet holidays at Eurocamp rather than Lapland etc. It's good for kids to have exposure to different experiences based on different incomes. When we go on holidays, we stay in suites for £750 a night and we also stay in hostels for £80 a night. The kids enjoy both and get different things from the experiences.

The only thing I would check with your husband is that it's not the political views / behaviour of your Mum he has an issue with as that's more critical.

Ponoka7 · 12/08/2024 08:43

This is another batshit thread, were people have been influenced by the OP's wealth, they can't slag her off for living off her DH, so have to go in at another angle. Many on here have stopped at one child so they all never have to rough it. I had a WC background but had my own bedroom and a play room. I loved camping but will not rough it when indoors. I looked round the hospital corridor last year that was being used as a hospital ward and it made me inprove my health because unless very unwell, I'd have to discharge myself.

What we have us another DH who can't be arsed to learn how to parent a toddler. He doesn't visit his parents because he struggles with dressing her and understanding her. So he stays in while his wife is getting her one deserved free morning to herself. Why aren't they invited over then? Why aren't they meeting up at softplay etc?
OP I'd start asking them to babysit, but he also needs to get his shit together. Things will happen organically. Children like seasides and fairgrounds. I'm sure that you will all manage a few days away in the future. But you are quite right that you are compromising by insisting on a hotel, so you get to enjoy your Christmas.

hmhwd · 12/08/2024 08:47

@JustMarriedBecca my mum is alone in the single sense ie no husband / boyfriend / partner, yes.
But then she's quite sociable so will occasionally travel with one of her friends (we don't join for those) , her own sister etc

OP posts:
ThreeSides · 12/08/2024 08:50

saraclara · 12/08/2024 07:48

What a bunch of princesses a lot of Mumsnetters are. Two adults and a toddler in one room is inconceivable and requires a hotel room instead?

Why wouldn't you stay in a hotel and be more comfortable rather than in a cramped room where one person has to sleep on the floor on a mattress, when money isn't an issue? It's hardly being a princess. 🙄

Bushmillsbabe · 12/08/2024 18:09

If you don't like staying at the in laws, why not invite them to yours for Christmas. It sounds like you have a spacious enough home? But I get a feeling it's not about the bed, but your opinion of your in laws. I don't particularly like staying at my in-laws either, but I suck it up for 1 night every other year for my children's benefit.

Children who are only exposed to more wealthy people (and I suspect you will be looking at an independent school?) can grow up with a very skewed version of the world, and I worry about the impact of the level of distain you show for your inlaws and your DH impacting on your child. You seems to think that DH is 'oh so lucky to have you as a SAHM looking after HIS child'. You aren't a nanny, you are a mum.

Children benefit from attending nursery, from meeting a wide range of people, from having parents who have a high mutual respect for each other, much more than going on expensive holidays (I suspect these holidays are not child focused - (centre parcs, butlins, Disney paris etc) but fancy hotels and first class planes?

Bushmillsbabe · 12/08/2024 18:21

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 19:43

My mum and I could afford to take his parents on holidays, he'd never ask and we wouldn't do it because it seems a bit absurd to be paying for them.

I guess he COULD pay for them to go on holiday with either my mum and I (although would likely stay in a separate hotel but maybe nearby) or with just our little family unit (me, him, DC) but he doesn't choose to do this. He does however take us on holiday (me and DC) 1-2 times a year for a total of maybe 2 weeks. He doesn't see it as something reasonable for him to spend money on - taking his parents on hols. Although we are due to go on holiday with his parents and siblings as a special birthday is coming up but that's each sibling paying their own share plus chipping in to take the parents away.

Your posts read like you and your mum are the couple, rather than you and DH. 'Mum and I could take them' 'he doesn't see it as something to spend his money on'.
We pay for our in laws to come, because we want our children to make positive memories with them while they can. And because we can. And because if we didn't she wouldn't have a holiday.

Unfortunately FIL passed away 2 years ago, but oldest has wonderful memories of building sandcastles in the beach and drawing their names in the sand with his walking sticks. Make memories with the grandparents whilst you can. Studies show that children who have positive relationships with their grandparents have better mental health, better social skills and better resilience.

Demonhunter · 12/08/2024 19:25

You sound really entitled and unpleasant.

DoreenonTill8 · 12/08/2024 20:17

Bushmillsbabe · 12/08/2024 18:21

Your posts read like you and your mum are the couple, rather than you and DH. 'Mum and I could take them' 'he doesn't see it as something to spend his money on'.
We pay for our in laws to come, because we want our children to make positive memories with them while they can. And because we can. And because if we didn't she wouldn't have a holiday.

Unfortunately FIL passed away 2 years ago, but oldest has wonderful memories of building sandcastles in the beach and drawing their names in the sand with his walking sticks. Make memories with the grandparents whilst you can. Studies show that children who have positive relationships with their grandparents have better mental health, better social skills and better resilience.

This!! Why on earth would his parents want to holiday with you and your mum, over their son?!!

It really does sound like you think you're better than them, and they should be in awe and ever so grateful to the superior you pair lowering your self to be in their company!

saraclara · 12/08/2024 20:58

ThreeSides · 12/08/2024 08:50

Why wouldn't you stay in a hotel and be more comfortable rather than in a cramped room where one person has to sleep on the floor on a mattress, when money isn't an issue? It's hardly being a princess. 🙄

Because I was at my in-laws at Christmas so that we were all together. A toddler needs an early bedtime, so we'd have had to go to the hotel by early evening and missed spending the evening with them and missed dinner and the post dinner chat and such.

Also parents enjoy hosting. I know my in-laws did, and I'm sure they'd have been really disappointed if we'd stayed in a hotel. And bunking up wherever we could was part of the fun!

bluewatermelon · 14/08/2024 16:50

DoreenonTill8 · 12/08/2024 20:17

This!! Why on earth would his parents want to holiday with you and your mum, over their son?!!

It really does sound like you think you're better than them, and they should be in awe and ever so grateful to the superior you pair lowering your self to be in their company!

I really don’t think they would want to.

Allie47 · 15/08/2024 07:24

MapleTreeValley · 10/08/2024 15:38

I think it's nice that your DH is trying to encourage a good relationship between his child and his parents, and I'm surprised that you're viewing it in such a negative light.

What is he doing to facilitate that relationship though? It's not OPs job, she's making sure her parents get time with DC to bond and DH should be doing the same with his own parents, he can take DC on weekends if he wants to, give OP a bit of downtime 🤷‍♀️