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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is sister BU to take nephew and live in a van?

104 replies

ThanksItsUncleFranks · 23/10/2024 09:11

My sister, A, is in her late 30s. Her son, B, is 3. B's dad has no involvement in their lives and lives abroad. A and B have had housing insecurity for a long time - short term let followed by staying with our parents followed by flatshare followed by being back with our parents. A doesn't have a job as such but makes a wee bit of money selling crafts online and at markets. She gets PIP for her mental health issues and UC for B.

That's the background. So the current situation is that A and B are sharing a (small) spare bedroom at our parents' house. B attends the local preschool and while A doesn't get on particularly well with our parents, they tolerate each other and everyone stays calm. B has access here to toys, clean clothes, bathroom facilities etc.

But now A has announced that she's bought an old semi-converted van from someone on Facebook and her and B are going to live 'on the road'. She says there are FB groups where people offer places to park in return for work and that she's going to do this, moving from place to place. I am concerned that B will lose his access to preschool plus the warmth and convenience of living in a home. A says I am being small-minded and that she will homeschool B, that he will 'learn more on the road than at any school', and that the van has a woodburner so they will be warm and able to cook hot meals.

Essentially A thinks I should butt out. My parents think they will try it and swiftly return to their house so we should just let A 'get it out of her system'. But I don't just think A is being naive, and making life harder for B, I think she will worsen her own MH issues (anxiety, depression, bipolar) by sleeping in an old van every night with only B for company. Historically she has always become iller when away from other family adults. I'm older than her and still feel protective of her even though she is, I accept, very much a grown up.

AIBU to keep voicing my concerns in the hope of dissuading A from this path? Or should I butt out as my parents suggest.

OP posts:
TunipTheVegimal24 · 31/10/2024 23:06

Sounds like a symptom of her poor MH. I would agree it's selfish of her, dragging the poor little boy along.

Realistically though, what can you do? If you think you might be able to dissuade her from going (or taking your nephew), I'd keep on at her. But if there's no chance, you'd probably be better to say nothing, and call her frequently when she's away, so you can check on her and your nephew.

VeryGoodVeryNice · 31/10/2024 23:37

I mean, I know plenty of people who live this way. It all depends on where she ends up and who she ends up living around as to what kind of experience it will be. And it’s harder these days than ever to find a decent park up.

I know people who are amazingly creative, grounded people who have chosen this lifestyle because of the freedom and the sense of community, and raised their families very happily. But there’s also a large swathe of people who end up living in vehicles because of MH/addiction issues who I wouldn’t say are doing quite so well.

ThatAgileGoldMoose · 31/10/2024 23:42

How much did she spend on the van? Penny for a pound it'll break in new and expensive ways until she has to get a train home - but you can't stop her from trying.

Makingchocolatecake · 02/11/2024 00:04

I think this sounds fun and fine if the child is happy doing it!

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