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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My mother has asked this - this is surely unreasonable

271 replies

BarrioQueen · 30/12/2024 11:11

My mother and stepfather are due to be seeing in New Year with her sister and husband (my Aunt) friends in a pretty holiday cottage in the Lake District - it is fairly remote apparently. The cottage - not stayed in before is much nearer to them than my Aunt who lives a long drive away. They are staying a week.
My Mum isn't great at technology - so paid my Aunt half by cheque and my Aunt booked it. However my Aunt has not yet sent any details of how to find the cottage, address etc. Though my Mother does know the name of the village it is in. Apparently my Mum has sent her 4 messages or phone calls (requesting this info) soon after Christmas but the information has not been forthcoming and my step father understandably is wishing they'd not booked.

My Mum is asking me to contact my Aunt - I've sent her a text asking for the info - on how to get into the cottage and address but despite a long message all about the joys of Christmas no info has been forthcoming. I don't see the holiday cottage giving this info to the person who is not on the booking form as they would surely revert this back to the booking person - as I had thought of telling my Mum to contact them.
My Aunt is a bit of Primadonna - but really she's being unreasonable isn't she? Presumably there must be some reason why she is 'gate keeping' this info? My Mum is worried about driving in the dark, and concerned that she won't be able to access the cottage until after her sister arrives. Her sister has form for arriving to events really late - she missed my wedding service for example.
I guess I have answered this question - but aside from telling my Mum never to arrange a cottage booking with them again, how should she proceed? My Aunt seems to be being deliberately obstructive? My Aunt is not picking up the phone, and being unspecific in messages. Grrr. I'm going to stay out of this and maybe end up with my Mum for new Year!
This is bizarre behaviour isn't it???

OP posts:
montelbano · 31/12/2024 22:42

Does anyone here bother to read updates ? It is all sorted now.

TwistedWonder · 31/12/2024 23:54

Letsgotitans · 30/12/2024 11:34

Oh that's sad, I can't imagine being so against spending time with my mum.

So aren’t we allowed to make plans and have social lives that don’t include our parents?

Just because that works for you, doesn’t mean it’s how all family dynamics are

LushLemonTart · 31/12/2024 23:55

Wow what a weird woman (aunt)

I hope dm manages to enjoy herself? Tell her to take herself off for a walk if ain't is a pain.

PyongyangKipperbang · 01/01/2025 00:04

Your mum was surprised to be asked.

Aunt has fallen out with practically everyone she knows.

Perhaps you should line those two things up for your mum and suggest that she should consider being another one who removes herself from Aunts "safe, go to" list of fall backs.......

LushLemonTart · 01/01/2025 00:14

Meant aunt not ain't 🙈

DisabledDemon · 01/01/2025 03:50

BarrioQueen · 30/12/2024 11:17

Hi MeadowFinch. Yes we can probably find the cottage - but at 70 years old who wants to be waiting in the car for whenever my Aunt turns up... My Aunt apparently has sent lots of 'looking forward to seeing you' messages - but us just withholding this vital info.

I'd be going back saying that yes, Mum will be thrilled to see her but can't see how that will be possible as she hasn't told Mum where she's going - and Mum won't be driving anywhere until she does.

Lavenderblue11 · 01/01/2025 11:16

It sounds like, for some reason, that your aunt is wanting to hold all the cards - like a power trip thing. Very mean of her to do so, did she have form for this sort of thing when her and your mum were kids?

MusicMakesItAllBetter · 01/01/2025 15:45

Wendolino · 30/12/2024 12:19

Has your mum's cheque been cashed? If not, aunt probably couldn't be bothered booking something. If it has, she might be doing a runner with your mum's money.
Maybe aunt has invited someone else to join her instead of your mum.
Whatever the reason, it's very strange behaviour and OOO.

Aunt has cashed the cheque but isn't short of a few quid so OP doesn't think it's because she's skint and needs the money

BonfireToffee · 01/01/2025 16:02

smellydog1 · 31/12/2024 22:14

Wish I could have one last New Year’s Eve with my lovely departed mum

Some of us wish we could have had any time with a lovely mum. Mine is an abusive nightmare whose primary aim in life is to spread lies about me and turn people against me. My childhood and adolescence were hell.

Dont try and guilt trip OP because she wants a break.

Nightjar33 · 02/01/2025 09:20

Could she possibly have early onset dementia or other memory problems?

WendyA22 · 03/01/2025 13:23

BarrioQueen · 30/12/2024 11:11

My mother and stepfather are due to be seeing in New Year with her sister and husband (my Aunt) friends in a pretty holiday cottage in the Lake District - it is fairly remote apparently. The cottage - not stayed in before is much nearer to them than my Aunt who lives a long drive away. They are staying a week.
My Mum isn't great at technology - so paid my Aunt half by cheque and my Aunt booked it. However my Aunt has not yet sent any details of how to find the cottage, address etc. Though my Mother does know the name of the village it is in. Apparently my Mum has sent her 4 messages or phone calls (requesting this info) soon after Christmas but the information has not been forthcoming and my step father understandably is wishing they'd not booked.

My Mum is asking me to contact my Aunt - I've sent her a text asking for the info - on how to get into the cottage and address but despite a long message all about the joys of Christmas no info has been forthcoming. I don't see the holiday cottage giving this info to the person who is not on the booking form as they would surely revert this back to the booking person - as I had thought of telling my Mum to contact them.
My Aunt is a bit of Primadonna - but really she's being unreasonable isn't she? Presumably there must be some reason why she is 'gate keeping' this info? My Mum is worried about driving in the dark, and concerned that she won't be able to access the cottage until after her sister arrives. Her sister has form for arriving to events really late - she missed my wedding service for example.
I guess I have answered this question - but aside from telling my Mum never to arrange a cottage booking with them again, how should she proceed? My Aunt seems to be being deliberately obstructive? My Aunt is not picking up the phone, and being unspecific in messages. Grrr. I'm going to stay out of this and maybe end up with my Mum for new Year!
This is bizarre behaviour isn't it???

What was the outcome?

RegulatorsMountUp · 03/01/2025 13:40

WendyA22 · 03/01/2025 13:23

What was the outcome?

Read the OPs updates

Serenitymummy · 03/01/2025 14:38

I'm glad this was all sorted, would be interested how it all went for your mum as I bet she was a bit stressed for the actual break following all that?

SpringIscomingalso · 03/01/2025 14:43

How was your mother's new year holiday, though? With such a sister???

E404 · 03/01/2025 15:21

BarrioQueen · 30/12/2024 11:17

Hi MeadowFinch. Yes we can probably find the cottage - but at 70 years old who wants to be waiting in the car for whenever my Aunt turns up... My Aunt apparently has sent lots of 'looking forward to seeing you' messages - but us just withholding this vital info.

Maybe she's withholding the info because she wants to arrive before the others and get the best beds? I've seen people do this, not great...

waitingforrugbytofinish · 03/01/2025 15:47

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

waitingforrugbytofinish · 03/01/2025 15:49

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

dynamiccactus · 03/01/2025 15:50

TwistedWonder · 31/12/2024 23:54

So aren’t we allowed to make plans and have social lives that don’t include our parents?

Just because that works for you, doesn’t mean it’s how all family dynamics are

Yes I thought this was a bizarre comment as well.

dynamiccactus · 03/01/2025 15:50

Nightjar33 · 02/01/2025 09:20

Could she possibly have early onset dementia or other memory problems?

That's not jumping to conclusions at all...

Newusernameforthiss · 03/01/2025 16:10

WTF at all the people saying "why aren't you with your mum" - Xmas for family, NYE for friends was the rule, I thought?

Glad your cousin sorted it!!!

LookItsMeAgain · 03/01/2025 16:11

Did your mother have a nice time away (all of the messing about beforehand aside)?

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