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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do I mention gf's lack of condolences?

178 replies

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:19

Ds (late 20's) has been living with his gf 'Grace' for more than a year now on the other side of the country. We've only had the chance to meet Grace once (due to logistics, busy lives etc) when Ds brought her to stay to attend a family celebration held by his grandparents. She came, was welcomed, met the whole family including grandparents and was lovely if perhaps a little shy and awkward - fair enough. We ask after her every time we chat with ds on the phone and pass on messages like congratulations for events in her life that he tells us about.

2 months ago my dad, ds's grandad died suddenly. Ds has been involved closely with the grief, the funeral planning etc. We've been showered with kindness and condolences from friends and family but we haven't heard a single peep from Grace - no card, or message to say she's sorry. Of course, it's perfectly possible that Grace has said to ds 'please tell your family how sorry I am' and he's has failed to pass on the message (he can also be fairly socially awkward) but I'm slightly surprised and a little hurt that between the two of them they haven't managed to pass on any condolence message at all.

Would I be unreasonable to ask ds why Grace has said nothing?

I'm worried if I do ask, ds will either take it as a criticism of him for failing to pass on the message (it would be!) or of Grace for not sending a message (and I absolutely do not want to sour a relationship with her). But if I don't ask him I will hold on to this minor resentment against Grace perhaps unfairly and/or ds will learn nothing about needing a bit of awareness where feelings and emotions are involved.

OP posts:
Largestlegocollectionever · 18/05/2025 23:22

I don’t think she should? Her relationship and role will be to support your ds if he wants it, and be there for him, I find it weird you’ve even expected this when you’ve not seen or spoken to her.

DappledThings · 18/05/2025 23:23

I don't think she needs to say anything directly herself if she's not otherwise in contact with you. I think she's completely reasonably assumed that her sympathy is implicit via her being half of a couple and doesn't need to be from her individually.

Is she coming to the funeral?

Babywithnoname · 18/05/2025 23:23

It's weird you've picked this out. I'm sure she is supporting your DS, and while it would have been nice to pass a message to you too it wouldn't be expected surely. She's not your friend, she's your son's GF.

Hercisback1 · 18/05/2025 23:24

I don't think she needs to say anything either. Have you seen her f2f?

I'd assume her wishes have been sent via DS.

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:25

Largestlegocollectionever · 18/05/2025 23:22

I don’t think she should? Her relationship and role will be to support your ds if he wants it, and be there for him, I find it weird you’ve even expected this when you’ve not seen or spoken to her.

Don't you think she should? She came to grandad's party, met him and us and enjoyed his hospitality. It feels like an easy thing just to say to ds please tell your family ...

OP posts:
AliBaliBee1234 · 18/05/2025 23:25

This is an overreaction and sounds like you dislike her and and want to feel validated in that choice.

I grew up feeling unwanted and like i'm bothering people so find it hard to know when to reach out to someone. I would probably have expected my boyfriend to pass my wishes on too.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 18/05/2025 23:25

I’m so sorry for your loss.

I will gently say YABU. I think it’s likely she doesn’t know what to say so is saying nothing to avoid the risk of saying the wrong thing. She’s young, and probably doesn’t know how to handle this sort of situation. Unless you believe her to to be heartless, then surely you’d know she cares about you and your family?

Icepop79 · 18/05/2025 23:26

You’ve only met her once. You are being very unreasonable to expect her to contact you directly or indirectly in those circumstances. If she’s providing support to your son then she’s doing all she should be. I’m sorry for your loss, bur your expectations of the gf are unreasonably high.

AliBaliBee1234 · 18/05/2025 23:27

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:25

Don't you think she should? She came to grandad's party, met him and us and enjoyed his hospitality. It feels like an easy thing just to say to ds please tell your family ...

You admitted you don't know if she did pass this message on through your son because he's socially awkward too?

loropianalover · 18/05/2025 23:27

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:25

Don't you think she should? She came to grandad's party, met him and us and enjoyed his hospitality. It feels like an easy thing just to say to ds please tell your family ...

But you said it’s perfectly possible that she has done this and that your socially awkward son has not passed on the message? Why is that Graces fault?

It seems that DS is keeping her at a distance from family in general.

Cleo65 · 18/05/2025 23:28

Really? You've met her once but you're prepared to die on this hill? Leave the poor girl alone & find somewhere else to place your (understandable) grief & anger - don't put it on this girl....

Pallisers · 18/05/2025 23:28

Don't ask. Don't say anything.

People/cultures/family have different attitudes to death and the correct etiquette. In the circumstances you describe if I were Grace I would have sent a note to you.. But not everyone or every family thinks this is the norm and it doesn't mean she isn't a decent good person.

DappledThings · 18/05/2025 23:28

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:25

Don't you think she should? She came to grandad's party, met him and us and enjoyed his hospitality. It feels like an easy thing just to say to ds please tell your family ...

Maybe she assumed he would without her saying it. Maybe she did and he's forgotten. Maybe she did and he feels awkward or that it's unnecessary because he thinks it's implicit.

Plenty of options, no point dwelling on any of them and very unreasonable of you to feel any resentment about it.

WinterFoxes · 18/05/2025 23:28

I remember at that age buying three condolence cards for a close friend when her dad died. I wrote them all and threw them all away. I just had no idea what to say. I had no experience of death and everything I wrote felt wrong. I also really didn't know what to say to her face to face, so I said nothing. It damaged our friendship but I just was so clueless and terrified of saying the wrong thing without realising that saying nothing was far worse. Maybe she is similar, especially if she is a bit self conscious.

Ask your DS if she has been supportive to him and if she had any happy memories of them. That might jog him to pass on any message she gave him verbally.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/05/2025 23:28

Why would she send you a card? She’s surely offered your son her thoughts. Do you have a list of family members you expect her to reach out to?

OP, this is weird and I really encourage you to stop this behavior of judging her or the only resentment you will experience is her and and your son’s resentment of you.

titchy · 18/05/2025 23:29

She’s met you once… she’s not an integral part of your family. Sorry for your loss though, but I think your grief maybe clouding your judgement here.

INeedAnotherName · 18/05/2025 23:29

Good grief.

Grace very probably gave her condolences/sympathy to your DS who is her boyfriend.

I really hope Grace is on here and runs away fast.

saraclara · 18/05/2025 23:29

Icepop79 · 18/05/2025 23:26

You’ve only met her once. You are being very unreasonable to expect her to contact you directly or indirectly in those circumstances. If she’s providing support to your son then she’s doing all she should be. I’m sorry for your loss, bur your expectations of the gf are unreasonably high.

That.

At that age I'd have thought it presumptuous to get in touch with you, based on a single meeting. At most I'd have asked him to pass on my condolences. And if he's like any of the men in my family, he'd have forgotten or not bothered because he wouldn't have thought it important.

Littledidsheknow · 18/05/2025 23:30

She’s young, and probably doesn’t know how to handle this sort of situation.

Exactly this. I’d not have known what was expected when I was young and shy.
You really shouldn’t be so hung up on this.

Azandme · 18/05/2025 23:30

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:25

Don't you think she should? She came to grandad's party, met him and us and enjoyed his hospitality. It feels like an easy thing just to say to ds please tell your family ...

But you admitted that she may have done this, so...

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:31

Yes I don't know if she has said something in which case it's ds's 'fault' and I'd be a bit annoyed at him for not passing it on.

I suppose I want to know if it's ds who needs a bit of a nudge.

I'm quite relieved by all the people who say I shouldn't expect a message from Grace. Happy to be unreasonable on that.

OP posts:
AllrightNowBaby · 18/05/2025 23:31

Hi Op, In the kindest possible way can I suggest that in all the upset at your DF recent death that you have taken unreasonable offence at this lack of condolences from your Ds’s girlfriend.
She may have asked your Ds to pass on the condolences to you and your Ds could have forgotten, with all the grief he must have felt himself and the funeral planning.
I would seriously advise you to try your best to let this go.
No good will come from mentioning it to your Ds or holding resentment towards his Gf…
I know myself what an awful time you have been through and I offer my sincere condolences to you. 💐

myplace · 18/05/2025 23:32

She met you once and has no idea that words from her would matter to you. She wouldn’t expect to be able to offer you any comfort or wisdom, so what does she have to say that’s worth saying?
She can, and I’m sure she is, support and comfort your son. That’s far more important, far more effective and more likely to be her priority than you.

Poppyseeds79 · 18/05/2025 23:32

If she was close enough to be popping around in person I could see her expressing her condolences. But she isn't physically in the position to visit. Probably doesn't know what to say, and there's no guarantee DS has even passed on congrats messages in the past from your side either. So you might feel she's not close to your family anyway.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/05/2025 23:33

Amoamasamat · 18/05/2025 23:31

Yes I don't know if she has said something in which case it's ds's 'fault' and I'd be a bit annoyed at him for not passing it on.

I suppose I want to know if it's ds who needs a bit of a nudge.

I'm quite relieved by all the people who say I shouldn't expect a message from Grace. Happy to be unreasonable on that.

Why does your son need a nudge?!

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