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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is DH BU or am I re family staying?

76 replies

Samuelthespaniel · 29/05/2025 09:05

It looks like my younger sibling may be starting a mix of work/college based training soon. The thing is, for the college parts they about and hour and a half drive away. He could get a room in the city where the college is but as he wouldn’t be in college full time it seems a waste as a lot of the leases are year to year (granted I have seen a few shorter term ones and part of me things it would be good for my sibling to have that experience of living away from home, on the other hand I’m quite a bit older than my sibling and I feel a duty of care to help them in whatever way I can). I live an hour away from it and when asked if sibling could stay here during those times (I assume it could be anything from 8-22 weeks at a time, weekdays only) I said I’d have to discuss it with DH first but I would be on board. DH has said he’s happy for people to stay on the occasional night but that he doesn’t want someone here for multiple nights or weeks. For context DH works lates (sometimes not getting home till 2am) so doesn’t get up til 9-10am sometimes and he said it would be another person making noise in the morning and to clean up after, and said he has spent the best part of a decade living with housemates and he finally has his own space. He’s the same when I suggested getting a summer student or a lodger so I know it’s not personal. He wouldn’t actually be in the house in the evenings when my sibling is here though. Another family member who lives near me also has a spare room so that also may be an option. AIBU to push it? I think my parents were hoping he’d be staying here.

OP posts:
Tbrh · 29/05/2025 11:12

I don't think it's worth the strain on your relationship for the sake of saving half an hour

QueenBakingBee · 29/05/2025 11:17

OP if this is an apprenticeship, his employer should be sorting out the accommodation or paying expenses for him to drive it. It isn't your challenge to sort. Maybe as a half way offer, can you offer to make dinner before he drives home sometimes?

flipent · 29/05/2025 11:19

You're not unreasonable for considering it and you were right to have a conversation with DH before committing. He's told you where he stands and I don't think his position is unreasonable either.

I would say no. You DH doesn't want someone else in their space and that is completely valid. If they had been on board, it would have been a lovely thing for your sibling. But I think you need to respect your DH's feeling on this.

parietal · 29/05/2025 11:20

sibling can find a room as a part-time lodger much nearer the place they are studying. 22 weeks is much too long and too much commitment. plus sibling doesn't really save much time by staying with you.

TheQuirkyMaker · 29/05/2025 11:30

parietal · 29/05/2025 11:20

sibling can find a room as a part-time lodger much nearer the place they are studying. 22 weeks is much too long and too much commitment. plus sibling doesn't really save much time by staying with you.

There is nothing worse than having another adult living with someone and their partner. You'll find you can't wander around half-dressed or naked, you want to watch different stuff on TV, eat at different times, want to use the bathroom at the same time- we had a BIL staying for an undetermined time as he had given up the room he lived in- I still haven't forgiven my wife or him. We nearly came to blows in the end.

zenas · 29/05/2025 11:36

That's it, you DH is not up for it, and it's not essential or financial. So unless you want an "atmosphere" or worse between you and DH, I think you should decline.

You could have him to stay maybe the odd Sunday night or something, but other than that my advice is no.

BuckChuckets · 29/05/2025 11:38

Do your parents baby your sibling? I could (maybe) understand if you lived half an hour from the college and their home was three hours away, but this sounds pretty ridiculous.

faerietales · 29/05/2025 11:45

There is absolutely no way I would be okay with this - it’s way too disruptive.

Daleksatemyshed · 29/05/2025 11:55

Half an hour closer is nothing really, your DPs want him to stay with family so there's someone to keep an eye on him and probably house him for free or at least very cheaply. If your DH wouldn't want anyone staying for weeks the fact it's your DB won't make him feel any better about it

butteredhorseradish · 29/05/2025 12:16

Your DH has said no and given valid reasons so that's the end of it.
You don't get to keep pushing the issue when he's clearly said no.

1 hr and 1.5 hr is a small difference really. It's not really going to make going to college any easier because he's still an hour away. He should find a room as a lodger somewhere or an airbnb for when he starts and then he might get to know other people on the course he can live with.

Maddy70 · 29/05/2025 12:19

I'm with your husband. You aren't even near to the college having someone else on the house is disruptive

PhilomenaPunk · 29/05/2025 12:19

It sounds like this is an equivalent to university so your sibling needs to treat it as such and find suitable accommodation or a reliable car. It is all part of the growing up process OP, and they need to find their own solution here. I would not be prepared to have anybody else live with me and my wife-whether that was my sibling or hers.

nomas · 29/05/2025 12:27

The person who doesn’t want the relative to stay trumps the one who does want the relative to stay. Sorry.

It would have been nice for you but your DH has perfectly valid reasons for saying no so
I wouldn’t push it. I have an 18yo niece who I love to bits and treat to holidays and days and meals out but there is no way I would want her living with me unless she was homeless .

Schweden · 29/05/2025 12:33

I can see both perspectives, but if I have to decide, your DH reasoning is entirely sound. It is a big ask to have an 18 year old staying on and off for months on end. I would accept his views and not push it.

With added benefit of hindsight of having provided similar support to a younger sibling (who was much older than 18). My husband ended up feeling completely taken advantage of. It nearly broke our marriage.

wheo · 29/05/2025 12:34

It’s his home his sanctuary. Please don’t ruin this for him.

mondaytosunday · 29/05/2025 12:41

No I would not want my BIL staying regularly. If there’s another option they should take that.

andthat · 29/05/2025 12:43

thepariscrimefiles · 29/05/2025 09:17

If you lived a short distance from his college, it would make sense for him to stay with you.

However, an hour's drive compared to a 1.5 hour's drive isn't really significant enough to inconvenience your DH to that extent.

Have you ever commuted for work or study?

3 hour round trip compared to a two hour round trip is a significant difference!!

Womblingmerrily · 29/05/2025 12:46

Team DH.

You being pushy would mean I would make it crystal clear it was not happening and I would become very wary of any suggestions of overnight stays at all in case you tried to force it.

Icanttakethisanymore · 29/05/2025 12:53

Sorry but I think this is something you should accept. It's a reasonably big ask and if he isn't on board he will feel resentful.

BoarBrush · 29/05/2025 13:02

1 night a week, yeah fine. But Mon-Fri for up to 22 weeks, absolutely not!

Gyozas · 29/05/2025 13:07

I would refuse to allow your teenage brother to move in too.

EnjoythemoneyJane · 29/05/2025 13:11

That’s a lot of imposition on your DH just to save your sibling an extra half hour each way. I really love spending time with my extended family but I wouldn’t want any of them here for months at a time!

I’d offer an occasional overnight stay if your sibling needs to be at college earlier or later, but otherwise YABU, sorry.

toomuchfaff · 29/05/2025 15:00

Not a flying cat in hells chance.

YABVVVVVU

If my husband pushed for his sibling to stay at our house for "anything from 1 day to 22 weeks ' weekdays only", I think i'd divorce him.

Samuelthespaniel · 29/05/2025 15:32

Thanks everyone, duly noted. I just wanted to help out as best as I can but it looks like I can help in other ways eg helping to find somewhere suitable.

OP posts:
InterIgnis · 29/05/2025 15:38

Team DH. I wouldn’t want my husband’s siblings to move in, and nor would I expect my husband to be happy with me wanting to move in mine. It would be deeply unfair to unilaterally move him into your home against the wishes of the other person that lives there.

Moving him in is something that you would both have to agree on imo.

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