Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Guests bring their own lunch

287 replies

thevoiceofreasoning · Yesterday 16:50

I have recently had surgery and I am pretty immobile … just about get around on crutches indoors. Friends (m and f married couple with 10 year old daughter) wanted to visit me at my home. I’m not really up to guests to be honest but they more or less invited themselves. I agreed and they said they would arrive around 11am and stay until about 3pm (they live a couple of hours drive away from me). Since this timing clearly spanned over lunchtime I thought it was only fair to warn them I wasn’t really up to making a meal for them, which is something I usually always do when they visit a few times a year. The wife says oh that’s not a problem we will bring something with us. i thought oh that will be nice … a bit of company and something nice to eat brought in!
Well they all arrived carrying big cool bag and busied themselves putting things in my fridge etc. We chatted for a while and then wife stood up and said she would fix lunch… checking with me where I kept my plates etc. whilst I remained sat in the lounge. When everything is plated … individual pots of salad, wrapped up sandwiches etc. kind of picnic style and she announced it was ready, I suddenly realised that she had only put out 3 plates for them and had not included me! She then turned and said ‘Oh are you going to make yourself something and join us?”
I was so shocked I just mumbled oh I will make myself some toast. And then sat there with them eating a couple of slices of toast whilst they had their individually plated picnic goodies! The funny thing is I truly believe they thought they were being considerate bringing their own food so I didn’t have to bother cooking.
I can sort of laugh about it but I am also gobsmacked they could think that was ok! However, now looking back I guess I did make an assumption that they would bring something for me to eat too. AIBU? Love to hear people’s thoughts on this!

OP posts:
Timble · Yesterday 17:29

How odd!! I know other people may say it’s a miscommunication but it’s just so inconsiderate! I wouldn’t dream of not bringing plenty for everyone especially the host who had just had surgery! My friend had surgery recently, not too serious but struggling to walk, I took flowers, drinks and treats with me.

itsgettingweird · Yesterday 17:30

That’s some self centerdness!

Id be the same as you - so shocked I’d be amused.

If I had a friend laid up I’d have morning brought lunch I’d have brought some meals for them morning the freezer to simply heat to make life easier.

PotatoLove · Yesterday 17:33

How bloody thoughtless they were.

thevoiceofreasoning · Yesterday 17:34

CatInTheRhombus · Yesterday 16:55

“I thought it was only fair to warn them I wasn’t really up to making a meal for them”

YANBU to think they would include you, but is the above what you actually said to them? If so, I can see where the confusion came from. They interpreted it as you wouldn’t be cooking for them and maybe that you weren’t able to get extra food in for them but they assumed you had your usual groceries in for yourself. It’s the kind of thing my mum would say and expect us just to bring bits for ourselves.

Edited

To be honest, I can’t remember my exact words on the phone … but I definitely made it clear I wasn’t mobile enough to make a meal for myself or anyone else! The wife is not usually an inconsiderate person, so it was even more of a shock when I realised they had just brought their own! Even if it was miscommunication before they arrived … they certainly “didn’t read the room” when it was clear I hadn’t prepared anything for myself. If I had done that I would have quickly realised my mistake and spread the food I had brought to 4 plates …

OP posts:
SandwichSuperstar · Yesterday 17:34

thelegacyofhope · Yesterday 17:24

Did they take their rubbish back with them or did they leave it in your bin?

Lol, this question is almost stranger than the thread.

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · Yesterday 17:35

Blimey. They are very rude indeed.

ineedadehumidifier · Yesterday 17:35

JFC. No, This isn’t a “lack of communication” this is fucking rude people in your house!
There are no circumstances, absolutely none, where I would do that, it’s unthinkable.

DJKATIE · Yesterday 17:36

I really hope they see and read these messages. I am sure you must have felt so shocked. Mean is an understatement. Next time they visit do NOT make them anything, but have your own little picnic ready on the side so you can eat it when they are visiting you.

TheOnlyWayIsIlford · Yesterday 17:36

People are bizarre.

Whatever the detail of what was said or not said the normal thing to do, to my mind, would be for your friend to bring something for you all to share.

Mn introduces me to a new level of batshittery every day.

SandwichSuperstar · Yesterday 17:36

thevoiceofreasoning · Yesterday 17:34

To be honest, I can’t remember my exact words on the phone … but I definitely made it clear I wasn’t mobile enough to make a meal for myself or anyone else! The wife is not usually an inconsiderate person, so it was even more of a shock when I realised they had just brought their own! Even if it was miscommunication before they arrived … they certainly “didn’t read the room” when it was clear I hadn’t prepared anything for myself. If I had done that I would have quickly realised my mistake and spread the food I had brought to 4 plates …

To be honest, I can’t remember my exact words on the phone … but I definitely made it clear I wasn’t mobile enough to make a meal for myself or anyone else!

How do you normally eat during the day?

thevoiceofreasoning · Yesterday 17:36

itsgettingweird · Yesterday 17:30

That’s some self centerdness!

Id be the same as you - so shocked I’d be amused.

If I had a friend laid up I’d have morning brought lunch I’d have brought some meals for them morning the freezer to simply heat to make life easier.

Wanna come round!? 😂

OP posts:
thelegacyofhope · Yesterday 17:38

SandwichSuperstar · Yesterday 17:34

Lol, this question is almost stranger than the thread.

Not at all. They were rude as fuck, but if they had a lot of individual plastic containers like OP said, and OP have problems moving, then you’d at least hope they didn’t just fill up her bin with crap and then leave. Get it?

Allseeingallknowing · Yesterday 17:38

Bristolandlazy · Yesterday 17:25

I can see why they did that, you didn't ask them to make you anything. They could of genuinely thought they were being easy going etc.

But as OP wasn’t up to hosting, how did they think she was going to manage to make her own lunch? Very thoughtless of them imo!

WhatFlavourIsIt · Yesterday 17:38

Why on earth would you sit there and not say anything?. When she asked if you were going to get yourself something the only logical answer is ' yes I'm going to get my self a plate and join you'

aloris · Yesterday 17:39

They are horrible. Block and move on.

Picpus · Yesterday 17:39

I’d have asked what we could bring for you? Anything you particularly fancy? begore i even got in the car to come and see you . No way would I have not made a meal including you and if you’re not well I’d have plated up something for you to have in the evening too after we’d gone. Nowt as strange as folk.

RitaFires · Yesterday 17:40

This so completely self centered that I'd struggle to keep a straight face. It's probably not even intentionally malicious, they're just so thoughtless that they didn't think of you and the possibility that you may also want to eat food.

Most people would leave you alone to recover in comfort and not impose or at least bring you servings of a few different things to keep in the fridge if they did come over.

ThatWhiteElephant · Yesterday 17:40

WTF!

PetulaGordeno · Yesterday 17:40

They are not your friends.
Anyone with half a fecking brain would have brought you the same lunch and also some other treats, nice things to eat, flowers, a couple of magazines? Sunday newspapers?
It is insulting. The thought of all the wrapped stuff is giving me the rage.

Wadsworthy · Yesterday 17:41

I am constantly shocked at the existence on MN of such selfish and thoughtless people. They truly do not exist in my world - I’m sorry they were so thoughtless @thevoiceofreasoning Any decent friends would have made lunch for you too, and spoilt you a bit. Surgery recovery is no joke.

thevoiceofreasoning · Yesterday 17:44

SandwichSuperstar · Yesterday 17:36

To be honest, I can’t remember my exact words on the phone … but I definitely made it clear I wasn’t mobile enough to make a meal for myself or anyone else!

How do you normally eat during the day?

I have simple snacks that I can just grab from the fridge or rice cakes with a bit of cheese etc. … I would normally make then a two course lunch and wanted to warn them I wasn’t up to my usual hospitality and didn’t want it to be awkward with them sat there with their stomachs rumbling if they were expecting my usual lunch,

OP posts:
SandwichSuperstar · Yesterday 17:44

thelegacyofhope · Yesterday 17:38

Not at all. They were rude as fuck, but if they had a lot of individual plastic containers like OP said, and OP have problems moving, then you’d at least hope they didn’t just fill up her bin with crap and then leave. Get it?

Yes, I 'got it' the first time.

And I still think it's a strange question.

Idontjetwashthefucker · Yesterday 17:44

thelegacyofhope · Yesterday 17:38

Not at all. They were rude as fuck, but if they had a lot of individual plastic containers like OP said, and OP have problems moving, then you’d at least hope they didn’t just fill up her bin with crap and then leave. Get it?

Yeah, still a weird question

Sahara123 · Yesterday 17:46

behm · Yesterday 16:57

My parents did this when DS was a newborn and DP had just returned to work. So bizarre not to think oh I'll also bring something for Behm to have too.

YANBU!

Good lord. Some people really can’t see beyond the end of their noses can they !
I took no end of meals to my daughter when she had a new baby, they’ve just left my house now laughing as apparently we always press food parcels on to them on the way out !

NegativeFreak · Yesterday 17:48

Thats a totally weird thing to do!