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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask my mum to leave

9 replies

Gangle · 24/03/2010 12:08

I have just had DS2 (4 days) and my mum has come to stay to help me with the new baby and our toddler (2 on Sunday). We have a difficult relationship anyway and I would not have asked her to come as thought I would find it more stressful to have her here than not, especially as we have a nanny share for DS1 which helps a lot, and DH is on paternity leave, but she insisted. And I was right. She means so well but the net effect of her staying is that I end up more stressed than otherwise. She does loads to help our nanny look after DS1 (cooking meals, going to playgroups with them, cleaning up after them, all of which the nanny should be doing) then looks put out if I ask her to help me with anything. For example, the time I really need help around 6/7am - DS2 is up most of the night feeding and by 5/6am DS1 is often stirring and in our room wanting to read/play. Would be really helpful to be able to hand him over to someone until 7/7.30 but she doesn't get up until 7 then wants time to have a cup of tea/breakfast before taking on DS. I asked her to take him this am as I was desperate (boobs are agony at the mo and had less than 2 hours sleep) and she looked really peed off and made a comment to the nanny when she came at 8.30 at how behind she was in her day!! She also insists on cooking which is SO kind of her but her cooking has really really gone down hill in the last few years and DH and I just can't eat what she cooks. We've tried to direct her by just saying, don't worry about food, we'll get a takeaway, or offering to cook, but she is very rigid and sees the kitchen as her domain. She makes loads of food that noone wants to eat then gets angry when she has to throw it away. She also refuses to buy anything organic (I have told her that we buy organic milk, eggs, meat etc) for DS and, again, she tuts and says what a waste of money. She keeps giving DS rubbish to eat unless I am there to direct her. I sound really ungrateful - as I said, the intent is good but I honestly think I would feel less stressed if she left DH and I have also had numerous difficulties and her presence is not helping on that front. She is also very messy and keeps breaking things in the house. Not a big deal but just craving peace and quiet and being able to eat/not eat what I feel like! Can I ask her to leave? I am trying to agree an end date with her but she looks offended whenever I raise it!

OP posts:
BessieBoots · 24/03/2010 12:11

YANBU. Tell her you're keen to get into a routine.

thedollshouse · 24/03/2010 12:14

Can you not say that you and dh would like some time on your own now and that she is welcome to come back after dh returns to work. When dh returns to work you can make an excuse then!

I would find it really instrusive having overnight visitors when dh is on paternity leave. I can't think of anything worse.

TottWriter · 24/03/2010 12:14

I think you just need to bite the bullet and tell her to leave. I have a very... fractious relationship with my mother, and I do whatever I can to keep the peace now, but if I was in your position I would risk a short feud and tell her to get out.

You need to recover and you need to bond properly with your new DS, and she isn't helping with either of those things. The thing about families is that there's always room to forgive and forget, and when you've adapted to the change you'll be able to tell her that you were tired and hormonal and you're very sorry she got offended but you needed some space; she should respect you enough to understand that.

Now is not a time for you to have anything extra on your plate.

MouthAndTrousers · 24/03/2010 12:17

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby!

I would ask her to go if its causing you stress tbh.
Could you get Dh to do the dirty work?

Gangle · 24/03/2010 12:23

thanks all. Only thing is our nanny is on holiday next week for 2 weeks then DH back at work. Not sure how I will cope on my own with a toddler and newborn without any help and recovering from a c section. May be worth it though. Thing is, I know she is holding back and making a big effort to be useful, for example, she has now bought organic milk and has started asking what to cook for tea etc but there are a million other things that are annoying me that I am having to bite my tongue over (she doesn't like the type of dishcloths we use so brings her own, she tries to take credit for DS learning a new word or doing something, etc) all of which should just slide off my back but which really rankle at the moment as I am tetchy and emotional anyway.

OP posts:
Uriel · 24/03/2010 12:32

Can you get a temp nanny in from an agency for the two weeks when your nanny's on holiday? Even for half a day/the hours when you most need a nanny?

Could dh rearrange his hours so he goes back for a week now and then has a week off when the nanny's off?

How about getting your midwife or HV to have a quiet word with your mum. Worked for me!

Plumm · 24/03/2010 12:33

I love my mum dearly but didn't want her to stay after DD's birth. I was keen to get into a routine after DH went back to work and I think this is the position you should take with your mum.

There will come a point where you will have to handle a newborn and a toddler (unless your mother's going to stay with you forever) so it might as well be now, especially as her presence is frustrating you.

SachaF · 24/03/2010 13:02

Gosh, I get on fine with my mum but wouldn't have wanted her in the early days when dh was on paternity leave. You are definately not BU. Short visits would have been fine but to stay...!!!
She came to stay when dd was 6 weeks old, and that was great, plus it was only 5 days.
Tell her that you desperately just need to be a close family unit now whilst you have the opportuninty of dh being on Paternity leave.
Totally understand where you are coming from on the organic front, my fil is the same. But he is slowly changing...(but then an il relationship is very different to a parental relationship).

Firawla · 24/03/2010 13:25

yes ask her to leave, tell her ur keen to get on by urself and get used to looking after two. mayb tell her that IF u need further help wen dh back @ work ull call her back? it sounds that shes stressing you out too much, in which case itll b much easier just manage by urself , but with dh there & nanny i dont think ur short of help anyway. she may b just gettin in the way, and better to come have a visit just 2 spend time with u all once u are recovered from birth and comfy in a routine

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