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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Genuine AIBU and I'm prepared to be deemed U if the masses say...

28 replies

Bathsheba · 28/04/2010 16:57

We have a 13 week old DD3.

DH has a DB and SIL who, over the years have grown apart - there has never been any argument or anything, just over time our lives have gone different ways.

In the past we have always bought birthday presents and Christmas presents for their sons up until they were 18. Sometimes in the past they have been quite rude (issuing us with lists or Argos product numbers, the Dnephews phoning us us to check we had the "right" Man Utd top, saying things like "I want a playstation game - its no more than you spent on us last year", never saying Thank You for presents even when we are in the room as they open them). We stopped with birthday presents when the DNephews were 18 and the individual Christmas presents around the same time although we still send the family "something" - this year it was a large tin of Roses.

Over the years DH used to be very close to them - he worked in the same town when the boys were younger and used to go round every day for his lunch etc. He spent many many hours/days fixing their computers and things so the boys would have a computer to play on - he was stunningly patient every single time they broke it by loading trial and pirated games on it - often making a 80 mile round trip to physically fix it when no-one could follow his instructions over the phone.

Since we had DD1 our relationship with them has gradually faded - they bought a new computer so didn't need DH to fix it, had new hobbies that took up a lot of their time, The boys grew older, got girlfriends and jobs and bands, so we very very rarely see them.

DD1 (now 6) received a present when she was born, and for a couple of birthdays and Christmases. DD2 (now 3) received a "birth" present and Christmas present but I don't think she ever received any birthday presents. (I'm not keeping track on a list or anything but I always send Thank You cards for all presents so I am aware of who needs to receive a Thank You card and who doesn't).

Now, DD3 was born in the middle of January. BIL and SIL received the same formal birth announcement card with a photo that everyone else did. They also received one of the Newborn Hospital photos that we sent copies of to close family. They have also seen my MIL numerous times since DD3 was born (MIL lives nearer to them that we do) so there is absolutely no way on earth they do not know that they have a new neice/that DH and I have had another baby.

We have received nothing from them, not even a card never mind a present.

Now, I know its generally bad form to "expect" a present, but AIBU in reality to be upset that we haven't even received a card, never mind a present for DD3's birth. We keep all our baby cards in the girls' baby boxes and, in future, it will be really obvious that there isn't a card from DH's DB and SIL, never mind DNephews/The girls' cousins. Neither DH or I have large families - both 1 sibling each, and there is only 1 cousin on my family's side and these 2 on DH's family's side.

Like I say, there has been no argument, no falling out, just a gradual growing apart as everyone's lives have moved on, and their boys have grown bigger, but they do only live 40 miles away in a town with shops.

I don't even really want a present - as they don't know us I'm sure they would send an Argos voucher as that has often been the Christmas presents we have received, and we don't need anything, but I guess its the principle - we have cards from people I see in passing at church and women from DD1's playgroud, but nothing from DD3's Aunt, Uncle or 2 cousins.

So AIBU to be narked about this (but just silently seethe and do nothing) or is it very "grabby" of me and therefore I am being Unreasonable by expecting cards and presents.

OP posts:
biddysmama · 28/04/2010 17:00

yanbu to expect some kind of congratulations/ acknowledgement that you ahve a new baby/ they ahve a new neice..

StewieGriffinsMom · 28/04/2010 17:01

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meatntattypie · 28/04/2010 17:03

Has thier financial situation altered? maybe they are struggling with cash flow.

If you havent been in touch for ages, maybe you are not aware of what is going on for them?
Just a thought.
that they have not phoned or anything so say congrats.

staranise · 28/04/2010 17:04

I don't think you are being grabby here. You have a new baby and it's NBU to expect family to at least acknowledge that and a card is certainly not too much to expect - if they're 40 miles away, I would expect a visit at the very least.

I would hate to think that in 30 years' time my DDs could be this uninterested in each others' lives.

Congratulations on your baby

Bathsheba · 28/04/2010 17:05

I'm often expecting MIL to ask what we received from BIL and SIL - I'd have no qualms about answering directly that we haven't received even a card - however I'd not say anything otherwise...

And even then, I know if I did that she'd "have them told" and a few days later a gift card would arrive through the door, and I don;'t really want something sent under "being told off by MIL" either...

I'm just so narked really - over the years we bought everything the boys wanted - DH did it for years as a student before he met me, and they can't even send a card...

OP posts:
LaDiDaDi · 28/04/2010 17:06

Agree with biddysmama and SGM, YANBU.

DeFluff · 28/04/2010 17:06

Not unreasonable of you at all.

Bathsheba · 28/04/2010 17:07

Oh - yeah, I thought about their financial situation but as far as I'm aware there are no major issues - BIL and SIL still work, as now does Elder Nephew = Younger Nephew is a student and in a band so he may not have disposable income but I'm sure between them they could post a card (they have 3 cars to get to the letter box).

OP posts:
gagamama · 28/04/2010 17:07

I can see how it would be upsetting that they seem a little aloof at the arrival of DD3, but from the sounds of your post, the main reason you gave their DCs presents was because they were close at the time. It would be lovely for that to be reciprocated, but I think its understandable that they are less giving with your DCs since you have drifted apart as time has gone on. If your DCs had been born around the same time as theirs do you think they still would have not acknowledges their birth/birthdays?

YABU to expect present-giving to remain unchanged when your relationship is different, but YANBU to be upset about it. Maybe get in touch and arrange to meet up so you can all reacquaint?

GetOrfMoiLand · 28/04/2010 17:08

I don't blame you at all for feeling hurt. I would in your shoes. And I don't think you are grabby.

There are some selfish buggers out there, and it seems that your BIL and SIL are those. It is unfortunate but I think it would be best to just leave it, expect nothing, and if you do get any cards/presents for your DCs just view it as a bonus.

wilfparker · 28/04/2010 17:08

Actually I think you're right to expect a gift and a card, they obviously value gifts and think nothing of asking for one so you should expect them of all people to congratulate you with a card and a gift.

wilfparker · 28/04/2010 17:08

damn....that namechange was for a thread I can't even find now!!!

And congratulations on the birth of your baby!!

diddl · 28/04/2010 17:09

It is sad not to even get a card.

D0G · 28/04/2010 17:10

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D0G · 28/04/2010 17:12

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booyhoo · 28/04/2010 17:12

i know how you feel. my mum has 7 living siblings, my dad has 8 living. when ds1 was born 4 years ago, the house was packed with visitors for about 2 weeks all bringing presents (not that that's the important bit)

i was quite close to one of my mum's sisters and her daughter stayed with me most weekends until i became pregnant with ds2 (she is 16 so gets alot more freedom now and goes out with friends).

when ds2 was born last may not 1 of mum's family came to see him. my mum is unbelievably hurt by this. there has been no falling out or anything they just didn't bother coming to see him. it doesn't bother me because the way i see it, they are no loss to me if that's how they want to be. even a card to say congrats would be something.

in your situation i would see it as a dead relationship. a relationship that has run it's course and clearly they have no inclination to revive it. i wouldn't bother saying anything to them. write it off as being the end of that friendship as it was. as you said, their children were ungrateful when you bought them gifts, what could they possibly offer your children?

Jamieandhismagictorch · 28/04/2010 17:13

YANBU. They sound hideously self-involved.

Shaz10 · 28/04/2010 17:14

They could even send a text or an email. A text costs 10p max.

wannaBe · 28/04/2010 17:16

I don't think that yabu to have wanted some acknowledgement of the birth of your baby.

But I do think that as peoples' children grow up, so their priorities change along with the way they see things.

When your other children were smaller, they still had children of their own, so they would have considered your children.

Now that their children have grown up they probably no longer see the significance of other peoples' babies, iyswim.

And I do think you would be being a bit U to expect something from the nephews as lads that age simply don't think about/care about other peoples' babies, sorry.

Bathsheba · 28/04/2010 17:20

Hi Wannabe...no, I defiantley don't expect anything individually from the boys - I completely understand that 23 year old and 18 year old boys have no interest in anyone's babies....anything that would come would definately come from "the family"...

OP posts:
kitcat1977 · 28/04/2010 17:22

YANBU, they're pig ignorant. And at your DCs' grandparents D0G. FFS.

Pancakeflipper · 28/04/2010 17:23

It's the ignoring/ not acknowledging that's the hard bit. It's not about receiving goodies.

I have an Aunt whom I was close to as a kid but she hasn't acknowledged my little ones. She sends ME a birthday card and sends me and OH a pressie at Xmas. But not a single reference to my boys.

I think it's some silly reason that I have boys and she wanted a boy and she can't step past it. But it's her problem and I refuse to let it become mine. It hurts at times but just remember your DH sounds brill and they are bizarre.

5DollarShake · 28/04/2010 17:31

YANBU at all.

But unfortunately, I don't think there's much you can do about it, besides seethe internally, which is only going to make things worse for you, not them.

They sound very thoughtless.

JackBauer · 28/04/2010 17:42

YANBU, if they can't afford a stamp they could have called. A new memebr of the family deserves some recognition.

realfreedom · 28/04/2010 18:28

YANBU. A card or some other type of acknowledgement is reasonable to expect.

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