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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Slight tension with Mum

5 replies

Lullaby88 · 22/04/2021 16:32

When i became pregnant I made a decision to stop sending my daughter to my Mums. My Mum would normally look after her for 2 days a week because she really wanted to spend time with her. In my first trimester I sent her as I was working but when lockdown hit I stopped and again in the second trimester i sent her and lockdown hit and my area was full of covid cases and i just made a firm decision not to send my daughter until after the birth. I have struggled a lot with anxiety that has fluctuated. My Mum works in a school and is exposed and i know they werent wearing masks in the school at one point aswel and all this led to my decision.
The thing that hurts me the most is my Mums passing comments everytime i speak to her, see her outdoors, just anytime we communicate. She'll make comments that make me feel really upset like im doing something wrong and really hurting her and it upsets me and makes me feel so guilty both feelings i dont need at the end stages of pregnancy. She thinks iv made a bad decision doing this to her. And i feel like she really doesnt understand my feelings at all or my perspective. Its made me feel very distant from my Mum. And has spoilt my relationship with her. Its been a tough time during covid as it is. But i dont need these feelings in pregnancy. I dont think il recover a relationship with my Mum after this atleast not like it was before as i havent felt the emotional support. She helps me with cooking which i appreciate and is a lovely person. But the snide comments keep coming at me. How do i handle this? How do i come back from this? Iv cried over it and it hurts. Is it actually me being the difficult one here and needs to consider my Mum more? Or is my Mum being inconsiderate to my feelings?

OP posts:
DramaBanana1 · 22/04/2021 18:17

You don’t sound difficult to me, your mum is probably hurting but that doesn’t mean it’s your fault.

I a have similar issue, my mum used to look after my DD on a regular basis and when the first lockdown hit that stopped, and she hasn’t looked after her now in over a year, although we do do lots of FaceTime and phone calls. I am hopeful that with easing of lockdown this will change however have been firm with my decision. It’s hard because I know my partner and mum would probably carry on as they were, technically breaking guidelines, as I don’t need the childcare as such and neither of us are from single adult households. My mum was also a bit loose with her ‘support bubble’ with another who was in single adult household but had 3 support bubbles. So I feel like I’m the cause of their upset. But I need to tell myself I am not, and so do you. I have a lot of anxiety around covid, mainly contributing to the spread than getting it myself, my mum works in a public facing role and she lives with my sister who works somewhere similar, my DD also goes to nursery.

I don’t get the snide comments, I’m sorry you are going through that, but I have been constantly asked for them to see DD or can they hug during the times when we were allowed socially distanced visits, when I’d already discussed what I was and was not happy with beforehand. This would upset me and cause me to feel so guilty, but actually I wasn’t asking them to do anything above what guidelines stated (UK). They are also aware of my anxieties and the guilt I would feel deliberately and unnecessarily going against guidelines.

I suggest being honest with your mum about how her comments are making you feel, that they aren’t going to change anything you have decided, you’re not doing anything out of malice so the comments she is making are not helping anyone, only causing you further upset in an already shit situation. I also said to my mum I am equally distraught over the situation and agree it’s crap.

DramaBanana1 · 22/04/2021 18:19

Wishing you the best xx

Chelyanne · 22/04/2021 18:36

I wouldn't worry about it and just ignore the remarks. She'll get over it once you start seeing her more often. You can't and will not need to hide away forever.

Muststopeating · 22/04/2021 19:26

I think you need to give your mum a bit of slack. I know its hard for everyone but she's missing her granddaughter. It takes a lot of commitment for a grandparent to commit to two days a week every week and since you work it sounds like it is doing you a huge favour. She obviously has a different risk attitude to COVID than you do. I think thats normal also, but it makes it harder for her to understand (especially as I bet she has friends who are still seeing their grandkids).

Try to understand where she is coming from and don't let the fact that she loves your DD this much be a reason to let your relationship suffer. Although annoying, ultimately this is a good problem.

Skymum82 · 22/04/2021 19:47

This is happening so much now I bet! My mum and nan are the same. Although they have never looked after them. Get comments about the kids not seeing them. However my nan I feel it's to dangerous for (3 kids, 2 different schools, 2 get a taxi). My mum lives miles away and has no garden and no park or any thing near and she can't walk far. So we went before Xmas and just spoke in the car park. Not been able to go since due to lock down and when it lessoned the kids had to be tested for covid as had coughs then we had to self isolate as dd had a op and now she needs To spend 2 weeeks in. But I get "we have not seen you the kids for ages" 😂🤦🏼‍♀️. My nan is the best as she moans about being in, and tells me I don't know what it's like when she goes out twice a week to the shops. I have been solidly in since Xmas due to the kids being off (they have asd and there is no were safe to walk here and ds can't cope in shops). Then after lockdown all poorly then my daughters op. I have been to the hospital and done 3 weeks of school runs 😂. I think every ones feeling it.

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