Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

How to cope with Mum putting pressure on me to marry/have DC

7 replies

namechangered2019 · 23/09/2019 17:38

Name changed for this as possibly outing.
I want to start by saying I love my DM to bits, I see her regularly and we generally get on. However I’ve noticed a growing pattern over the last few years of her putting pressure on me to do certain things.
I’m in my early 30s and a single parent with a divorce behind me already. I’m recently in a new relationship and all my DM can focus on is the ‘next step’ for us and asking when we’ll live together or get engaged or whatever. It’s constant questions. What would you do if he asked you now? What will you do if he wants children? Wouldn’t it be nice to live together though?
She seems fixated on me having more DC even though she’s a grandparent already so has had the pleasure of this experience saying “oh you might change your mind, you’re still young!” Rather than just accepting that anything could happen.
I’m quite happy with how my life and relationship is, but it doesn’t seem to be ‘enough’ for her. I can’t think of any other way to explain it.
When I try to tell her she’s coming across as a bit pre-occupied with my life she gets defensive and says “I was only asking! Pardon me for being interested!”

I wish she’d just chill out and let me get on with my life as and when things happen.

Does anyone else have a DM like this and how do I get her back off in the kindest possibly way?

OP posts:
CrystalShark · 23/09/2019 17:48

Be a stuck record. Make it very unrewarding for her to keep asking. She’s being rude.

‘Mum, your constant questions about my personal life and relationship are becoming rude. Please stop. When I have something to share with you I will’

Don’t fall into the trap of feeling like her being offended or upset are your problem, they’re not. They’re her feelings, she’s entitled to have them and you can’t resolve them for her. She’s the one making things difficult, not you, so no matter how she responds just keep going with the stuck record technique every single time. Consistency is key, don’t give her some info or get into a debate or justify your decisions some of the time as she’ll continue to seek that intermittent reward. Be consistent.

meccacos2 · 23/09/2019 17:53

My sister was like this!!!

Constantly bringing up my having children - going on and on about her ‘birth experience’ and telling me how difficult things were and I wouldn’t be able to cope with having children and ridiculous unsolicited suggestions regarding employing a night nurse. What the actual F?!

DRAMA.

This has nothing to do with you it’s about your own mother’s drama.

Rainbowshine · 23/09/2019 18:08

I’d use the fact that you don’t feel it’s a good idea to introduce someone to your DC so early on, it would be unsettling for them and their needs must come first.

I sympathise as my SIL was forever asking me about having babies, I used to either pretend I hadn’t heard or change the subject. Never engage with the topic!

namechangered2019 · 23/09/2019 19:56

Thank you for the replies. I will try the broken record method and try and shut the conversation down when it heads in that direction Smile

OP posts:
Aussiebean · 23/09/2019 20:34

If that doesn’t work tell her you will leave or hang up every time she brings it up and follow through.

Hopefully you won’t have to go there but good to have if she doesn’t listen.

SavingSpaces2019 · 24/09/2019 00:49

Just tell her that you're worried about her mental health and want to take her to her Dr's for a check up......

namechangered2019 · 24/09/2019 08:41

@SavingSpaces2019 funnily enough I have actually suggested this to her several months ago because it does often appear to be a manifestation of some kind anxiety. She boaked at the idea Hmm

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread