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Grandparenting

DIL posh family - advice needed

(308 Posts)
Silverberry Thu 28-Dec-23 17:08:21

Just wanted some advice. I have one DS who is married with children. Whilst we are comfortable, my DIL comes from a much richer and more upper class family. My son is incredibly bright, going to Oxford and has a really well paid good career. He married a lovely girl who he met there who is always very polite and welcoming but there has always been an undercurrent of knowing that we are not the normal type of people she is used to. She isn’t snobby or rude and is welcoming but it’s just an unacknowledged obvious thing.

Her family are much richer then ours, her father is incredibly successful (they own 5 houses) and are obviously very generous with the grandchildren which we are not able to be. They are also very generous with ds/DIL which we can’t be. For example I found out her parents give her £5000 as a gift to buy something nice for Christmas. Again they are never anything but polite to us, but it’s clear that we aren’t their sort of people.

My grandchildren are just so different to us, they have been sent to private school and whilst they do seem to love us, are quite clearly much closer to her family. Over Christmas I used the words settee and lounge and was corrected by my GD, my DIL winced with embarrassment as she obviously wants me to feel welcome but obviously my GC are being taught not to use ‘lower-class’ words like us. Another example is stockings. We still do stockings for our children (2) which are cheap and cheerful, but I recently found out that when my DS has Christmas with his in laws they do him a stocking with really nice presents. Now I feel like it was rude for me not to do one for my DIL, but she wouldn’t want our cheap one anyway. When we’ve bought her presents in the past she’s always been very polite but they don’t get used. For example we bought her a footstool we thought she would like, but DS said we shouldn’t have as she is very into interiors and likes to pick everything herself. I’ve only seen it used once and obviously that was to be polite.

I probably sound jealous and of course it would be nice to have more money, but I think it boils down to knowing in my heart we will never measure up to her family in generosity and that they are already so much closer. It doesn’t help we are the ‘paternal grandparents’.

Am very proud of my DS for moving on up in the world and we have a great relationship, but am I just destined to be a poor relation and is there anything I can do.

MissInterpreted Tue 02-Jan-24 14:19:30

DaisyAnneReturns

So you are now seven or eight, MissInterpreted accusing one person of "attacking" another who herself said she didn't understand a fairly simple post.

Who is being driven out? The eight or the one? Reading your post seems like a direct attempt to do just that. This is an excellent example of group bullying.

I did not say anything to Marydoll that was an attack. If you think I did, quote it.

I too refuse to rise to the bait. It's pointless and pathetic. As I said, no wonder people leave GN precisely because of this nonsense.

NotSpaghetti Tue 02-Jan-24 14:21:47

Can I (with my tin hat on) just say that some words create different images for me and so they suggest differentmeanings... "fun sponge" makes me think that a person is full of fun - as they find it wherever they go.

Also, someone asked earlier about drawing rooms - if someone asked me what I call my "drawing room" (where I draw) I'd call it my studio.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 02-Jan-24 14:33:17

Judy54

No one wants to put the knife in, no one wants to hurt you. The only person you are hurting is yourself please show some respect and you will get it in return. Continually lashing out in anger is self destroying. Be the bigger and better person and walk away. Silence says a thousand words.

Where have I "lashing out in anger". I'm not angry Judy; just sad that people can behave this way.

Anyway, I too have reported the thread although I hope it doesn't disturb holiday days.

So, we wait and see.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 02-Jan-24 14:36:46

NotSpaghetti

Can I (with my tin hat on) just say that some words create different images for me and so they suggest differentmeanings... "fun sponge" makes me think that a person is full of fun - as they find it wherever they go.

Also, someone asked earlier about drawing rooms - if someone asked me what I call my "drawing room" (where I draw) I'd call it my studio.

Sorry Judy. Where have I should have been Where have I been "

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 02-Jan-24 14:39:18

And I shouldn't have quoted NotSpaghetti I don't know how that happened. I'm no suprised you're an artist if you see words in that way.

Judy54 Tue 02-Jan-24 14:45:53

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 02-Jan-24 14:55:55

I feel I have patiently answed all your posts. I don't think I deserve your personal attack Judy so I have reported your post too. Maybe that's what I should have done wh5en this started.

MissInterpreted Tue 02-Jan-24 14:59:37

Yeah, if in doubt, report. Funny how that doesn't work when the boot is on the other foot!

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 02-Jan-24 15:01:29

Too true.

Baggs Tue 02-Jan-24 15:13:37

The teacup is made by Tenmokus and is Chinese. So now we drink green tea from a Japanese teapot (the "terrorist" one that caused problems at Heathrow for MrB 😅) and from two of these gorgeous cups – MrB's xmas present to me.

Baggs Tue 02-Jan-24 15:14:05

Made in HongKong.

Sago Tue 02-Jan-24 15:18:24

How on earth has a perfectly reasonable response from MaryDoll come to this?

I agree with her entirely that good education creates social mobility, good grammar schools meant my grandparents (one of whom was born in a workhouse) were able to get their children a great education and as a result their grandchildren and great grandchildren have all had a much easier and privileged life than they had.

Whether or not it changes a person I’m not sure, my grandmother had enormous pride, her home was immaculate as were here manners and that of my mother and siblings, she knew from the start that she wanted more and my grandmother and grandfather worked so hard to achieve the best for their children.

I hate to use the class system but the family went up a notch, that meant using different words and different behaviours so I suppose it does change a person, although nobody in the family has ever been embarrassed of their roots.

Joseann Tue 02-Jan-24 15:19:20

Uh oh! I see I'm in the doghouse (again) at the top of page 9 for belittling people who have a drawing room? Apparently I was angrily insulting those with larger homes, which was where Marydoll stepped in to clarify my use of the word "weird".
Every other poster, DaisyAnne, corrected me politely on the etymology of the word "drawing" room, which I pretty much knew anyway. I just felt the actual word is bizarre, unusual and odd. (As does NotSpaghetti! 🎨 ) You obviously misunderstood DaisyAnne.

Anyway, SporeRB made me chuckle and interpreted my comment correctly. As far as I know, Joseann herself is very wealthy and very posh, so why on earth would she insult people who have large homes? As it happens, my grandmama and grandpapa had a drawing room with a huge fireplace, it was next to their dining room and across from their morning room. They used to have tapestries on the walls and I remember a chaise longue bed with a sausage cushion with which my cousin used to beat the hell out of me! Now that was some attack!

I think the whole of this thread was designed as a wind-up anyway. It's just a shame that it got personal for no reason, and I'm sorry one of GN's amicable posters has received unfair treatment.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 02-Jan-24 15:33:53

Joseann

Uh oh! I see I'm in the doghouse (again) at the top of page 9 for belittling people who have a drawing room? Apparently I was angrily insulting those with larger homes, which was where Marydoll stepped in to clarify my use of the word "weird".
Every other poster, DaisyAnne, corrected me politely on the etymology of the word "drawing" room, which I pretty much knew anyway. I just felt the actual word is bizarre, unusual and odd. (As does NotSpaghetti! 🎨 ) You obviously misunderstood DaisyAnne.

Anyway, SporeRB made me chuckle and interpreted my comment correctly. As far as I know, Joseann herself is very wealthy and very posh, so why on earth would she insult people who have large homes? As it happens, my grandmama and grandpapa had a drawing room with a huge fireplace, it was next to their dining room and across from their morning room. They used to have tapestries on the walls and I remember a chaise longue bed with a sausage cushion with which my cousin used to beat the hell out of me! Now that was some attack!

I think the whole of this thread was designed as a wind-up anyway. It's just a shame that it got personal for no reason, and I'm sorry one of GN's amicable posters has received unfair treatment.

Where was this "unfair treatment" Joseann. Please quote.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 02-Jan-24 15:44:32

Baggs

The teacup is made by Tenmokus and is Chinese. So now we drink green tea from a Japanese teapot (the "terrorist" one that caused problems at Heathrow for MrB 😅) and from two of these gorgeous cups – MrB's xmas present to me.

It really is lovely Baggs. Collecting special pieces seemed to go out of fashion for a while but I think it's coming back in again - "old fashioned" values returning perhaps.

I have been fascinated by "old money style" fashion rising in popularity.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 02-Jan-24 16:14:37

Joseann

Uh oh! I see I'm in the doghouse (again) at the top of page 9 for belittling people who have a drawing room? Apparently I was angrily insulting those with larger homes, which was where Marydoll stepped in to clarify my use of the word "weird".
Every other poster, DaisyAnne, corrected me politely on the etymology of the word "drawing" room, which I pretty much knew anyway. I just felt the actual word is bizarre, unusual and odd. (As does NotSpaghetti! 🎨 ) You obviously misunderstood DaisyAnne.

Anyway, SporeRB made me chuckle and interpreted my comment correctly. As far as I know, Joseann herself is very wealthy and very posh, so why on earth would she insult people who have large homes? As it happens, my grandmama and grandpapa had a drawing room with a huge fireplace, it was next to their dining room and across from their morning room. They used to have tapestries on the walls and I remember a chaise longue bed with a sausage cushion with which my cousin used to beat the hell out of me! Now that was some attack!

I think the whole of this thread was designed as a wind-up anyway. It's just a shame that it got personal for no reason, and I'm sorry one of GN's amicable posters has received unfair treatment.

I didn't misunderstand Joseann, I just don't find it weird. As I asked at the time, what else can you call one if you have one? It sounds like your grandparents didn't find it weird either.

PamelaJ1 Tue 02-Jan-24 16:36:12

sago the word posh is in the original thread so I used it too.
Sorry if I offended you.

Baggs Tue 02-Jan-24 16:38:09

We don't really regard them as collectors' items, DAR, just nice things that we will use. The two little glass cups we had been using were from a charity shop.

M0nica Tue 02-Jan-24 16:50:41

Drawing room is just one of the many names for a room where people mainly relax and sit. Lounge, living room, drawing room, sitting room, salon, reception room, parlour, front room. All have different origins, that deep in the annals of time may have had social connotations, but nowadays, who cares?

Call it anything you like, personally I say living room or sitting room.

Farmor15 Tue 02-Jan-24 17:06:49

With regard to "drawing room" - my parents bought an old Victorian house and we had a dining room downstairs which we mostly used as a sitting room, but still called the dining room. On the middle floor was a more formal room, always known as the drawing room. We were middle class, not wealthy and I know some of my friends also had "drawing rooms".

I inherited the house and some of my student children and their friends lived there for some years. I got a bed-settee for the "drawing room" so I could stay sometimes and said it was out of bounds to the young people, so my son started referring to it as the "forbidden" room!

We live in Ireland where the class system doesn't seem to be as rigid as UK. My father was English, came from a working class family but got scholarships to grammar school and University. However, he felt hampered by the British class system and got a job in Ireland where his background was less important. I hope it has changed since his time, but when I read threads like this I see some people are still rather obsessed by class.

Judy54 Tue 02-Jan-24 17:14:12

My apologies DaisyAnneReturns for my poor choice of words. It was not my intention to make a personal attack
you are right you did not deserve it.

Joseann Tue 02-Jan-24 17:21:00

Ooo a salon, I'd love that, (*Monica*). A room where we could sit and discuss not only literature and philosophy, but also the art of polite conversation and etiquette!!

Callistemon21 Tue 02-Jan-24 17:21:39

NotSpaghetti

Can I (with my tin hat on) just say that some words create different images for me and so they suggest differentmeanings... "fun sponge" makes me think that a person is full of fun - as they find it wherever they go.

Also, someone asked earlier about drawing rooms - if someone asked me what I call my "drawing room" (where I draw) I'd call it my studio.

Also, someone asked earlier about drawing rooms - if someone asked me what I call my "drawing room" (where I draw) I'd call it my studio
😁
I call it the kitchen table

POSH - Port Out, Starboard Home 🚢🛳

kittylester Tue 02-Jan-24 17:23:10

A salon just sounds like a better class of saloon but much less fun.

Callistemon21 Tue 02-Jan-24 17:27:22

Baggs

The teacup is made by Tenmokus and is Chinese. So now we drink green tea from a Japanese teapot (the "terrorist" one that caused problems at Heathrow for MrB 😅) and from two of these gorgeous cups – MrB's xmas present to me.

I do have a Japanese tea set which is probably just about antique now. My mother advised me to put a spoon in a cup when pouring tea to avoid cracking.
How one avoids cracking the teapot itself I don't know.

So I never use it.