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(62 Posts)
Rockchick Sat 02-Jan-16 21:03:55

Just back from birthday meal with s and dil and family and huge emotional ( on my part ) argument in restaurant between son and I because I told him " watch out baby his baby of 20 months sitting beside him was grabbing the spoon and bowl of baby food, he then told me I shd have come round and got it off him instead of telling and that all weekend I've been doing same. Not sure why but I got really upset, I think he reminded me of ex husband and also felt I had been doing best and asking him before I gave kids treats or letting them do something he might not approve of. Is it the time of year ?

heavenknows Mon 04-Jan-16 06:46:16

It is puzzling. He could have just said "Mum, if you don't want those biscuits, can I take them with me?" confused

Wendysue Mon 04-Jan-16 01:04:12

Glad our support helped, Rockchick! And that you like our advice!

Jingle, I can't get over your s! Sounds like he wanted the biscuits for himself though. Why didn't he just say so? LOL!

Katek Mon 04-Jan-16 00:10:51

Has that helped???

rosequartz Sun 03-Jan-16 23:14:36

Peek Frean's biscuits would only have made the pigeons fat anyway smile

Are you two talking in secret code?
HTH hmm

Ana Sun 03-Jan-16 21:01:41

Yes, thanks! smile

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 03-Jan-16 20:59:01

HTH smile

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 03-Jan-16 20:58:38

We only put seed feeders out now rq because we were getting so many pigeons scoffing everything off of the bird table.

Ana the cake tin had had the Xmas cake in it, but I had sliced the remains of the cake up and put it in my lovely new Xmas tin that I got in the Oxfam shop sale. It is cream coloured with red poinsettias on it, and I wanted to use it. So, the original cake tin lid was lying on the table. I don't know where the actual original tin was. It had got separated.

rosequartz Sun 03-Jan-16 20:47:32

Oh, that's OK, they could have gone out on the bird table

Not Scottish shortbread though!

Ana Sun 03-Jan-16 20:44:55

Yes, we do need to get the mind-picture as perfect as possible!

I'd been thinking it was the biscuit tin lid that got dented, but now I know it was your cake tin lid it's added yet another intriguing detail to the drama! grin

heavenknows Sun 03-Jan-16 20:39:09

Well, I was going to ask for a video re-enactment, but strictly for entertainment purposes. grin

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 03-Jan-16 20:38:27

Not anything delicious. Just Peak Frean family assortment. (They are not as good as they used to be)

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 03-Jan-16 20:36:39

Ana as I exited the kitchen, via the dining room, my cake tin lid just happened to be on the table. And I felt like throwing something.

D'you want any more detail?! hmm grin

rosequartz Sun 03-Jan-16 20:26:54

shock throw out biscuits? - I am on your DS's side wink

They weren't Scottish shortbread were they?

Ana Sun 03-Jan-16 20:23:22

How did the tin get dented then? confused

heavenknows Sun 03-Jan-16 20:21:21

Oh, I am so sorry, but the picture of you just stamping on the biscuits made me laugh. grin I'd have been tempted to do a little dance on them myself. Don't blame you. Your biscuits, your decision.

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 03-Jan-16 20:04:12

Yes, it was in my house Wendysue. It was a box of biscuits DD brought home from work. Left over from staff celebrations. We ate one inner pack, then we both (DD and I)agreed to throw the rest out. Son was so indignant! Grabbed said biscuits off of me. I grabbed 'em back. Packet fell on the floor. I stamped on it. He picked it up and took it off to his bedroom. No doubt he will take them home to his house, where he will eat them. With a spoon. grin

[shrug]

heavenknows Sun 03-Jan-16 19:46:05

I always used to feel sympathy for my exMIL when she would say (about ex) "I didn't raise him to be that way." She was always so miserable (or annoyed) when she said it.

Now I find myself saying it about my dd. It's frustrating, and some days I'd like to tell her exactly what I think. We've fallen out anyway as I refused to be a doormat, but I notice she comes back when she needs something. hmm She did just recently, but is back to "no contact" as she doesn't need anything right now.

I'm polite, but I'm refuse to be a doormat or stand there and be openly criticised (especially for something I've not done). I may be old, but I haven't hit senile yet (I don't think! grin), so I don't appreciate being spoken to that way, and won't tolerate it. I don't like falling out with her, but I do expect reasonably civil behaviour from her.

Rockchick Sun 03-Jan-16 19:07:42

Thanks for all your support last night Gransnetters really needed it. I appreciate this site so much as don't have any relatives at all to bounce stuff off when the going gets tough. Looks like a lot of us bite our tongues, never thought that would be my way, not that I like confrontation that much but sometimes there are things that need to be said. It's funny had thought yesterday was a great day and that I had loads of fun with kids and helped to give s and dil a bit of time and didn't overstep the mark as a granny, but you never know how somebody else perceives situations. Next time as suggested will keep mouth closed and concentrate on just the fun bit.

Wendysue Sun 03-Jan-16 17:48:29

Just wanted to add that I understand all the tongue-biting, etc. I do it, too. In fact, as I mentioned in another thread, a few years ago, my relationship with my ODD was rather difficult, with periodic episodes of our not speaking. Finally, I decided to pick my battles more, not always react to perceived slights, etc. Sometimes it bothers me, too, just as it does some of you. But it has improved our relations a lot. And when I think that my long range goal here is to maintain a relationship with both my DDs and my GC for the rest of my life, if possible, well, it seems very worth it.

Jingle, I'm glad things are ok with your son now. I must admit I don't totally get what happened. Or rather where it happened. Was it in your house or his? If it was in his house and they were his biscuits, that's one thing. But I doubt that. If it was in your house or the biscuits were yours, how could he possibly think it was ok to tell you what to do with them? I think it would have been totally ok for you to tell him something like, "Excuse me? I reserve the right to do as I choose with my own things/in my own house!" But regardless, I'm glad he learned his lesson!

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 03-Jan-16 15:12:16

Oh we're fine today. A good dinner (cooked by me) has been happily partaken of by all. Hopefully he's learned not to boss me around. Grrr!

KatyK Sun 03-Jan-16 15:08:52

nina It's sad isn't it? Unfortunately I let things really get to me when I was going through an awful time and I, what she described as, 'had a go at her and she hadn't done anything'. I should have kept quiet as it made matters worse. Like some have said above, I thought we were close but now realise that we were/are not and we are very, very different. sad

Anya Sun 03-Jan-16 15:01:07

The thing to keep in mind Rockchick is that you did nothing wrong x

Wendysue Sun 03-Jan-16 14:24:24

So sorry about this, Rockchick! I was thinking what Anya was thinking - next time let things happen and see how he handles it, LOL!

Actually, maybe s was just embarrassed that you kept noticing things he didn't. That doesn't excuse him for turning on you that way, of course. Ugh!

Or maybe he really thinks that when you're there, he gets to be a "kid" again and you take over as a sort of "second mother" to baby. I hope not. That would be very nervy on his part, IMO.

Either way, I say pull back, next time, and let/expect him to be the parent (and his wife - where was she in all this, BTW?)

ninathenana Sun 03-Jan-16 13:51:18

KatyK that sounds like me with DD, I've never said anything that I felt I needed to apologise for because I'm to scared to cause a rift.
There have been a few times when I should have though.
I annoy myself.

KatyK Sun 03-Jan-16 13:41:20

Oh dear, not easy is it? I am impressed with you jingl If I ever disagree with my DD over anything (which is rare because I am too afraid of becoming estranged) I feel guilty for weeks and apologise even when I know I am right. It doesn't make me feel good about myself but the alternative doesn't bear thinking about. My DH has been unwell and gets very stressed if he thinks DD and me are going to fall out so I just paint on the smile and seeth inwardly.