A grandmother’s request to her daughter has ignited debate between parents online.
A woman has revealed that her mum asked to be reimbursed for the money she spent on her grandchildren while visiting the family.
The grandmother came down for three days to help out with the kids and save the family on childcare fees, the mum explained on parenting forum Mumsnet.
“I bought lots of food and made sure there was enough of everything in the house. My mother decided on a couple of occasions to take the kids out for lunch and to go out and about,” she wrote.
“Spoke to her yesterday and she asked me for all the money back that she had spent on the kids including the train fair. I was a bit shocked but now I am wondering if AIBU (am I being unreasonable)?
“We are quite skint at the moment and this is why I asked her to come down- we took her out for a meal when she was here to say thank you as well.”
The grandmother and her husband have just spent £50,000 on doing up their own home, she added.
“I just don’t know what to think- I feel really upset. Apart from anything I don’t have the money to give back to her anyway,” the mum said.
Many of the parents on the forum agreed that it was unfair of the woman’s mother to ask for money.
“I will never understand parents lording it up while their children suffer. Expensive home improvements and you can’t afford to take your own grandkids for lunch? Jesus wept,” wrote one.
“It’s not fair that she made the decision to take the children out without checking whether funds were available,” commented another.
“Tell her you wouldn’t have asked her to come if you’d known she wanted money and you won’t ask her again.”
“I would give her the train money and tell her she chose to go out for lunch despite a house full of food, so she can bloody well fund it herself.”
A number of others wondered if the grandmother’s partner was behind the request.
“Do you think her DH (dear husband) gave her a hard time about it and has asked her to recoup what she spent?” asked one.
“I wonder if he said something when she got back as she didn’t mention anything while she’d was down?”
“I might be somewhat concerned that… she is under undue pressure from her husband.”
What do you think – is it fair for a grandparent to ask their son or daughter for money back that they’ve chosen to spend on their grandkids? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
