A mum has taken to the popular Mumsnet thread 'AIBU' to express her concern about her new front garden.
The AIBU thread, which stands for 'Am I Being Unreasonable?' has received an array of different responses from Mumsnet users sharing their thoughts. The post titled 'FIL has messed up my front garden … AIBU?' has certainly caused a stir online.
In the post, the mum explains how her father-in-law had previously offered to do her front garden in their new house. Originally, she wasn't 'keen' on the idea, but wanted to save some money.
READ MORE: Mum floored as tenant wants to rip out 'lovely' garden to turn it into private parking space
The full post read: "FIL offered to do our front garden in our new house for us. Originally I wasn’t keen on the idea as he didn’t put my son’s bedroom furniture together very well. However with the cost of living it meant to have what we really wanted would take a good couple years to afford. I agreed to him doing some pebbles and fake plants etc and already started off on the wrong foot as he went against my wish for big pebbles and got smaller ‘tacky’ looking ones.
"He then let us pay for the paint as we wanted a darker grey colour despite saying it was all his treat. That’s not an issue but also has asked me to order the fake plants etc so isn’t ‘really’ treating us to it. Bearing in mind these things aren’t that expensive … then today he puts in some slabs that 1) don’t match our other slabs 2) weren’t what we agreed , we agreed concrete not slabs 3) are much larger than the slabs we have so look completely odd."
The mum later went on to describe how the situation was 'so awkward' and how her garden now looks 'so cheap and tacky and rushed'. Her partner also agrees.
Both unsure what to say, the mum asked the popular Mumsnet forum for some opinions on the matter. It's safe to say there were some mixed thoughts.
One Mumsnet user commented: "If you’re conscious of things looking “tacky” but insist on fake plants, maybe leave it to the FIL and see if he’ll incorporate some taste? Do you have fake grass too?"
Another comment read: "You have let him baby you though. Also: fake plants."
A third Mumsnet user said: "YABU for the fake plants. Also if you care this much and want it just so, and it’s just a case of throwing down some pebbles and fake plants, why not do it yourself? How hard can it be, a weekend’s work tops AND you wouldn’t have to put up with your in-laws."
A fourth comment read: "The picture you posted looks lovely Op. I’m sorry your FIL hasn’t done what you wanted. Seeing as your partner agreed it looks tacky, my advice would be to let him take the brunt of this. I’d completely let him deal with his dad and learn from this to never tell your FIL of any future plans. As far as cost goes, maybe your FIL underestimated how much it would cost and he genuinely couldn’t afford it. Either way, just forgive him… life is too short. The thought was kind but yeah, it didn’t go as planned. Just pay to have it done how you like it and if your FIL ever approaches you on subject just say “Talk to your son about it please".
Receive newsletters with the latest shopping news, deals and honest opinions from the Liverpool ECHO Shopping & Reviews newsletter by signing up here
READ NEXT:
