Is it Normal to Invite Boyfriend’s 76-Year-Old Mother on an Overnight Trip in a Travel Trailer? #TravelTrailer #FamilyTrip #RelationshipAdvice
Have you ever been in a situation where your significant other wants to bring their parent along on a trip with you? I’m currently facing this dilemma as my 52-year-old boyfriend is suggesting we take his 76-year-old mother on a night trip in a 22ft travel trailer.
Is this arrangement normal?
Here are a few things to consider:
Pros and Cons of Traveling with a Parent
Pros:
– Family bonding time
– Shared memories
– Help with childcare or other responsibilities
Cons:
– Lack of privacy
– Different travel preferences
– Possible conflicts or awkward situations
Asking for Opinions
Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you handle it? #FamilyTravel #RelationshipBoundaries
Let’s discuss!
People travel in “campers” all of the time. As large family units. Hell, a 22 ft can probably sleep 6 or more. I had a 35 ft that slept 7 with only 1 actual bed/bedroom. The configuration of the same trailer I had but with the bunk house slept like 12… It sounds like your BF wants to do this. Not the mother pushing in on a private trip. And can you blame him??? His 76 year old mother is not much longer for this world. I would want to have some good experiences while I could with my parents. And you are a big part of his life so he wants to make those memories with you. Especially since the mother may not get to see you as anything more than a GF….
You are letting your dislike of the woman make you think this is a weird thing. Unless you plan on screwing like rabbits there is nothing weird about traveling with a parent/grown child in a camper…. Again, people do this all of the time. Unless there is a lot of contexts missing here this 100% is you just don’t like her. Which you haven’t given any reasons why. This is your partner’s mother. Its someone you should probably try an play nice with until given a reason not to….
ETA: OP responded to a comment further down and added the context that makes this weird and goes with my Unless comments. The Mom is in an enmeshment relationship with the son. He has lived with her for 20 years, has interrupted them while kissing/touching with odd comments and physical interruption, claimed him as her BF, etc. CONTEXT and Details matter people… Changes the whole thing. Yes this is weird. OP and any one who post in future… Include context….
I don’t really see the issue but we camp a lot and have a small cabin. So we are used to having friends and family right there next to you in a sleeping bag.
If you don’t want to go though, don’t go.
It’s not strange. It’s family, and family dynamics are different for everyone but universally we tend to take time for and share space with family. If they had a strange relationship then MAYBE it’s different but i can tell you i wouldn’t mind bunking in a trailer for ONE NIGHT, with my girlfriend and mom. it’s only weird if you make it that way.
I would look at it this way, 76 is the average life expectancy in america for women. My dad died at 50, so your boyfriend already made it a couple years past him. my point is life is short. it’s one night and he just wants to spend time together.
NOW, you have every right to say no. You’re a grown adult you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. HOWEVER, adults do things ALL THE TIME that they don’t want to do, especially for the people we love. So, if he’s asking for your support and you care about him. i would go.
I don’t see anything strange in that. It’s not like he’s forcing you to share a bed with his mom or something.
A 22ft trailer is designed to sleep more than two people. It isn’t weird at all to have 3 people in a trailer this size.
Y’all aren’t sharing a bed.
I don’t get what your complaints are about.
>Boyfried wants to travel with his mother and me in a small trailer; strange or no?
Since when is travelling/camping with people you like strange?
If this were strange no one would travel or go camping
I can’t even count how many fishing trips I’ve gone on with my parents and significant other in a travel trailer. Or just my dad and significant other.
It’s very normal.
If he were asking you to live in that, sure. It’s one night. There’s different sleeping spots. It could be a nice bonding experience. You’re making it weird for no reason.
Maybe it’s something his family has always talked about doing and they have never had the opportunity. I could agree with you if it was a 3-4 week trip cross country, but this is just 1 night – I’d go and support the boyfriend and be as pleasant as possible to his mother, how bad could it be for one night?
You might not be the only one but you’re in the minority of people who camp. 4 adults and a dog went to Disney, trip took about 10 days in a 23 foot trailer. Now we have a 33 foot, it will sleep 9 people. As someone said, you won’t be sharing a bed. I don’t see what the problem is. You’re in the trailer very little, just to sleep, you’re spending most of your time outside. You’re either exploring the area you’re camping in or you’re relaxing around a campfire.
Is it strange because you’re not used to traveling with your family or because you don’t want to travel with someone you dislike? Or if it’s neither of those, what do you find strange about sleeping in a camper with your boyfriend’s mom?Â
I would travel with my mom like this and not bat an eye over it, I know plenty of people who would too. It wouldn’t be strange for us.Â
Your reaction is the strange thing in my mind. I think you are really responding to your dislike of his mom. I say it duck it up and play nice for a short trip.
No it is not strange. He wants to go on a family trip.
For one night?
Suck it up. Do you love this man or not?
This is exactly what campers are for. When I was a young child, we had a camper, and I remember all assortment of random family members joining us for camping trips.
Why does this feel weird to you?
Different families have different vibes.
As a kid, we drove across Canada over 2 month summer with a tent trailer. All 5 of us sleeping in it. Having little adventures at camp grounds along the way.
It’s not strange to want to travel and share adventures experiences with those you love and family.Â
Is it odd to share cramped sleeping area, kinda awkward some times, but with a bit of respect it’s not hard for short duration.
You don’t need to go, but he’s not being weird. You’re being weird.
His mother is elderly and he only has so much time to make new memories with her. He wants you in on that memory making too.
Why would an overnight camping/day trip be strange to you?
Have you never gone camping or gone on a day trip with your family? Because no to both is much stranger than going.
Just because she’s elderly doesn’t mean she suddenly never wants to do anything ever again. Especially since shes in good health, if she were in poor health then I could see a day trip being less fun.
can you just say you don’t like her and move on 😂 nothings strange about this and it feels like your grasping at straws for a reason. just tell her straight up to her face id rather die than be in that tin can with you.
I’m baffled by why you would think this is strange
ThrowRAMinute_Fishin – “He tells me that he wants me to join them because if it’s just the two of them she’ll think I don’t want to go because I don’t like her.”
ALSO
ThrowRAMinute_Fishin – “I don’t, but that’s not the point.”
Sorry, but that did make me giggle.
I’m glad you’ve admitted you don’t like his mum, because it’s not that obvious…..
This isn’t a strange thing for a lot of people, I am however assuming it is a strange thing for you, this is a standard expression of love, by wanting to spend time with people. This feels like a different love languages kind of situation
Not weird at all. I camp with my extended family all the time. Growing up we’d have our grandparents camp with us too, sometimes in tents sometimes with a camper. We even do non-camping trips where we all rent an Airbnb together, with in-laws and all.
No, it’s not strange at all. However, if you don’t want to go then that’s perfectly okay.
Just don’t go if you don’t want to go. If this is your first trip in the trailer together, I do see it as a bit odd but that’s for you to navigate his boundary issues with his mother in a broader discussion.
I know this isn’t an AITA post, but you’re giving off strong vibes for it….
Huh??
What is your problem with the mother?
yes. you the only one.
I take it you’ve never shared a hotel room with someone you’re not having sex with?
we used to go camping with my grandparents all the time. Why wouldn’t it be normal? Like is it that hard to not have sex for one night lmao
I’d say that families traveling together in a camper is far from strange. My opinion on that doesn’t change based on the ages of the family members.
it’s only strange if he initiates sex. otherwise, it just camping with his 2 favorite ladies.
Unless you and your husband can’t share a bed without having sex, I don’t see how this is weird.
It’s okay if you just don’t want to go.
This is not strange. You not accepting is strange whether you like her or not.
Being kind to his mother? You’re a weird
it’s not strange at all. youre old with elderly parents. 76 is the average life expectancy in the US. no day is guaranteed, regardless of apparent health.
Dude wants to make some happy memories with his mom in potentially her final years and show her that he’s “made it” and that he’ll be okay with you when she passes.
Get over yourself.
I think it’s cool that he loves his mom that much, it’s honestly weird that you think it’s weird
Strange, not at all it’s extremely normal to expect your SO to spend time with one of your parents.
As someone who has recently lost both parents, I would say to go on the trip and be civil (provided she’s not abusive towards you). The fact his, they’ve limited time and he’d like to make memories with both of you. I know my opinion will be unpopular. But losing parents changes you. I regret not doing more. This is as much for her having a holiday as it is for him to have family time. I hope you’ll go.
It’s not weird, nothing wrong with taking old people somewhere, you will be old yourself one day.
Okay as someone nearly your age, this is weird at most and uncomfortable at best. Who in their right mind wants to have a sleepover with their partner and their mother in close quarters? I’d tell him to just tak his mom, if she thinks you don’t like her then so be it.