DIL and a possible Millennial phrase

[Anonymous]

We are lucky enough to have a remote beach house and have all quarantined for weeks. My son and his family are visiting.

Almost every time I volunteer to help or ask a simple question, DIL says "don't worry about it." From can I make you eggs to would you like coffee, or asking if they brought sunscreen, to letting them know I have extra towels and TP if they need it: "Don't worry about it" or "I got it." I'm not worried about it, just offering to get you a cup of coffee!

Is this a Millennial phrase? I'm not worried, I'm offering to help. Appreciate insights.

[Anonymous]

It just means “No, thank you.”

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'd say it is. It means, "no thank you" without the blunt rejection. That's what a lot of the younger lingo is - saying things indirectly.

[Anonymous]

It means "No, thank you, I'll handle it." Have you really never heard people say, "Don't worry about it," or "I've got it"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It just means “No, thank you.”

Yup. Also, “no worries” frequently means “you’re welcome”

[Anonymous]

They mean "Please, don't trouble yourself, sweet MIL, this is your vacation and we don't want to be a burden." Unless it's a more subtle way of saying "It's none of your business, we're adults and of course we brought our own toiletries." Hard to say without knowing more about your interactions. All else being equal, I'd assume the best!

[Anonymous]

Yes translate it as "no thank you".

Are you in any way upset that they brought their own toilet paper and are not using yours? Because my MIL got mad at me one year for buying food for my kids to keep in our condo. That was separate from her condo. Because she wanted us to have to go to her condo to eat every morsel of sustenance.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Millennial but I don't think this is particularly unique to my generation? Huh. Maybe it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Millennial but I don't think this is particularly unique to my generation? Huh. Maybe it is.

I don't think it is. I'm 41 and say it, along with 'no worries' on occasion. Perhaps OP is from a different country or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Millennial but I don't think this is particularly unique to my generation? Huh. Maybe it is.

I don't think it is. I'm 41 and say it, along with 'no worries' on occasion. Perhaps OP is from a different country or something.

+1. This is in no way a generational thing. OP apparently just hasn't heard it before.

[Anonymous]

I may be totally off-base, and perhaps extrapolating from my own MIL, but it sounds like in your effort to be nice, you are constantly hovering and offering. IF this is the case, she might appreciate if you told her that you have plenty of extras and to please let you know if she needs anything, and then back off so both of you can relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Millennial but I don't think this is particularly unique to my generation? Huh. Maybe it is.

I don't think it is. I'm 41 and say it, along with 'no worries' on occasion. Perhaps OP is from a different country or something.

The oldest millenials turn 40 this year. They are almost all in their 30s. People keep saying "millenial" to mean someone in their 20s, but that is Gen Z.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I guess I’ll accept it as a no thank you without the “thank you.” If someone offered to bring me coffee or make me a plate or slice me a piece of pie I would say thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess I’ll accept it as a no thank you without the “thank you.” If someone offered to bring me coffee or make me a plate or slice me a piece of pie I would say thank you.

Wait, you'd say thank you, or you'd say, NO, thank you? Are you mad she's turning you down, or mad about how she's doing it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess I’ll accept it as a no thank you without the “thank you.” If someone offered to bring me coffee or make me a plate or slice me a piece of pie I would say thank you.

Wait, you'd say thank you, or you'd say, NO, thank you? Are you mad she's turning you down, or mad about how she's doing it?

Also, why don't you just accept it as a "no, thank you"? If you want to be offended, go ahead, but that's on you. It's a perfectly innocuous phrase. I use it, and I'm solidly Gen X.