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AIBU?

to not want my MIL to turn DD into a hypochondriac?

4 replies

SnoozleDoozle · 24/03/2011 18:54

My DD is 4, and is blessed with really good health, for which we are truly grateful.

But every week without fail, my MIL makes comments, in front of her, along the lines of 'DD isn't herself today, I think she's coming down with something', 'she looks pale', 'she looks flushed' etc etc

Now, having heard all this, I am starting to have difficulty with DD claiming to have a sore tummy when she doesn't want to do something, or doesn't want me to go to work.

MIL is the textbook example of the boy who cried wolf herself - every day, and I mean every day, that we see her, she announces that she has never been so ill in her life etc etc, whilst generally keeping good health. I don't want this attention seeking passed on to my daughter.

(Incidentally, I suffer from severe anxiety issues myself, and I have first hand knowledge of severe health anxiety, and this is not what we're dealing with here, its not that MIL fears serious illness (in herself, or in DD), her obsessions all revolve around flu, sore throats, headaches etc. )

Grrr.....I have vented and I now feel better.

OP posts:

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Chil1234 · 24/03/2011 18:57

Tell DD that granny is a bit of a funny old fusspot with too much time on her hands and not to take any notice. Also, devise some 'nasty' remedies for imaginary ailments.. ..'oh dear then we'll have to go to the hospital instead of making cakes'..... that quickly sorts the wheat from the chaff

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LionRock · 24/03/2011 19:08

It sounds like it's time to nip this in the bud. Your MIL likely does it from habit so it may take some effort to get her to stop. You may need to be a broken record and keep repeating the same stock phrases, whether they are to her or to her and your daughter. Make sure you correct her in front of your daughter though so she knows it's not on. At age 4, if an adult relative tells you that you're ill, well you'll likely believe it... Oh and of course your partner should respond in the same way.

Ideas:
Oh dear MIL if you feel you're coming down with something you'd best go home and recover. (To daughter) we don't want to catch granny's germs do we?

(Daughter) is fine in fact we've a busy afternoon planned. (To daughter) isn't that right?

etc