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AIBU?

To think MIL joke isn't funny

150 replies

KarOp690 · 03/12/2017 00:24

Had a day out whereby I had to get a train with my 6 month old baby and some friends. On the way home, the trains were delayed and were cancelled going to my stop. They stopped at the second to last before mine which is my MILs town. I called her up to ask if it would be possible please that she could pick me and LO up and drop us home as our train wasn't going to my stop and she has a car seat in her car so seemed like a logical explanation. She said yep no problem, dropped us home and that was that. Since then she's text OH along the lines of "if you don't watch out I'm going to have that baby off you. I've called social services 😜" apparently as a joke. All because I've asked her to pick me up from the station in the evening I'm now apparently a case for social services? OH replies with "Very funny mum! Shut up" (in a jokey way) to which she's relied "no you shut up. Im gonna have that baby!!"
AIBU to think this joke is not funny in the slightest and to be actually pissed off she thinks it's appropriate to joke about?

OP posts:

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ThisLittleKitty · 03/12/2017 00:29

Yeh that's odd. I had a family member call social services and make up a lot of lies about me (luckily ss saw it was malicious) so that might cloud my view! But yanbu

HeddaGarbled · 03/12/2017 00:30

It's very very odd, but TBH, she put herself out to get you out of a hole, so I think I'd let it go for now. If this becomes a common occurrence, you'll have to stop calling on her for help, but don't over-react yet. Just ignore her silly comments.

angelikacpickles · 03/12/2017 00:36

It doesn't even make sense?!? I know it's supposed to be a joke but how would this even be vaguely relevant to social services. I'd ask her for help as little as possible if she's going to be like this.

KarOp690 · 03/12/2017 00:37

The only thing I can think of is because I asked her to pick me up at 8pm so it was fairly late of an evening for a baby to be out but all the trains had been cancelled which was why I was so late! I was supposed to be home at 6.30. Other than that I have no clue!

OP posts:

Urubu · 03/12/2017 00:41

Tjink about it this way, would she joke about it if she really thought you needed SS to intervine?
But I agree, it is out of line and kind of hurtful.

KarOp690 · 03/12/2017 00:43

I don't for one minute think she would, I'm a great mother and I love and care for my LO more than anything. It's clearly a joke but a very distasteful and crappy one at that.

OP posts:

Bunbunbunny · 03/12/2017 00:49

Just get your DH to tell her he’ll get adult social services round to assess her & see how funny she finds the “joke” then.

Ginfiend · 03/12/2017 00:53

Late for a baby to be out? People pick up babies from childminders/family/go shoppings at all times. People have their own routine. Don’t let her make you think you’ve done anything wrong. So what if you were walking down the street with a baby in a sling at 9.30pm. Or in a pram at 6.30am What business is that of anyone else?!

SandyY2K · 03/12/2017 01:08

I don't see the joke in it at all. Nothing funny about it.
Next time I'd call a cab instead, as her behaviour would really annoy me.

QueenUnicorn · 03/12/2017 01:08

It's an unfunny joke but nothing to be pissed off about if your relationship is generally good.

LagunaBubbles · 03/12/2017 01:14

Not really getting why this has clearly upset you sorry. Just seems a "jokey" conversation albeit not "funny.

CakesRUs · 03/12/2017 01:18

Texts easily become misconstrued, things come across in a different way than if someone was saying it directly to your face. I wouldn't pay too much attention to it. If she really thinks you're a case for SS, she wouldn't joke about it.

Justadh · 03/12/2017 01:23

This is about as funny as a clown at a funeral (assuming the funeral wasn't for a clown and he was just paying his respects).

As of 2015 (latest figures) 69,540 children in care in the UK and your MIL thinks that's something to make a joke of.

As I type this and you read it somewhere in the UK there is a child being abused. How dare she even attempt to make a joke about this.

Next time get a taxi and save yourself the grief of bothering her and her singular wit.

Finderscrispy · 03/12/2017 01:24

Perhaps it was a little passive aggressive dig, cause she had other plans for the evening, she still helped you out of a corner though.
Unless she’s constantly ‘joking’ with you. I would give her the benefit if the doubt and assume no offense was intended.

Labradoodliedoodoo · 03/12/2017 01:29

I think you’re being a bit over sensitive. It was just a crap joke and she clearly adores the baby.

LockedOutOfMN · 03/12/2017 01:35

I don't understand why she had a problem. I've read your post a couple of times. Was she pissed off that she had to give you a lift? In that case, she could have just said, "No, get a taxi."

StarWarsFanatic · 03/12/2017 01:46

I don't think it is remotely funny but some people just have a crap sense of humour. I would try not to take it to heart though I don't think she meant to hurt you. First offence, let it go?

vwlphb · 03/12/2017 02:16

My parents are always joking about keeping a 'black list' of any tiny parenting indiscretions that I make so that they can report me to Child Services and get hold of the grandkids permanently.

It's kind of a naff joke, but they just say it because they adore their grandkids so much and want to have them as much as possible. They don't actually expect me to think they're taking a dig at my parenting.

I can see how it would be more irritating coming from a MIL than an actual parent, but I'd just give her the benefit of the doubt in this case.

Christmascardqueen · 03/12/2017 02:57

It’s actually cute and means she loves the baby. It’s a joke between her and her son, you need to stay out of it.

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 03/12/2017 03:04

My sister always says "I'm calling social services!" as a joke. It's lame but doesn't mean anything. Are you usually oversensitive OP?

kaytee87 · 03/12/2017 05:05

What a bizarre thing for her to say. I'd just ignore it though

tumblrpigeon · 03/12/2017 05:25

She loves the baby. It’s a joke.
You’re not obliged to laugh

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pigeondujour · 03/12/2017 05:35

You're being absolutely ridiculous. Poor MIL, good enough to be summoned to pick you up and help you out but not allowed to make a daft joke (to her own son, not to you) about how much she loves her grandchild without you getting on your high horse. Get a taxi next time.

honeycaramelbiscuitfudge · 03/12/2017 05:35

I don't think it's a joke. People use humour, or rather, pretend to use humour to make a serious point and then use humour as a defence when called on it.

Your mil is being ridiculous. Is she normally like this?

JingsMahBucket · 03/12/2017 05:55

I think you're being overly sensitive about it. It sounds like a badly phrased joke and nothing more.

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