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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I unreasonable or is MIL

137 replies

DJW62 · 25/08/2024 00:02

Long story short because my blood is absolutely boiling!!

so not so long ago my MIL was looking after my DS on my working day as is agreed with us. I go to pick my DS up after work fully expecting to take my child home with me (obviously!) only to be told that I cannot take him home with me (rexcuse me?!) that they (MIL and SIL) had made plans to take him out for super with his cousin and I could come back later to pick him up. I could tell my DS was looking forward to this so I say nothing. However later that evening I send my MIL a polite message saying “nothing wrong, but in future can you please ask or make sure i know of any plans you have with DS because we did actually have a nice evening planned” My MIL went CRAZY in response to this message, “how dare i disrespect her like that, how dare I, she always does her best for the children, she always knew i hated her, im upsetting everyone, making her husband ill” blah blah blah the craziness went on and on and i was made out to be someone awful simply for asking politely to be informed of where my child would be?! So AIBU here for daring to ask such a thing?!

OP posts:
DJW62 · 25/08/2024 00:23

The ‘how does making her husband ill because of one text’ is something i am seriously trying to understand myself as well..

OP posts:
Molga · 25/08/2024 00:22

It's said so often but free childcare is rarely actually free.

It won't really help you if all of MN say you were reasonable to complain, if your MIL still thinks her hours of free childcare entitle her to first dibs on your son in the evening without even asking you.

Look very carefully and dispassionately here at what you want to achieve.

DJW62 · 25/08/2024 00:22

Had you told her what time you'd be there?

yes same time as always :)

OP posts:
SadieDadie · 25/08/2024 00:21

Had you told her what time you'd be there?

DJW62 · 25/08/2024 00:20

On this incident I'd say YANBU, but I feel like there is a fair backstory. How does making her husband ill come into it?

There is no back story as far as I can tell we have always gotten along (or so i thought) She was meaning the upset i caused to dare to ask from now on was making her husband ill… thats what I took from it …

OP posts:
TulaTilda · 25/08/2024 00:20

It's tricky because she's doing you a favour and made plans on that day assuming it would be OK.
I would speak to her in person and just say you appreciate her having him and he had a nice time etc but if she wants to do things could she ask you and dh as you might have plans etc

Remaker · 25/08/2024 00:17

There is 100% a back story here. She didn’t decide you’ve always hated her or you’re making her husband ill because of one text message.

InWalksBarberalla · 25/08/2024 00:17

On this incident I'd say YANBU, but I feel like there is a fair backstory. How does making her husband ill come into it?

DJW62 · 25/08/2024 00:13

“You should have spoken with your MIL, Not sent a text. There is no tone in text.

You could have told her , sorry MIL we have plans? When she told you about the plans? But you went ahead and did nothing.“

I did tell her, but like I said, by this time DS was looking forward to going, so saying no sorry would mean upsetting his evening, the plan had already been made by her.

OP posts:
tennesseewhiskey1 · 25/08/2024 00:11

Should have called her - tone is everything. Text messages are cold.

Redegg · 25/08/2024 00:09

The initial incident wouldn’t have bothered me too much, although I think she should have checked and you were right to raise it. However, if my mother in law responded to my text like that, she wouldn’t be doing any childcare in future, even if that was cutting my nose off to spite my face. I’d rather pay a childminder or some other arrangement.

ZekeZeke · 25/08/2024 00:07

You should have spoken with your MIL, Not sent a text. There is no tone in text.

You could have told her , sorry MIL we have plans? When she told you about the plans? But you went ahead and did nothing.