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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In laws!!

59 replies

Hydref66 · 18/09/2024 22:01

What would you do with an in-law who constantly puts you down and makes every effort to make sure that you understand where you stand in the family (absolutely right at the bottom!!!) For context SIL is a very unpleasant person. Just the other day for example she asked why my DH (her brother) had been helping our best friends so much recently (they have just lost their baby and she is well aware of this!!?) when I tried to give her an answer (even though I was gobsmacked by such a question) eg “well thats just how DH is, he wants to help” she had the NERVE to tell me “I dont think its your place to tell ME about my own brother , your nothing here, not your place!” Erm excuse me?! 1) you asked the question (unbelievabley so!) 2) Erm I am his WIFE, carried and birthed his children?! Excuse me? This is just one example but god!!! WWUD? NC is so tempting but I want to give her a piece of my mind!

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theeyeofdoe · 24/09/2024 08:43

Next time tell her that maybe if she was a bit nicer to people she wouldn't be living at home at the age of 44!

Toomanyemails · 24/09/2024 08:26

Hydref66 · 21/09/2024 12:12

Thank you. Me and husband have decided to go as little contact as possible (only if we come across her when seeing PIL’s) I have blocked her on all socials, I do not want something like that having access to my life or children. If I do come across her and she asks why we are not making an effort anymore I will give her a piece of my mind. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted! I no longer owe her anything to try and be kind / pleasing for the sake of my children. No more!

This is the best option, well done OP! You can also just not participate in the visits to PILs surely, or insist they come to you or meet outside the house. Hope that your DH clearly supports you!

RedHotChilliPreppers · 24/09/2024 08:23

Well done. Try not to think if her either to give you peace of mind.

Practise mental Tai Chi. When she pops into your head, roll it into a ball and gently push it to the side, and replace it with something positive or productive.

Hydref66 · 21/09/2024 12:12

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 20/09/2024 17:57

You tell your husband he has three choices

  1. You don't see your sister in law again and will do your best to avoid the kids seeing her as well, it's not good for them to see their mum being spoken to or about like that
  1. He speaks to her before you see her again and tells her if he ever speaks to you like that again she will not see you or the kids again.
  1. You will stop biting your tongue and give as good as you get, telling her exactly what you think of her next time, which is likely to end up in a huge family row.

Thank you. Me and husband have decided to go as little contact as possible (only if we come across her when seeing PIL’s) I have blocked her on all socials, I do not want something like that having access to my life or children. If I do come across her and she asks why we are not making an effort anymore I will give her a piece of my mind. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted! I no longer owe her anything to try and be kind / pleasing for the sake of my children. No more!

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IsawwhatIsaw · 20/09/2024 18:46

Other posters have already said this, but it’s pretty plain she’s insecure and jealous of you and your life. But that’s an explanation and not an excuse for her crap behaviour.
shame as if she was decent and behaved pleasantly to you, guess you’d see her more often.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 20/09/2024 17:57

Not sure why that's defaulted to three 1's!

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 20/09/2024 17:57

You tell your husband he has three choices

  1. You don't see your sister in law again and will do your best to avoid the kids seeing her as well, it's not good for them to see their mum being spoken to or about like that
  1. He speaks to her before you see her again and tells her if he ever speaks to you like that again she will not see you or the kids again.
  1. You will stop biting your tongue and give as good as you get, telling her exactly what you think of her next time, which is likely to end up in a huge family row.
pictoosh · 20/09/2024 17:47

I would have replied, "It is a genuine shame that you haven't met someone to have a marriage and family with but it is not my fault. There is no need to be spiteful."

I wonder what she would have said to that.

friendlycat · 20/09/2024 17:30

With all of your updates you really do have to ignore and pity her at the end of the day.

She has such a narrow life still living at home with her parents at the age of 44.
She also has a spiteful and unattractive personality that’s very off putting to say the least.

You on the other hand have a far more fulfilling life which makes for more happiness than she has, or is likely to ever have considering her personality.

Her barbs and poisonous nature are to be pitied.

Hydref66 · 20/09/2024 17:11

YourMommaWasASnowblower · 20/09/2024 15:13

She is like this because her life hasn’t moved on from her childhood. She is still the little girl of the family living under her parents roof.
She has no concept of having her own family so therefore no understanding. She sounds very immature.

As I said before, pity her.

100% , what makes her even more infuriating is talking down to people as if she has all this life experience, shes an expert in a bit of everything 🙄🙄

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YourMommaWasASnowblower · 20/09/2024 15:13

Hydref66 · 20/09/2024 14:36

This would 100% really get under her skin, im starting to think she has some weird unhealthy obsession with her brother. Cant seem to see him as anything but her little brother.

She is like this because her life hasn’t moved on from her childhood. She is still the little girl of the family living under her parents roof.
She has no concept of having her own family so therefore no understanding. She sounds very immature.

As I said before, pity her.

Hydref66 · 20/09/2024 14:36

desparateidiot · 20/09/2024 13:35

Just curtly tell her, that you know her brother better than she does actually, its you he shares his hopes and dreams with, shares his children with and life.

He chose to be with you and you are the mother of his children. You are your own family. I would keep referring to your own family to her until she gets it.

This would 100% really get under her skin, im starting to think she has some weird unhealthy obsession with her brother. Cant seem to see him as anything but her little brother.

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desparateidiot · 20/09/2024 13:35

Just curtly tell her, that you know her brother better than she does actually, its you he shares his hopes and dreams with, shares his children with and life.

He chose to be with you and you are the mother of his children. You are your own family. I would keep referring to your own family to her until she gets it.

JudgeJ · 20/09/2024 13:28

Invite PILS to your house or out to lunch somewhere. Make it at a time SIL can’t come or be clear she isn’t invited.

Oh no, make it at a time when the SIL is able to come but don't invite her!

Hydref66 · 20/09/2024 13:16

ImNotYourMonstera · 20/09/2024 13:12

If she's always a dick you shouldn't have been gobsmacked. It's just her standard behaviour.
I'd struggle to be attracted to a man who happily allows his relatives to act like cunts to me.

True but this was a “ah i see now why you’ve been a cunt all these years, you’ve finally shown why”

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ImNotYourMonstera · 20/09/2024 13:12

If she's always a dick you shouldn't have been gobsmacked. It's just her standard behaviour.
I'd struggle to be attracted to a man who happily allows his relatives to act like cunts to me.

Hydref66 · 20/09/2024 12:59

Lemonadeand · 20/09/2024 12:54

I think I’d say to her, “I know your brother in ways you can’t possibly imagine,” with a filthy laugh.

😂😂 Excellent reply! I did think to myself you jonestly think you are more important to him than the woman who carried and birthed his children and nearly died of a PP haemorrhage , really?!

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Lemonadeand · 20/09/2024 12:54

I think I’d say to her, “I know your brother in ways you can’t possibly imagine,” with a filthy laugh.

Brefugee · 20/09/2024 12:32

Life is too short to waste it with twats, tbh.

I have never ever done the wifework thing, and i certainly never arranged birthday cards etc for my in laws. And my DH had never bothered much before we married. But as soon as we married? MIL and some of the SIL (i had 6) were all "well you forgot uncle jack's birthday, and mother's day" etc etc

I just used to say "i don't have an uncle jack, and i had a great day with my mum" etc, until one day i just told them to STFU and speak to DH. They never did because they just wanted to whine about me and he never put up with it.

Hydref66 · 20/09/2024 12:19

Brefugee · 20/09/2024 11:14

well either you say "get to fuck you absolute Bitch" or you stop going to places where she will be.

And either your PILs and DH will be on board with that or they won't. Either of those options.

It is basically (I used the C word) what i said to one of my SILs about 35 years ago and i haven't seen her since. My DH carried on seeing her for a bit but less and less and I'd guess it's about 30 years since he had contact. She is a cow and the other sisters moan about her. And i give them the same advice. They don't take it.

Thanks, I think this really is the last straw, its by far not the worse thing shes done, but the build up of everything.

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Brefugee · 20/09/2024 11:14

well either you say "get to fuck you absolute Bitch" or you stop going to places where she will be.

And either your PILs and DH will be on board with that or they won't. Either of those options.

It is basically (I used the C word) what i said to one of my SILs about 35 years ago and i haven't seen her since. My DH carried on seeing her for a bit but less and less and I'd guess it's about 30 years since he had contact. She is a cow and the other sisters moan about her. And i give them the same advice. They don't take it.

Hydref66 · 20/09/2024 11:03

Natty13 · 20/09/2024 10:36

"Oh Jenny, maybe if you find a husband of your own one day you'll understand haha"

"Oh is that so Jenny? Do you think your auntie Susan is more important in your dad's life than your mum then?! Bit weird. Maybe you will understand if anyone ever wants to marry you! "

My DSIl has fallen out with all of her Aunties because of the way they treated her mother apparently 🥴🥴 weird isnt it yet she still expects my DC to treat her with respect x

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Natty13 · 20/09/2024 10:37

In seriousness though, I'd be telling your husnand very directly that unless he can put a stop to this attitude, the bitcjy comments, and the undermining you with your own children, I'll end up snapping and will NOT be taking any blame in the fall out from that. Much better and nicer coming from her precious brother.

Natty13 · 20/09/2024 10:36

"Oh Jenny, maybe if you find a husband of your own one day you'll understand haha"

"Oh is that so Jenny? Do you think your auntie Susan is more important in your dad's life than your mum then?! Bit weird. Maybe you will understand if anyone ever wants to marry you! "

Scribblydoo · 20/09/2024 10:30

What a gift, you no longer have to give a shiny shit about her. Your MIL and FIL will have to put up with consequences of her behaviour which are behaving like a dick equals no visits/no interest I her and her sad little life. I'd be clear they are welcome to visit you but SIL is in the bin and not welcome and will not be given any air time. No visits from DCs for her either, I wouldn't expose them to her awfulness