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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

It's a MIL one - stop me before I say something I'll regret

888 replies

Bounty9 · 20/11/2024 14:15

I'll start out by saying DH and I have been together for 12 years and I had a wonderful relationship with MIL before kids got thrown into the mix.

SIL had her little boy 3.5 years ago and he was the centre of the universe, understandably. We then had DD 1 year later and honestly, she paled in comparison in MIL eyes - there has been obvious favouritism the entire time, and it's been pretty exhausting, ending in quite a big argument last September on a big family holiday, which marked the end of group holidays. But bridges have been rebuilt and we basically stopped doing things as a large group, and encouraged 1:1 time with MIL and DD instead, which was going well, DD adores her.

We decided this year to book a 3 day getaway, me, DH and DD and invite MIL and FIL and pay for them as a thank you for all the holidays they've taken us on over the years. it's a centre parcs break. We are travelling up, staying one full day and then travelling back. It's about a 1.5 hour drive. This has been in the diary since summer, and we all knew the dates.

MIL has text me today to say she has 'unintentionally' double booked and it's DGS nativity play on the only full day we are there, so they are going to drive back for it in the morning, and then come back in the evening - essentially they will be gone for 6 hours. We'd booked a santa visit, lunch etc that and I'm bloody hurt that she couldn't just say no this time.

I know it doesn't matter. DD is going to have the best time, we are going to have lovely family time, but ffs just when you think she can't let you down again.

AIBU to feel upset about this? I haven't replied yet. I want to just say forget it, don't come if you're going to miss half the trip and activities, but DH thinks we should just let them do as they please and not let it spoil our time.

OP posts:
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crumblingschools · 13/12/2024 07:28

@Bounty9 have in-laws attended any of the trip?

Apolloneuro · 11/12/2024 20:33

godmum56 · 10/12/2024 17:28

how is this helpful?

It’s a joke! Pretty sure @Bounty9 will take it in the spirit.

LushLemonTart · 11/12/2024 19:55

Bounty9 · 11/12/2024 13:42

Haha thank you everyone, it is indeed today!! I’ve had some time to stop being so annoyed about it, but to be honest the trip is so magical that it doesn’t even matter that they aren’t here. The Santa visit was amazing! It is still annoying but we paid it no attention and just focused on DD today.

Glad it's going well 🙂

Iloveacurry · 11/12/2024 18:19

Sounds like your DD is having a lovely time! MIL is missing out.

maydaymayday1 · 11/12/2024 16:40

When they come back don't ask one question about the nativity.

thepariscrimefiles · 11/12/2024 14:00

Bounty9 · 11/12/2024 13:42

Haha thank you everyone, it is indeed today!! I’ve had some time to stop being so annoyed about it, but to be honest the trip is so magical that it doesn’t even matter that they aren’t here. The Santa visit was amazing! It is still annoying but we paid it no attention and just focused on DD today.

I'm so glad that you are all having a wonderful time. It sounds amazing!

Your MIL is the loser here, missing out on witnessing your dd's joy.

Bounty9 · 11/12/2024 13:42

Haha thank you everyone, it is indeed today!! I’ve had some time to stop being so annoyed about it, but to be honest the trip is so magical that it doesn’t even matter that they aren’t here. The Santa visit was amazing! It is still annoying but we paid it no attention and just focused on DD today.

OP posts:
IAm16StoneHalloween2024 · 11/12/2024 10:09

ThePoshUns · 11/12/2024 07:42

I wonder how the trip went?

Ooh is it today?

ThePoshUns · 11/12/2024 07:42

I wonder how the trip went?

godmum56 · 10/12/2024 17:28

Apolloneuro · 27/11/2024 12:17

Just popping in to say I’ve been invited to my granddaughter’s nativity 😂. It’s safe to go as I’m not cancelling long standing arrangements with my other granddaughter to do so!

how is this helpful?

Goodtogossip · 10/12/2024 15:45

Ask MIL if she'd prefer you to cancel their booking as you feel she'll be missing the most significant part of the trip, your DD seeing Santa & the other activities you've arranged & by the time she gets back your DD will be tired & going to bed soon so it's pointless them going. Explain that it has upset you that they have accepted an invitation to the nativity knowing they already had arrangements booked in with your family & ask how they think it will make their DD feel knowing they chose DGS over her.
whatever happens you & DH enjoy spending quality time with your child & make it as special as you can for her. At the end of the day it's the Grandparents missing out not all of you. Hope you all enjoy the magic & your trip.

Apolloneuro · 27/11/2024 12:17

Just popping in to say I’ve been invited to my granddaughter’s nativity 😂. It’s safe to go as I’m not cancelling long standing arrangements with my other granddaughter to do so!

RoseJoker · 27/11/2024 06:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Askingforafriendtoday · 26/11/2024 19:41

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 20/11/2024 14:54

It's a nativity thing? They will do it again next year....

Not the main point of the post but many schools don't, often only nursery, sometimes reception but not always. Many mn threads on here bemoaning that fact

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 26/11/2024 15:49

@Bounty9 did your dp say anything to his mother when he was there yesterday? what was her response and does she understand why you are feeling as you do now?

rainbowstardrops · 26/11/2024 15:28

I'd be really hurt too. I mean, I can understand she doesn't want to miss the nativity but that in turn means that she's missing her granddaughter's first visit to see Santa and she's willing to miss that 'first'. I'd say it's her loss!

Bounty9 · 26/11/2024 15:11

I know! @T1Dmama - in hindsight, I wish we had. She has a 1 year old DD who would've loved it, but we just don't live close enough. Thankfully we have started planning next years Christmas trip with her and my BIL which will be much less stressful!

OP posts:
7ft1garysson · 26/11/2024 15:06

Bounty9 · 26/11/2024 14:36

Thanks everyone, we don't go away for another 2 weeks yet. I haven't seen MIL since before she told me, and I won't be seeing her for another week so thankfully I have some time to cool off. I am still annoyed, if I'm honest. It's definitely tainted things between us. I want to just get there, enjoy the time with DD and then know it's the last trip we have planned with them. Thankfully I have a lovely sister who is a great sounding board!

I’m sorry your MiL is like this. I completely understand and empathise, my MIL is exactly the same and has my SIL daughter in a pedestal. It used to piss me off, now my eldest is of an age that she can see the favouritism. My youngest isn’t quite there yet, I look forward to the day I don’t have to speak to the c*nt anymore

T1Dmama · 26/11/2024 14:53

Bounty9 · 26/11/2024 14:36

Thanks everyone, we don't go away for another 2 weeks yet. I haven't seen MIL since before she told me, and I won't be seeing her for another week so thankfully I have some time to cool off. I am still annoyed, if I'm honest. It's definitely tainted things between us. I want to just get there, enjoy the time with DD and then know it's the last trip we have planned with them. Thankfully I have a lovely sister who is a great sounding board!

Such a shame you can’t take your sister instead x

T1Dmama · 26/11/2024 14:52

Searchingforthelight · 25/11/2024 20:52

I'm sorry for asking in the first place. You recognise yourself that it's coercive.
I don't have any time for 'it could be X's last whatever' and cannot be guilted into anything ( other than for my children!!) but that's a pattern from my own situation and reaction to it too

Hope it gets easier

Sadly my mum is quite manipulative too (possibly without realising) and has a way of guilting us into sing what she wants. Just acts wounded sometimes so I grew up just doing things to please her… no surprise my first relationship was abusive - but I learnt so much from that relationship and while I tolerate being manipulated I’ve never allowed it with my daughter…. She’s actually quite stubborn and I say that as a positive trait because I’m sure she’ll have positive relationships as a result.
My nan is very elderly now, I can’t imagine she’ll have many more Christmases now… I just really hope she doesn’t spoil this year.. last year she made my mum cry!!
anyway. Thank you for your kind words

thepariscrimefiles · 26/11/2024 14:50

Bounty9 · 26/11/2024 14:36

Thanks everyone, we don't go away for another 2 weeks yet. I haven't seen MIL since before she told me, and I won't be seeing her for another week so thankfully I have some time to cool off. I am still annoyed, if I'm honest. It's definitely tainted things between us. I want to just get there, enjoy the time with DD and then know it's the last trip we have planned with them. Thankfully I have a lovely sister who is a great sounding board!

I hope you and your DD have a lovely time.

Hopefully your MIL won't come back from the nativity banging on how amazing her grandson was in front of you and your daughter. She doesn't sound like the sort of woman to be tactful.

Bounty9 · 26/11/2024 14:36

Thanks everyone, we don't go away for another 2 weeks yet. I haven't seen MIL since before she told me, and I won't be seeing her for another week so thankfully I have some time to cool off. I am still annoyed, if I'm honest. It's definitely tainted things between us. I want to just get there, enjoy the time with DD and then know it's the last trip we have planned with them. Thankfully I have a lovely sister who is a great sounding board!

OP posts:
ThePoshUns · 26/11/2024 11:23

How's it going OP? Is it nativity day today?

Searchingforthelight · 25/11/2024 20:52

T1Dmama · 25/11/2024 18:16

Because it’s a pattern of manipulation and abuse! I’ve been raised by a mother who was abused by my nan and yet of the 3 children she is the one now caring for the parent who abused her and not the elder two…. We were (4 siblings) bought up excepting my nans ways.. as the only female child of my mothers in the country I am expected to help…. I help because otherwise my mum gets moaned at then in turn my mother gets upset with me. I do it also because for the last 9 years we’ve been told it could be her last! I recognise its coercive behaviour, I know she treated my mum (the accident) terribly when she was child, inflicting both emotional & physical abuse on her, my mum is in her 70’s and still can’t say no to her mother, I’m in my 40’s and can’t say no… my nan has a way of manipulating the people round her to do as she pleases and sulks if you don’t. She’s a very lovely but nasty person!! And that doesn’t make sense I know…. But she just has a way of being very sweet or very hard dumb by to get what she wants from people…

I'm sorry for asking in the first place. You recognise yourself that it's coercive.
I don't have any time for 'it could be X's last whatever' and cannot be guilted into anything ( other than for my children!!) but that's a pattern from my own situation and reaction to it too

Hope it gets easier

T1Dmama · 25/11/2024 18:29

Searchingforthelight · 25/11/2024 18:04

I feel for you, but I also don't know why you put up with this. I wouldn't choose to spend time and effort on someone who has put me second/ third place over the years. Why do you do this, I wonder?

And now she’s 99, frail in body, living with my parents who are struggling with how manipulative she is… my dad can do wrong, my mum can do no right…. Even down to there being too much food on her plate rather than just saying thank you for dinner!… I have to help out to give my mum a break, it’s complicated but my nans favourite child, her son, does very little .. the elder daughter(my aunt) fell out with my nan 20 odd years ago!! My aunt has three daughters.. the eldest is my nans first and favourite grandchild,.., the other 2 also have nothing to do with my nan!
my mother is the youngest, the accident and was told this constantly not just growing up but even now.. my mum had 4 children, 2 live abroad, the other is a boy so nothing is expected from him… I’m effectively the only female able and willing to help my parents!… it’s crap!
my daughter is strong and independent and doesn’t stand for any nonsense! So thankfully the cycle is broken.

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