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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not help the inlaws who have barely accepted me for 29 years

358 replies

Splendud · 26/01/2025 18:58

DH and I have been married for 29 years this year. MIL and FIL have just about tolerated me all that time but there have been snide comments fairly regularly about my weight, about my career 'impacting DH' (it doesn't) and how DH's life would have been different had he gone to their choice of university (ie he wouldn't have married me).

FIL and MIL are now well into their 80s. FIL is in poor health and MIL is losing her sight. They have resisted downsizing for years and are now struggling with a large detached house which has a 100ft garden is 2 miles away from shops and cannot easily be adapted for the needs of an ageing couple. There is now a desperate rush to downsize to a flat nearer to shops, GP etc. because of the impending sight loss and both of them losing their driving licenses.

They have a huge amount of stuff which needs sorting out in order to move. We're talking thousands of books, documentation for cars they sold in the 1980s, so much stuff!

DH has two siblings, one lives abroad and the other is a GP working 4 days a week.

I have said I am not helping with this. They are not my parents and they have never welcomed me into their family. DH is happy with this and has had numerous conversations with them over the years about their attitude to me so none of this is news to them. I am in a senior role with a team of over 100 reporting through to me. I regularly work 8-6.30. I'm also a trustee for two charities including a food bank and I have a long term health condition. My life is busy enough as it is.

His siblings are very unhappy that i am not as involved as they are and think I should be doing more. The one who lives abroad thinks I should help because I am nearer and the GP sibling thinks that my job is less important and I should 'just take unpaid leave'. I am being bombarded by messages from the siblings giving me 'jobs' to do and calls from FIL demanding to know why I am not coming every weekend.

I have blocked them all tonight. DH is aware and supports me.

Two friends, however, think I am being really harsh. One has said that she is re-evaluating our friendship as she has never seen this side of me and has always thought I was better than this.

AIBU...or am I a mean and horrible DIL?

OP posts:
thepariscrimefiles · 26/01/2025 19:23

You are not being unreasonable at all. Your DH's siblings are cheeky fuckers to expect you to drop everything to care for people who have never accepted you and who have treated you dreadfully. How dare his sibling who is a doctor tell you to take unpaid leave to look after your inlaws as your job isn't important. I'd tell them all to fuck off.

JC03745 · 26/01/2025 19:23

Are the siblings partners helping too?
You are doing the right thing OP.

Your 'so called' friends though, I'd be re-evaluating that relationship!

Itiswhysofew · 26/01/2025 19:23

Re-evalating your friendship! Who does she think she is?

YANBU.

It's amazing how people choose to ignore bad behaviour/abuse over the years. However, when these people can't be bothered to pull their weight, they expect the abused to step up, and think that that's perfectly ok. Don't do it and don't listen to them. As for your FIL, he needs to be reminded of his attitude towards you over the years.

I'm glad your DH is supporting your position. I wouldn't give them the time of day either.

StormingNorman · 26/01/2025 19:20

You reap what you sow. YANBU.

BeaAndBen · 26/01/2025 19:20

Good for you! It's not your circus, not your monkeys.

If the Abroad Sibling and GP Sibling are that bloody bothered, they can pay for a declutter or house clearance company to deal with it all.

Anotherparkingthread · 26/01/2025 19:20

Those siblings are shouldering off their responsibilities and with it their own guilt onto you. It's not your job to make them feel better about being useless and neglecting their elderly parents.

You don't owe any of them shit. Good on you for blocking them. Don't give it a second thought.

Wishboneswishes · 26/01/2025 19:19

It sounds like they have enough cash to organise carers, removals, packers etc. Why should you have to do it. Stick to your guns OP. They are not your parents anyway. The siblings need to step up.

Honeyroar · 26/01/2025 19:19

The apples haven’t fallen very far from the tree, have they! They sound just as up themselves as their parents! I don’t blame you for blocking them all, but I’ve. no idea why your friend is so judgey. Tell her to go and do some clearing if she’s such a saint!

Createausername1970 · 26/01/2025 19:19

Good for you.

From what you say your husband has had your back for the past 29 years and still has your back during these new circumstances.

As long as you now have his back and support and enable him to do what he has to do to get them sorted out, that's fine.

jay55 · 26/01/2025 19:19

Go you! Keep those strong boundaries and leave them all blocked.

LogicalImpossibility · 26/01/2025 19:17

And the expectations on the partners of the other siblings are…?

I suspect you are being picked on because you are a) female and b) local. Sod that. And well done to your DH for seeing it.

MyNamesGaryAndImAddictedToChips · 26/01/2025 19:17

If your friends are that bothered about the situation maybe they'd like to help!

hopeishere · 26/01/2025 19:15

The siblings are completely out of line. Outside of this do you have a poor relationship with them? It sounds as if they view you the same way as the parents.

Having had to help clear FILs house it's a huge task. You will get the blame if the "wrong" thing is thrown out.

SussexLass87 · 26/01/2025 19:15

YANBU & glad to hear your DH is supporting you.

Keep "em all blocked!!

doodahdayy · 26/01/2025 19:15

Fuck them. They treated you with contempt for decades

Maxorias · 26/01/2025 19:13

I think this is telling you that you need to share a lot less of your life with this particular friend. And YANBU. I'd do the same.

Holesintheground · 26/01/2025 19:12

Why aren't these people bothering your husband to step in? You know, since they are HIS parents?

I get that he's been supportive of you in the face of their unfriendliness and hostility. It's good that he doesn't expect you to care for his parents. But will he do it himself? What's his plan? I say this because men often seem oblivious of social expectations that are directed a lot more obviously at women.

TiramisuThief · 26/01/2025 19:11

Good on you, OP

Your DH's siblings are trying to guilt you so they don't have to put themselves out.

Blocking is a good move!

TheFlyingHorse · 26/01/2025 19:11

YANBU. Stick to your guns. It's not your problem and it's good to hear your DH is supporting you.

On a side note I've seen so many older people in complete denial about the ageing process and leaving it so late to downsize that they can't do it without help. I'm really determined not to put myself and my DC in that situation.

xRobin · 26/01/2025 19:11

YANBU!!
I agree with pp in supporting your DH, even if that means just “being there” for him when he gets back, letting him vent about the endless crap he’ll find in their house.
But f* them in-laws for not accepting you all these years until they need you? Urgh, shitty people.

Pickledpeanuts · 26/01/2025 19:10

You are totally in your rights, and if your husband supports you in this as well it's a no-brainer.

Good on you for setting a boundary and sticking to it.

DisforDarkChocolate · 26/01/2025 19:09

Your friend is a judgemental c**t who needs to mind her own business, as does everyone else who isn't your husband.

Even if they had been lovely in-laws this is not your responsibility @Splendud.

mnahmnah · 26/01/2025 19:09

Good on you and what a fab DH you have!

Reply to the GP sibling ‘OR, you could cut your hours and take leave to help YOUR parents?’

Reply to the abroad sibling ‘OR, you could get your arse back home and help YOUR parents’

Reply to your father in law ‘Why on earth do you want me to visit when you eh e always made it clear how much your dislike
me?!’

2025willbemytime · 26/01/2025 19:09

YANBU and that friend is no loss. I had a friendship of nearly 40 years come to an end because of something they said.

Why should you do any of this and all that matters is your husband supports you. You don't need the families permission.

OtterlyMad · 26/01/2025 19:08

I’m genuinely infuriated on your behalf. You would be unreasonable if you DID help them after their shitty attitude towards you! Don’t you dare give in. I suggest your husband’s siblings pull their fingers out and assist their darling parents in their time of need.