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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

MIL and disregarding boundaries

217 replies

TTCagain85 · 29/01/2025 14:48

RANT INCOMING- AIBU?

What would you do if your MIL consistently oversteps boundaries and your husband won't speak to her about it as he has been brought up emotionally emeshed and parentified by her.

For context, he is an only child. She is married and has stepchildren.

Me and husband have agreed to have a weekend free of visitors before the arrival of our second child next week. MIL was supposed to visit last weekend but cancelled due to weather. She lives an hour away, and i don't blame her for not travelling when the weather wasn't pleasant. Cut to today, announces she is visiting on Sunday, and I had responded to say this doesn't suit that we have plans Saturday and Sunday, but offered an alternative day. Her response was that she will be dropping stuff off to our house on Sunday anyway.

😡😡😡😡😡 we will most likely be in the house as we want to relax, and if she arrives, we will have to host her against our wishes. She isn't one for stopping by for a quick cuppa, it's always a 5/6hr visit.

Husband refused to address this with her.

What would you do?

OP posts:
MedusaAndHerFavourites · 29/01/2025 23:47

Ask her what time, reiterate that you have plans, make sure that you're all out when she calls.

Windowsand · 29/01/2025 23:40

He is putting his "mentally unstable manipulative mother" ahead of his pregnant wife.

He "went off on one" when you asked him to stick to the plans made of a quiet weekend?

Why has a "mentally unstable" woman got a key to your home?

He IS a tosser, a tosser that has no compunction about upsetting his heavily pregnant wife, and you are only going to realise the full reality of that going forward.

Keep your family and friends close, you are going to need them.

You deserve better.

saraclara · 29/01/2025 22:04

Infuriating as this might be, I'd hesitate to be blatantly rude or angry with her. I re-read your OP and you say:
I had responded to say this doesn't suit that we have plans Saturday and Sunday, but offered an alternative day. Her response was that she will be dropping stuff off to our house on Sunday anyway.

You told her you have plans, so there's a reasonable chance that she expects you to be out, but that she has a baby gift or something for you that she wants you to have before the birth. She might genuinely plan to just leave it at your empty house for you to come home to.

Even if the likelihood of that is small, I still wouldn't risk getting really angry with her, in case. There's also a risk you'll be adding your displaced anger with your husband.

Orders76 · 29/01/2025 22:02

Also husband twat. Hope you're ok.

Orders76 · 29/01/2025 22:01

Honestly wouldn't trust someone like that to give back the key without getting another cut.

Hols2024 · 29/01/2025 21:53

Book some marriage counselling as with a newborn and your DH being a mummy’s boy you might need the support and help in getting him to respect your wishes and not just let your mil walk all over you both! Good luck I wish you a calm end to pregnancy and a peaceful delivery!

Billyblue47 · 29/01/2025 21:49

If you don't sort out boundaries now she'll be just turning up when she feels like it during your maternity leave.

Longwaysouth · 29/01/2025 21:44

Sorry MIL, but I am under doctors orders to rest, stay away from people and stress for the sake of the baby.
As you know stress is not good for mother or baby.
Therefore, I respectfully ask that you stay away.
Currently, we have everything we need for the birth and baby.
We look forward to introducing you to your new grandchild in the near future.

Fraaances · 29/01/2025 21:30

I was going to suggest a much swearyier version of what @Gymmum82 said. (She’s much nicer than I am, obvs. You should probably say her version.)
I’m pleased you lost it at DH. Unless DH KNOWS it’s a problem, it won’t BE a problem (for him - it will be YOUR problem.)

amispeakingintongues · 29/01/2025 21:22

pelargoniums · 29/01/2025 21:06

💖 I’m sorry. If there’s ever a time to be harsh and hormonal, it’s at 39 weeks. Your needs take priority here; I’m sorry he’s not supporting you in what was agreed. You’re really asking very little here: a weekend alone before you give birth. It’s not the moon! You’re not Mariah Carey requesting baskets of kittens.

Exactly this! OP I have an unbearable MIL and this exact scenario has happened to me before.. after much worse, I am finally NC with her and it feels great

EggFriedRiceAndChips · 29/01/2025 21:13

Im sorry your husband is being such a dick when you’re heavily pregnant, probably pretty stressed, and in need of support and care. His priority should be looking after you right now, even if you were being totally irrational, which you aren’t. Solidarity and hugs xx

Bababear987 · 29/01/2025 21:09

Just say "we have decided to have some family time alone before the baby comes and really want to relax and enjoy our weekend without hosting anyone, including family. My family have also agreed to give us space and we ask that you do as well. This is quite an exciting but scary time for us ad we want to enjoy this weekend together as a couple before our baby comes and everything changes. Whatever you want to drop of DH can collect earlier or you can bring it after birth when you get to meet baby."

Genuinely though if i were you I would go out for a lovely meal or spa day because you will be spending a lot of time in the house in the next few weeks.

YouveGotAFastCar · 29/01/2025 21:07

TTCagain85 · 29/01/2025 18:56

@stastayathomer completely agree, and I am very family orientated and accommodating to both sets of parents. Most of our Sundays are spent visiting family.

This is one weekend we both agreed was for us; my family live nearby and previously had a tendency to call in unannounced albeit for 5/10mins not hours, but I've put a stop to that as I wouldn't want double standards having one rule for my side and one rule for his.

Calling my DH a useless tosser is a bit much, he is an only child who has grown up with a mentally unstable manipulative mother. Whilst I agree he needs to stand up for me, you can see how it is difficult for him. And it is his mother, and as he is an only child i dont want long term animosity I will speak to him and suggest I message her but that in no circumstances will she be welcomed into our home this weekend.

Mine was the same - exactly. I made the same excuses about him being an only child etc.

They are NC now and my first year as a mum was massively damaged by behaviour like this which just got worse and worse.

pelargoniums · 29/01/2025 21:06

💖 I’m sorry. If there’s ever a time to be harsh and hormonal, it’s at 39 weeks. Your needs take priority here; I’m sorry he’s not supporting you in what was agreed. You’re really asking very little here: a weekend alone before you give birth. It’s not the moon! You’re not Mariah Carey requesting baskets of kittens.

TammyJones · 29/01/2025 21:06

WorldKeepsSpinningRound · 29/01/2025 14:58

If you open the door and host her then you are actively allowing her to trample over your boundaries.

I would have a chat with DP and explain this is not acceptable and either the doors are locked and not answered or you will make yourself unavailable by lounging upstairs watching TV or going out.

This

TTCagain85 · 29/01/2025 21:04

Gymmum82 · 29/01/2025 21:00

I have told you we are not hosting visitors this weekend. If you turn up and let yourself in I will take your key off you and send you back home. Please don’t put yourself in that position

This! Perfect 👌 me and DH aren't talking so probably don't have anything to lose at this point.

OP posts:
TTCagain85 · 29/01/2025 21:03

Well, update. I asked DH had he spoken to his mum about not coming this weekend and he said no. I said I would and he wants to know what my problem is. Went off on one, even when I reminded him the point is we agreed no visitors this weekend and why should his mum be an exception. I admittingly lost my cool, and as someone else put it told him it was evident he was happy to disregard my wishes and piss me off but not her.

I won't be entertaining her on Sunday. I've told him to go and do her bidding and stay with her on Saturday like she wants with no regard for his heavily pregnant wife at home.

Maybe I'm being too harsh and hormonal. But this feels like part of a bigger problem.

OP posts:
Gymmum82 · 29/01/2025 21:00

I have told you we are not hosting visitors this weekend. If you turn up and let yourself in I will take your key off you and send you back home. Please don’t put yourself in that position

Billyblue47 · 29/01/2025 20:44

I'd also change the locks.

Billyblue47 · 29/01/2025 20:41

I'd fuck off out.

Elsvieta · 29/01/2025 20:35

Be out. It's a shame you'll lose the relaxing day at home you wanted but it'll be worth it to stop her doing it again (which it probably will, if she's had a wasted journey). Act dumb when she complains. "Huh? But we told you we had plans over the weekend." You never got her message saying she was coming anyway, etc. Should do the trick. Plan something fun to do with the day.

Springflowersmakeforbetterhours · 29/01/2025 20:28

Just lock the door and leave the key in your side...
Go to an upstairs window and tell her you are in bed.....
Your dh needs to be the grown up. He sounds like he needs a boot up the arse into manhood...

mummytrex · 29/01/2025 20:26

Having read your updates. I'd text her to make clear not to come and then leave your key in the door.

If you roll over on this she will likely only get worse when baby is here.

Sugargliderwombat · 29/01/2025 20:22

You need to stop this before baby is here, there's loads of times you'll be home but not up for visitors.

I found when I said to my OH either you need to tell her tjis or I will be sending this (insert blunt message), suddenly he was all about having a softly softly phone call from him.

LaurieFairyCake · 29/01/2025 19:56

Open the door naked and scream FUCK OFF

You're heavily pregnant, now is the time to have a sudden flush of extra hormones Grin