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Sister-in-Law didn’t invite my mother in

964 replies

ThatRubyMoose · 13/02/2025 18:48

I genuinely want people to be honest; I’m interested in what people think.

About four years ago my brother’s partner moved in with him; she has her own business and works from home. Up until then my mother used to go round and clean for my brother (yes I know). My mother also gets a few freebies from her employer so she would leave these in the house.

When his partner moved in, my mother naturally stopped this out of respect for his partner and not to invade her privacy. However, SiL was more than happy to see my mum. She told her to text her when she was going to drop stuff round.

So for four years two or three times a month, Mum sends a text and Sister-in-Law will stop work, make a coffee, elevenses, or lunch depending on what she is doing and they will have a chat. On the back of this, SiL might find out something Mum likes, so they will go to garden centre or stately home together.

So in four years there has been a handful of times when SiL hasn’t been available, either because she will be out, on a zoom etc. and told Mum to leave stuff in porch. All good, no issue.

On Monday evening SiL texts to say she wasn’t available on Tuesday and just leave stuff in porch. Absolutely no issue.

When Mum arrived there were people in the house and a couple of kids running in the hall so my mum knocked on the door a couple of times when finally SiL opens it and seems surprised Mum is there asking her didn’t she get the text asking her to leave the stuff in the porch.

SiL was with her family and didn’t invite my mum in to meet them. As SiL knows my mum is not intrusive and would not have overstayed her welcome. My mum is so upset but we have stopped her ringing Bro.

So essentially my mum was asked to leave stuff in porch but knocked door anyway - would you have done this?

SiL answered but didn’t invite her in. Would you have done this?

OP posts:
sandyhappypeople · 17/02/2025 13:19

MissDoubleU · 17/02/2025 13:03

A visit that SIL requested not to happen is an intrusion.
“I’m not available to visit with you that day.”
”well I’ve arrived anyway, and I’m now visiting. The visit is already happening and you would be rude to turn me away. It will upset me a lot not to be welcomed inside.”

Intrusion. Pure and simple. To use gifts as leverage just makes it manipulative. SIL did not request a drop off of items.

She specifically asked her to leave the items in the porch...

SIL knew she was coming because she arranged for her to come, the gifts are important because she wouldn't have come otherwise anyway.

MIL had no right to be invited in, but knocking on the door to hand over the gifts shouldn't have been met with such a horrible attitude from SIL, she should have asked her not to knock on the door rather than 'leave the items in the porch' if it was so important that MIL not knock.. MIL isn't a delivery driver and may on good faith do things slightly differently to instructions if she thought she was doing nothing wrong.

The only way this makes sense is if SIL thought MIL was knocking hoping to be allowed to come in, which may have been the case, but again, a simple "thanks MIL, I'm with my family today so I'll catch up with you next week" would have been sufficient to shut that down, rather than be arsey.

MissDoubleU · 17/02/2025 13:03

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 22:26

It's not an intrusion, it's a visit. A visit with gifts.

A visit that SIL requested not to happen is an intrusion.
“I’m not available to visit with you that day.”
”well I’ve arrived anyway, and I’m now visiting. The visit is already happening and you would be rude to turn me away. It will upset me a lot not to be welcomed inside.”

Intrusion. Pure and simple. To use gifts as leverage just makes it manipulative. SIL did not request a drop off of items.

BettyBardMacDonald · 16/02/2025 23:40

FallOfTheHouseOfUtterlyButterly · 16/02/2025 23:19

The fact some posters still think SIL some how invited MIL over despite SIL telling the grown ass adult she was busy and the grown ass adult making the choice to still come over ....

I know.

MIL behaved like an impatient toddler.

One doesn't crash social events without invitation, period.

No one is twisting MIL's arm to drop off the swag. I bet SIL would trade it all for some peace and privacy.

MIL is tolerated 9 x out of 10 and the one time she is asked to drop back she throws a shitfit.

I would LOVE to buy DIL a drink.

longestlurkerever · 16/02/2025 23:21

Lots of "grown ass" and capital letters on this thread.

FallOfTheHouseOfUtterlyButterly · 16/02/2025 23:19

The fact some posters still think SIL some how invited MIL over despite SIL telling the grown ass adult she was busy and the grown ass adult making the choice to still come over ....

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 23:04

I was being sarcastic, referencing previous posts, but I see you actually thought I meant it. I didn't.

I'm talking to people with an entirely different perspective on family and what that means. I'm not going to persuade you, but I'm going to raise my kids to be grateful for kindness and to appreciate the people who care for them.

I am a DIL (not married but together 25 years) and I treat MIL exactly how I would if she were my flesh and blood. DP and I have big families who are close and the thought of treating my MIL how OPs DM was treated really genuinely horrifies me. I wouldn't do that to a stranger. You guys do you though, I'm bored of repeating myself.

OP I hope DM and SIL work it out, a good solid chat should get them back on track.

thing47 · 16/02/2025 22:38

You used the word 'intrusion' in your post immediately preceding mine. I'm just using the sane terminology that you used.

Tenthousandspoonsitslike · 16/02/2025 22:37

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 22:26

It's not an intrusion, it's a visit. A visit with gifts.

Well, you are the one who called it an intrusion, which it was on that occasion.

For the previous 4 years SIL has been a lovely host (from what OP has said) and welcomed her in gladly, I think SIL enjoys her company, why else would she do this week after week?

This one occasion SIL was confused that MIL knocked ( and OP and MIL admitted that she probably shouldn’t have done so) because SIL had told her she wasn’t available, and she doesn’t have to be.

If you had told someone you weren’t available and they tried to invite themselves wouldn’t you be a bit surprised?

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 22:26

thing47 · 16/02/2025 22:09

Except that for the vast majority of the time she not only deals with the intrusion but welcomes her MIL in, gives her food and drink, and chats to her.

So on the rare occasion when DIL has told her MIL, in advance, that she won't be able to do that, MIL should accept that gracefully, shouldn't she? You do understand that adults get to choose for themselves whether they are available or not, it's not for someone else to determine otherwise.

It's not an intrusion, it's a visit. A visit with gifts.

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 22:26

somedayforoneday · 16/02/2025 22:21

This can be argued back and forth forever but the facts remain. SILrightly put up boundaries and MIL didn’t get her own way and get invited in. Good.
Might make her think twice about infringing on another person’s private visit next time and she will never do it again with SIL.

Win Win.

SIL had her visit without minimal intrusion and
MIL learned a lesson. Result!

You don't know the difference between facts and opinions?

somedayforoneday · 16/02/2025 22:21

This can be argued back and forth forever but the facts remain. SILrightly put up boundaries and MIL didn’t get her own way and get invited in. Good.
Might make her think twice about infringing on another person’s private visit next time and she will never do it again with SIL.

Win Win.

SIL had her visit without minimal intrusion and
MIL learned a lesson. Result!

thing47 · 16/02/2025 22:09

Except that for the vast majority of the time she not only deals with the intrusion but welcomes her MIL in, gives her food and drink, and chats to her.

So on the rare occasion when DIL has told her MIL, in advance, that she won't be able to do that, MIL should accept that gracefully, shouldn't she? You do understand that adults get to choose for themselves whether they are available or not, it's not for someone else to determine otherwise.

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 21:46

CaptainFuture · 16/02/2025 21:19

Wonder if the son who gets the benefit of the freebies and has for aeons before the sil came on the scene says thanks....or is that wifework fun?!

I know you don't want to hear this, but the AIBU was about SIL, not DB.

Of course brother ought to ALSO say thank you. Just because DB used to be the sole beneficiary, doesn't mean that SIL isn't benefitting now. She's prepared to accept them but unwilling to deal with the intrusion of doing that in person. If the gifts are too much of a nuisance then they politely decline, like normal people.

CaptainFuture · 16/02/2025 21:19

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 21:10

Yes, so she chose to let her MIL drop off gifts to her house without so much as a thank you, because she couldn't find ten seconds to be polite.

Wonder if the son who gets the benefit of the freebies and has for aeons before the sil came on the scene says thanks....or is that wifework fun?!

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 21:10

phoenixrosehere · 16/02/2025 20:15

She wasn’t available to MIL which is what she told MIL in the first place. That is literally what unavailable means when you tell someone that you are unavailable.

Yes, so she chose to let her MIL drop off gifts to her house without so much as a thank you, because she couldn't find ten seconds to be polite.

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 21:08

Anxioustealady · 16/02/2025 19:49

"High end gifts", they're unwanted freebies!

Where did you get that from? OP says they're high end gifts.

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 21:07

BreezyScroller · 16/02/2025 19:41

Are you actually that obtuse with everyone?

The parent who refuses to understand that teachers are NOT available for a chat at drop off because they are busy settling the kids, and expect you to make an appointment, or at least come at pick up?

The rude one who barge in during the day because someone is WORKING from home so you expect them to change their day and put their clients on hold to make you a cup of tea?

Do you barge in on your accountant or hairdresser and disrupt their meetings because you are only "popping in" for a chat?

What don't you understand in the word "unavailable" is what I want to know!

I've read some nonsense on here but this is top drawer. Well done.

SullysBabyMama · 16/02/2025 20:37

“SiL knows my mum is not intrusive and would not have overstayed her welcome.”
But she knew she wasn’t welcome and to leave stuff in the porch and she attempted to, maybe without malice but still….

phoenixrosehere · 16/02/2025 20:36

Tenthousandspoonsitslike · 16/02/2025 20:23

Right?! Why are some people unable to grasp this, it’s not exactly complicated is it.

And like OP said, her unavailability has never been an issue before

It is not.

OP also said that her mother hasn’t brought it up again so I’m guessing SIL possibly contacted her or she realises she was making a mountain out of a molehill considering they have had a great relationship until this tiny hiccup.

Tenthousandspoonsitslike · 16/02/2025 20:23

phoenixrosehere · 16/02/2025 20:15

She wasn’t available to MIL which is what she told MIL in the first place. That is literally what unavailable means when you tell someone that you are unavailable.

Right?! Why are some people unable to grasp this, it’s not exactly complicated is it.

And like OP said, her unavailability has never been an issue before

phoenixrosehere · 16/02/2025 20:15

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 18:43

The fact that she was available, but didn't want to see her.

"Unavailable" essentially means "I have chosen not to take ten seconds talk to you today" in this context. Which, when you think she's dropping off high end gifts for them, is rude.

She wasn’t available to MIL which is what she told MIL in the first place. That is literally what unavailable means when you tell someone that you are unavailable.

Tenthousandspoonsitslike · 16/02/2025 20:10

Since when did unavailable mean, ‘yeah please batter my door down!”

Some of you are bonkers truly

Anxioustealady · 16/02/2025 19:49

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 18:43

The fact that she was available, but didn't want to see her.

"Unavailable" essentially means "I have chosen not to take ten seconds talk to you today" in this context. Which, when you think she's dropping off high end gifts for them, is rude.

"High end gifts", they're unwanted freebies!

BreezyScroller · 16/02/2025 19:41

TheWonderhorse · 16/02/2025 18:43

The fact that she was available, but didn't want to see her.

"Unavailable" essentially means "I have chosen not to take ten seconds talk to you today" in this context. Which, when you think she's dropping off high end gifts for them, is rude.

Are you actually that obtuse with everyone?

The parent who refuses to understand that teachers are NOT available for a chat at drop off because they are busy settling the kids, and expect you to make an appointment, or at least come at pick up?

The rude one who barge in during the day because someone is WORKING from home so you expect them to change their day and put their clients on hold to make you a cup of tea?

Do you barge in on your accountant or hairdresser and disrupt their meetings because you are only "popping in" for a chat?

What don't you understand in the word "unavailable" is what I want to know!

Thirteenblackcat · 16/02/2025 19:05

Am I the sister in law? Who knows

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