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AIBU?

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Hate MIL

57 replies

Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 10:41

What the title says. I initially really liked her but the more I get to know her I just think she's an awful person tbh. She constantly talks about people's weight and how they need to lose weight. Recently we found out her daughter is expecting and she made a comment about how well she was doing losing weight but that she's disappointed that she's regained weight with morning sickness she could only stomach carbs. I can't believe she would talk about her own daughter who is pregnant like that. She looks like a twig and constantly boasts that she has such great self control and that more people should have as well so they wouldn't be fat. She hates all animals, even dogs and cats and took her to the park with my daughter the other day and she said under her breath really loudly what a horrible dog to someone just walking their dog. I was so embarrassed as this is in my community and I personally love cats and dogs. She constantly tells me they are nasty creatures. Shw comes over for a whole weekend and will play with my daughter so I look like th bad guy when I need to discipline her which is somewhat natural but what does my head in is how lazy she is. Her husband and my husband will be working on dIY and she will come and sit down all weekend and not lift a finger, she never offers to make a cup of tea or clean anything. I work full tim and will cook for the entire family and clean after every meal and she won't even offer to help. My husband already knows and agrees with me but he doesn't like confrontation. I feel like she should help out a little more, at least put her plate in the dishwasher after her meals or offer to help make sandwiches? Am I being unreasonable for thinking she should behave a bit better?

OP posts:
Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:56

I love this idea!!

OP posts:
redphonecase · 14/04/2025 11:56

Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:12

A lot more than my mental health can handle almost once a month. It's become a source of constant conflict with husband. We need help getting work done around the house and FIL is very helpful so can't complain too much for free labour. They live an hour away and will sleep over whenever they come visit. I'm at breaking point.

Go out for the day and leave your husband to it with the kids.

Willandra · 14/04/2025 11:54

As pp said, get a dog. Maybe adopt an overweight dog, then she's really be put off.
You and your daughter get to take the dog places, hopefully without MIL. She can stay home and tell the men how fat they are.🙄

Penguinmouse · 14/04/2025 11:54

Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:01

I agree but I have a two year old daughter to look after and husband is doing DIY with his dad she always comes along to see DD but yes they will stay for ages like a whole weekend or long weekend. What should I do? Feels horrible to leave her alone with my daughter and I would like some time with my daughter so never know what to do.

“Sorry, we have plans this weekend”

Get your husband to stop doing DIY every weekend and spend some time with his wife and child. Tell your husband you don’t want to host his family every weekend so DIY needs to be limited.

LAMPS1 · 14/04/2025 11:50

Her husband is providing invaluable DIY on your home. That’s worth a lot of money I’m sure.

They come as a package and stay over, presumably to get the job done, maybe once a month you say. While her DH is busy helping, MIL is playing with your DC…a wonderful thing in my opinion. I’d be making the most of that.

You can sort this problem more easily OP, by accepting their help as graciously as you possibly can and for the rest, change things up a bit to suit your own needs better so that it’s not so irritating for you.

Eg. ‘OK MIL, I’m taking DC out now for an hour or two to give you a rest. Please can you just empty the dish washer/make the lunch sandwiches/prep the dinner veg/just cleanup after the boys for me . - I’ve left everything out ready for you in the kitchen, thanks so much as that would really help and won’t take you long.

Eg. After a meal at the table, you say ‘I just need to make a call, can you please all put your dishes in the dish washer and clear down the table please, thanks that would really help and won’t take you each more than two minutes.

Eg, On the night before the morning they are leaving, you say ‘I’m taking DC with me to the supermarket in the morning so when you get up can you just strip your bed please and put the bed linen and towels in the washer for me and then out on the line so that there’s chance to get them dried and aired ready for your next visit, thanks that would really help me out as I have a busy week coming up.
Etc.

Emoleno · 14/04/2025 11:47

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 14/04/2025 11:41

She’s not a guest. She’s family, and she’s there every weekend. That’s a big difference to me.

She is a guest - she's not there every weekend

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 14/04/2025 11:41

Emoleno · 14/04/2025 11:00

I would hate a guest to clean up and make me tea etc.

She’s not a guest. She’s family, and she’s there every weekend. That’s a big difference to me.

SeventeenClovesOfGarlic · 14/04/2025 11:34

Where do you normally take your child for days out? Museum, library, milkshake, park, zoo, open farm, sea/lake, country walk, friends house, shops?
Just go about your day as normal, you don't need to sit in the house with your husband's mother.

ADayAlwaysHasToEnd · 14/04/2025 11:27

It’s a difficult one. I wouldn’t expect a guest to cook and clean. And you are benefiting by her husband doing DIY for you. You have to weigh up whether the DIY help is worth the amount of visits

Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:27

I forgot to mention I don't have any family in the country as I am an expat so not sure where I would go.

OP posts:
Ohnobackagain · 14/04/2025 11:24

@Bitesize89 can’t you go away with your daughter for one night of the weekend they visit? DH can slave after MIL.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 14/04/2025 11:21

She is toxic. I couldn't listen to her hateful words.

Caroparo52 · 14/04/2025 11:19

Create some space. You don't have to be drawn into the nastiness

Peach0123 · 14/04/2025 11:19

Get a dog! Solves 2 problems, you and DD can go lovely walks with the dog and bet MIL won't visit if you have one.

Apart from that really I'd just make sure your DH let her know it's not convenient for her to visit. Why beat around d the bush when she so openly vile about everyone. Nope she wpildnt be welcome in my home, and defo not around an impressionable child.

OriginalUsername2 · 14/04/2025 11:17

She plays with your DD, so she is making an effort. That’s what you should expect from a grandma. I don’t think she should be expected to do housework in your house!

HeySnoodie · 14/04/2025 11:17

Or text mil the day before she arrives and ask her to cook the meals as you’re feeling exhausted

HeySnoodie · 14/04/2025 11:15

Tell mil you’re on a day trip as you’re exhausted from working all week and need a relaxing day with DD away from house responsibilities

MrsSkylerWhite · 14/04/2025 11:14

Hate is a very strong word.

She does sound unpleasant. I do think YABU expecting a visitor to clean, tbh, especially when the other half of the couple is doing DIY for you.

HeySnoodie · 14/04/2025 11:13

Return home after supper so you’ve eaten and can just bath DD and put her to bed

HeySnoodie · 14/04/2025 11:12

Take DD on some day trips so that you’re not about to wait on everyone and can have some fun. Go with a friend. Don’t invite MIL. Go to animal themed places like petting zoos.

Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:12

What do I do about my daughter?

OP posts:
Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:12

A lot more than my mental health can handle almost once a month. It's become a source of constant conflict with husband. We need help getting work done around the house and FIL is very helpful so can't complain too much for free labour. They live an hour away and will sleep over whenever they come visit. I'm at breaking point.

OP posts:
2dogsandabudgie · 14/04/2025 11:10

How often do they stay for a whole weekend, once a week, once a fortnight, once a month?

GoldDuster · 14/04/2025 11:03

Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:01

I agree but I have a two year old daughter to look after and husband is doing DIY with his dad she always comes along to see DD but yes they will stay for ages like a whole weekend or long weekend. What should I do? Feels horrible to leave her alone with my daughter and I would like some time with my daughter so never know what to do.

As others have said, become very busy.

Bitesize89 · 14/04/2025 11:01

I agree but I have a two year old daughter to look after and husband is doing DIY with his dad she always comes along to see DD but yes they will stay for ages like a whole weekend or long weekend. What should I do? Feels horrible to leave her alone with my daughter and I would like some time with my daughter so never know what to do.

OP posts: