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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU yo not want this woman near my children

112 replies

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 21:25

*Excuse the typo in the title, sausage fingers 🙈
I realise I will probably get alot of “do whats best for the children” and “its not about you its about allowing your children to have opportunities” BUT how many of you would seriously consider not allowing someone access to your children for physically and verbally abusing their parents. Today my husband went against my wishes that his sister was not to take my children out anywhere on her own (I realise this may sound controlling but its really not) this came about after she physically abused my husband and verbally abused myself. She does not speak to me and will not acknowledge my existence. Today DC were with their grand parents as I had to work (my in laws) and she lives there as well. DH is there regularly and allowed her to take the children out despite my wishes that she was not to be left unsupervised with them. I am livid , I feel sick at the audacity of her after everything she has done and desperatley want to protect my children from her. AIBU to have these feelings (she said some god awful things to me, something along the lines of “fk off, your not needed or welcone here but give me your kids” I mean would anyone sane tolerate this??

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Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 23:25

Mistyglade · 16/04/2025 23:10

I wonder what her side of the story would be. You sound very critical and harsh but haven’t given any specific examples of what constitutes such terrible behaviour aside from your description of ‘swearing, mouthing off and bad mouthing.’ If your DH and ILs don’t seem to have raised concerns could it be a clash of personalities? Your health and heart hurting sounds a little bit ott.

DH has a massive problem with her and with everything I have endured with that woman I have reached a point of stoping being a people pleaser and putting my needs last to suit her and their needs! Yes I am critical and harsh I have a lot of built up anger and hurt which I should probably work on, Im not giving specific details on what she did but it was the most horrendous time. Certainly not a personality clash, I know that full well.

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mainecooncatonahottinroof · 16/04/2025 23:24

Mistyglade · 16/04/2025 23:10

I wonder what her side of the story would be. You sound very critical and harsh but haven’t given any specific examples of what constitutes such terrible behaviour aside from your description of ‘swearing, mouthing off and bad mouthing.’ If your DH and ILs don’t seem to have raised concerns could it be a clash of personalities? Your health and heart hurting sounds a little bit ott.

I wonder whether you would be critical of someone who "physically abused my husband and verbally abused myself". Would you be content to have your young children exposed to "swearing, mouthing off and bad mouthing"?

I don't think the OP sounds ott at all. If you would accept this mistreatment, you must have a pretty low bar!

All sounds pretty toxic to me!

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/04/2025 23:13

PluckyBamboo · 16/04/2025 21:49

I don't think you can dictate what you in-laws allow when this person lives with them.

You need to pay for child care and only visit in-laws when you or DH can be there.

If your DH is happy for his sister to see the baby that is a different argument though as you are only a 50% parent not the alpha in charge parent....

What baby?

Mistyglade · 16/04/2025 23:10

I wonder what her side of the story would be. You sound very critical and harsh but haven’t given any specific examples of what constitutes such terrible behaviour aside from your description of ‘swearing, mouthing off and bad mouthing.’ If your DH and ILs don’t seem to have raised concerns could it be a clash of personalities? Your health and heart hurting sounds a little bit ott.

Anon501178 · 16/04/2025 23:05

YANBU whatsover....however sadly sometimes in families people can 'club together in league', and as your parents in law are clearly doing this with the SIL who lives there and they see in a different light to you, you need to stop them having care of and unsupervised contact with your children too when the sister is around to stand any chance of her not being left alone with them.

Eenameenadeeka · 16/04/2025 23:05

This sounds pretty complicated. His family is obviously quite "enmeshed" and im not sure you can get your way on this one. You are probably right to want to protect them from a toxic situation, but your in laws aren't going to see her as an issue, and if your husband is working there and bringing the children then they are going to let her.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 16/04/2025 23:04

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 22:59

In your mind it may be that dimple, but in our reality its not, its an awful awkward situation which is driving me crazy and hurting my heart so much

You can't keep them apart from her if they continue to go to the grandparents'.

I grew up rurally so understand your dilemma, but it really is as simple as that.

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 22:59

Hankunamatata · 16/04/2025 22:50

Well you have 2 choices. Keep on as you are or not allowed the kids to go farming with daddy. It's really that simple

In your mind it may be that dimple, but in our reality its not, its an awful awkward situation which is driving me crazy and hurting my heart so much

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Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 22:52

Hankunamatata · 16/04/2025 22:50

Well you have 2 choices. Keep on as you are or not allowed the kids to go farming with daddy. It's really that simple

Its not though, DC want to farm, I don’t want to be the bad guy in their eyes for stopping them going because “Auntie is a horrible person” my heart is torn by this!

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Hankunamatata · 16/04/2025 22:50

Well you have 2 choices. Keep on as you are or not allowed the kids to go farming with daddy. It's really that simple

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 22:44

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 16/04/2025 22:31

Apart from anything else, are your children safe on the farm? Are they properly supervised and looked after?

I'd be arranging different childcare.

Yes ive never had any concerns for their safety on the farm, FIL and DH super vigilant and children never left unsupervised when out on the farm, DD is stuck to FIL like glue and DS is safe with his father. My concerns arise when it comes to them going in to the house with her there, mouthing off, swearing, bad mouthing people, finding anything to start a disagreement and all around causing an unpleasant atmosphere, but DC love farming

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mainecooncatonahottinroof · 16/04/2025 22:31

Apart from anything else, are your children safe on the farm? Are they properly supervised and looked after?

I'd be arranging different childcare.

Endofyear · 16/04/2025 22:23

Your DH is the problem. He is not willing to protect his children from his toxic sister. Not sure what you can do, if you split you'll have no control over who they see when they're with their dad.

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 22:20

JustAnotherManicMomday · 16/04/2025 22:02

Make it clear you trusted then to respect your parenting choices and they disguarded your requests.

Thank you, this is exactly how it is and feels.

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JustAnotherManicMomday · 16/04/2025 22:02

Make it clear you trusted then to respect your parenting choices and they disguarded your requests.

Mrsttcno1 · 16/04/2025 22:01

Ultimately you need to deal with DH & you need to stop using PIL for childcare.

JustAnotherManicMomday · 16/04/2025 22:01

If my in laws didn't follow my rules, they wouldn't look after my kids. It's that simple. Stop them having unsupervised access and when they ask why just say if you cannot respect my wishes regarding raising my children then you will not be having them without my presence.

HellsBells67 · 16/04/2025 21:59

DH is there regularly and allowed her to take the children out despite my wishes that she was not to be left unsupervised with them

Your DH is the problem.

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 21:55

saltinesandcoffeecups · 16/04/2025 21:51

Yeah this didn’t really clear anything up for me. So I’ll just wish you luck. And advise you not become the crazy one in this situation, as you appear to be heading in that direction based on your posts.

I appreciate its impossible for someone from a non agricultural background to understand the complexity that comes with that way of life, add in to it an awful relative and it makes life damned near impossible . You are right, they have nearly driven me off the edge, my mental health is shattered, i am already on anxiety medication but today has just left me feeling like if i just disappeared they would all be better off

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TaggieO · 16/04/2025 21:53

If it bothers you that much why would you allow your children to be looked after at the house where she lives? You can choose not to see her but you can’t expect her to not interact with them if they are in her house.

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 21:52

PluckyBamboo · 16/04/2025 21:49

I don't think you can dictate what you in-laws allow when this person lives with them.

You need to pay for child care and only visit in-laws when you or DH can be there.

If your DH is happy for his sister to see the baby that is a different argument though as you are only a 50% parent not the alpha in charge parent....

DH is not happy he wants nothing to do with her but unfortunately his ties to the place means that he has to be there and she lives there, its awful.

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saltinesandcoffeecups · 16/04/2025 21:51

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 21:48

It is a horrid situation to be in believe me!! Toxic toxic toxic, he is a farmer you see, kids want to go farming with daddy, break their hearts if they cant, his parents are there, his uncle is there, his sister is there, meanwhile im left desperately wishing we could just walk away from it all! You dont need to point out how weird it is. I feel trapped, desperate and scared everytime they go “farming with daddy”

Edited

Yeah this didn’t really clear anything up for me. So I’ll just wish you luck. And advise you not become the crazy one in this situation, as you appear to be heading in that direction based on your posts.

PluckyBamboo · 16/04/2025 21:49

I don't think you can dictate what you in-laws allow when this person lives with them.

You need to pay for child care and only visit in-laws when you or DH can be there.

If your DH is happy for his sister to see the baby that is a different argument though as you are only a 50% parent not the alpha in charge parent....

ToKittyornottoKitty · 16/04/2025 21:49

You’ve not given any examples to suggest they are not safe with her

Easterhols1 · 16/04/2025 21:48

saltinesandcoffeecups · 16/04/2025 21:46

You want him to tackle the sister after tackling MIL… he’s onsite but the IL’s are providing childcare and the sister lives there but you want her to have nothing to do with the kids.

besides the amount of tackling that’s going on… I think this is all very weird

It is a horrid situation to be in believe me!! Toxic toxic toxic, he is a farmer you see, kids want to go farming with daddy, break their hearts if they cant, his parents are there, his uncle is there, his sister is there, meanwhile im left desperately wishing we could just walk away from it all! You dont need to point out how weird it is. I feel trapped, desperate and scared everytime they go “farming with daddy”

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