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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find DDs in-laws level of wealth overwhelming at times

229 replies

Glowanna · 01/11/2025 15:24

My DD is in her 30s, she’s been married for 8 years, has two lovely little boys. When DD got married her in-laws gifted them the money for the house. This is in London and the house ended up buying was almost 2 million, no mortgage etc.
When her DHs younger brother got married they did the same for him and his wife. It’s always been very clear that if they divorce it gets split, the house was a gift to both etc. her in laws are lovely people.
Now her two little boys are enrolled in a private prep, her in-laws pay half the fees, DD and her DH pay the other half. Her in-laws also take all of them (her DHs brother, his wife and 2 children) on holiday every April, usually the Caribbean, always in business class etc. I can’t imagine it’s a cheap trip.

On the flip I’d say we are rather ordinary. We are now mortgage free but like most people spent many years paying it off. We state educated our children, they went to grammar for secondary. Right now in retirement we are fine, we take all the family to center parcs once a year but definitely couldn’t afford all inclusive at a fancy resort in the Caribbean for 10.

This week we went to visit DD for a little while. Her DHs brother and his wife invited us over for dinner one night, they live in this massive detached house in what I believe is a very nice part of London.

We just got home and I’m feeling really overwhelmed by it all? I understand that rich people will always exist and that as a result their children always benefit but I’ve never really been this close to crazy amounts of money before. Sometimes I feel like we just don’t compare well, that our center parcs holidays will be lost in the memories of April in the Caribbean for our grandsons.

AIBU to feel this way? Has anyone experienced similar? How did you handle it?
You’d think 8 years in I’d be used to it but I’m just not!

OP posts:
Doggielovecharlotte · 01/11/2025 15:37

I think kids will have a much better time at centreparcs than Caribbean!

Glowanna · 01/11/2025 15:34

Ponoka7 · 01/11/2025 15:30

I don't think that you can fully get over it. My DH's brother did very well for himself and his sister married well. They just got so out of touch and I couldn't have a moan like I could to other family, in case they thought that I was hinting for money. What we had to live on per month wouldn't have bought their shoes/handbags etc. I think that they didn't like to discuss what they'd been up to, holidays etc because we could never have afforded it. He also flew his family out to the Caribbean, he regularly flew on Concorde etc. It became polite chatting.

What I find really difficult is DD complaining about her finances. Lately we had “we just can’t afford to go skiing this year” and “we could never send our boys to the same prep as DHs brothers kids it’s just too expensive”. It makes me think DD has forgotten where she came from!

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 01/11/2025 15:30

I don't think that you can fully get over it. My DH's brother did very well for himself and his sister married well. They just got so out of touch and I couldn't have a moan like I could to other family, in case they thought that I was hinting for money. What we had to live on per month wouldn't have bought their shoes/handbags etc. I think that they didn't like to discuss what they'd been up to, holidays etc because we could never have afforded it. He also flew his family out to the Caribbean, he regularly flew on Concorde etc. It became polite chatting.

coxesorangepippin · 01/11/2025 15:27

Yanbu

We don't have extremely wealthy family (unfortunately!) but have friends who are.

Everytime we see them I just feel a bit speechless by the whole thing

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