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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To grey rock MIL

56 replies

AmberFlag · 17/11/2025 20:57

I always had a good relationship with MIL... until I married her DS and gave birth to her GC. It's a tale as old as time really. It started with ridiculous stuff I just ignored, but a decade later and I've had enough, especially now she's upset DH as well. He still wants a relationship with her, which I respect, but I've said I'll only be visiting with him a couple of times per year - and won't have any contact with her aside from that.

It's sad, because I always thought we were close. She's essentially told DH this week she doesn't consider me to be part of her family and she doesn't like how much he does 'for me' (by this, she mostly means the school run). Add this to all the passive aggressive comments about how I'm harming my kids by working full time, not having my husband's tea on the table every night, etc, etc and I just feel done.

AIBU? Should I be able to suck this up? DH is supportive and says he doesn't blame me, but I guess people pleasing plus not wanting to make life difficult for DH is making me question everything.

OP posts:
AmberFlag · 17/11/2025 21:37

Blueskystoday · 17/11/2025 21:22

This is the result of being tolerant.
It bites you back harder.
Yanbu.
She is a CF commenting to your husband like that.
Time to tell him to contact her with updates.
Mute her.
Tell her you are too busy.
Avoid visiting her.
Hand her over to her son.

It's a shit realisation this though isn't it?

That being a reasonable person only ended up causing you more hassle.

I have done all of the above. Guess I just needed some validation that I was doing the right thing, not being petty etc

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 17/11/2025 21:33

I don’t understand why you would be in contact with her when your dh could deal with contact. My pil never had my number, why would they? Let your dh contact her as necessary, no need for you to do that. Wife work!

fireandlightening · 17/11/2025 21:22

AmberFlag · 17/11/2025 21:16

We don't live close and she doesn't do any childcare. I had thought the same thing - I'm probably worrying about nothing, it's clear she's not bothered! I guess most of her updates about DC come from me though, as DH is rubbish at staying in touch. So if I don't stay in touch, she will probably feel cut off from us.

Sounds like she should have thought of that before being actively vile to you! No need for you to be in touch with her, she is DH's problem, and it is for him to keep her in touch about the GC if he wants to.

Blueskystoday · 17/11/2025 21:22

This is the result of being tolerant.
It bites you back harder.
Yanbu.
She is a CF commenting to your husband like that.
Time to tell him to contact her with updates.
Mute her.
Tell her you are too busy.
Avoid visiting her.
Hand her over to her son.

AmberFlag · 17/11/2025 21:16

MonteStory · 17/11/2025 21:02

i see no reason for you to have contact with her outside of face to face visits (unless she does childcare which im assuming she doesn’t). How many men have regular chats with their FIL? It’s just not an expectation for them. And if she’s a cow then all the more reason not to speak to her.

If she notices and makes a scene you could simply point out that you’re ‘not family’

We don't live close and she doesn't do any childcare. I had thought the same thing - I'm probably worrying about nothing, it's clear she's not bothered! I guess most of her updates about DC come from me though, as DH is rubbish at staying in touch. So if I don't stay in touch, she will probably feel cut off from us.

OP posts:
MonteStory · 17/11/2025 21:02

i see no reason for you to have contact with her outside of face to face visits (unless she does childcare which im assuming she doesn’t). How many men have regular chats with their FIL? It’s just not an expectation for them. And if she’s a cow then all the more reason not to speak to her.

If she notices and makes a scene you could simply point out that you’re ‘not family’