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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My husband tells his parents everything

233 replies

Shinyblackstone · 15/05/2026 20:59

My husband is a great man, good husband, good around the house, great with the kids etc. He is very close to his siblings and parents which I honestly think is fab.

I get on fine with my family but we are not close. We grew up in a very private family where nobody could know our business and I was always stressed out trying to make sure that I didn't accidentally let something slip. My.mum was constantly telling me 'dont tell such-and-such this' and "if anybody asks, tell them xyz".

I never, ever ask my kids to keep secrets but at the start of our relationship would tell me husband what he could and couldnt tell anyone. He told me it stressed him out and so I stopped doing that because I realised that I was repeating a pattern of burden and putting it onto him.

However, I don't fully trust my husband and keep a lot to myself. Anything personal to me that I do not want to be repeated, I have to be very specific that he cannot tell anyone. I still have my doubts and just cannot be fully vulnerable with him unless I am really upset about something. Most of this is childhood trauma stuff.

Anyway I know that my mother in law tells everyone's business. I know all about my siblings-in-laws' lives, their kids, their problems, and as someone who was so guarded growing up, this is horrible.

Anyway recently, one of our older children (late primary) gor into very big trouble in school. It was very upsetting and while we supported the school and followed through on co sequences at home, I feel like i owe my child their privacy and that for their sake, I want this to be known by as few people as possible. It is not that I am ashamed. I'm not. But I value my child's right to be able to forget about it. It was a very sensitive issue and I just heard my husband on the phone to his mum giving him an update in a way which suggested that he has been keeping her updated.

On one hand, its his mum and he has a right to discuss his children with his family. On the other hand, its my child too and I value privacy and the right to not have everyone talking about you. I know far too much about my husband's nieces and nephews for example.

Is this me projecting my childhood or is my husband out of order for repeating every little thing back to a family who will share the news over dinner?

Aibu for feeling really uncomfortable with this? Am happy to be told that I am but dont want a big argument or to make things weird with him and his family.

OP posts:
CheeseWisely · 15/05/2026 21:10

I sort of get it OP. I’m a very private person about some things (anonymous internet forums aside) and don’t have an especially close relationship with my Mum so don’t share much with her, and DH is the polar opposite.

I largely try and let it wash over me but I have banned him from discussing my personal issues and health (including pregnancy / labour etc) with his family. I wouldn’t try and stop him talking to them about our DS though.

It makes me twitch when he tells me the ins and outs of his Brother & Sister in laws relationship issues and her health, I barely know her and don’t feel comfortable knowing such intimate things about her, apart from the bits she’s told me herself obviously. I’m glad I drew my line in the sand fairly early on.

Moveoverdarlin · 15/05/2026 21:10

I think his family sounds a bit more normal to be honest. I’ve also had a big hoo-hah with the school recently and I really need my parents take on things, they’re my sounding board, if my husband told me not to tell my parents things, I’d just ignore him to be honest. I hate gossip and people knowing my business, but I do rely on my parents for advice, perhaps he is the same.

2031MummyTBC · 15/05/2026 21:09

In general YANBU if he/they share everything and can’t keep things private.

But in this specific instance (with the school), I can’t see the issue. Unless it’s genuinely very personal circumstances, a child getting into major trouble in school is something I’d expect a MIL (grandmother at the end of the day) to know about… unless you specifically told him NOT to share it.

Shinyblackstone · 15/05/2026 21:08

My mother is so secretive that once I went home to visit her and needed my hair cut urgently. She reluctantly told me where her hairdresser worked but informed me that I wasn't to say I was her daughter or mention me. Just act like a regular stranger off the street.

OP posts:
Gowlett · 15/05/2026 21:07

We’d share everything, in my family. I know I can turn to them whenever I need help or advice.

DH grew up with a “don’t tell anyone” mum, all she did was turn them all against each other…

Shinyblackstone · 15/05/2026 21:06

Also our parents live local and often i dont want to tell my parents certain things because they would be weird about it, and then I hera my husband has told his family so I feel forced to tell mine. It has happened many times before where I didnt want my parents to know something and my inlaws told them, not knowing my parents hadn't been told.

OP posts:
Jellybunny98 · 15/05/2026 21:05

SunnyRedSnail · 15/05/2026 21:03

This sounds like you projecting your childhood.

You might have been raised with a "behind closed doors" attitude, but others take the attitude of "it takes a village" where problems are shared.

I often consult my mum on behaviour stuff with about my kids! She raised me and I turned out well (I think!) so I value her opinion and advice!

Totally agree with this.

SunnyRedSnail · 15/05/2026 21:03

This sounds like you projecting your childhood.

You might have been raised with a "behind closed doors" attitude, but others take the attitude of "it takes a village" where problems are shared.

I often consult my mum on behaviour stuff with about my kids! She raised me and I turned out well (I think!) so I value her opinion and advice!