Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Regretting letting MIL move in, feel mentally unwell over it. AIBU to ask what to do?

324 replies

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:18

I made a thread a couple of weeks ago about the struggles I have been experiencing since having my baby. The struggles have been with my partner and his family. He had various family members from his home country visit for 10 days when my baby was 2 weeks old and I found it incredibly difficult and ended up having to see the peri-natal mental health team.

I had issues with my partner critiquing my parenting in front of his family members. I also was bleeding, recovering from birth and trying to establish breastfeeding and had other people in my house, hovering, grabbing baby off me etc. It was hell. They finally left after 10 days and I felt better (though I've still been dealing with post-natal OCD symptoms and severe anxiety/intrusive thoughts but I've been working with the peri-natal team). I had strong words with my partner about how he had made me feel and he has been much better and much more supportive.

Unfortunately things have gone to shit again. A few months ago back when I was still pregnant, DP's mum (I'll just refer to her as MIL as it's easier) who was living abroad with her partner revealed to my partner (over the phone) that her boyfriend had become emotionally abusive. Me and my partner spoke about it and we agreed that he could tell her that she could come and live with us if things got too bad. She said she'd think about it. I felt sorry for her.

In the past few days she has taken us up on the offer and has flown over and moved in. My partner isn't from the UK originally and his mum does not speak English and I don't speak their language. I was kept updated on the arrangements of her moving here but I haven't directly spoken to her in detail due to the language barrier.

She arrived on the 20th October. By all intents and purposes it seems like it's going to be a permanent move. I'm so regretting saying that she can come. She's in her 60s with a health issue and unlikely to ever work or move out.

I can't natter with her as we don't speak the same language. She keeps grabbing 5 week old DS off me. I can't breastfeed downstairs as I'm uncomfortable with her seeing my breasts. She has taken my spot on the sofa in between where DP sits and DS's moses basket and she will sit and rock the basket when DS cries meanwhile I am on the small sofa where I can't even lie down. She keeps rearranging the kitchen. She comes from a culture that is taboo about mental health and she is always in the living room so I've had to ask my mental health support team to let me come to their office for appointments as I'm uncomfortable them coming to my home - I had to travel to a psychological appointment (that would usually be a home visit) in the storm today with DS on the bus. She stays up until midnight most nights.

I won't go as far as saying I want to kill myself but I feel like I've ruined my motherhood and family life and our new home which we just purchased a few months ago. I hate myself, I should never have offered for her to live with us.

I'm feeling extremely vulnerable as it is with the post-natal OCD. My main comfort and way of distracting myself from the OCD thoughts was by getting myself cosy on our sofa, cuddling/feeding DS, getting a bit blanket over me and having cuddles and chats with DP whilst watching a comfort show. That has gone now, it's been taken away. Even watching TV we have to watch it dubbed in their language with English subtitles as she doesn't speak English and her eyesight is too bad for her to have the subtitles.

Despite exclusively breastfeeding my period has also returned at 5 weeks PP and I am bleeding incredibly heavily. I am essentially living in adult nappies and in terrible pain (I have endometriosis). I keep flooding my pads and through my clothes and I was in A&E yesterday where they had to give me a prescription to slow the flow of blood. Im so physically uncomfortable and I can't even lie down and relax on my sofa and I feel trapped upstairs in the bedroom as I keep leaking blood

I don't know what to do. I have ruined my life. I don't know how I can get rid of MIL now and I feel like a terrible person for even wanting to. Life barely feels worth living. I need to get all of this off my chest and DP is sat downstairs chatting to his mum so I can't talk to him. I genuinely feel lost and like I'm in hell and like there's no way out.

My mum is supportive over text/over the phone but she is a full time carer to my autistic sibling and I can't go and stay with her/live with her due to my autistic sibling having severe mental health issues.

I feel so lonely

OP posts:
Nearly50omg · 23/10/2026 20:20

Tell your partner to move out and take his mother with him.

hotmumshit · 23/10/2026 20:21

Girl your man has his feet well under the table doesn't he

Get rid, and make sure you keep firm hold of the baby's passport and legal documents

Sorry for being very blunt. You deserve better and are being very generous to this man.

Who owns your home?

Holeymoley28 · 23/10/2026 20:21

Mil needs to live somewhere else full stop.

Do you have any family you can move to even for a weekend to get some space? Or even a hotel where you can get privacy to show your partner you mean business.

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:22

It's not even a case of him moving his mum in under my feet. Back when I was pregnant and we found out that she was in an abusive relationship, we discussed it between us (me and DP) and I felt we should ask her to move in. I'm regretting that so much now. I don't know what the fuck I was thinking

OP posts:
RosaMundi27 · 23/10/2026 20:22

Horrendous situation, I really feel for you.
I don't know what your financial situation is, but I would go to a local hotel for at least a week. If there's Premier Inn or similar near you, pack a bag and go.
Your mental and physical health and your lovely new baby should be the priority here.

DoNotGoGorgeously · 23/10/2026 20:23

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:22

It's not even a case of him moving his mum in under my feet. Back when I was pregnant and we found out that she was in an abusive relationship, we discussed it between us (me and DP) and I felt we should ask her to move in. I'm regretting that so much now. I don't know what the fuck I was thinking

Well, tell him you’ve changed your mind, and she needs to find somewhere else to live.

TheFirstAffair · 23/10/2026 20:24

Who owns the house?

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:24

TheFirstAffair · 23/10/2026 20:24

Who owns the house?

Both of us own the house as joint tenants

OP posts:
MrsKateColumbo · 23/10/2026 20:27

Obviously she needs to move out. Will it be easy to speak to DP about this? Does she have somewhere to live in her home country? Does she have/need a visa for the UK?

712oohahh · 23/10/2026 20:27

It's ok to tell him your not coping, especially with your periods returning so much. It's ok to change your mind but now realise it's all to much for you. Both him AND You need to realise that YOU are the priority right now, as you need to be healthy and in the right frame of mind to look after a tiny baby. If he's not supportive of you then he needs to move out.

You're allowed to put that to him, it's ok, please be brave xx

Itsthewoluff · 23/10/2026 20:27

You need to be honest with your dp and say that this is unsustainable, your empathy and willingness to help came from a good place, but the reality is harming your mental health and you can’t do it. Come up with a plan together. If he’s not supportive then you have a dh problem and may have to leave. You can’t carry on like this. I’m not sure anyone could cope with what you’ve described.

hotmumshit · 23/10/2026 20:28

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:24

Both of us own the house as joint tenants

So youre renting together?

BeardieWeirdie · 23/10/2026 20:29

I remember your other thread - we were all so worried about your coercive boyfriend and his awful family undermining you, kicking you out of your bed and pushing formula. I was so hoping life had improved for you. She needs to move back to her own country/situation without her partner.

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:29

hotmumshit · 23/10/2026 20:28

So youre renting together?

No, joint tenants is a type of home ownership where a couple own a house equally. We own with a mortgage

OP posts:
MrsKateColumbo · 23/10/2026 20:29

hotmumshit · 23/10/2026 20:28

So youre renting together?

Deleting my superfluous message

BeardySchnauzer · 23/10/2026 20:30

Is she legally allowed to stay here permanently? Do you have family you could stay with?

redfishcat · 23/10/2026 20:30

Has MIL got a right to stay in the U.K., as you say she has no English. If not then get rid of her call the authorities and get her gone, she is grown adult and can look after herself. She may have been abused, but she is now abusing you, so this is not okay.
You need her to move out tomorrow, or you call Women’s Aid and go to a refuge. The situation is intolerable and won’t improve.
You tried to be nice, and kind but you didn’t know enough about MIL and how she is to live with to fully be able to agree to this.
I want to offer you support that you can’t live like this with a new baby.

hotmumshit · 23/10/2026 20:30

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:29

No, joint tenants is a type of home ownership where a couple own a house equally. We own with a mortgage

Ah okay

Honestly, considering the above post about your other thread, you need to leave him. It will only get worse.

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 23/10/2026 20:30

Are you the OP where he accused you of deliberately scratching your baby's face?

Thepinkcup · 23/10/2026 20:32

Surely her visa will run out?

this is difficult, because people willl tell you to throw him and / or her out. But you can’t throw him out and if her refuses to throw her out she’ll stay too.

realistically, how likely is he to ask her to leave because you want him to? You know him better than us

Wonkywalker · 23/10/2026 20:32

i am assuming MIL needed a visa to visit the uk ? She can only live with you on a permanent basis if she has an adult dependant relative visa. If she is only here on a visitor visa she needs to go back to her home country within 6 months.

It is normally really hard to get ADR visas. Do you know if she has a visa and the type?

I think you need to be really honest with your DP and if he won't lay down ground rules for MIL then that says where his priority lies.

Hope for your sake that she doesn't have a long term ADR visa.

MongooseAlley · 23/10/2026 20:32

How long is her visa valid for. Is it the right kind of visa for a long term stay?

Is that worth looking into?

Bababear987 · 23/10/2026 20:32

I think this is all a bit suss to be honest.

Why on earth did your partner think this would be a good idea? Why did he think allowing his family over for so long would be a good idea? I think hes taking the psss and playing the loving partner.

Sit him down and say he needs to find another arrangement. His mum needs to live elsewhere or move back to her home country.

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 23/10/2026 20:33

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 23/10/2026 20:30

Are you the OP where he accused you of deliberately scratching your baby's face?

Just checked and yes, you are.

The advice isn't going to change. You're in an abusive relarionship and you need to leave, or at least start planning your escape. It will not get better.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5585163-partner-accused-me-of-hurting-our-baby-in-front-of-his-family-am-i-overreacting?page=1

Partner accused me of hurting our baby in front of his family? Am I overreacting | Mumsnet

This has literally just happened and I've excused myself to the bedroom in complete shock. I have birth 2 weeks ago to our son. My partner overall ha...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5585163-partner-accused-me-of-hurting-our-baby-in-front-of-his-family-am-i-overreacting?page=1