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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?

343 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:
Fiftyandme · 23/10/2026 20:33

Who owns the house you’re living in, OP?

Aristocack · 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?

Yes. He says he didn't mean it in an accusatory way and that he was simply curious and I misunderstood. We had a huge talk after the younger family members left from their 10 day visit and things bad massively improved. Then this has come up with MIL. Even though we had previously told her she could move in I guess I just didn't expect her to take us up on it, at least not so soon.

OP posts:
Thepinkcup · 23/10/2026 20:33

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.

I’ll bet my house she doesn’t have a ADR visa

ToysRus56 · 23/10/2026 20:33

Please make this a problem that you and your husband share. You are clearly a very lovely person - most wouldnt entertain this. Talk to your husband - say that you're happy for her to stay for 1/2 weeks but where will she be going afterwards? Don't take no for an answer. You have a right to change your mind and you have a right to space as a new family. Are you on medication? I had severe postpartum OCD so I really empathise. I promise it gets easier but tackle both you mil and your mental health simultaneously. It will work out, keep pushing through

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:34

In regards to visa - she had previously lived in the UK for a few years before moving back to the home country and her Indefinite Leave To Remain (this essentially gives her residency) hasn't expired yet so she has been able to move back to the UK now

OP posts:
Bababear987 · 23/10/2026 20:34

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 23/10/2026 20:33

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

Oh I wondered.

Yes for feck sake OP leave this man. Things will get worse.

NinaGeiger · 23/10/2026 20:34

Omg I remember your last thread. I feel so sorry to hear the latest developments.
My MIL is pretty easy going but I'd still find this extremely difficult so I can't imagine how difficult this is.

Until there's a solution I think you need to stand up for yourself and be assertive eg telling you need to sit in that specific place on the sofa.

SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite · 23/10/2026 20:34

@Aristocackjust because you agreed to it, it doesn’t mean you are locked in. You can say it’s not working. List out all the things you’ve mentioned here to your DH. At the very least he needs to have a conversation with her and put down some boundaries

Mamma191938 · 23/10/2026 20:36

Are there any options for her to live in a small flat in her own? Even if you have to financial support her that sounds preferable to what you are going through. Get DP to do all the work on making this happen.

Gengha · 23/10/2026 20:37

On your last there’s multiple people suggested you leave and go back to your mum’s. Can you do that now? It’s a shit situation OP, but it’s clear no one is going to do anything to help you, so you’ll need to help yourself.

Thepinkcup · 23/10/2026 20:37

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:34

In regards to visa - she had previously lived in the UK for a few years before moving back to the home country and her Indefinite Leave To Remain (this essentially gives her residency) hasn't expired yet so she has been able to move back to the UK now

Then I think you have to be realistic. Will your partner ask her to leave?

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 23/10/2026 20:38

Aristocack · 23/10/2026 20:33

Yes. He says he didn't mean it in an accusatory way and that he was simply curious and I misunderstood. We had a huge talk after the younger family members left from their 10 day visit and things bad massively improved. Then this has come up with MIL. Even though we had previously told her she could move in I guess I just didn't expect her to take us up on it, at least not so soon.

Yes, you're in the abuse cycle. He drives you to the point of needing to seek mental health support and feeling you're "in a torture situation" (from last thread). You finally say something, he turns into Mr Nice for a few weeks. Then his true nature returns.

It will not get better.

cityliving99 · 23/10/2026 20:40

She can’t just move here!
Do not agree to sponsoring her….

NinaGeiger · 23/10/2026 20:40

Are the perinatal MH team fully aware of the situation at home? Are they concerned about your relationship? Do they have any advice about that?

Pjsallday · 23/10/2026 20:42

Realistically could she go back to her home country? Could there b3 other family.members ti take her in?

Hankunamatata · 23/10/2026 20:45

Short term there's no reason why mental health team cant come to your home as mil doesnt speak English so she wont know. Just tell her via translate its just check up.

Use Google translate to ask her to sit on the other sofa.

Try and get comfortable bf in front of her, Im sure she wont care.

Can you get her a tv for her room so she can watch programmes on her own language? Perhaps talk dp and ask if she can watch TV in her room symptoms from 9pm at least couple nights a week.

Catza · 23/10/2026 20:45

For starters I would stop accommodating her in any way. So what she has stigma against MH? You have your appointments in your home. She doesn't speak English so can't exactly express her views anyway.
If she grabs your baby, you put your hand out and say a loud "no". She will understand that. You tell your partner to let her know that you need your space on the sofa back.
Basically, she needs to feel very uncomfortable in your house.
And while you do all that, make sure you talk to your partner and explain that this arrangement has never meant to be permanent and what are his plans in terms of rehousing her.

AnneLovesGilbert · 23/10/2026 20:51

You need to take your baby and some stuff and get out, preferably to your mums. Your last thread was horrifying enough yet this one is even worse. Please be honest with your professional support people like your psychologist, if you had been they’d have stepped in by now, accept all the help available to you and get the hell away from the nasty bastard. You can deal with the house later. You need to be safe, to rest, to bond with your precious baby away from abuse and bullying and harassment. Please listen this time.

Wonderinwanderer · 23/10/2026 20:51

You poor thing.
There's nothing to debate or "do" here other than: that woman needs to be out of your house.
Her problems are not your problems to solve.
She needs to leave.
Is there anyone who can advocate for you in person?
You aren't alone 🫂

Pinkflamingo10 · 23/10/2026 20:52

Find your inner mama bear. If she grabs your baby shout NO and take your baby back immediately. She will understand.
You are entitled to breastfeed your own baby in your own living room. If she doesn’t like it she can fuck off to another room.
You are entitled to your medical appointment home visits in your own home. She won’t understand most of the conversation anyway.
have you confided in the perinatal mental health team you are in an abusive relationship. I would do so and seek support to plan leaving with your baby. Keep baby’s birth certificate and passport with you at all times.
I would consider going to your own mums as a temporary measure until you sort something more permanent for you and baby.

Crunchymum · 23/10/2026 20:53

You're obviously in a bad way @Aristocack but your DP is awful. His mother is awful. They are ruining your early time with your baby.

You really need some kind of exit plan.

I know it's all well and good everyone telling you "just leave" but your last thread was horrendous. This man isn't good to you, he doesn't care about your health or happiness.

Wonderinwanderer · 23/10/2026 20:54

I understand how overwhelming it feels when the problem seems huge and youre struggling with mental health. The issue needs to be broken down into small manageable chunks. The first part is simply this OP: is there anybody you andnyour baby can go and stay with for say a month?

Crunchymum · 23/10/2026 20:55

As for the language barrier, use Google Translate to tell her "stop taking my baby from me"..... in repeat.

You need to get very tough here as no-one else is fighting your corner.

Peachy2005 · 23/10/2026 20:55

Talk to the peri-natal MH Team for starters - they may have some advice.

SassyGoldCrab · 23/10/2026 20:59

Big hug OP. I'm sorry to hear everything that you are going through.

You need to sit down with your partner and explain exactly how you are feeling.

If you/MIL are in a financial position I think it would be good for her to spend a week in a local hotel/b&b in order for you and partner to have some space and create a plan.

Your partner needs to sit down with MIL and see what her long term plans are. He needs to be honest that this can't be a long term situation as you a family unit need their space. You need to set a deadline eg. A couple of months time for her to move out. In the meantime while she is living with you, you need to set boundaries so that you are comfortable as possible.

You are doing a great job with your baby and I'm sure this will all be resolved.

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