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Elderly parents

Struggling with MIL assumptions

57 replies

sunintheeast · 03/03/2026 06:12

My lovely FIL died 18 months ago. MiL struggled hugely after caring for him for 2 years with no family nearby. After he died she asked if she could move nearer to us.. he had wanted her to so that was a big part in it..200 miles from where she had lived her whole life.. we gladly said yes. I get on with her and we have similar values hobbies etc.. we wanted to give her the support but with some worries about moving her away from her friends. To make it work financially we had to go in with our savings to make up the difference on a new place and also do it up as our area is more expensive than hers. In spite of her really trying it has been hard so much harder than i thought.. I think she thinks we are much better off than we are and DH is so generous hes just got in the habit of paying for her everywhere we go and taking her on holiday with us. Its getting to me.. the house has been hard work for a woman in her 80s so even though we are spending a fortune she is missing her old home, friends, town and is emotionally flat alot of the time. I have very little time with DH now hes either doing DIY or she's with us because shes lonely. To be fair she has joined a couple of groups so she is trying. I dont want to feel resentful... she lost her husband and dealing with a massive change but im starting to fester about the time, our massively depleting savings (everything has to be done ASAP! ) and general assumption that its her son's role now to do what her husband did and looking after her .. we didnt realise how much he did ! how do I manage it and move on ??

OP posts:
sunintheeast · 03/03/2026 06:44

Also she wasnt eligible for the limited sheltered housing which would have been our first choice

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HygerTyger · 03/03/2026 06:43

EvangelineTheNightStar · 03/03/2026 06:38

what so he and she just get to decide your family money has to fund her now?
why on earth was a bug project house purchased? Why not a 1 bed?

Agree. I wouldn't like this at all. you need to communicate with him and he needs to be more respectful of family money

sunintheeast · 03/03/2026 06:43

EvangelineTheNightStar · 03/03/2026 06:38

what so he and she just get to decide your family money has to fund her now?
why on earth was a bug project house purchased? Why not a 1 bed?

It's a two bed so she can have guests. It had been a rental and once we moved in we realised the owner had really let it go.. loads of things didn't work so things that we thought could wait couldn't..

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Freya1542 · 03/03/2026 06:40

"he is very giving of "our" money even though im the main earner.. he works pt"

Then you are not unreasonable in having a chat with him @sunintheeast

Lay out your boundaries before the justifiable resentment becomes a problem for both your marriage and your family.

EvangelineTheNightStar · 03/03/2026 06:38

what so he and she just get to decide your family money has to fund her now?
why on earth was a bug project house purchased? Why not a 1 bed?

sunintheeast · 03/03/2026 06:33

Yes agree but he is very giving of "our" money even though im the main earner.. he works pt due to health issues.. he would be the same if it was the other way round he is unflinching kind but I always have to be the one with boundaries

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Freya1542 · 03/03/2026 06:26

the resolution to this lies solely on what your husband thinks wrt to financing his Mum and the level of support he wants to give @sunintheeast

Unless he is completely on the same page as you, it may well be something you just have to accept?

There's a well know saying "no good deed goes unpunished" 🙈