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Mother-in-law and my own family

42 replies

7856 · 17/11/2017 19:05

Like many others, I could write a very long list of things my mother-in-law has done to upset and undermine me.

Our relationship has gone from bad to worse and, we only speak when she visits (about 3 times this year).

My issue at the moment is that we live in London and both our families live in Yorkshire (about an hour apart from each other). My husband's family consists of his Mum (who he has never been very close to) and mine a family of 8 (including brother and sister in law's) and, we're all very close. We come up to see my family perhaps 5 times a year - all the family are invited by my Mum to celebrate a birthday or go to a particular event. My MIL has started to expect an invite to our family gatherings. This expectation usually manifests itself as a "let me know when's a good time to come over". I think this is really rude but, my husband thinks "why not? why can't we just invite her along".

The history here (and this is just the things concerning my family) is that:
-when my husband and I first met my family invited her over for dinner - she brought her alsation puppy along without asking/ telling us she would be. she spent the whole of dinner sat on the floor. She has shown herself on other occasions to be a inverted snob and, made numerous comments about how disgusting it was that all the cars in the car park were so expensive (I guess she has a point, but, rude nevertheless). She then literally turned her nose up at us when we offered her a glass of champagne - and laughed at her son for drinking it. then we went for a walk and she fully ignored my Dad asking her to put the dog on the lead for the sheep - her dog then ran off, killed a lamb, noone could catch the dog, and when my husband finally did she literally said nothing of the entire incident. She did not once thank anyone for having her over and didn't return the invitation.
-for the first 3yrs or so my mum would send over a cake and a card at christmas. Again, never reciprocated.
-then, at our wedding she sobbed that she felt she was loosing him to my family and, a few hours later accused my mum of fat shaming her because she said "wow, isn't there a lot of food".

This, coupled with all the horrible things she has said and done to me - and she expects it to be totally cool that she just poos round to interrupt our family gatherings. I don't know, am I being unreasonable here? I think it's up to her to make an effort if she wants to be included and, I think this expectation that we'll include her in everything is rude. I think she could invite my parents over - or arrange to meet at an in-between bar even - perhaps say that she wants a relationship with them, wants to be invited to our family gatherings. I think with all that's been said and done - it's up to her to rekindle a relationship - if she wants to start afresh and move on from all the horrible stuff (sorry I haven't detailed the things between the two of us so this maybe seems harsh) that's happened between us all. Am I being oversensitive and unfair here?

OP posts:
VeganIan · 17/11/2017 19:27

Am I being oversensitive and unfair here?

No.

GummyGoddess · 17/11/2017 19:36

Don't inflict her on your family just because your dh doesn't see the problem, it isn't fair on them (or you).

DancesWithOtters · 17/11/2017 19:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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Pollydonia · 17/11/2017 19:43

Yadnbu

7856 · 17/11/2017 19:46

Veganlan - good to hear. Thanks.

OP posts:
greendale17 · 17/11/2017 19:46

YANBU. I wouldn’t want anything to do with her

7856 · 17/11/2017 19:47

Googles yanbu - thanks

OP posts:
mustbemad17 · 17/11/2017 19:49

My ex MiL used to just invite herself over whenever she wanted. Once when she knew my mum was leaving after meeting & spending ten days with her first grandchild; my mum found it outrageously rude. They never spoke after that 😂

Tell your DH that she isn't welcome. If he needs a reason, you have a good list!! Why on earth should your family suffer such an offensive woman when they want a family get together?! YANBU at all!!

Finola1step · 17/11/2017 19:49

Why should your parents have to put up with her rudeness?

Neolara · 17/11/2017 19:50

She sounds awful. If people behave badly, they really have to accept the consequences. Why on earth would you invite her round if she behaves so appallingly? Just don't go there.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 17/11/2017 19:52

I think you are going to have to be blunt and say your mum hasn't invited her/it is just for your family only. She certainly has no issue being blunt and doesn't worry about anyone else's feelings, so why worry about hers. This is how cheeky fuckers get away with terrible behaviour - other people are too polite to stop them.
Your dh has had years of her behaviour so might be immune to it, but it's not his call. It isn't his house so cannot expect to invite her to someone else's events.

HandbagCrazy · 17/11/2017 19:58

YANBU! What does your DH say if you say she can't come? My MIL lives quite far away. She is a very different type of person to my mum (both nice but complete opposites). It wouldnt occur to me to try and mix them tbh.
Your MIL is bloody cheeky to expect invitations. As PP said, you and DH will need to be quite blunt about it I think.

7856 · 17/11/2017 19:58

My husband just doesn't get it - he's very, why can't we all just get along. It feels like telling him Santa isn't real - that his Mum isn't welcome at my families home (although they are not close - she did bring him up as a single mum and he has a lot of love and respect for her)

OP posts:
honeysucklejasmine · 17/11/2017 19:59

Did she compensate the farmer for the lamb her dog killed?

She does not need to come over. Don't allow it.

Justbookedasummmerholiday · 17/11/2017 20:00

Tell dh if he is so keen to see her he can go to her and you will have a lovely time with your family!!

GummyGoddess · 17/11/2017 20:02

If he wants everyone to get along then he has to have a word with her about her rudeness.

Jayfee · 17/11/2017 20:04

Why can't your dh spend some time alone with her when you are in Yorkshire..she would love it and he would feel like he had done the sonly thing. I found my mil judgemental and two of my friends ended up nc with mil but the dh still visited their mums.

7856 · 17/11/2017 20:11

Jayfee - that's a really good idea!

OP posts:
washingmachinefastwash · 17/11/2017 20:14

No she’s rude. Why should your parents put up with that? Why should you put up with that?

diddl · 17/11/2017 20:19

" "let me know when's a good time to come over"."

Your mum can inite her or not as she wishes.

Does your husband want it that way as he gets to see her at no effort from him?Hmm

MrsWhirly · 17/11/2017 20:23

She sounds a lot like my MIL and our family set sounds similar too. We've been married for 11yrs and for the first 5/6 yrs I would get very upset. Y her behaviour. I would also try and please her and DH who also couldn't see the issue.

A few years ago I really stopped caring. So I no longer make an effort, Although I do speak to her and there very odd occasions when we see each other and all is bearable - just. Once I really stopped giving a shit out keeping her and DH happy I felt lighter and happier. X

7856 · 17/11/2017 20:25

MrsWhirly - how has this made things with your DH? It is so tense between us every time I say 'no'

OP posts:
7856 · 17/11/2017 20:26

Sorry you've been through this too - it's not great

OP posts:
diddl · 17/11/2017 20:28

"why can't we just invite her along".

Because you're not the hosts!-surely your husband must get that?

He needs to go to her whilst there or invite her to your if he wants to see her.

LoniceraJaponica · 17/11/2017 20:39

I'm struggling to understand why she feels entitled to an invitation from your parents. They aren't related and they aren't friends. The only thing they have in common is that their children are married to each other.

My parents met OH's mum and stepfather just the once - at our wedding. They lived over 300 miles apart and would have had no reason to see each other otherwise.