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Been put in a really akward situation with SIL and having to say no to her request for the 3rd time.

351 replies

StarsAndStripesX · 17/01/2019 08:22

SIL (DHs sister) and DH don’t really see eye to eye, they are very different people. He sees her as very high maintenance, jealous and selfish. Where as DH is very laid back. SIL is quite a bit older than DH and must be seen to be doing better. Whatever we have / get she has to get bigger and better and really makes it known with her constant bragging and it really winds DH up.

DH and BIL get on really well and I know if BIL wasn’t on the scene he wouldn’t see SIL. He tolerates her, I get on with her ok as I’m not easily wound up by her I let her brag but it washes over me. I don’t see life as a competition like her.

We hosted DHs family over Xmas. BIL gave DH the dates for mutual friends stag, turns out DH can’t go as it clashes with our family holiday.

A hour or so later SIL said she had a great idea as we are all away at the same time why doesn’t she come on holiday with us so she’s not missing out.
I told her straight and said “we don’t do holidays with others due to previous bad experiences in the past. It is our first family holiday since DS was born (he’s now 7) and since DH changed jobs (he doesn’t see the DC for 5 days a week, every other week due to new hours) and were looking forward to spending some quality time with just us four. She seemed to accept that and said it’s fine not to worry.

A week or so later they stopped in for a flying visit to borrow some tools, DH was in the garage and SIL brought it up again. She said she feels upset that we are all going away and it’s not fair on her and she wants to come away with us. BIL stepped in before I could speak and said she was embarrassing herself, she had already asked and has been told no, she’s already got two holidays booked this year and to drop it.

Me and DH spoke after they left and he said if she comes away with us he’s not going. I do get on with her more than DH but 10 days joined at the hip with her is far too much and the thought fills me with dread aswell as DH.

I really thought that was the end of the matter, seems not. She messaged late last night I’ve only seen it this morning. “She’s been looking online and the prices are going up, she would really love to come so can we reconsider and let her know what dates we go and come back so she can book it”

She knows what hotel were staying at as we previously went to the same hotel 8/9 years ago and they went to the same hotel a couple of months later. We spoke about it Xmas day before she tried to invite herself. She even said it was ok but not as good as more expensive hotel down the road they stayed at last year. She doesn’t know our exact dates just we will be away over the stag do.

I honestly don’t know what to say, I’ve tried a few times to draft a message and I don’t know how to get the point across. She’s clearly messaged me rather than DH as he will tell her to piss off.

The problem is we’re not actually going until July and it’s going to be a long time of her asking if I can’t set her straight once and for all.

OP posts:
ciderhouserules · 17/01/2019 09:23

Just reply "for the third time - NO" - you've said she has the hide of a rhino, so she won't be embarrassed/upset/hurt, will she? She's not normal.

Send this.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/01/2019 09:24

"That's not going to work for us"

Or just ignore the messages

eddielizzard · 17/01/2019 09:25

Absolutely still a no. Please don't ask again.

And cc in your DH and hers.

WTF is her problem?! Why on earth would someone want to go when they are so clearly not wanted? So weird.

Interested in this thread?

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BarbaraofSevillle · 17/01/2019 09:25

Why would she even be thinking of a holiday with a brother who isn't bothered about her

^^ This. And she's also said that she doesn't really like the hotel the OP has chosen, although that could just be an example of the competitive one-upness as in everything she does has to be better than everyone else.

She sounds mad and I don't understand what she thinks she's missing out on, apart from a holiday with people she doesn't really get on with in a hotel she doesn't like very much Confused.

feebeecat · 17/01/2019 09:28

I have a sil like this - she wanted us to change the dates of our honeymoon to fit in with school holidays as she and her dd " needed a holiday" Shock
Just say no. Repeatedly. 20 years down the line, my sil now knows better than to ask Grin

Butterymuffin · 17/01/2019 09:30

Agree with everyone else but I would get your DH to weigh in. It's his sister. Get him to say 'no, it's not happening, and stop pestering my wife about it as that is very unfair on her'.

Passing4Human · 17/01/2019 09:30

Just reply "for the third time - NO"

I think you have to be that clear with someone like this. Keep it brief and don't justify it as people like her can use any additional info as an "in". Like the reply someone posted about babysitting - she'd be all over that. Even if you say, "we want to spend time on our own". She can counter with, "don't worry, I'll be off doing my own thing most of the time. You'll hardly know I'm here". My gran was like this and you have to be as direct and concise as possible. I HATE people like this. I'm hugely anxious and they stress me.

CatnissEverdene · 17/01/2019 09:30

Nothing remotely awkward about it.

Send a text "SIL, I don't think you are hearing me when I say we are not sharing our family holiday with anyone. This is not up for discussion any further".

strawberrypenguin · 17/01/2019 09:32

No. It's our family holiday. Please don't ask again.

Whatever you do don't give her the dates!

FetchezLaVache · 17/01/2019 09:35

I think you can get away with being rude in this situation in response to the breathtaking rudeness of her asking to crash your family holiday for the third time! No, I would actually say you NEED to be rude, or she'll try and weedle your dates out of PIL and just book the hotel for the same time.

Suggest "FFS SIL, what part of 'No, you cant come on our FIRST FAMILY HOLIDAY SINCE DS WAS BORN 7 YEARS AGO with us!! Please stop asking, it's getting embarrassing now."

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 17/01/2019 09:35

"Absolutely not, I have already told you that we don't holiday with other people, not even you. Please don't force us into having to change our hotel to avoid having our holiday invaded."

venusandmars · 17/01/2019 09:35

I'd copy your DH and BIL into your reply so there are no secrets, and say something along the lines of: "You asked previously, we said 'no' and the situation has not changed. During the day we will be spending much needed time with dc, as a nuclear family, during the evenings we will be spending time as a couple. It is not appropriate for you to join us."

BitOutOfPractice · 17/01/2019 09:35

Crikey I feel quite embarrassed for her!

Returning2thesceneofthecrime · 17/01/2019 09:35

‘SIL- I thought DH had already said that it won’t be possible for you to join us on our holiday? We need time alone for the four of us and have have already made plans for that. Have you considered having a spa weekend while BIL is away?

FetchezLaVache · 17/01/2019 09:36

*don't you understand

Kerrygeld · 17/01/2019 09:38

Have you replied, op?

dollyandshirl · 17/01/2019 09:39

hide like a rhino.

tell her no, and to stop. gatecrashing your long awaited holiday is not OK.

Auntiepatricia · 17/01/2019 09:40

Just write back ‘Please stop asking. It’s getting pretty rude and embarrassing at this stage. Make some plans with a friend.’

ModernStoneAgeFamily · 17/01/2019 09:40

She’s clearly got the hide of a rhinoceros, so after politely explaining why it’s a no twice before I wouldn’t pull any punches on the third attempt. Such people seem to deliberately misinterpret a polite no as a maybe.

I would reply ‘For the third and final time, absolutely not’.

She can get stroppy all she wants, it doesn’t sound as though anyone including her own husband will support her.

Flowerfae · 17/01/2019 09:43

I'd tell her no and to stop asking. Also is there any way to keep her from finding out when you are actually going? As when I was a baby my dad's side of the family (same situation as this but there were loads of them) just turned up.

dinkystinky · 17/01/2019 09:43

Just say, for the reasons already relayed to you, this doesnt work for us and we do not wish for you to join our family holiday.

zzzzz · 17/01/2019 09:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 17/01/2019 09:46

I would just hand it over to her brother to deal with.

BertieBotts · 17/01/2019 09:46

I don't think I would do this because it's awful but - tell her the wrong dates?

InfiniteSheldon · 17/01/2019 09:47

Is something wrong hun? We've told you its a holiday just for us, so has dbil really don't want to keep repeating it but no, I am absolutely not giving you the dates of our family holiday as we don't want gatecrashers.