Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Do both sides of your families get together?

50 replies

FamilyReunions · 14/09/2022 06:19

Just that really. Other than weddings do the two sides of you and your partner/spouses get together for occasions or just because?

OP posts:

Stickmansmum · 14/09/2022 07:28

Yeah it’s really sweet but my PILs and parents get on great. They live hours from each other but even visited my parents home town, went for dinner etc. without us😂 When my parents visit, my in-laws always come over specially to see them and have coffee etc. They send each other texts and happy birthdays.

Hadnt thought about how unusual that is till now.

ThisisCollie2022 · 14/09/2022 07:28

No! Shudders at the thought

Abraxan · 14/09/2022 07:28

Occasionally.
On Boxing Day in the past my parents and PILs always came to our house. Several years my siblings and their family, and BIL and family have been there too. Since FIL died then on Christmas Day MIL has been to ours and twice my parents have too.

There's the odd other time too.

My parents have invited MiL to visit and stay with them in their new house, which is near the coast too.

Abraxan · 14/09/2022 07:30

Not sure if it makes much difference but dh and I have been together since we were 16y, so our parents have known one another to some extent for over 30 years now, including when we were still fairly young, through out or sixth form and university years so a time when parents were around much more anyway.

NerrSnerr · 14/09/2022 07:31

Nope. Met once on my wedding and that's it. Couldn't think of anything worse as they're very different families.

AndAnotherOneJoinsTheQueue · 14/09/2022 07:33

We went on holiday together once. Then it was about 8 years before we all met for a meal 🤣

mummabubs · 14/09/2022 08:55

Nope, and there's 7 miles between them. Wedding day is the only time they've all been together.

Adversity · 14/09/2022 09:02

Ours met at our wedding and that was it apart from DH Dad and my Mother attended a graduation ceremony for me and she stayed over at his house, they got on very well actually.

I have already spent more time with DS GF parents in the last 4 years than ours spent together over 23 years. We have each hosted a BBQ and we met them first time at a fete. Their really nice people the sort we would be friends with anyway. I adore DS GF if it turns out they don’t stay together it will be very sad but that’s life.

Sh05 · 14/09/2022 09:10

If it's a celebration involving the DC or either set of parents are unwell or going away for some length of time.

NewLevelsOfTiredness · 14/09/2022 09:49

Not really but they get on fine, but I'm an immigrant here so my family back in the UK can't really just drop by!

They post happy birthday and such on each other's social media and all that. We only got married a few months ago and it seems a couple of bonds formed. I've seen my wife's cousin and my uncle posting a lot in response to each other. It's nice, and obviously a bit sad that they'll be so few opportunities for them all to meet again.

I'm 43 now and my parents are still good friends with my ex-wife's dad and his wife - we split up 20 years ago! (Very silly young marriage with no hard feelings.)

ScampiFlies · 14/09/2022 09:52

No, our parents met once but not at our (lockdown) wedding. They are really different people and live 100 miles apart.

CMOTDibbler · 14/09/2022 09:54

Our parents met twice in the 25 odd years we were together before parents died. Once for suit fittings before our wedding, and at our wedding. Very different people and neither side were interested

FLOWER1982 · 14/09/2022 09:57

No definitely not. I stay away from my in-laws as much as possible. Same for my family.

MintyGreenDreams · 14/09/2022 09:59

No I don't like mixing the two different species tbh

Snog · 14/09/2022 10:03

Only for funerals/christenings although DH sis and my bro knew each other before we met and are sometimes at the same parties.

I tease my DH that since we have only one parent left each and both are single we should match make. Always induces horror 😆

TokyoTen · 14/09/2022 10:04

No. We've been together 27 years, they have met once (no problems). We are all in England too...

FizzyStream · 14/09/2022 10:05

No only for big birthdays/weddings etc. there is a certain amount of grandmotherly rivalry and as I have a stepmum, it gets a bit competitive!

purpleboy · 14/09/2022 10:18

Yes, we live very close and very often get together, they contact each other separately and my in laws do a lot of work around the house and garden for my elderly parents.
We have a really lovely family bond.

Horsemad · 14/09/2022 10:20

Nope! 😆😆😆😆😆😆

Pollymollydolly · 14/09/2022 10:32

Yes, all celebratory occasions throughout the year - Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter, birthdays etc. and some ‘just because’ get togethers for dinner. Always at our house as the layout is best suited for the numbers. Everyone gets on well.

Artyblick · 14/09/2022 10:34

Robinsonsquashedme · 14/09/2022 06:33

Good God NO!

Haha, yes that applies to our family too 😅

LT2 · 14/09/2022 10:38

No.

I would have loved that to happen but DH's family (well, just MIL) are weird with my family. Described them as 'unwelcoming' in the past. We've no idea where that view came from as they've never been unwelcoming! Now they will be though! I think with some MILs there's probably a bit of jealousy to blame, when you are closer to one side than the other.

warofthemonstertrucks · 14/09/2022 10:41

Yes sometimes. Both sets of parents will come and stay for the weekend occasionally (as well as coming seperately). And they live near each other (we live 200 miles away) so they sometimes get together for lunch without us.

mondaytosunday · 14/09/2022 10:57

I think my parents met my in laws once before the wedding and then I think at our sons first birthday and then not at all until my husband's funeral.
But then we were 40 and 44 when we got married, my parents well into their 70s, my husband had several siblings, none of which he was that close to.
We saw my parents every week, we saw his about three times a year.

polmnlj · 14/09/2022 11:14

No. We aren't married and my parents live abroad and do not really speak English. My parents are old and won't travel abroad anymore. I don't think they will ever meet.

Flip

1 2