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Mother in Laws

122 replies

NowNumber5 · 28/11/2023 20:34

Or is it Mothers in Law? 🤨 (I think it is)

Anyway, inspired by a comment from @Teambyron on the Lakeland thread -

Does anyone actually like their mother in law?

I honestly do love mine. And I know the feeling is reciprocated because she has always maintained that if me and DH ever split up, she’d keep me over him 🤭

Please share your perspective if you are a MiL! How do you feel about your DiL or SiL?

OP posts:
crostini · 28/11/2023 21:09

FiveGoMadInDorset · 28/11/2023 21:07

Mine died 4 months after we got married, my step mother in law who is her sister, has not spoken to me since DH’s funeral 4 years ago, neither has my FIL

@FiveGoMadInDorset

DId your fil marry his ex wives sister?!

CVVW · 28/11/2023 21:09

I loved mine. Wish she was still here so much. Died too young at 65.

haribosmarties · 28/11/2023 21:10

I'd love to have a MIL I got on great with... but she doesn't even get on great with my DH so there wasn't much of a chance...
Very jealous of people with lovely ILs... mine do not seem interested in the grandchildren really which is very sad

Interested in this thread?

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DisforDarkChocolate · 28/11/2023 21:10

My MIL is lovely, I'm sad she's not well enough to come for Christmas.

DappledThings · 28/11/2023 21:15

Yes, mine's wonderful. I love her.

And yes, mothers-in-law. Like courts martial.

StopGo · 28/11/2023 21:15

My MIL is a strong and amazing woman. She was widowed in her 40s with 5 children. Her example has truly helped me cope with being a young widow.

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/11/2023 21:15

DappledThings · 28/11/2023 21:15

Yes, mine's wonderful. I love her.

And yes, mothers-in-law. Like courts martial.

Knights Templar is my fave.

olderbutwiser · 28/11/2023 21:17

Mine is fab, and she think’s I’m pretty cool too.

GiveOverRover · 28/11/2023 21:17

Being able to jettison a mother in law was one of the bonuses of divorce.

muddyford · 28/11/2023 21:21

DappledThings · 28/11/2023 21:15

Yes, mine's wonderful. I love her.

And yes, mothers-in-law. Like courts martial.

And Letters Patent.

QueSyrahSyrah · 28/11/2023 21:22

My first was an absolute nightmare. Best thing about getting divorced was never having to see her again.

My second we don't have so much as a fluent language in common and we live in different countries, so I don't have very much to do with her outside of the odd meal together when she's in our neck of the woods or we're in hers.

shininglight16 · 28/11/2023 21:23

Mine's an A class bitch, full of drama, egoistic, dominating, interfering, uneducated and ignorant, arrogant, jealous and two faced. I have zero love or sympathy for her, she's a pathetic human being. Good at playing games and bad mouthing me to her son. Despicable woman is what I call her, I hate her to the T.

IncompleteSenten · 28/11/2023 21:25

I loved mine so much! She was an amazing woman.

10 children she had. She came to the UK to visit for the first time after my first son was born. She'd always said she would never get on a plane but when she had a grandchild she wasn't otherwise going to see, no power on earth was keeping her off that plane! She left her home country for the first time and flew 4000 miles on her own at approx 70 years old to a country where she didn't speak the language. Formidable woman.

As a first time mum, I didn't have a clue what I was doing! One day I couldn't get him to take his bottle and she watched me for a while then held her arms out for him. I always joke that I lobbed him at her like a rugby ball!

She took him, tipped him a bit and gave him the bottle. No fuss no nothing. Magical powers I tell you!

On top of that when my husband would come home from work she'd tell him to take the baby because I'd not rested all day. He'd say mama, do you think I've been resting? I've been at work

He did as he was told, mind. 😂

I nearly made her come live in the UK. she's lucky I didn't take her prisoner.

I miss her so much. she was wise, a vocal feminist and she was cheeky too with a wicked sense of humour.

Pebblesandwaves · 28/11/2023 21:29

I have always felt so lucky with my in-laws. They really are the most supportive and loving people. If ever they have an opposing opinion they always keep it to themselves and are incredibly selfless. We've just come back from a weekend away with them even though we live 25mins away from them. My husband has an excellent relationship with my family too and will often pop over without me to have a tea and a catch up.

Goddessonahighway · 28/11/2023 21:31

Relationship with my MIL has ebbed and flowed. I do love her and I'm grateful for all that she has done for us but... I think my Perimenopause is really impacting on my tolerance levels and I find her annoying. It's a problem I'm thinking about and trying to make changes with. I don't want to be unkind to her.

underneaththeash · 28/11/2023 21:34

unfortunately mine is very entitled, irritating and has never done anything positive for me or her grandchildren.

DejaVoodoo · 28/11/2023 21:41

Chequered relationship with mine.
She was difficult, critical, controlling and snobby; but other times she was a riot and we had a laugh. She was a good grandmother.
As she retired and aged she grew more mellow, we got on better, and she decided I was the best thing since sliced bread. She died two years ago and I miss her.

TheChosenTwo · 28/11/2023 21:46

Mine is an absolutely wonderful and welcomed me into the family from day 1. She’s an amazing person.
Treats me the same as her daughters (who I love too, we go on girls Holidays and I’m so close to them), is a brilliant hands on grandmother to all her grandchildren equally, encouraged and actively supported me going back to college when dc1 was a baby, knows when her advice will be appreciated and has never over stepped the mark.
I sometimes invite her round to have a cuppa and a slice of cake when I’ve got a slow wfh morning.
She often stops by with fresh produce from her allotment.
I adore her and owe a lot to her belief in me 20 years ago which was sadly lacking from my own mum at the time. And I do tell her how much we appreciate her!

BeyondMyWits · 28/11/2023 21:49

Hmmmm... to start with we got on really well. Then my husband's brother got divorced... and I saw and repeatedly heard what she really felt about his ex wife (who was wonderful only days earlier... and her son was the cheat/liar/etc). So I knew what would happen should we split, and how she might feel about me.

Now she has dementia which has totally killed off her verbal filter. No, we don't really get along.

justanothermanicmonday1 · 28/11/2023 21:51

I like mine. We have had some issues over the years but over all, she's the best!

justanothermanicmonday1 · 28/11/2023 21:55

IncompleteSenten · 28/11/2023 21:25

I loved mine so much! She was an amazing woman.

10 children she had. She came to the UK to visit for the first time after my first son was born. She'd always said she would never get on a plane but when she had a grandchild she wasn't otherwise going to see, no power on earth was keeping her off that plane! She left her home country for the first time and flew 4000 miles on her own at approx 70 years old to a country where she didn't speak the language. Formidable woman.

As a first time mum, I didn't have a clue what I was doing! One day I couldn't get him to take his bottle and she watched me for a while then held her arms out for him. I always joke that I lobbed him at her like a rugby ball!

She took him, tipped him a bit and gave him the bottle. No fuss no nothing. Magical powers I tell you!

On top of that when my husband would come home from work she'd tell him to take the baby because I'd not rested all day. He'd say mama, do you think I've been resting? I've been at work

He did as he was told, mind. 😂

I nearly made her come live in the UK. she's lucky I didn't take her prisoner.

I miss her so much. she was wise, a vocal feminist and she was cheeky too with a wicked sense of humour.

This was really lovely.

Tigertigertigertiger · 28/11/2023 21:56

I've had 3 and loved them all

Sugargliderwombat · 28/11/2023 21:58

I really really loved mine but she's a totally different person now I've had a baby. Don't like this version at all.

Theoldwoman · 28/11/2023 22:00

Mine is nothing to rave over. She lives in a different country than us now but we did use to live nearby. Shes my kids only grandparent still alive. She’s poor in keeping in contact, even with her own son. She’s an alcoholic.

Lizzieregina · 28/11/2023 22:02

Mine passed away 7 years ago, but I loved her to bits. She could be a busybody, but her daughters straightened her out every time, so then she’d grin sheepishly. I know she loved me too because my SILs always told me I was the favorite child in law! DH used to say she liked me better than him, which wasn’t true, but she engaged with me more than him because I’m more sociable. She was wonderful and is sorely missed.