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Do you ever phone you son's wife or girlfriend?

47 replies

Articstroll · 05/08/2026 00:42

I don't. We got on perfectly well, I'm very happy that he's happy, but if I need to speak to "them" I call him.

OP posts:
ShanghaiDiva · 05/08/2026 08:21

Don’t call her but we message on WhatsApp.

sweetiepie11 · 05/08/2026 08:32

Infrequently do we talk on the phone or text. It’s nothing against either one we get along fine when we see each other in person.

user1492757084 · 05/08/2026 08:38

Yes. I love her and the DC.
She is brilliant. I try not to annoy her though.

Velvera · 05/08/2026 08:42

I message her rather than call her.

Likeiloveyou · 05/08/2026 08:46

No but she called me 1:1 recently because she wanted advice on a job interview in my sector.

If I want to talk about plans/arrangements/general stuff I speak to DS.

I get on with his DP really well I think. When we meet in person we have stuff to chat about but my son is my primary contact.

Loopylalalou · 05/08/2026 08:50

Not for a chat, neither her nor my DS, but yes, we chat in person. IThey live four doors away and I walk their dogs so we’re aware without needing the details, as they still have the right to their private life. We do ask questions particularly about dogs both by phone and messenger though.

DidVeryWell · 05/08/2026 08:50

Yes I do. The girlfriends and boyfriend of my three sons are people in their own right. Why would I not?

We often message, meet up or spend time together even if my adult child is not there. We helped one of my son’s girlfriends decorate their new house whilst he was out at work and she had a day off.

We are staying with my son and his boyfriend just now. My son is only off work for a couple of days during the stay whereas his boyfriend is at home. Of course we spend time with just him.

ExtremeDecluttering · 05/08/2026 08:54

My late MIL used to call and text me, yes, we had a lot in common and always plenty to talk about. I miss her.

Ibi · 05/08/2026 09:06

I love my mother in law, and my mum loves my husband, we have group WhatsApp’s for sharing photos etc., but my mum wouldn’t call my husband for a chat, nor my PIL call me. We see my PIL weekly though. My PIL live less than an hour away and are generous with childcare, any childcare logistics go through my husband as he’s the person who usually does the drop offs and pick ups. If I happen to do them then they text me.

DidVeryWell · 05/08/2026 09:14

Thinking about it (following on from above) I am a person in my own right too! My son’s boyfriend is in the same profession as me, so we talk lots, share ideas and seek advice from each other.

One son’s girlfriend was not local but now works in the same area that I did, and with the same community where I was years ago. We have lots of shared experiences.

We have easy connections as individual people some shared interests, some developing interests and sometimes some needed skills (painting, sewing, fixing the car, access to transport…just whatever).

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 05/08/2026 09:41

DD only 18, so no partner to call yet, but from the other side, I'll only call DPs Dad or sister if there's something specific they need (usually tech help!)

DP absolutely never calls my Dad ( but then I barely do either, he's an arse!)

DP and my Mum though were always on the phone together though, they became really good friends.

INeedaDietcoke · 05/08/2026 11:48

I used to speak to my MIL a fair bit before we had kids, mainly texting though. We would occasionally meet up without my DH, but very rarely. Now that we have kids the relationship has gone south. If she rang me I would think it was because someone was dying. Neither she or FIL ring their son either, though they do text sometimes to see if we are about so they can facetime the kids.

I do not want her to ring me, but other than my mum or DH I actually don't want anyone to ring me. Not sure how people find time and energy to catch up on the phone with friends and family so often, I find it all really draining.

pinkandwhiteroses · 05/08/2026 11:49

My FIL rings me occasionally - not for a chat but more to tell me or ask me something. MIL was the same before she died.

My parents don’t even have DH’s number - if they ever rang him I think he’d assume I was dead 😂

DilemmaDelilah · 05/08/2026 17:36

Interesting! My MIL used to phone me sometimes for a chat. She was lovely.

I don't have any sons, but I wouldn't phone my daughters' partners just for a chat. I might ask them a specific question but not have a chat.

I had a step-daughter (who died). Her husband is now in a new, committed, relationship. I do contact his girlfriend about things like granddaughter's birthday presents and our twice or thrice-yearly visits to see her (and them) because she is MUCH better at responding than he is! Does that count? We don't chat though.

MrsLFii · 05/08/2026 17:45

I’m not a MIL but I have PIL. I never really speak to anyone on the phone, I hate it, so no, she doesn’t really call me. If I gave her even one iota of encouragement, I expect she’d be on the phone all the time. As it is, she messages me, often, and we chat that way. She messages me far more than she messages DH!
FIL calls if necessary, and never texts. I don’t think he even knows how to text 😂

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 05/08/2026 18:14

As a stereotypical millennial, I would be horrified if my MIL expected to chat on the phone to me. I don't chat on the phone much with my own parents.

Happily use WA/email and good old F2F, but I don't call anyone. The only person who calls me is my 66yo colleague who will Teams call me out of nowhere and just launch straight into the numbers he was looking at.

Trainup · 05/08/2026 18:18

My late MIL and I would never have just called each other for a chat and I would have been much more likely to call FIL for anything practical. We would message every now and then and we got on well. DH would speak to her regularly on the phone. DH also does most of the communication and phoning with my parents so maybe I’m the issue!

GoodkneeBadKnee · 05/08/2026 18:19

Nope
No need so far.

SignsofLife · 05/08/2026 18:31

Very occasionally. I do WhatsApp her though and we have a family group too. I never called my MIL and she rarely called me.

IwanttoWFH · 05/08/2026 19:38

My husband’s mum is very odd. If you give an inch, she’ll take a mile, so no.
We will message each other “happy birthday” or to thank each other for our birthday present and that’s it. I’m very happy with that amount of contact!

My ex’s mum used to call me. It was for a purpose, though, not a random chat!

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 05/08/2026 20:57

I speak to my mil most weeks.... Sometimes I call her, sometimes she calls me x

VointofPiew · 05/08/2026 21:01

Both mothers will call either of us for an errand or something and not even mention it to the other. You'll just hear on Saturday morning that your husband is unavailable because he's going to your mother's but bonus! He's taking some or all of the kids. You're welcome to join, of course...

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