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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

MIL has crossed the line... don't know what to do?

204 replies

PiscesLondon · 22/07/2010 21:49

firstly, i'm not a MIL basher at all. my MIL is helpful, kind and a good person and we get on well.

i don't post alot but some of you may remember a couple of months back i mentioned on a thread that my MIL had a dangerous dog (pitbull type) it's HUGE, very possessive of MIL and goes absolutely beserk when my 9 month of DD is at her home. when my OH and i visit with DD, we insist it's locked of the room, actually locked out with the key in the door (she has locks on every door) but TBH we don't visit much (about once a month) because the dog barks and growls non stop and it's not nice to sit and listen to for anyone. PIL come to our home instead once a week to see baby and MIL takes her out for a few hours to the park or to visit MIL's brother.

from the word go OH and i have insisted that MIL doesn't take DD home with her on the days she takes her out. last time dog was around a child (MIL'S nephew) the dog went for him god forbid if the dog got out of the locked room their is no way MIL could control it. she has agreed with me and told me she understands although she still makes the odd snide comment about it not being able to get through a locked door.

today she took my DD home with her for the day behind my back and i'm thinking that this may have been a regular occurance. i'm really hurt that she hasn't respected my wishes and angry that she thinks she has the right to take such a risk.

OH and i have spoken to her, obviously the first thing we said was that we weren't happy that she went behind our backs. her response was that she locked the dog out all day and that she wasn't stupid. she was really defensive and a bit pissed off and said 'it's pathetic' normally i would be so angry and lose my temper but i stayed really calm and explained that as a mother i didn't want that risk being taken. TBH i am a bit pissed off with myself as i felt really awkward and was worried about upsetting her too much, now i feel i didn't stand my ground enough and i need to make it clearer that it's my child and my rules. OH lead the conversation and basically said she was a great grandmother and the problem wasn't with her, just the dog but she better not do it again. 'ok' was her response

i'm still angry, my daughter's safety is more important that anyones feelings and had it been a member of my family i'd have gone beserk! AIBU to want to bring this up again and make it clear that she does this again and she isn't seeing her without supervision?

what would you do in my position? i'm genuinely upset about this.

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ChippingIn · 24/07/2010 01:20

Pisces - you asked him what he would think if you did that and he said, well... what he said. It's Friday night, he's told you several times he thinks it's now sorted but he'll support you if you say anything further...then you (in his mind) keep going on about it & about how untrustworthy his Mum is and as much as we might say it ourselves, none of us like other people 'calling' our parents do we?! He didn't shout at you and call you a cunt, he said you would be behaving in a cuntish manner if you did that - it's not the same. I think you should apologise for your over reaction to his comment, then tell him that he is being too laid back about his DD's safety and that you will deal with this how you see fit.

[IMHO I would let her spend time alone with DD at your house and that would be all for now, I wouldn't allow her to take her out anywhere because I wouldn't trust her to keep DD safe and if DH didn't like it - he could lump it!]

I also wouldn't take DD to MIL'S house anymore, it is sending mixed signals when you take her there, but not allow MIL to take her there. FWIW I understand your reasoning, but in her position I would be quite defensive about being able to keep her as safe without you as with you there - so easier not to blur the lines I think.

Allyinoz · 24/07/2010 06:59

Look, I think she has broken your trust. You asked her not to take your DD home with her and she did so. So fundamentally she is not listening to you or she is discounting your requests.

This is your child and your wishes. I would explain how this makes you feel and what you would like to happen and ask her what she thinks. If she is unable to agree with you then I think you have to make a decision about leaving her in your MIL's care.

JosieZ · 24/07/2010 07:16

You need to adjust your thinking to the fact that your DD will never go to her grandparent's house because of the danger. MIL is not getting rid of dog, dog will live another, say 8 years, so DD isn't going there until the dog has passed on.

MIL comes to your house to see DD.

End of story.

No ifs or buts or 'just this once'.

End of story.

Animation · 24/07/2010 08:32

It seems that the dog comes before the grandkids - (for the MIL). It's a sad fact, but that's the reality.

Were dogs a priority over her own kids?

Animation · 24/07/2010 08:36

Josie is right - end of story.

OldMumsy · 24/07/2010 08:45

Pisces, This is why being a parent is hard. You have to be grown up, step up to the plate and be in charge. I would not allow my MIL to have unsupervised access to my child after what she did with her attitude. She needs to develop some respect and have a period of reflection about her own behaviour. Just because she is older than you does not make her right. Hell I am probably older than her!!

GiddyPickle · 24/07/2010 08:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 10:33

chipping in - i think you're right, i probably over reacted to his comment, it's just frustrating that he thinks the matter is closed. i'll let him know he's off the hook and that i will speak to MIL.

so, i either wait for her to ring or visit and then tell her how i'm still hurt at the disrespect she showed me and that i feel like she's broken my trust and we'll go from their....

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yikesascorpiobaby · 24/07/2010 10:56

What everyone else has said.

Your dh is caught between a rock and a hard place really and presumably just wants a quiet life. He needs to support you (and dd) on this though- presumably his input will be the only thing that might help MIL to see any reason.

You are NOT overreacting. Every time you think you are, think about the news stories- they are frequent enough to suggest that these incidents are not freakish, out of the blue events, they are fairly likely to occur in an aggressive dog/toddler situation. It is NOT worth the risk.

I suppose you should apologise for saying what you did about his mum, if you want to get anywhere with him on this. But you can carry on thinking it

If the dog is a dodgy breed can't you just report it?

CakeandRoses · 24/07/2010 11:50

Good luck with speaking to your MIL, Pisces.

I'm v similar to you in that I'm a strong person and more than happy to speak my mind but detest confrontation with people that are closish but not really close: like in-laws. I really sympathise with you having to deal with this on your own.

You're doing the right thing. It's your MIL (and your DH to an extent now) that should be feeling terrible about this, not you.

PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 12:07

just a little update - just rang her and decided to get it all out in the open now. i was really calm and civil but i was firm. told her that i must not have made myself clear enough in the first instance but hoped i was making myself perfectly clear now when i said my DD is NEVER, EVER to go to that house again whilst the dog is their. i told her i was worried and upset and didn't want a dog to come between us but that it wasn't a risk i would be prepared to take. enforced that i thought she was great with DD and i didn't want this to cause any issues but my rules MUST apply. she said she understood and that she too wouldn't trust the dog and saw were i was coming from and swore on DD's life that she would never take her home again, no matter what.

i care for my MIL and am glad we haven't fallen out, i value the relationship she and DD have and feel alot better now. my decision is that come september, my MIL will have DD on tuesday afternoons whilst i'm in college, but she either has her at my home for the afternoon or i drop DD off to MIL'S brother's or sister's house and meet MIL their, i then pick DD up 3 and a half hours later after college. MIL's mobile phone is a must.

seems she has listened to more, more than she listened to her son.

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PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 12:08
  • i meant listened to me rather than her son.
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EnglandAllenPoe · 24/07/2010 12:14

good, was worried MIl was too in love with her own opinion to be concerned about her dog/ your child/ your opinion!

CarGirl · 24/07/2010 12:15

Well done. I really hope that she does get it and she never even considers going to her house behind your back again.

Buy her some dog training sessions for Christmas?

PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 12:24

i think i was firm enough and said enough for her to know this was her last chance. i felt i needed to get across that i know what's best for my child and that my opinion must be respected. time will tell, because if their is one little slip up or she refuses to take her mobile phone then all bets are off.

you've all been so helpful.

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thumbwitch · 24/07/2010 12:27

That sounds good Pisces - well done for taking the bull by the horns, so to speak! I hope it all works out for you.

bluecardi · 24/07/2010 14:11

Hope it works out. Keep an eye on what she's doing - don't trust her to keep her side of the bargain. Keep repeating to her the dog issue so she doesn't 'forget' what you said to her.

gotareason · 24/07/2010 14:33

OP - just wanted to say that I think you have handled this with a lot of maturity and I hope/think that your MIL will be a lot more respectful of you from now on.

PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 14:47

thanks everyone, bluecardi, i will most definately be keeping an eye on her and reminding her re - the dog.

gotareason - thank you very much, i tried to not fly off the handle which is something i've become alot better at since becoming a mother. i hope you're right and that she now respects and will adhere to my decisions so that she and DD can carry on spending time together.

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landrover · 24/07/2010 20:47

Very well done you, i was just about to tell you to report her to the police for having an illegal dog! Am I right that pitbulls are illegal in this country / or do they have to have a special licence??

PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 21:35

TBH i don't know what the rules are regarding dogs? i think she's classed as an american bulldog, as she has more of this in her?

as firm as i was i still found it awkward! it just felt weird dishing rules out to a woman 36 years my senior.

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mumoflittlemouse · 24/07/2010 22:06

Really well done Pisces! Such a tricky, tricky situation you were in. In the end handling it yourself was the best way. I'm impressed.

PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 22:45

aww thank you mumoflittlemouse all the help and advice i had on here really gave me the confidence to stand up and say what needed to be said.

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ChippingIn · 24/07/2010 22:57

Well done you!!! Firm but friendly

PiscesLondon · 24/07/2010 23:09

oldmumsy loved your comment, it's so true. you really do have to be a grown up, step up to the plate and be in charge.

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