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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to be annoyed with my FIL?

15 replies

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 03/04/2011 11:46

FIL hasn't bothered with us for a few years since him and MIL divorced after 25 years of marriage and we moved around the corner from her when I was pregnant with DC1 out of purely financial reasons.
He refused our christmas day invitations several times, which upset my husband a lot, and told us he can't spend time with us because we are on MIL's "side".

We moved somewhere else in november, and have seen him a few times since, but DS didn't know who he was and treated him that way.

A couple of weeks ago he started turning up on saturday mornings, out of the blue, and just expected to be let in, have me (now almost 38 weeks pg) make him tea and lunch and act as if nothing had ever happened.
My husband works saturday mornings, so it's up to me to keep FIL entertained, and we never got on anyway, because he's mysogynistic, a touch racist and I am female and "a foreigner" (nevermind the fact that nobody would know if he didn't keep telling them).
Yesterday he turned up at lunchtime, but we weren't home. We were an hour's drive away, shopping. Queue phonecalls and voicemails on both our mobiles. Where are you, when are you coming back, why aren't you here.
He was outside our door when we got back 5 hours later, at dinnertime.
I was tired, grumpy and had terrible indigestion, and SPD pain.
He hands DS, who is 20 months old, two big bags of tesco's chocolate buttons, one of them open, sits down on the sofa and says "two teabags, milk, no sugar. wow, your living room needs hoovering. what have you been doing all week?" Rinse, repeat, for the next 2 hours.

I took a few buttons out of the bag, put them in a bowl and put the bag where DS couldn't reach it. Went to the kitchen, came back, DS was sat on the floor with the bag, surrounded by chocolate buttons.

My husband thinks I'm being unreasonable, and that his dad is only trying to make up for lost time.
I don't know if FIL deserves that attitude, especially when he's feeding my son chocolate in our house without asking, and treats me the way he does.

AIBU?

OP posts:
MorticiaAddams · 03/04/2011 11:53

YABU if you just put up with it. Your fil is clearly a complete dickhead but if you allow him to speak to you like that and make him lunch and cups of tea, why would he stop?

If your dh is ok with this then only let fil in when he is there and he can run around after him. If he speaks to you in a derogatory way then tell him and your dh that it's not acceptable and you won't allow him in your house. Why does your dh let him speak to you like that, is he scared of him?

WriterofDreams · 03/04/2011 11:54

YANBU definitely.

He sounds a bit unhinged to be honest. He can't be out of you life for so long and then turn up and expect you to dance to his tune. You need to get your DH's support on this and lay down the law, the first of which would be that he can't come to the house if your DH isn't in.

Maelstrom · 03/04/2011 11:57

WTF? the only reasonable person of you 3 is... you.

IloveJudgeJudy · 03/04/2011 11:57

No, YANBU, but your DH does have to be on your side to help you (both) sort this. Your FIL may be trying to make up for lost time, but he does need to do it on your terms. He should be helping you, not just sitting down and expecting you to wait on him. He also should not be giving your DS chocolate without your permission, or anything really without your permission.

My DB and SIL are in the same position with her father, but he really is making up for the mistakes he made with her. He comes around when they invite him, or asks to come, but does always play with their son, it is obvious that is the reason for any visit.

I don't think you can sort this without your DH. I would also tell your DH that this issue will come between the both of you if it isn't sorted.

Flisspaps · 03/04/2011 11:59

YANBU. The chocolate is a non-issue really, it's the turning up and acting like he's Lord and Master that's the problem.

Stop answering the door on a Saturday morning, and turn off your phone/stick it on silent. Or let him in and go about your normal business. No entertaining, no tea on tap. One cup, nice and polite, and that's his lot.

In a few weeks you'll have a new baby to deal with as well, so DH needs to tell him to sling his hook for a bit, and that he can come around when it is convenient for YOU, not so that he can sit on your sofa and be waited on hand and foot like a King.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 03/04/2011 12:01

OK. Ignoring the past as your DH seems to have forgiven him, the problem is that your FIL is coming around, without warning or invite on Saturday mornings, when your DH works Saturday mornings.

You - not surprisingly - don't get on with him. Why is he coming to visit at a time when it's just you in. Why isn't he coming to visit when you're both around, so he gets to see his son.

I'd point out to your DH that you have been more than polite and pleasant, but it's not on to expect you to deal with him on your own every weekend. He needs to arrange for him to visit on other days, and not just turn up expecting to be waited on, as you'll soon have a newborn in the house.

Newgolddream · 03/04/2011 12:08

Why are you putting up with this? Regardless of how long hes been "away" and trying to make up for lost time hes rude, sounds selfish and unreasonably demanding - he hads to fit in with your lives, not the other way around!

You do have the right to a family life of your own and shouldnt have to plan your lives around him, which is what it sounds like hes expecting - he has no right to demand to now where you are and why you arent in etc. Whats it going to be like when the new baby arrives?

You need a serious talk with DH first.

charmum3 · 03/04/2011 12:15

what a vile individual, ggrrrrr furious on your behalf, get thi sorted fast, tell him you don't mind vivits but don't expexct me to be at ur beck and call. Tell dh if he wont sort it you will, they both need kicking into touchxx

cornsilkily · 03/04/2011 12:16

God poor you OP - that's the last thing you need. DH has got to tell him what's what.

petitepeach · 03/04/2011 12:31

I feel very sorry for you and understand - I am in a similar situation - but have made it clear that my husbands father who has been estranged for 18 years (his choice) deeply hurt my husband has never acknowledged my children - is Not welcome in our house, these type of men are the same - he is getting older and now thinks you are going to look after him and cook his meals etc! You have to make a stand and get your husband on side - if you still want him to be part of your lives you make the conditions - he is not to come round uninvited for free meals, staying for ours etc.....he can come every couple of weeks or when convenient when he is invited. You have to put you and your children first - make no mistakes he will be round the day after you give birth expecting to be fed etc - make your stand now - if you don't make this clear he will carry on...let us know how you get on... sending you a hug - be strong and get hubby on side! Awful thing to say but some people are completely selfish and will use you to make their own lives more comftable without a single thought to anyone else!

Rhinestone · 03/04/2011 13:41

Well more fool you for letting him speak to you like that. Grow a pair for goodness sake - if anyone spoke to me like that they'd be out of my house and I don't care if it's my father, your FIL or even Prince William.

(But I do think PW seems lovely so doubt that problem would arise!)

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 03/04/2011 19:19

sorry, I forgot to add that my husband works from home, so he IS at home when FIL comes round, but he's always so busy he has no time to spend any time with his dad until 1ish when he finishes.

My husband excuses the way his dad talks with "that's just what he's like" or "he doesn't really mean it". but I can tell that he does.
This is the guy who reacted with "What the fuck are you two doing" when we told him I was pregnant again.

OP posts:
petitepeach · 03/04/2011 19:27

Then as I said......Get Rid..!!! Some people are toxic and not worth the effort - don't just moan on here do something about it! Smile

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 03/04/2011 20:42

I wish it was that easy, seriously.
FIL is on all sorts of opiates and other drugs for advanced ankylosing spondylitis, and couldn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks sometimes. it's like he lives in his own little world and nothing anyone says gets through to him. Infuriating. Also one of the reasons MIL divorced him. Sadly, I don't have that option. Over the past 7 years I've grown a thick skin to his insults, and quite often tell him to make his own tea or just ignore his request for it, but when he starts feeding my son chocolate when he's supposed to be having dinner not long after, and without asking me, I can't ignore it anymore. Angry
But of course it's me who is being unreasonable.

OP posts:
clam · 03/04/2011 21:00

It really is that easy - particularly if he doesn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks, as you've nothing to lose by being blunt back. So when he says, "milk no sugar" or whatever, you just reply, "you know where the kettle is, Ted. Oh and make me one while you're at it. I'm busy."

Don't rise to it.
And re: the chocolate buttons, you could have removed them from your son (again) and said " I asked you not to give him chocolate."

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