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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to have thought my sister in law might be a little bit enthusiastic

237 replies

CotswoldCountryMummy · 05/04/2011 17:10

It's our 10th wedding anniversary at the end of this year. Instead of a party, we thought it would be nice to hire an old vicarage for 14 friends and family. I phoned my SIL to run the idea by her, all excited as this place has lettle beds up in the eaves and is a childrens haven. She has always been very dour, sour and unforthcoming. She is always in a bad temper and snapping at the children. My MIL does everyting she can to make things nice, she bought a pony for SIL daughter, but all SIL does is whinge and moan about "That fucking pony" and is sour face about having to take her daughter riding. I don't think mIL needs this shit, as my FIL has motor neurone and is deteriorating.
I just thought it would be nice for us all to get together for a weekend in november. When i excitedly told my SIL about it, and how we have 10 other friends coming to stay too and what a fun night we would have on the saturday - all she could say was "Well, my kids won't go to sleep at 7.30pm." (our DD goes to sleep then - shes almost two)
Her children are 7 and 10. they run around until1 am.
AIBU it think that she might have shared my enthusiasm? That she might have silently thought - how nice to be invited, i'll make sure the girls stay upstairs because the staurdau night is their anniversary and no one wants kids running round when grown ups are having a bit of a drink/party. My DH was furious with me for inviting her. I just thought it would be a nice family thing to do.

OP posts:
ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 06/04/2011 13:55

See, I thought the OP was getting a hard time at the beginning of the thread tbh. For no apparent reason. But she did herself no favours with all of the shouty swearing

scaryteacher · 06/04/2011 14:11

'And before i go, its none of your effing business how long we've been married you sad cow. If we want to hire a rambling old rectory and go away for a nice long chilled out weekend with 14 good friends, it has sweet FA to do with you. But then judging by your resentful tone, the pinnace of your aspirations is a night in a travel lodge. On your own'

Nope, very nice hotel in Venice in September for our 25th this year, but thanks for asking. I only camp in 5 star hotels. They don't have Travel Lodges where I live anyway.

I don't allow anyone to interfere in my relationship with my Mum, except my Mum, who is more than capable of looking after herself. I don't intervene in the relationship between my db/his wife and my Mum, and he does me the same courtesy. Unlike you, we are adults, and know when to leave well alone.

You do have to realise that people deal with their parent's demises in different ways, as I pointed out, been there with my Dad, and now with my fil. My dh and his brother are dealing with it differently. You evidently have the emotional intelligence of a gnat if you don't realise that she will be having a hard time coming to terms with it. Just because you aren't her bosom buddy and she chooses not to confide in you, doesn't mean that she isn't upset.

You need to think long and hard about what has been said on here, that you have moved into her family home, annexed her parents, and she feels totally unwelcome and probably hassled by you. The acrimony in your responses to people who disagree with you (and this is AIBU) shows that we must be hitting a nerve, after all, attack is the best form of defence for those who know they are wrong.

plupedantic · 06/04/2011 14:46

CotswoldCountryMummy, you're getting really quite spiteful yourself, which makes me think that you are a match for your SIL when she gets going.

Yes, she may be unpleasant, but you've not shown that you can deal with unpleasantness gracefully.

You are doing the right thing in deciding to separate her from some of your anniversary celebrations, but it might be an idea to spend more time away from her, too. Take for a start those 1 in 3 weekends she is "obliged" to take the pony for an amble (that is actually quite a lot - no wonder she was cross at the imposition! But other posters have been much more eloquent on that subject....)

Your MIL isn't perfect, either. No relationship can have got that bad without some help from her. I'm not saying you should take it out on her, or hold it against her, but please don't gang up on the SIL with MIL (and FIL?).

There are some really excellent analyses, with measured responses, in the last page or so. Not everyone is screeching like a harpy on this thead, so don't damn everyone, will you.

GinSlinger · 06/04/2011 15:08

AIBU?
Yes possibly.
No I'm fucking well not.

usualsuspect · 06/04/2011 15:31

oh dear Grin

empirestateofmind · 06/04/2011 15:41

Wow, OP has lost it big time.

Great entertainment.

Somehow I feel sorry for the SIL, the OP sounds bonkers.

louloudia · 06/04/2011 15:45

that all went well then :)

Oh not the old 'my inbox is inundated' chestnut....

lol thats what i thought

reelingintheyears · 06/04/2011 15:54

I always miss these bloody threads...

Now i want to know what all the deletions said.. Angry

Pagwatch · 06/04/2011 16:01

My inbox is inundated sounds faintly fruity to me.

This thread looks like a doozie.
Should I read this one or the ops follow up thread where she complains about this one?

GinSlinger · 06/04/2011 16:10

Pag, I'd do both and forget about the rest of the afternoon

Pagwatch · 06/04/2011 16:11
Grin
scaryteacher · 06/04/2011 16:59

Didn't see the follow up one...link?

DontGoCurly · 06/04/2011 17:10

As Gwen Stefani said; this shit is bananas! Shock Anyone got a link to the follow up thread please?

Pagwatch · 06/04/2011 17:12

Can't link but it is in relationships " making the best of a bad situation"

DontGoCurly · 06/04/2011 17:21

thanks Pagwatch Smile

ScarlettWalking · 06/04/2011 17:36

We entered the twighlight zone a looong way back......

Weirdest thread!

PeterAndreForPM · 06/04/2011 17:40

Pag...you can't link ???

Seriously ? Grin

Pagwatch · 06/04/2011 17:44
Grin

Well I am able to, but my iPad is struggling. It gets arsy. It rejects them. I have a stroppy iPad is what I am saying.

PeterAndreForPM · 06/04/2011 17:47

ah

you need to give that iPad a damn good thrashing, in my view

Pagwatch · 06/04/2011 17:48

I have no natural authority. It's a classic failing.

hedgefundwidow · 06/04/2011 17:49

I'm a bit taken aback by the reaction of some of the people on here. Why all the spiteful comments towards CotswoldCountryMummy? I think i'v got the gist of this, and to be fair, if i were in her situation, i would intervene too. Neither me nor James would put up with his Mother being bullied like that. SHe's trying her best to include her husbands sister, which maybe she shouldn't, but her heart is in the right place. I'm a bit shocked at the unpleasantness here if i'm honest.

PeterAndreForPM · 06/04/2011 17:55

Send it to me, I shall put it straight

MrsBananaGrabber · 06/04/2011 18:00

I'm liking the SIL more and more. I can just picture her halfway to the country pile screaming 'get that fucking pony ready' down her phone Grin

hedgefundwidow · 06/04/2011 18:06

sorry, but i'm really not comfortable with bullying. Why exactly have you got it in for the person who wrote this post? There seems to be a very negative undercurrent which has nothing to do with the facts.
The husbands sister sounds ghastly. Where is your logic in attacking the person who is trying to include her and helping look after her pony but getting no thanks? I'm lost. CAn someone explain what i am missing?

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