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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think MIL is being ridiculous

191 replies

Syd35 · 27/04/2011 08:32

My MIL has said she is having nothing to do with us because we didn't spend Easter Sunday with her. We have spent the day with her for the last two years but this year we decided to have friends round for a BBQ and thought it would be nice for the children to have some fun hunting for eggs etc. We spent Saturday evening with MIL and DH actually was the one who didn't want to invite her around on Sunday. We have been so good at spending time with her since DH's father passed away (7 years ago), for instance we holiday together once a year and see her almost every weekend and have spent the last 9 Christmasses together (I haven't had a Xmas with my family since DH and I got together). My mother is so laid back and doesn't put pressure on us to visit so I can't understand this.

MIL was due to look after DS today and we phoned last night to confirm the arrangement. We hadn't even realised there was any upset until she went ballistic on the phone and said we were selfish for not seeing her on Easter which in her opinion is like Christmas. She was tearful which is not like her, she's usually quite a tough cookie. If she had let us know Easter meant so much to her of course we would have seen her on the day but actually for us Easter is time off work, fun for the kids and an excuse to have lots of chocolate. Now she is not looking after DS which is causing a problem today but we'll manage.

Anyway, MIL says she wants nothing to do with us now which I think is really harsh and DH is very upset. She won't reason with us and slams the phone down so she is really angry just now. We are not sure how to smooth this over as obviously we still want her in our lives, she is great with DS and we enjoy her company for the most part but we don't think it's fair that she is making such an issue about this. We had invited her round this Friday to watch the Royal wedding with us but she says she's not coming now. This is not the first time she has stamped her feet if we haven't done as she wished and I think she is being unreasonable.

Any advice how we should go forward?

OP posts:
dixiechick1975 · 27/04/2011 12:58

To all those saying why not invite MIL to bbq - would you seriously do that
and it wouldn't interfere with your enjoyment at all?

We had friend over at easter - bbq, lots to drink, DD played with friends' 12 yr old DD (barely saw her) - DD ate lots of crisps and not much else, went to bed at 10pm.

I had a relaxing time sat in gargen with friends and drank for once.

If my mum had been there - proper food ie roast would have been needed served at an official meal time, she would have disapproved at the drinking, been constantly checking on DD or asking me what DD was doing, got twitchy at DD not eating and not being in bed for 7. I could go on. The conversation wasn't suitable either. And I do like my mum!

We have had bbqs in the past for friends and family but i'm very much in hostess mode - not chilling out.

RtHonLadyEuphemiaOfCaledonia · 27/04/2011 13:01

What you need to do is spell it out to your MIL:

"We will not be seeing you on Easter Sunday because we have organised a party for our friends and the kids. We will see you again next weekend."

Then stick to that, that's the way it is and it's not open to negotiation. Stick to it and she'll soon learn not to push it, and that (like we say to kids!) whining and going in the huff will not get her what she wants.

Sportsmum · 27/04/2011 13:02

This one is down to your DH to sort out syd - I really empathize with you on this one. MiLs from hell are exhausting and can be upsetting. Don't let her rule or ruin your life - sweet but assertive - and everytime you end up clenching your teeth, think of the free work out your neck is getting!

ShoutyHamster · 27/04/2011 13:05

Good God.

Make a new will NOW - make sure there are clear instructions left with e.g. your mum on where it is lodged etc.

Easy enough to do, just leave everything to the kids and 'her' will is void.

It's REALLY important.

This doesn't seem to make sense though - she had it drafted, but it's YOUR will, in your name? Where is it lodged - with her solicitor? If it's your will, once she is gone, how on earth does it protect HER assets? Tres bizarre.

It has to be witnessed to be legal, did your friend witness it in the end? If so then it doesn't matter if your surname is a scrawl. It will be legal.

It sounds as if she is a controlling bully. You don't have to accept that. It sounds now as if you very much have been accepting it, under the guise of a nice normal caring-for-widowed-MIL relationship.

She can be who she wants to be, but the most worrying aspect appears to be your DH's role. So when she forced you to sign a will on the threat of cutting you off, he didn't tell her where to stuff it and stop harassing his wife? You say earlier that he's going to go and 'smooth things over' - smooth over what exactly? She's been utterly rude to you, and he's going to go and make things better by apologising to her?

What do you think his reaction would be if you were to dig your heels in and say, she's a horror, I've had enough, we'll see her every two weeks max and will spend next Christmas with my parents?

How about if you asked him to make new joint wills and not tell her?

If the answer to either of those is the wrong one, then there's your problem. She bullies you and your family and sees them as an extension of herself because your DH has never made it clear that that's not her place.

Time to get some distance methinks!

Tangle · 27/04/2011 13:11

The will does put a bit of a different spin on it - I'm a bit Shock as well that she'd do that, especially at that time (and even more so that your DH let her).

I struggle to see how the contents of your will could have a major influence on her precious fortune in a way that a well written will of her own couldn't manage. If she wanted to make sure that all the money went to her DS and then to her DGC (so you would benefit through DH but not as an individual), that can be accomplished without your will being involved. My PIL's have had to look into inheritance tax planning - and the only thing we've been told is that whatever happens to us, they don't want anything as it would ruin their plans.

Find a solicitor, get them to look at the will she made you sign and get something you're happy with drafted signed and filed. To me its something I'd want to do with DH (we got mirror wills done, so the terms are identical just the names are switched) but its not essential, and if your DH would take the new will to MIL then it would be a good idea to do it independently.

Depending on the circumstances I can still sympathise with her being upset about Sunday - but her reaction was OTT and it does sound as though you'd all benefit from a little less involvement.

ShoutyHamster · 27/04/2011 13:12

Oh and by the way - the thing to remember here is that you have the power (unless of course the thought of that Fortune has you ready to leap to attention! Grin). She would be lost without you, and you control access to the grandchildren. Stand firm on how you want the relationship to change - and make it clear you won't accept her pushing her way into being the boss of YOUR immediate family, or you will see less of her.

Inertia · 27/04/2011 13:14

Ok, the bbq is very very small fry compared to the will ! I cannot believe your DH and MIL made you sign a will you didn't understand when you were ill and vulnerable! Certainly don't rely on a scrawly signature, it was witnessed. you urgently need to see a solicitor to make a new will! Don't 'get round to it', don't tell her beforehand, just agree it with your DH and tell your family members. This is a big big deal that could leave your children not provided for if anything happened to you.

WhereYouLeftIt · 27/04/2011 13:23

Shock at will. Please, please prioritise making an new will. And buy your husband some balls. Double Shock that he 'persuaded' you to go along with it.

HooverTheHamaBeads · 27/04/2011 13:25

I am completely shocked about the will.

That is outrageous.

Please make a new will as an urgency.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 27/04/2011 13:27

Are you in any way financially dependent on her?

Because I can't think of any other explanation for the hold she has.

ShoutyHamster · 27/04/2011 13:29

Remember - your will isn't actually about YOU, it's about your beneficiaries. You won't feel the effects of it - your CHILDREN will.

To be blunt, currently a financial future is planned for your children if anything should happen to you which may not be what you want for them or be in their best interests! Your own children!!

Call a solicitor today!

Balsam · 27/04/2011 13:36

You are absolutely bat-shit fucking crazy out of your mind to have signed that will. Make a new one - buy a pack from WHSmith, do it and leave a copy with your mum and a sibling.

Do it, do it now.

SpringFollows · 27/04/2011 13:38

Do you have a copy of the will. Take it to a solicitor and get them to explain the jargon and see what it means.

Then change it.

Do it, even if you have to go behind your DH's back if he just does not have the balls to stand up to her and leave a copy with your mother.

I find the will thing very sinister actually.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 27/04/2011 13:39

Don't hold back now, Balsam. Say what's on your mind Grin

Balsam · 27/04/2011 13:42

LOL Hecate! I was a lawyer before DCs so this sort of thing makes my brain physically throb.

MooMooFarm · 27/04/2011 13:43

I'm really Shock at the 'will' part of this thread. There must be more to this than we know here - somebody marching in and demanding you sign a will which you haven't even written or known anything about before when you'd just got home from hospital sounds completely mad - and for H to then persuade you to sign it? Unbelieveable, really.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 27/04/2011 13:51

That's what makes me think the MIL must surely have contributed a lot of money to them! Perhaps bought their house, or gave a stonking great deposit or something? And wants to ensure she controls where that goes?

Not that she should be able to do that of course! But I am trying to make sense of it all.

Syd35 · 27/04/2011 13:56

HecateQueenOfTheNight - No thank god we are not financially dependent upon her, I could think of nothing worse. She did offer to help with DS nursery fees and we declined and I'm really glad now. DH has a good job and we have a nice lifestyle. I work part-time because I choose to. The problem may lie with my side of the family (some of them live on benefits etc) and she may have a crazy notion that "her money" may end up in their hands if the worst was to happen and we were all wiped out on holiday for example.

I don't want to go behind DH's back so I will tell him I'm making a new one. He won't tell her so that's not a problem. She probably has more of a hold over him as he is her heir after all though he is not money orientated. Apart from birthday and Xmas pressies and the odd meal she does not splurge on us although she has put a significant amount into a trust for DS so maybe that makes her think she has a right to meddle in our lives.

OP posts:
cocolepew · 27/04/2011 14:00

Good grief Shock. I have a hideous MIL, she'd like nothing to control our family, either by shouting, sulking, lying, crying - BUT my Dh has never pandered to her, has always backed me up and told her home truths if needs be. She doesn't sound lovely to me, she sounds controlling and lost the bap over the BBQ because she wasn't in charge/center of attention.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 27/04/2011 14:02

Oh good.

Well, your problem re the will is so easily solved that it is no problem at all. Just have a new one drawn up. Let her go to her grave thinking she's written your will and everyone's happy.

girlywhirly · 27/04/2011 14:04

Technically, you were not of sound mind when you signed the will, I bet MIL didn't tell the solicitor that you were ill post-natally and forced to sign under duress, which could make it invalid. But any later wills do revoke earlier ones and so I think that it would be best to make a new one.

If MIL thinks she can enforce the will she forced you to sign, perhaps she is not of sound mind herself! If she says she doesn't want to see you again, who will she leave her fortune to? And how much is it worth to keep her sweet until she dies, your happiness, your marriage even? I agree with the poster who said you need to protect your child as well as yourself.

ShoutyHamster · 27/04/2011 14:10

Although I'd probably wait until she was on her final farewells and then whisper into her ear 'I made a new will, you know' just as she shuffled off the mortal coil...

Sorry I know that isn't a nice thing to say Grin and of course Hmm at myself

impty · 27/04/2011 14:10

Let DH deal with his mum, not really your problem... Keep you distance and be lovely.

Get a new will done.

Good luck

SpringFollows · 27/04/2011 14:12

Grin Shouty.

Athough either that would finish her off or make her rally.

ShoutyHamster · 27/04/2011 14:14

Heh heh heh Grin

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