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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:
RustyBear · 28/04/2011 06:58

Who actually witnessed the will? If it was just your friend and you live in the Uk then it's probably not valid anyway, as wills should be witnessed by two people.

Syd35 · 28/04/2011 08:00

No RustyBear I didn't get my friend to witness the Will, in the end my DH took it into work and got his colleagues to sign it, so in effect, it is probably null and void as they never actually witnessed me physically signing it.

I so want to disappear for the day tomorrow but DH has persuaded me to stay in. We do have a little ulterior motive - we're off on holiday in a few weeks and MIL is looking after our dog. We have never put the dog in kennels so don't want to start now as he's getting older and it would stress him out. So I am going to grit my teeth, have our holiday then limit contact with her. And I have told DH there is NO WAY we are going on holiday with her this year. Actually last year's holiday was a farce, she caught us smooching in the hot-tub and threw another of her hissy fits, FFS we've been together 9 years, married for 6 years and have a child, does she think we just play scrabble in our spare time.

Thanks again for all the comments. I think I have "talked" it to death now and will get the Will thing sorted and move on!

OP posts:
anonacfr · 28/04/2011 08:09

So she spends Christmas with you, Easter with you AND she goes on holidays with you every year?????
Bloody hell. I get on with my ILs very well but the last thing I'd want to do (and the last thing they'd expect) would be to go on holiday with them.

Visits, fine. But holidays? Why don't you just have her move in and get it over with? Grin

Syd35 · 28/04/2011 08:13

LOL that will NEVER happen. We've created the problem I think by allowing her to spend so much time with us she now expects it.

OP posts:
SpringFollows · 28/04/2011 08:19

I am amazed that your DH's colleagues would sign something that they have no seen signed.

actually, it is all pretty shocking. What an utterly ghastly woman.

LadyCornyOfSilk · 28/04/2011 08:22

Is your dh a bit worried about his inheritance - has she threatened to write him out?

Syd35 · 28/04/2011 08:28

SpringFollows - I guess they thought it was plausible, DH gets on great with his colleagues so they didn't question it.

LadyCornyofSilk - He hasn't expressed being worried about it and in fact isn't relying on it and makes sure we are quite self-sufficient and no she hasn't said anything about writing him out. She'll probably end up being one of those who leaves it all to charity or animals lol.

OP posts:
ChaoticAngelofchocolateeggs · 28/04/2011 08:28

OP please spend christmas with your mum this year, she deserves to have at least one with her DGC.

Syd35 · 28/04/2011 08:29

Chaotic - Yes I have been thinking the same thing and mentioned it this morning to DH.

OP posts:
CadleCrap · 28/04/2011 08:30

Grin at scrabble in the hot tub!!

LadyCornyOfSilk · 28/04/2011 08:48

I agree with all the other posters on here BTW. DH thinks that her behaviour isn't that bad because to him it is 'normal.'

girlywhirly · 28/04/2011 09:34

Syd35, how thrilled MIL would be if she knew you and DH were bickering over her. I know you can't bear the thought of being with her tomorrow, but if you remain calm and dignified she won't see that there's anything amiss.

I would suggest not remaining in the same room as her for long periods, difficult under the circumstances, but popping out for a few bits, doing things in the kitchen, take ds out for a while, etc. Get through the day. Leave any "words" until she is due to leave if she is behaving nicely, unless she provokes you with a criticism or something.

Point out to DH that he said you saw too much of MIL, and now you are going to start backing off. You have personally facilitated trying to include her and make her feel wanted, but instead of enriching your lives, she is making them difficult. Now you will significantly reduce the number of invitations she gets from you, and will not change arrangements to suit her. You will only visit her if she invites and you want to go. You will spend Christmas from this year on where you choose, not where you are obliged to be. You will blank any tantrums from MIL, and not make any kind of apology.

Last of all, point out to DH that already she is dividing you as a couple with her behaviour, is he prepared to risk your marriage ultimately? Let him know that if he makes a stand you will be right there beside him supporting him all the way.

ShoutyHamster · 28/04/2011 09:40

This is all absolutely ludicrous.

OP you sound as if you've reached the end of your tether - good, it's been a long time coming.

The will thing is NUTS. She sounds an absolute dictator. It's her money, fine, she writes her OWN will to protect it...what normal person thinks she has the right to actually write the next will along of the person the money is going to?! Seriously worrying behaviour. Go to the solicitor and tear the damn thing up.

You really need to thrash things out a lot more with your DH. Classic sitting on the fence behaviour - he needs to see that while that plasters over the problem (i.e. keeps MIL happy) it it an extremely destructive attitude FOR YOUR MARRIAGE. It is much more damaging than he thinks. What disrespect he is showing you! - 'get it looked over if it keeps you happy' - what the fuck?! How patronising. Who in their right mind would be happy with not only having someone else DECIDE WHAT THEIR OWN WILL SAYS, but also be basically patted on the head when they make the perfectly sensible move of getting damn well rid of it. HE is acting unacceptably here. He's spending your goodwill to keep hers. Patronising you to avoid a confrontation with her. Placing her peace of mind over yours. A very dangerous move.

Secondly, the sad fact is also that the sitting on the fence and pandering attitude also simply doesn't work long-term, not unless the whole family is happy with being more and more put-upon - and there's ALWAYS an end-point to that. The pandered-to person just gets worse and worse, feels entitled to demand more and more AND MORE, just like a tantrumming toddler who never gets shown a boundary. Explain this to your DH. This is what you have here. She is taking over more and more - because so far you haven't said anything and your DH hides behind an attitude of 'indulgence' - he pretends he's the big grown up making allowances for old Mum, when the truth is he's scared to confront her. 'You're blowing things out of proportion' -you aren't (he knows it) but even if you were, who comes first, really? Her, it seems - to the detriment of the happiness of his own home.

She has acted completely unreasonably. He knows this. His response has been to crawl belly-on-the-ground to her, inviting her over etc. She has stood over him and crowed. That's the truth of it. What does that actually do? Just stores up more problems for next time she wants something which isn't the best for you and your family. She utterly disrespects and despises you all, in the real sense of the word- her response now is to continue to treat your family like shit on her shoe, to be blunt -'you're still in the wrong'. He's just making her worse.

Truth is this will end up coming to a head one day, and if it's in a few years time, after a lot more crawling from your DH, compromising from you, and even more disrespect from her, the fallout will just be worse. Worst case scenario is that this destroys the love and respect you have for your DH, and affects the good relationship your sone should have with his grandparent.

The best thing you can do is just lance the boil now. She has acted appallingly, not just by her actions, but her refusal to apologise or see that she's in the wrong. Yes I'd be blowing up at DH, saying I've had a think and yes, I'll be out for the day tomorrow, with DS, unless she apologises for the way she spoke to you all. In fact, bugger that, you're going out because you're FURIOUS at the way she spoke to you all and you don't want to see her for a while. And that you want him to make it quite clear that if she ever, ever threatens to cut contact like that again, then you'll know for sure that she doesn't love or have her grandson's best interests at heart and you will take her at her word. And make it quite, quite clear to him that you see this as a problem which is beginning to loom over your happy marriage. It won't go away and it won't sort itself. You expect him to man up and start dealing with it, properly.

Oh and make it crystal clear that you WON'T be 'looking over' any damn will, you'll be tearing it up and writing your own like every bloody normal, sentient person in the world!

ShoutyHamster · 28/04/2011 09:45

...and show your DH this thread...

Maybe he could read it tomorrow while you have a discussion with your mum and dad on what they think DH's will should say. Maybe ask your dad to draw up a will and send it along for DH to sign. Sound good to him - no? Makes his blood boil because he's an adult and it's an utterly ridiculous, disrespectful, relationship-destroying thing to do, err, yes??

SpringFollows · 28/04/2011 10:16

What Shouty says.

word for word.

Katisha · 28/04/2011 10:32

Syd, don't pander to her for the sake of getting your dog looked after. If necessary the dog can go to kennels and it will be FINE - that's the job of the kennels.

There will always be one more favour you need from her...

On the other hand if you feel you need her to do stuff for you then you are are putting yourself in a difficult position.

girlywhirly · 28/04/2011 11:21

I agree with Katisha, don't be reliant on MIL for anything, sort out other dog care, and I wouldn't personally let her look after DS on her own any more. Look how she treats her own son and you, she won't break the pattern for her grandson. She has already alienated all her friends and relatives. Do not enable emotional blackmail by her of your child.

ShoutyHamster · 28/04/2011 11:50

Oh and ANOTHER thing Grin

Like I said before, remember (and remind DH) that YOU have the power here.

You are all she has.

She may flounce with 'I am never seeing you again', but the truth is that that would be her worst nightmare. She only 'threatens' it because at the moment she is utterly sure of her 'power' over you.

Start to cut ties and you can bet that althouth there'd be almighty scenes, stick to your guns and she will end up listening to you - and with a lot more respect.

Katisha · 28/04/2011 11:53

Unless, Shouty, the MIL assumes her power is in the money she has and her ability to withhold it. The business with the will as soon as a grandchild appeared would be testament to that.

However if Syd and her DH aren't making their inheritance a priority then they should make it clear that money is not the issue. It's respect and give and take.

SpringFollows · 28/04/2011 11:58

what Shouty says again.

Shouty- are you sure your other MN name is not Hully?

:)

ENormaSnob · 28/04/2011 12:00

Completely agree with shouty.

You and dh need to sort this or i'll bet worse is to come.

ShoutyHamster · 28/04/2011 12:07

Yes could be the money. So again time for a frank discussion on that! The will thing could kick that off nicely. Time for Syd to have a little chat where she says that since the will situation, she's known that money is clearly an issue for MIL, so they have both decided to let her know that she can rest easy and give it all to the donkey sanctuary, as they are doing very well by themselves, thanks...

I have a feeling though that the DH is a bit more wedded to the idea of the money than he's letting on and that might be part of his problem with sitting on the fence on all this. No shame in that, he'd be more likely to see it as his family money and kind of his by right...I do think he's a bit more ambivalent about it all than he's letting on. It's odd as it genuinely doesn't seem that his issue is down to being too close to her (boarding school, commenting on seeing her too much) soooo - I think it might be the cash. Maybe he feels he's suffered for it and by goodness he's going to get it!

Spring no I am just me, a humble hamster, not even a will drafted by myself to my name, and not even a Hammy Treat to leave to my nearest and dearest. Grin

WhereYouLeftIt · 28/04/2011 12:49

Tbh, the will (which everyone has already expressed is a completely appalling situation, so I don't need to reiterate) is probably not about money. MIL could leave her money to her grandson in HER will.

What I suspect might be in the will, is who would be guardian to grandson should OP die. Something that should be decided by OP and her husband, not the mad old bat in the corner.

GruffalosGirl · 28/04/2011 13:10

The will is invalid as the witnesses weren't present when the OP signed but unless it is queried this may never come to light anyway, it depends on what else is wrong with the will. It is common practice to accept a will as valid unless there is something noticeably wrong with it so it is really important to get a new will. Trying to sort this out after is a nightmare as witnesses might need tracing thiry years down the line.

I agree that this behaviour is never going to change unless the MIL is challenged, she's getting everything her own way at the moment, what motivation has she got to change?

Syd35 · 28/04/2011 13:13

Yep WhereYouLeftIt you're probably on the right lines as there was a debate at the time as to who I would like to be guardian and I naturally said my mother, of course MIL didn't like this one bit she said she could give DS a better life as she has money. I told this to my mum and she was not happy. More money maybe so what would she do ship him off to boarding school.

OP posts:
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