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AIBU?

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Original poster

How on earth do I stop mil ringing at this time of the morning?

338 replies

janejon · 23/05/2011 11:53

My mil keeps rings us at 6 am whenever she wants to talk to my dh (sometimes earlier!). She does this because she thinks my husband gets up early- he used to, but does not have to get up this early anymore (fortunately). I mean b*s to my still being asleep and everything but that's another story...

Anyway, I'm absolutely sick of this- dh won't confront her (again another story, she won't 'remember' apparently Hmm) but I have really, really got to stop this cap. I mean who in their right mind rings at this time anyway? (unless really, really important and not just* for a 'chat'?) Please, folks, how can I stop this. Sneaky tricks accepted as long as not illegal!! Wink

People are either running around like anything getting ready for work or, if not, asleep. So why do this anyway?! At end of tether regarding this particular issue. Help.

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 23/05/2011 17:43

Give your mobile number out to those people who may need to contact you in an emergency, and explain why. Then unplug your landline and plug it back in when you get up. Simple.

takethisonehereforastart · 23/05/2011 17:43

Buy a new mobile phone and either give the number to just MIL or to everyone else except MIL.

That way you will either have one phone on for emergencies or one phone just for her and your DH can answer it or not.

Or, make your DH sleep downstairs with the phone so he can answer it without waking you. He'll soon get sick of that and decide to talk to her instead.

Then tell her to stop it and keep telling her until she listens and keep putting the phone down when she rings too early.

SockShitter · 23/05/2011 17:45

i can't belive there are 8 pages of this. Its so stupid

SuburbanDream · 23/05/2011 17:45

I can't believe there are 8 pages on this! Just tell her you are all still asleep at 6am and that she must call later.

sleepingsowell · 23/05/2011 17:48

cor. If this is soooo complicated for you, how do you cope with life? Confused

turn off phone

use mobile for emergencies or so others can contact you in emergency

next!

GnomeDePlume · 23/05/2011 17:50

OP - here's a simple technology solution - next time (and every time) she phones at stupid o'clock simply pick up the phone, dont speak at all, put the receiver under a cushion. Leave her talking to herself for a while then hang up.

Repeat.

If she queries this tell her that you have had your phone locked before Xam as you were getting nuisance calls. Tell her its automatic and there is nothing you can do about it.

sayithowitis · 23/05/2011 18:10

Maybe you need to invest in this:
here and page 21 here
You can assign different ringtones to different people so you would know it was her and could ignore it? Alternatively, use the 'hold' option and let her listen to whatever mind numbing music you choose, until she gets the message. i suspect it will not take many days before she realises and gives up.

mumblechum1 · 23/05/2011 18:15

Ooh that's a jolly good idea!

lurkerspeaks · 23/05/2011 18:15

I don't understand why this is an issue.

If someone phones me (at any time of day/ night) and I don't want to answer the phone I don't. If it was important they would leave a message on either my landline (I have 1571 and you don't hear the messages as they are left) or on my mobile.

Most of my family/friends know that I call screen and if they really want to talk to me will often phone two or three times in quick succession as code for 'answer the phone now'.

It works for me.

ginmakesitallok · 23/05/2011 18:25

I'd go with the DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE solution - eventually she'll get the message. THought I don't quite understand why you don't at least try telling her first - you may be surprised

Lou222 · 23/05/2011 19:09

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH
Cant' you respond to peoples repeated questions.

*God it is soooo annoying when an op doesn't respond to repeated questions.

What emergency could happen that they don't have your mobile no?

You haven't even asked her not to phone, even though you think there is no point what harm can it do to ask?

Do you actually chat to her at that time in a morning??*

You sould like a wet lettuce as does your dh.

nzshar · 23/05/2011 19:10

FFS you are a grown woman you DH is a grown man have caller ID then if it is her don't answer. Sure it may wake you but you are not pandering to her by answering and hopefully she will get the message after a while. Your DH needs to grow a pair as well and start standing up for you and him as a partnership and not be bullied.

Lou222 · 23/05/2011 19:12

I meant to highlight them to make it easy for you.
Please stop just replying to people who agree with you (although there aren't that many )

Cant' you respond to peoples repeated questions.

God it is soooo annoying when an op doesn't respond to repeated questions.

What emergency could happen that they don't have your mobile no?

You haven't even asked her not to phone, even though you think there is no point what harm can it do to ask?

Do you actually chat to her at that time in a morning??

JamieAgain · 23/05/2011 19:15
Pictish · 23/05/2011 19:17

Get your DH to answer the bloody phone anyway!!

"There's your bloody mother dear...off you go!'

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

I mean just what IS the problem here??!

Lou222 · 23/05/2011 19:19

thanks Jamie but i didn't highlight one sentence so hold the applause

Cant' you respond to peoples repeated questions.

and I feel the need for another AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

sunshinelifeisgood · 23/05/2011 19:33

Janejon: You say she forgets that she called and I may have missed the point completely. If so apologies everyone.

Does she have dimentia or alz. My dad can call me at two in the morning and when I go round he has completly forgotten he has called.
Other than that no suggestions really as everything else has already been suggested

JamieAgain · 23/05/2011 19:36

sunshine - I suggested that but apparently (for reasons the OP has not elaborated on), she is just an awful, unreasonable MIL

carabos · 23/05/2011 19:44

Every time she does it answer in a shocked and worried sort of way saying "oh god what's happened?", then when she says something completely mundane say "oh i thought it must be an emergency cos you've woken the whole house up". Do that every time - she'll get the message.

suburbophobe · 23/05/2011 19:45

you mentioned in your OP "she won't remember, apparently " Maybe she really can't remember

this is very true, I have been dealing with my mother's alzheimers for about 5 years now
She doesn't phone at 6 in the morning, but nothing is predictable!

OP, if that is the case, I really feel for you....

twoistwiceasfun · 23/05/2011 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bibbitybobbityhat · 23/05/2011 20:15

This is in a par with the super soaker thread.

Surely op is just enjoying the attention?

JamieAgain · 23/05/2011 20:15

i agree.

sunshinelifeisgood · 23/05/2011 20:17

thanks Jamie, Surburb, I know how you feel I answered the phone the other night 17 times in a hour and a half it drove me crazy. It was the same question over and over again. In the end I had to say I was going to bed and would not be awake till the morning. I dont unplug the phone just in case though I must admit. :)

nzshar · 23/05/2011 20:18

you mentioned in your OP "she won't remember, apparently " Maybe she really can't remember

if this is alzheimers then maybe the OP would have mentioned this or even if its suspected surely???!!!

As for not raking over alleged emergencies that may be upsetting again all the OP needs to do is mention that she has had incidents of this.

Maybe the OP needs to remember that we do not know all and can only answer on what she had written Hmm

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