Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

about SIL and sharing a bed?

265 replies

bumblybumblebee · 26/09/2011 01:16

I know I know but for Xmas we are all going to my grandparents house, though both dead now we all keep it as a holiday home thing and all use it equally. Their are 4 of us, DCs and our Parents

DP and I are not married and I'm pg with 3rd.
SIL of DBro2 is a very devout evangelical christian (my family are methodists - though we all vary in our devoutness).
I am the only one not married with a partner (both DBros are married and DSis is single)
SIL has said that she is uncomfortable sleeping in the same house as us knowing we are sleeping together and would it be possible for us to sleep in separate rooms? It is for this reason that they will not stay over at ours generally. She is very very uncomfortable about it

It's not her house neither is it mine.

So AIBU to tell her to take a hike and noway are we not sleeping in same bed just because doing so would make her uncomfortable?

OP posts:
seeker · 27/09/2011 12:54

Don't go down the "who stayed here when" route. There are no circumstances at all where your sil is being reasonable- you really, daly don't, as an adult, justify your sleeping arrangements with anyone except the person yo are sleeping with!

Just say "I'm sorry you feel that way, but no, it would not be possible for us to sleep in separate rooms" And repeat, if necessary. No argument, no debate. Just a polite but firm "no".

WhoseGotMyEyebrows · 27/09/2011 13:00

she'll be joining you in hell for her bigotry and intolerence.

You should tell her that!

WhoseGotMyEyebrows · 27/09/2011 13:02

You could tell her you have converted to Islam and that could she wear a hijab next time you meet up as otherwise you will be offended.

HattiFattner · 27/09/2011 13:03

send her a link to holidays for christians which is a directory of Christian B+Bs/hotels etc and tell her to book into one that suits their particular brand of "christianity" . Or wind her neck in.

IrmaLittleteapot · 27/09/2011 13:07

Have you thought about what to get her for Christmas? Maybe she needs a new hair shirt? Wink

poshme · 27/09/2011 13:38

I just wanted to quote this (yes I know quoting is un-MN but I think this is the best post on the thread and I totally agree with it)

"I'm an evangelical Christian too, and for me, that means no sex before marriage... But I still think YANBU!

Because while I don't believe in it, I don't expect those who don't share my beliefs to do the same...

If it were her house, then maybe she might have some kind if say, but even then, if you're on your third DC then she'd still be being silly. But she can't go around enforcing her views everywhere she chooses to sleep - does she check that every other guest in a hotel is married to the person they're sharing a bed with before checking in?

There are also your other DCs to consider - what will they think to have mummy and daddy in separate rooms?

She needs to accept that you are a family - maybe not set up in the way she would have chosen but a family nonetheless. To suggest otherwise is unkind, frankly.

Maybe if she showed a little more grace and a little less judgement then her faith might be seen as the positive thing that I believe it to be.

For what it's worth my DSIL is a lesbian, and currently pregnant with twins with her partner. Yes, it leads to some delicate discussions with our DCs, but they live together, are a family, and if they stayed at ours they'd be in the same room, let alone if we were anywhere else.

Sometimes, there are things others do, that while you may not have chosen the same path yourself, you accept it because you love them, and to do otherwise wouldn't be loving, or graceful, or kind, and that's the most important thing.

I also think you've been very patient, OP.

Ignore her and carry on. If she wants to sleep elsewhere then that's her call. Pitch her a tent in the garden..."

well done db

OP I hope you have a good Christmas however things work out with SIL.

Whatmeworry · 27/09/2011 13:38

A palaeobiologist specialising in evolution of development

Couldn't get worse....not just living in Sin but actively working against Creationism!

There is a special place in Hell for you OP :o

mummysleepy · 27/09/2011 13:41

Well done OP
If you caved it would mean she could start dictating other parts of your life too so it's best you have nipped it in the bud

Blu · 27/09/2011 13:47

Goodness.

I don't think the main problem is her religious belief, but her personality.

designerbaby · 27/09/2011 14:13

Bumble I'm so, so Sad at her response. And actually as I think about it quite Angry too... And Shock too, obv.

This is my faith, which I hold very dear that she is casting in such a negative light, and I'd just like to say that this is certainly NOT what I believe, nor any of my friends who share my beliefs. Nor is it remotely biblical IMHO.

Of course you might want to play her at her own game... I'll look up some verses for ya if you like, but you might want to start with Matthew 2: 27-40

Jesus replied: ??Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.?[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ?Love your neighbour as yourself.? 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.?

Note: it doesn't say love your neighbour as yourself ? provided they subscribe to your own personal take on Christian theology and that you undertaken a complete audit and found every aspect of their lives is beyond reproach (to your mind), otherwise consign them (and their children) to hell because obv. that's totally in your remit...

It's about love and grace. Why is that so hard for some people to understand? There's only one person pure and righteous enough to judge anyone else and that's Jesus.

Also, if you do see her for Christmas, buy her a copy of Philip Yancey's 'What's so amazing about Grace'. She could really use it.

Yes, Jesus was uncompromising on many things, and yes the Bible is clear that marriage is the ideal family set up, but Jesus didn't go about making people feel unwanted and unwelcome, (quite the opposite) and he saved his wrath mostly for hypocrites, bigots and stone-throwers.

I think you've been amazingly restrained actually. Not sure I'd have been so Christian in your shoes, but then I'm just a lowly sinner Grin.

db
xx

Pendeen · 27/09/2011 14:19

bumblybumblebee

At least you tried to reason with her, that's all anyone could ask.

It's a shame that SiL was not reasonable but so be it.

(No LoveInAColdClimate I am not the SiL).

designerbaby · 27/09/2011 14:20

Sorry that's Matthew 22: 37 to 40.
I'm definitely going directly to hell. Grin

At least I'll never meet your SIL there!
But then again...

db
xx

SharrieTBGinzatome · 27/09/2011 14:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 27/09/2011 14:28

Pendeen - and are you still sure that the posters on here "reflect equal depths of intolerance" as the SiL?

designerbaby · 27/09/2011 14:29

Not always Sharrie... I swear too much in RL! Grin.
But thanks, I'll try and live up to that...
db
xx

TheControversialJessie · 27/09/2011 14:39

Dear me. Her behaviour seems rather focused on appearances above all else. You have two children together, and you're pregnant with a third! Doesn't she feel rather ridiculous? Is her name Hyacinth, or something?

I'd be uncomfortable in your position, if she spent Christmas with you all, because of her nastiness! I wouldn't like settling to sleep, knowing someone was dwelling on my sleeping arrangements. It's off-putting.

Do you think she and your brother could be having some kind of relationship or fertility problem, causing her to resent your happiness? Perhaps she finds it galling that your lives are going well, despite a marriage ceremony?

needanewname · 27/09/2011 14:42

Omg. Your sil is a complete loon!! Have a fab Christmas Grin

WhoseGotMyEyebrows · 27/09/2011 14:46

I asked earlier - I was wondering though, if you were to get married in a registry office would she still expect you to sleep in seperate rooms seeing as you wouldn't be married in the eyes of God?

It was a serious question. Anyone know?

designerbaby · 27/09/2011 14:51

Eyebrows, I think she would consider that you are married in the eyes of God, even in a registry office, since God would have been there to see you get married even if you hadn't invited Him personally...

He's cheeky like that.

db
xx

TheControversialJessie · 27/09/2011 14:54

Sounds like a good topic for an AIBU thread.

"AIBU to think it's rude of God to turn up to our registry office wedding without an invitation?"

wildfig · 27/09/2011 14:57

"..we specifically said 'No deities' on the invitation for space reasons, and yet He insisted on bringing not only Himself but also the Father and the Holy Ghost..."

designerbaby · 27/09/2011 14:57

God: the cosmic gatecrasher.
YWBBU though, since he's stuck with that whole omnipresent thing...

Grin
TheVermiciousKnid · 27/09/2011 14:58

Especially if he brings along his son even though it said very clearly on the invitations that children were not allowed. Wink

SharrieTBGinzatome · 27/09/2011 15:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Lucyinthepie · 27/09/2011 15:02

GrinGrinGrin