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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

in thinking DP's family's behaviour towards me is pretty outrageous?

405 replies

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 17:40

So, DP's DB and his wife have just had a baby. DP rings DB on Thursday to ask if we can round to see the baby for the first time on Friday. DB says no, they'll come to ours Sunday. DP says Sunday is absolutely no good because Sylvie is working all day (twelve and a half hour shift). DB says they will try to come on Saturday. Saturday comes and goes, no sign of them. Late Saturday evening DP gets a text saying they're coming on Sunday. Neither of us is happy about this, but DP is all like I can't get into a confrontation with them when they've just had a baby and refuses to talk to his DB about it. So I go off to work on Sunday and they and DP's mum come round with the baby, and DP gives them the presents I carefully selected, bought and wrapped months ago, and I'm left out of the whole thing!

But it's not only this. I've never been able to build much of a relationship with them. DP and DB are not really close, they're quite different people. DP: bookish, sensitive, university-educated, teacher, teetotal. DB: laddish, a drinker, left school at 16, works in a factory. We've never seen him and his wife loads and when we do it is an effort for both of us.

There have been a few things they've done that have pissed me off. For example, DB is our DS's godfather (DP's choice) but he has never taken much interest in him.

DP lent DB £500 when I was pregnant with DS, which we couldn't really afford, and DB has never paid us that money back, though they have been on several holidays since and are now in the process of buying their council house Hmm. (We, on the other hand, are finally going on our first holiday for three years this summer, as we haven't been able to afford it until now). DP refuses to ask for the money back and says we should just write it off. (It went towards paying debts).

They never say thank you for birthday and Christmas presents, for themselves or for their kids. Ever.

One time it was DP's birthday and we invited people round at four in the afternoon for a little party. DB didn't want to come at 4pm (he didn't have other plans, he just didn't want to come) so he turned up at 10 in the morning instead, with wife and two kids in tow! My friend from overseas was coming to stay that evening and I was rushing round trying to get the house clean for that and the official party happening in the afternoon, and somewhat stressed, so I stayed upstairs cleaning for most of the time they were here. After that DB complained to DP about me being "unfriendly", and came round less (his wife didn't actually come round again until this Sunday when they brought the baby over, which basically means she didn't come round for three years).

Another time we went round to drop a present off for their DD. We were in a rush (my mum had given us a lift up there and was waiting in the car outside) so it was just a very quick visit, but it led to another complaint about my supposed unfriendliness because apparently I didn't say hello or goodbye (I don't remember this - I'm sure I must've acknowledged them with a nod or a wave).

And one time, and this is a little thing but it pissed me off no end and now is my chance to get it off my chest (!), DB's DD threw up all over my settee and when he asked me for a cloth to clean it up with I told him to use the old cloth under the cupboard under the kitchen sink but instead he helped himself to a new one out of the packet, and it wasn't just any old cloth but a fancy M&S one, and of course it had to be thrown away afterwards so it was a complete waste, and what made it even more irritating was that the DD had obviously thrown up because she'd been allowed to stuff herself stupid with crisps before they came over, it wasn't like she was ill or anything...!!!!

I've never said anything to them about any of these things (though with the cleaning cloth thing I really wish I had!!). One, I'm quite shy, and two, I think it's DP's place to deal with his family. I was brought up to be polite to people I don't know very well and that is exactly what I've tried to do every time I've seen them. My only crime, as I see it, has been my shyness. But apparently they now feel justified in leaving me out of big family occasions.

OP posts:
SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 17:42

Sorry, in the cupboard under the sink. I'm a pedant, I know!

OP posts:
UnChartered · 03/07/2012 17:44

if it's DPs place to deal with his family, why are you getting your knickers in a twist?

SauvignonBlanche · 03/07/2012 17:45

Irritating- yes, outrageous - no.

NatashaBee · 03/07/2012 17:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NatashaBee · 03/07/2012 17:47

This reply has been deleted

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girlpancake · 03/07/2012 17:47

I really think you should let the cleaning cloth thing go.
You obviously don't get on very well with these people and they want to show off their new baby without you there. Not sure I blame them.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 17:47

DP should deal with them but he doesn't.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 03/07/2012 17:49

There are two issues here and the first one (them bringing the baby over on Sunday) is a non issues imo. You'll have plenty of time to meet the baby when the parents are less knackered.

The second one...well that's a little more complicated by the sound of it!

LeeCoakley · 03/07/2012 17:50

But why didn't you jump up and get the cleaning cloth? Out of everything you've said that sounds the most trivial.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 17:50

There's no need to be nasty, girlpancake. Of course, I should let the cleaning cloth thing go, I thought I made it clear that that part of my post was tongue in cheek. But the rest of it has been upsetting.

OP posts:
IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 17:50

I'm afraid I rather lost sympathy when you started complaining about the fancy cloth under the kitchen sink being used.

DaisySteiner · 03/07/2012 17:52

Families are weird. I just try and let it all go over my head and refuse to get wound up by them as much as possible.

DesperatelySeekingPomBears · 03/07/2012 17:53

YANBU about them leaving you out of seeing the baby. However, YAabitU to be pissed off about a 'fancy M&S cloth'. It's a CLOTH! Who cares if it had some sick on it, rinse it out, stick it in some bleach overnight, good as new.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 17:53

Damn cheeky not using the cloth your host has asked you to use though. Would you do that in somebody else's house?

OP posts:
girlpancake · 03/07/2012 18:06

If I was in someone else's house and my kid had just thrown up on the settee I would grab the first cloth I could find.

WorraLiberty · 03/07/2012 18:06

"Your host"??

Is it any wonder they don't appear to consider you family?

It's a cloth ffs!

Ok so it's not just any cloth...it's an M&S cloth that was no doubt woven with golden Angel's hair, by the hands of young Chrubs, while heavenly choirs sang Hallelujah in the moonlight.

But it's still a bloody cloth....

UnChartered · 03/07/2012 18:06

maybe they panicked and wanted to clean up as soon as possible?

girlpancake · 03/07/2012 18:09

Maybe this is your answer:
DP: bookish, sensitive, university-educated, teacher, teetotal. DB: laddish, a drinker, left school at 16, works in a factory
I assume you are similar to your DP? So maybe they just don't get on very well with you and never will? Might save yourself some grief to just accept it and leave yourself out of their family do's. Go and have yourself a nice day shopping or something when they come over.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:11

Please don't get sidetracked by the cloth! The cloth bugged me. The other stuff has upset me, not seeing the new baby in particular. Presumably I'm not alone in thinking it's not good to borrow £500 off somebody, especially somebody expecting a baby, and not pay it back (it's particularly hard to take as we struggled a lot financially after DS was born).

OP posts:
IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 18:11

If I was fumbling under someone else's sink to clear up my dc's puke, I'd probably grab a clean cloth too. Maybe he did pause and pick a clean one in case he thought he might transfer some bleach or other cleaning thing onto your settee?
I can understand why are hacked off about the money, but it does appear, that you are really ready to have a go about just about anything now... I mean a cloth?

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 18:12

Surprised that you didn't blame the DD for throwing up.

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 18:13

Then your DH should ask for the money back, shouldn't he? Don't know why you guys never did.

IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 18:13

Maybe your resentment is coming across to them when you see them?
Perhaps that is why they are coming over on Sunday, because they think you don't like them and it will be a more relaxed atmosphere?

IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 18:14

You should be talking to your dh about the money.
If he hasn't asked, no wonder they are not in a hurry to pay it back.

eurochick · 03/07/2012 18:15

The cloth thing is ridiculous. Otherwise, they don't seem to like you much, you don't seem to like them much. See them when necessary, but otherwise let it go.