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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:
SerendipitousHarlot · 03/07/2012 20:54

Let me get this straight. Your BIL threatened to punch you in the face, you told your DP and he did nothing? Said nothing? Then you have a very real problem with your DP, love, all the rest of this shit is kind of irrelevant.

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 20:54

Your problem is with your DP. If he didn't have words with your BIL about threatening you, then he's not ever going to ask for that money back.

FuckityFuckFuck · 03/07/2012 20:55

This is getting rather strange now

As an example of a family behaving outrageously, you decided to go for petty points about cloths and visiting while you were at work.

Instead of someone threatening to punch you, sceaming abuse and ,as yet, un-disclosed actions of MIL?

EnjoyResponsibly · 03/07/2012 20:55

At the root of both these incidents is your DP.

He's given away money and hasn't got the minerals to ask for it back.

He's let a situation where his wife was threatened go utterly unpunished.

AIBU to suggest you might want to have a big old chat with DP?

EnjoyResponsibly · 03/07/2012 20:56

And having said that I implore you OP, what did MIL do?

£10 says she ran the cat over.

ladyintheradiator · 03/07/2012 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FuckityFuckFuck · 03/07/2012 20:59

You really need to be talking to your DP.

he gave away the money and won't ask for it back

he did nothing when you told him his DB threatened you

I would be far more worried about that than anything else

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 21:00

So bil1 or 2 just came round to rant and rave to you about housework i'm guessing a house he doesn't even live in , left you in tears and your dp did...nothing

NovackNGood · 03/07/2012 21:01

Ah and now the leave the bugger crowd are out in force to blame the husband over all the op's unreasonableness.

Once again the mumsnetter equivalent of Godwin's law.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 21:01

I've had lots of time to think about what happened with other BIL, plus we've moved away so it can't happen again - if DP wants to see him he goes and visits him on his own - so it is not the issue it once was. At this minute, right now, it is the other BIL that is bothering me.

DP did nothing, that is what I said. He mentioned it in a conversation with his brother a couple of weeks later, brother denied it, that was the end of it. DP did believe me, I think, but he just can't stand up to his family. Yes, it's fucked up. Yes, it's caused lots of problems between me and DP. But this is a whole other thread, or dozen threads.

OP posts:
crunchbag · 03/07/2012 21:02

Sylvie, really your dp's behaviour is just as awful as his brother's :(

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 21:02

''And having said that I implore you OP, what did MIL do?

£10 says she ran the cat over.''

My bet is on having a cold and using the m&s tissues

GlassofRose · 03/07/2012 21:03

Forget Clothgat, I don't think YABU.

Your DP said no to Sunday and they came anyway. So what if they just had a baby, it doesn't mean they should turn up on a day that was not mutually not agreed. The fact they turnt up for the party hours early just shows how awkward they are.

I do have to echo others though, your DP is the problem. These people will continue to be awkward and rude as long as he allows them to be.

The £500 came from you and your DP as a couple. The fact they have shown no interest in paying it back is a different matter entirely... Seeing as time has passed without a mention you probably will have to let it be water under the bridge unless your prepared for a rift between you. However the choice to allow them not to pay it back should have been a mutual one, not just something your DP decides.

SerendipitousHarlot · 03/07/2012 21:08

No. Novack, I think the OP is horribly unreasonable about the rest of it, I have said a couple of time that she is rude and comes across as abrasive.

But your partner should defend you if his brother threatens to punch you in the face, no?

EnjoyResponsibly · 03/07/2012 21:09

I think ladyintheradiator speaks sense. Get yourself off AIBU, it's a lose/lose situation.

Get over to relationships and discuss DP, his family and how you can manage the situation. Frankly, unless you can sort Team Smith out you're going to continue to be dragged into DPs families issues. That way a nice quiet life does not lie.

SoleSource · 03/07/2012 21:10

Sylvie your 'DP' is a wimp. You're better off without the lack of repect he shows you.

aquashiv · 03/07/2012 21:10

You might well have more in common then you think now you have children try and be nice to them you might find they arent that bad really. All families by definition are nuts.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 21:10

Well, RL calls. People may think I've lied, or not told the whole story or whatever, because this is the internet - ironically, it is because this is the internet that I can be totally myself and completely honest. I go with a clear conscience and some things to think about.

OP posts:
Ephiny · 03/07/2012 21:10

This is just bizarre. There is clearly a lot more going on here than someone using the wrong tea towel or forgetting to send a thank you card, I agree maybe you should start a thread in Relationships focusing on the real problems and leaving out the cloth 'incident' etc.

midas · 03/07/2012 21:11

I was a bit down earlier but this thread has made me laugh out loud. DH and the DC are probably wondering what's going on. Sorry OP.

midas · 03/07/2012 21:14

Need to get myself a luxury m & s cloth now.

SerendipitousHarlot · 03/07/2012 21:14

Oh, you're going? Sad

I was enjoying this Sad

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 21:16

I don't think you lied. I just think YABU for the most part except with your BIL2 threatening you. I also think that your DP should've been more aggressive in your defense but at least he did bring it up to his brother. And, if your DP isn't willing to ask for the money back, then unless you do it, that money is gone.

I do believe that your nodding instead of saying hi is as rude as their lack of thank yous.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 21:17

IslaValargeone

I have Tom Hardy, chocolate and a glass of wine waiting for me upstairs, and yet, I cannot leave;this is so enthralling.
Did you tell him you could have done more housework if your best cloths hadn't been so hideously misused?"

Hillarious!

Hexenbiest · 03/07/2012 21:18

Your DP is the issue really.

He needs to deal with his family and you need to let him know if he does this in a way that leaves you unhappy ie make it his problem.

Stop buying presents for them - his family his task. I had years of thinking, buying and wrapping to be treated as if it was nothing to do with me. It breeds resentment I may help with the thinking especially if that will save us money but DH does the rest.

The money you either need to let this go or insists your DP gets it back and go on about it till he does. Make very sure he hasn't had it back and 'forgotten' to tell you. Other wise every time you see a family member of his bring the money up very publicly and passive aggressively - doubt it will get the money back but might help them and your DP understand why you are annoyed with them though they probably will want to see much less of you.

Cloth thing - didn't get that till the second post about it.

It's about someone coming into your home and deliberately doing the opposite of what you asked almost to make a point that they don't think you have any say right to stop them?

MIL did a lot of very minor things when she was unhappy about our first pg - she managed to turn a light off and with few minor words manged to imply I was wasteful, irresponsible, spending her DS money and not worth light even in my own house. Massively impressive but so blatant DH and FIL actually stood up for me mainly by laughed at her.

What you should have done is grab the cloth back and say very loudly I said this one and given the one you wanted used and made a few comments about stuffing DC till they are sick rather than build resentment for years.

If any member of his family threaten you again - report it to the police - show you at least are serious about it not being acceptable.

Long term look into moving.