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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:
squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 21:18

Aw OP, come back.. I want to know what the PIL did...

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 21:22

I will say one last thing then I really am going - I have thought for some time that I might have Asperger's syndrome and am definitely going to get tested now as so many people seem to think I have made some social faux pas.

OP posts:
carlywurly · 03/07/2012 21:24

Sounds like a load of oddness on all sides tbh.
I'd post in Relationships without all the drama, and let people help if you need it.

carlywurly · 03/07/2012 21:26

Ah - that would make a lot of sense in light of this post. Have a look at Baron-Cohen's research - there is a test for adults to check where they score.

I think your social behaviour is definitely unusual. It might be far more understandable in the context of AS.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 21:29

OP i dont - it sound like they might have it to me!Think hexions post is SPOT ON

SerendipitousHarlot · 03/07/2012 21:30

Sacha Baron-Cohen has done research into Asperger's? Shock

SerendipitousHarlot · 03/07/2012 21:31

And well done for taking the opinions on board, OP. Finally Wink

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 21:31

Grin @ SerendipitousHarlot

carlywurly · 03/07/2012 21:32

No, Simon Baron-Cohen, although he is Sacha's cousin, bizarrely enough Smile

mathanxiety · 03/07/2012 21:35

You don't necessarily pay off all your debts before you buy a house. I don't know anyone who doesn't have both a car loan and a mortgage and maybe a university loan on top of all that.

All puke smells and looks like Wotsits.
You have no idea what causes this child to throw up.

You are far too uptight, and I mean in a Hyacinth Bucket way, about the cleaning cloth. I have a mental picture of an Onslow-like character pissing you off on purpose by using the new cloth, and I think you had it coming.

Your main gripe here is with your DH who is a complete pushover where his DBs are concerned. He should have asked you about that loan. He should never do anything like that again. You are never going to see that 500 quid again.
He should have said Sunday was really and truly and completely not on for a visit. He is putting his relationship with the DB ahead of his relationship with you when there is a conflict. Your DP might feel a bit guilty for abandoning his family through seeking education or a different life from theirs. For their part, I think they are resentful of your DP and his life and education and profession

Best thing you can do from here on in is to draw a line under what has gone before and if you can't stand them, stop dealing with them personally. Talk about a budget, let your DH pick out presents, buy them and wrap them and deliver them for his family. Let him write thank yous to them if they send a gift your way. If he invites them to your house, go out and let him entertain them and then clean up. You don't like these people. They don't like you. They sound like seriously hard work. They are not going to change. Leave them to it.

squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 21:40

"He should have said Sunday was really and truly and completely not on for a visit"

I dont agree with that. They dont get on particularly well with the OP, but still want to see her DP, so why not go round when she is at work. There is no law that says he cant have visitors when she isnt there.

SerendipitousHarlot · 03/07/2012 21:44

Blimey, carly, I didn't know that!

crunchbag · 03/07/2012 21:48

But OP really wanted to see the new baby, so DP chose his family over her again. Surely they could have agreed a later date that was convenient to all.

LurkingAndLearningForNow · 03/07/2012 21:53

Totakly agree with Hexenbiest

Dprince · 03/07/2012 21:55

OP doesn't have the right to insist when the do has his brother round. Especially when she isn't there. Especially when she can't even bring herself to say hello.
OP you get yourself tested. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe your do sides with them without telling you because hr has picked up on this lack of social skills and finds it easier to exclude you.
The problem is that your 'his brother threatened me' drip feed is that it came out after 8 pages of you moaning about an m&s cloth.
I really think going to the go is a good idea.

Hexenbiest · 03/07/2012 21:55

crunchbag
"Surely they could have agreed a later date that was convenient to all."

I think it a bit telling they didn't.

Either they didn't want OP there or didn't think her being there mattered enough to do that or didn't think she wanted to be there and DP didn't enlighten them.

Maybe her shyness is making people think she wouldn't enjoy small gatherings and they were trying to avoid putting her in an upsetting situation?

Asking DP why he went along with the Sunday visit and explaining it left OP upset would be a good start to finding out the thinking there.

crunchbag · 03/07/2012 22:00

'Asking DP why he went along with the Sunday visit and explaining it left OP upset would be a good start to finding out the thinking there'

Agree Hexenbiest.

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 22:03

But would any of you want to re-arrange a day to suit someone who wouldn't even say hello to you, to show of your new baby?

MulberryMoon · 03/07/2012 22:03

I bet M&S cleaning cloths will be sold out tomorrow. I know I'll be checking them out next time I'm there.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 22:09

Dprince

In all fairness op didnt go on about and m&s cloth for 8 pages - it was funny and everyone else ran with it.

Op has said HELLO to these people.

Maybe poor op - has the attack by other DBIL in her mind about her cleaning so she subconsiouly went to m&s to seek out a more productive cleaning tool....in the said m&S cloth and again, her cleaning when they came - apart from neccesity was also a sub consiouns message to them - I CLEAN.

Mathe and Hexen have nailed it totally, I also think its more to do with thier perception of THEM - as being uptight - better off etc that is the route of the problems here....I can just hear them calling her a stuck up cow behind her back.

If her DP has picked up on her lack of social skills - which it seems to me - they have not her - isnt that INCREDIBLY cruel and bloody nasty and evil to exclude her> is that what we do when someone may have a problem?

she is being attacked and wants to give more - but then she is being massivly attacked for drip feeding! she cant win!

she probably is a slight snob, but i bet 100 times more the in laws are more in verted snobs to her and DP.

why else on gods earth would you ask your brother who is about to have a BABY for £500?

I suspect her DP is embarased about his life/job and sounds more senstive to his siblings than thy are to him and he is probably a little bit bullied by them and also consillitory.

Jux · 03/07/2012 22:09

I do think that no matter how shy you are, you sold be capable of saying "hi, how are you?" when you go to someone's house, and "bye" when you leave.

OP, for future reference, that is all you have to say. Forcing a sale smiling when you say it helps.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 22:12

BlackOutTheSun
But would any of you want to re-arrange a day to suit someone who wouldn't even say hello to you, to show of your new baby?

ABSOLUTY YES if we thought there was a social problem there.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 22:13

Jux

disagree, it sounds much easier than it is - which is THE problem with shyness, where I feel people dont like me I find it hard to easy going and pretend nothing is there and say hi. I feel akward and repressed.

we dont know what effort they made with her either do we?

Jux · 03/07/2012 22:14

However, OP, I also think that your dh could do a lot to ameliorate the situation. Your BIL's behaviour was atrocious and your dh should have dealt with that head on at the time.

I suspect your ILs find you a bit cold, but again, your dh could actually make it easier for you and them.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 22:18

it sound to me like the whole famlily simply dislike her.

its quite hard to be easy going if they all dont like her.