Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
FairhairedandFrustrated · 04/07/2012 09:11

You don't sound shy, you sound downright odd and rude!!

I have a sil like you - she goes to another room of (on a rare occasion) we visit. She's always in a hurry, always rushing somewhere, pops her head around the door, talks at my brother barely acknowledging us, it's do rude!!

You say you popped your head around the door, both times, I'd see that as a snub actually, not worth making proper conversation with?

Am not even getting into the cloth thing.

I can't say I blame them for wanting to visit when you're not at home - I've started realising what shifts sil is on and calling when she's not in - it makes for a more pleasant atmosphere, db and my nephews are always pleased to see us and I don't have to put up with sil looking down her nose at me!

YABU! (and odd, not shy, 2 different things)

FutTheShuckUp · 04/07/2012 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 09:20

Can't believe this thread has been active all night!

It's obvious that some people who have posted have not read it in its entirety though. I can't be bothered to reply to their points.

Yes, I've had a few thoughts as a result of this thread. One is that I'm going to make DP ask for the money, or ask for it back myself, if I can get up the nerve and if I ever see them face-to-face again. I think we need to attempt to get the money back anyway.

It always shocks me how vicious people can be on online forums. Would you tell somebody in RL that they're not a nice person?

OP posts:
SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 09:29

Again, there's no need to be nasty Fut. And please tell me how I'm "demanding" when they come to my house. I'm just pointing out a time that's not good for me and asking them to come some other time, pretty much any other time would have been ok.

Why come on MN just to attack people? I don't get it.

OP posts:
crunchbag · 04/07/2012 09:32

Sylvie, I think it should really be your DP who should ask for the money back. If it has to be you doing it than you will need your DP to back 100%.
Otherwise it will have the potential of turning nasty and you will be the one in the 'wrong'.

LurkingAndLearningForNow · 04/07/2012 09:34

Geez, lay off the poor OP.

Dprince · 04/07/2012 09:35

I can honestly say that if you asked me this in rl and asked my opinion. You would get the same response that I have given you here.

FutTheShuckUp · 04/07/2012 09:36

Well its tough- they are coming to your house, going out of their way- why should it all be to suit you? If you think stating this fact is being 'nasty' then I can see why your in laws find you such hard work.

SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 09:36

Thank you Lurking, and everybody else who has made constructive/reasonable comments. I'm going now, for good, I shouldn't have come back.

OP posts:
FutTheShuckUp · 04/07/2012 09:38

What you mean is you shouldn't have asked if YWBU. You have no interest in anyone elses view but your own.

SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 09:38

If you'd read the thread Fut you'd know that DP and me offered to go to their house.

It was the sister-in-law from h* comment that I thought was NASTY. Seriously, what kind of person are you?

OP posts:
Dprince · 04/07/2012 09:39

I would also make sure that your dp has not told them that they don't need to pay back the money before I ask them for it.
If you don't you will end up looking bad again. Again it would actually be your dps fault.

AllOverIt · 04/07/2012 09:40

I'm not sure why you posted on AIBU when you are not prepared to see that you are.

You need to sit down with DP - the issue is with him really.

Then do that online Aspergers test if you're worried about it.

Then have a cup of tea.

SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 09:41

Tell me I'm being unreasonable, that's fine. But don't make personal attacks.

OP posts:
SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 09:42

I'm out of this nest of vipers!

OP posts:
FutTheShuckUp · 04/07/2012 09:51

yawn
bye

FutTheShuckUp · 04/07/2012 09:55

Hmm- stay upstairs when they visit, dont say hello to them when you pop round, accuse them of feeding their child crisps and junk because she had the nerve to vomit at your house (couldnt possibly be a bug like any other child who vomits as they are such rubbish parents in your eyes), quibbling over a bloody CLOTH when they are cleaning said vomit up...all sound like the sister in law from hell to me, I really wouldn't want to bother with such a high maintenence relative

SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 09:56

Why be so nasty? Why? You're making yourself look ridiculous.

OP posts:
Hexenbiest · 04/07/2012 10:00

I'd ignore all the nastiness on here.

Do what AllOverIt suggests, possibly also seek out some assertiveness courses as well.

squeakytoy · 04/07/2012 10:06

I actually wonder if the other brother was raising his fist to you, as I think it sounds more likely he was raising them to cover his ears up.

I get the feeling you are the sort of person who is prone to exaggerating, and making mountains out of molehills, and making it all about you as well.

usualsuspect · 04/07/2012 10:07

What an odd thread.

Quite funny though Grin

FormerlyTitledUntidy · 04/07/2012 10:11

OP YANBU.
Just because that's all you're responding to and want to hear :o

Why canvass for opinions when you know you are in the right? Hmm

PleaseTakeOffYourJimmyChoos · 04/07/2012 10:15

OP-I have a few rude people through dhs side and its awkward.
I started off being too nice and and when people are down right horrible they will take the PISS out of nice people.
You have to keep people like this at arms length.
Also do not let people who anger you live rent free in your head-you are PUNISHING yourself.Does it feel good being angry?No.
Also I think you came on here for some advice on how to deal with your family and now you've spent hours/days having heated discussions with TOTAL strangers so now you probably feel 100 times worse than you originally did when you first wrote this post!

Also agree with Hexenbiest-you should look on www.hotcourses.co.uk for assertiveness courses.

Good luckSmile

SylvieSmith · 04/07/2012 10:43

squeakytoy, jokes about domestic violence? Really? I take it you personally would be quite happy for somebody to wave their fist in your face.

Thank you hexen and JimmyChoos.

OP posts:
otherpeopleslifes · 04/07/2012 10:48

Perhaps fut is sylvie's SIL :)

Swipe left for the next trending thread