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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:
TidyDancer · 03/07/2012 18:15

Yes, YABU. That behaviour is not outrageous, at worst it's a little bit questionable.

You sound very uptight I'm afraid. They don't sound that bad.

Do you like them? If they've got the impression you don't, it's not a great surprise they're not enamoured with waiting for you to show off their baby....

waterlego6064 · 03/07/2012 18:15

It's hard not to be sidetracked by the cloth. There was so much detail about it.

cricketballs · 03/07/2012 18:15

My take on it is

  1. first off girlpancake was not being nasty, but putting her view forward.....
  1. the cleaning cloth - get over it, the used a new cloth instead at least they were cleaning up the mess themselves rather than expecting you to do it. Kids throw up for a variety of reasons so you are sounding very judgey pants for your statement; after all there are thousands of kids who stuff themselves with crisps without throwing up...
  1. dropping the present off - your DN's birthday and you just run in, drop present off and run off again...sorry agree with them that is not a friendly thing to do
  1. Your DP's birthday - how do you know that they didn't have had plans later or that they would prefer to have their dc home early? But they still wanted to spend time with your DH; their brother/brother-in-law/uncle. By staying upstairs during their visit rather than being hospitable to them, once again I agree that you were being unfriendly. They had already said they couldn't make 4pm but did you let them know that you would be busy during the day cleaning for your friend arriving?
  1. your dh refuses to ask for the money back - do they know that it wasn't a present but a loan?
  1. they have just had a new baby; isn't the timetable up to them for when it suits their new babies and their needs? You sound more frustrated that you sorted the presents but weren't there when they were handed over rather than not seeing the baby - can't you go and visit?

overall conclusion - you do sound like you don't like them (the comment about working in a factory was not needed) and you are looking for reasons why you are the superior one rather than admitting that you may be in the wrong and they haven't actually done anything that bad?

WorraLiberty · 03/07/2012 18:16

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

No, she blamed the 'crisp stuffing parents' Grin

OP, I agree about the money but not about the baby.

New parents are always knackered and if they had to choose Sunday, I'd say they are the ones who should be calling the shots.

I hate to say it too, but perhaps they were a teensy bit relieved when they found out you would be at work. You know what it's like when you're not overkeen on a family member...it just makes things a bit awkward.

But there'll be plenty of time to see the baby in the future, should you and the parents actually want you to.

UnChartered · 03/07/2012 18:17

is the new baby going to live in a area so remote you'll never get there then?

and fwiw, you lent them cash when you were due a baby, and now want to bring this up immediately after they've had a new baby...

darthsillius · 03/07/2012 18:17

That's bizarre deciding to come to a party 6 hrs early. Does yr dp want a closet relationship?

IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 18:17

It's very hard not to get sidetacked by clothgate.
You said yourself "It wasn't any old cloth, but a fancy M&S one"

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:18

The thing with the cloth was I was standing right next to him and I said 'Use that one' and he said 'No, I think I'll use this one'. It was the lack of regard that got to me, not the cloth per se.

OP posts:
uselesslife · 03/07/2012 18:19

I thought this was a joke at first
then i re-read, and now I think you are over reacting

They had a baby, they have to come to yours when you say?
you do know some people don't go out of the house for a week?

dp chose the wrong god parent.

£500 between brothers, leave them to it

dp's 4pm birthday tea, some people can't make specific times, at least he came round

you seem to want them to come to you at specific times, and make a big deal about birthdays, but you could only drop a present off really quickly

the cloth thing is ridiculous
a, it's just a cloth
b, maybe he didn't want to use an old cloth that had been under the sink, maybe he thought he was doing you a favour, not using a dirty cloth

they had a baby, it's not about you

girlpancake · 03/07/2012 18:19

thanks cricketballs

darthsillius · 03/07/2012 18:19

Closer not closet!

uselesslife · 03/07/2012 18:20

clothgate Grin

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 18:22

I think you should be grateful that he used a new, clean cloth to clean your settee or you would've blamed him for ruining it because the dirty cloth was well...dirty.

Ephiny · 03/07/2012 18:25

If they have a new baby, things are probably a bit chaotic and maybe they weren't able to make it on the Saturday. Yes maybe they should have called to let you know, but they did only say they'd 'try' to come, it wasn't definite. So MIL brought the baby over on Sunday instead...I think you're trying to find an insult there where none was intended.

Agree your DP should talk to his brother about the money - and I wouldn't lend them anything in future, or feel obliged to send cards/presents (unless you particularly want to) if they don't bother to say thank you. You don't have to buy cards and presents for his family anyway.

I don't get the thing about the cloth, was it not washable? Doesn't sound a very useful cloth if it was ruined forever by wiping up sick!

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 18:26

Slyvie

Some people esp men really dont think about these things, re cleaning cloth, i would really let that one go....i can think of a million reasons why he grabbed it - the main one being that fancy cleaning cloths are just not on his radar in his own life!

My DH husband has absoluty no concept AT ALL of special things and its ironic as his mother is totally materialistic and mad about her " surfaces".

I had two choices, get worked up - or let it - go - , i let it go!

re the baby coming when you arnt there - i think its obvious they did this to avoid you, you all sound like very different people...and sometimes inverted snobbery can be alot worse than snobbery.....

it seems like whole lot of small things in both parties has built up.

unfortunalty shyness is usually interpreted as arrogance of being superior...and its really hard to try and change that conception when a few misunderstandings have taken place....

Dprince · 03/07/2012 18:26

I am confused. They aren't close completely different. But his is your ds' godfather? Why?
Being a god parent doesn't mean you have to be close to the child. Your dp shouldn't have asked him. you sound like you really don't like you bil. Why would you want him as god parent.
I actually think yabu and are looking for reasons to not like them. It sounds like you look down on them. Maybe they have picked up on that.

ivykaty44 · 03/07/2012 18:26

the cloth is the crux of this- the 500 quid was just a niggle Grin

They are different from you, they are not the sort of people you would invite round for dinner and have a really good time with.

Don't let it eat you up - just let them do their own thing and you do your own thing and pick your friends Smile

There is not really any point in giving them space in your head when there are far nicer ways of spending your time thinking about pleasant things.

MinnieBar · 03/07/2012 18:28

Honestly? You sound like a snob and also rather uptight

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:30

Regarding when we dropped off DN's birthday present, DN was about to go out with her friends so we weren't expected to stay for a long time.

What is wrong with cleaning when you have a house guest coming to stay? Maybe I shouldn't have done things like put clean sheets on her bed or cleared a space for her things in the drawers in the spare room? Coz that would have been hospitable, right? And yes, they knew she was coming, and of course knew about the party, so surely it was obvious it wasn't inconvenient. And how is a 4pm start too late for DCs?

OP posts:
elizaregina · 03/07/2012 18:31

"The thing with the cloth was I was standing right next to him and I said 'Use that one' and he said 'No, I think I'll use this one'. It was the lack of regard that got to me, not the cloth per se."

ummmm, perhaps he thought you were saying he had to touch a dirty old cloth so he thought he would snub you - ie.....is that all im worth i dont want to touch a dirty old cloth....

or a deliberate wind up ..knowing that getting a new one out would annoy you!

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:33

I think everybody who's said I'm uptight should go give away £500 right now...

OP posts:
NarkedRaspberry · 03/07/2012 18:35

About the money - I totally understand why this upsets you. Talk to your DP. He is the one who is responsible for getting it back. If he won't ask, or has told his brother to forget about it, your argument is with him.

About the cloth - seriously? No, seriously? A cloth? You're holding a cloth grudge? I'm sure you're too much of a mature, well balanced person to think this was a deliberate slight.

About the lack of thank yous, comments about you being unfriendly - people are different. What is normal for one person is rude to another. I would find their lack of a thank you very rude. My Aunt would find you're dropping a present and legging it back to the car/staying upstairs with visitors in the house very rude. They may not feel comfortable around your friends. They have a newborn to deal with and you will see the baby eventually.

If you want a better relationship with them you need to do something about it, not because you're at fault, but because someone needs to or it will get more and more distant. Try inviting them around for lunch one weekend.

NarkedRaspberry · 03/07/2012 18:36

your

TidyDancer · 03/07/2012 18:36

Why did you post in AIBU, Sylvie? Did you really wonder if you were being unreasonable? Or did you just expect everyone to agree with you?

It always puzzles me when people post here and then get huffy when they get YABU in response.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:37

As for the snob thing, I was just trying to explain the differences between us and the things that have contributed to our difficulties. I couldn't care less that the DB works in a factory but I think it's an issue for him - he is very anti-education and tells DN she doesn't have to bother with school.

OP posts: