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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:
BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 18:39

Right you sound like you really, really don't like them.

Did you want to meet the baby or just to show of the gifts, in an 'i'm a lovely auntie?'

The cloth, really? The m&s ones are just over a £1. I use them all it needed was a wash so don't understand why it had to be chucked

The money, if you couldn't afford to lend it, why did you/dp lend it? Its also up to your dp to sort

NarkedRaspberry · 03/07/2012 18:39

Early lunch Grin

crunchbag · 03/07/2012 18:40

YABU and your behaviour towards them is not much better.

Could you not have had a break from cleaning and sat down to have a chat and some cake? Same with dropping off the present, why not have a 5 minute small talk chat instead of nodding and waving?

Shame you were at work when they came to show the baby, but it happens.

And re clothgate, if you want them to use a certain cloth then get it for them.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:41

DP lent him the money without telling me! I was furious when I found out...

OP posts:
Dprince · 03/07/2012 18:44

so you should actually be losses at your dp. He loaned his brother the money and won't ask for it back. Its your dp that is in the wrong.
How do you know it was a loan or that your dp hasn't since told him that its fine and doesn't have to pay it back. Perhaps without telling you.

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 18:44

Then your problem is with your dp

Dprince · 03/07/2012 18:45

That should say pissed not losses.

griphook · 03/07/2012 18:45

I would be annoyed about the money and it would get to me, but your dh is the one who should be asking for the money back.

You said how different you dh and db are but you where quite negative about db. Working in a factory isn't a personality trait.

Did you pop your head on the room when they came round for dh's birthday and explain or just stay upstairs?

fallingandlaughing · 03/07/2012 18:46

What if they posted this....

DSil wants to dictate when we come round to visit with our new baby. She thinks we should fit round her work even though the baby is only a few days old. She is unfriendly and stayed upstairs when we came round to visit another time. She begrudges us a few hundred pound that DB isn't bothered about, he has had all the opportunities while I work in a factory. She seemed put out about how I cleaned up when DD was sick, didn't care about her possibly being ill. She is very formal and expects us to stand on ceremony wrt to presents.

It is about perspective, isn't it. We don't choose our family so we have to compromise. (I am not saying the above post would be accurate, but worth thinking about).

NarkedRaspberry · 03/07/2012 18:46

And that's your problem. He didn't discuss it with you and hasn't gotten it back.

I am serious about the different norms causing misunderstandings too. My family expect people to call before they come to visit and would think it was rude to doorstep someone with a child's present and then expect to come in for coffee. For them, what you did was polite. My Aunt's family policy is the doors always open and the kettle's always on. She would think you were avoiding her/rude. My MIL would find it rude that you'd given no warning and rude that you left without coming in Grin

griphook · 03/07/2012 18:47

I wonder why your dh didn't tell you?

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 18:47

Cloth gate - i would also throw the cloth away rather than wash it.

£, was it not discussed before you lent it - its your money too, i completly see why this would niggle at you esp as you had not been away and they had...

re snobbery, unfortunalty people with chips on thier shoulders can be upset very easily....and get very jealous.....ie....i can well imagine they dont like you and take very small things to heart - perhaps like you over the cloth!

I can understand why op was busy cleaning, havant we all had frantic cleaning to do, people coming into our house...and we want it to look nice? its a shame she couldnt have sat down to chat but they could also appreciate she was really busy with a party on her hands....usually we can see that people are run off thier feet and usually I think people can cut slack for that....

it wasnt like she was busy cleaning for no real reason....and just using it as an avoidance tactic.

QueenBeeBread · 03/07/2012 18:48

Maybe, OP, given that the overwhelming response has been that you are being rather uptight about these people, you should ty to shift your perception of you being a victim of their "outrageous" behaviour and work on the basis that you might have come across as inflexible/unfriendly?

Could help relations going forward?

gramercy · 03/07/2012 18:48

Go on, OP, admit you're in the wrong...

That's the thing with in-laws. You can't help being less tolerant of them than you are of your own kith and kin. Mil comments grate and fester, whereas if your own mother said something ten times worse you could just shrug it off.

Wait till some time has elapsed for the new parents and then ask your dp to ask if there's any chance of the £500 back as you're in a bit of a tight spot/need car repairs/new washing machine etc etc.

But as for the other crimes... YABU !!

MulberryMoon · 03/07/2012 18:50

Not read the other replies, but
Not paying back £500 = very annoying. YANBU
Cleaning cloth = You should have got them the cloth you wanted them to use. As you didn't they grabbed the first thing they saw. YABU
Baby visiting = They've just had a baby. The other days you suggested weren't convenient. YABU
Present dropping = You could have quickly said hi and bye. YABU

SauvignonBlanche · 03/07/2012 18:50

Your DP should have discussed the money with you but I don't think you'd have agreed.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:52

I stood there and pointed at the cloth and said 'That one'! Did I really have to pick it up and put it in his hand?

It's hard. There are a lot of things they do I look at and think 'I wouldn't do that personally', but I'm well-aware it's their life and wouldn't dream of saying anything. Their DD being sick, for instance. Their DD is always throwing up because they let her eat loads of junk food (she has terrible problems with her teeth for the same reason). Everyone in the family knows this. But I have always tried my hardest to be polite to them, to act as if they don't do these things. I can't help my private thoughts!

OP posts:
MulberryMoon · 03/07/2012 18:52

Oh I forgot about the turning up at 10 while you were cleaning ready for a friend. = Very annoying. They should have turned up when asked, not earlier. YANBU

zookeeper · 03/07/2012 18:53

I don't understand why you would keep buying presents for them if you clearly don't like them and they are ungrateful. I think you're being a bit martyr-ish.

Dprince · 03/07/2012 18:54

I don't think you tried you hardest, or it doesn't come across that way.
I assume you child has never or will never be sick.

zookeeper · 03/07/2012 18:55

and do children throw up on a regular basis if they eat too much junk food ? Hmm.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 18:55

I dont think op is in the wrong....its just not " outragoues" behaviour.

I can well imagine they just dont like her....and i bet inverted snobbery has alot to do with it.

also if op and her fmaily cant afford a holiday for THREE YEARS why is DB asking for money - when he can afford to go away - if they didnt think ops family were better off...

OP work out if you really want to repair this...it probably wouldnt take much - you would have to grit teeth and reach out - so sorry missed the baby - hope you like the presents I CHOSE....would you like to come ruond x day - or what day suits you - or we can come to you?

really try and make a fresh effort...and it it fails - fuck em....forget em.stop buying presents and at an opportune moment - ask Dh for £500 for something as its yor money too and you frankly want it back.

YoYoYoItsTillyMinto · 03/07/2012 18:56

sylvie they dont appear to listen to you/your DP. you say come at 4 they come at 10. you say i am working, they come anyway.

do you understand why this happens?

TheLightPassenger · 03/07/2012 18:57

yanbu to be peeved about the money, but sounds like your DP is to blame as well for this, for lending out money you couldn't really afford.

yabu about the cloth. he may well have thought the M & S cloth looked better able to do the job of cleaning up than the cloth you suggested!

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 18:57

Get over cloth-gate because you are digging a bigger hole over it. You go on and on about cloth-gate but barely talk about the debt.