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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:
TheLightPassenger · 03/07/2012 18:58

re:the 10 o clock instead of 4 o clock thing - is it likely that your DP would have agreed to that when asked without checking with you? or did they randomly turn up 6 hours early?

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 18:59

The thing about the baby was we were happy to go round and see them on Friday, or yesterday, or today...so I wasn't being inflexible. They were the ones who said it absolutely had to be Sunday.

And it's not the case that my DP has had "all the opportunities". The wider family seem to think we're loaded but what they don't take into account is that unlike them we rent privately (they are all with the council or housing associations) so our outgoings are far higher. We've estimated we have less disposable income than they do despite DP being on a higher wage.

OP posts:
elizaregina · 03/07/2012 19:02

zookeeper

my DH is useless at presents and my Dh family take them quiet serisouly I have had to buy presents for his whole family - poeple i know nothing of as the speak a diffrent langauge they dont like me, i think thy think Dh does all the choosing and its for his sake i put myself through this - but this year NO MORE.
I havant done it to be a marytr its just it might be volcanic if no presents were forth coming, but this year - i dont care - maybe op wont either!

or maybe she could buy them all some fancy m&s cloths?

UnChartered · 03/07/2012 19:03

OP, YABVU

hth

Dprince · 03/07/2012 19:04

You have estimated, so have no idea.
they just had a baby ffs, maybe Sunday was the only day it was good for them.
Or maybe they know that sil doesn't like them, judges their parenting skills etc.
Alot of time our body language says more than out actual words.
You seem to really not like them and I bet they can tell.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 19:04

SylvieSmith

nd it's not the case that my DP has had "all the opportunities". The wider family seem to think we're loaded but what they don't take into account is that unlike them we rent privately (they are all with the council or housing associations) so our outgoings are far higher.

i can well imagine this and your DP would have done you both a favour by explaining this when his DB asked for the money!

I can well imagine what thier perceptions of you are....stop buying presents, start being vocal about your outgoings etc...

RandomNumbers · 03/07/2012 19:06

Oooh and a bit of council house bashing too

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:06

DP is a bit of a doormat where his family are concerned, he always just lets them do whatever they want. The day they came at 10am instead of 4pm they did ring up first and without asking me DP said, 'Sure, come on over'.

OP posts:
IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 19:06

Maybe they couldn't be as flexible as you for whatever reason, including the fact that they have a new baby.
There is a lot of resentment, assumption and judging from your posts.
Tackle your dh about the money, and let the rest go. Also you need to think about how you come across to them, less aloof, bit more friendly? if you want to try and mend/foster a good relationship?

squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 19:06

Sorry OP, but you do seem to look down on them and come across as rather snooty towards your partners family.

thebody · 03/07/2012 19:06

You can't choose your relatives so if I were you I would just be nice when you meet them but don't make too much effort to do so.

Imagine they see you as a bit if a snob as you seem to see them as chavs( probably unfair on both sides but perception is all)

Stop buying presents, tell them you can't afford it and make Sam sure tour dh knows he was bang out of order to lend money without your consent and to never do it again.

You don't need the £500 quid back if you wasting money at M&S

IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 19:06

Your issue is with your dh largely.

squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 19:07

Do you have any siblings or are you an only child OP?

uselesslife · 03/07/2012 19:07

you're not listening Sylvie

Generally when people have a baby, they can't really commit to a time and a place for the first few days, and why the hell should they?

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:07

I never bashed council houses! You think I don't want to be with the council, paying half the amount of rent we do now?

OP posts:
IslaValargeone · 03/07/2012 19:08

I'm thinking clothgate smacks a bit of fur coat and no knickers?

TidyDancer · 03/07/2012 19:09

Why are you blaming your DP's family for things that are your DP's fault?

You sound very very angry and bitter for some reason.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:09

I knew somebody would say something about me buying M and S cloths when I was skint. They were a bit of a luxury and that's why I was pissed when DB wasted one.

OP posts:
mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 19:10

So, now we get the drip feeding.

Your DH said it was fine for them to come over at 10. They came over at 10. You couldn't come down to say a quick hello and say that you've got a friend staying overnight and got to go back upstairs to clean.

So you blame your ILs for your partner's inability to say no...or maybe for him, he isn't as formal.

squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 19:11

luxury cleaning cloths???? Confused

NarkedRaspberry · 03/07/2012 19:11

So the turning up at 10am was your DP too? I think you need to be talking to him.

Dprince · 03/07/2012 19:12

It seems that you should be mad at your dp, he is the one that doesn't consider you when making decisions.

AmberLeaf · 03/07/2012 19:12

You are sounding a bit like hard work OP.

A lot of this sounds a bit petty and resentful.

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 19:12

Why on earth does your dp have to ask for permission for his family to visit?

squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 19:12

and you could have washed it.. it was only sick.. I assume you dont throw clothes away if someone is sick on them, or maybe you do.. Grin