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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:
crunchbag · 03/07/2012 19:32

Well I'd rather he used an 'expensive' cloth to clean up the sick than having to do it myself.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:33

Yes, they unwrap presents in front of us and don't say thank you. No thank yous!

OP posts:
ThereGoesTheYear · 03/07/2012 19:35

YABU about everything apart from the £500.

EnjoyResponsibly · 03/07/2012 19:36

Honestly, I cannot imagine why they chose to pop round whilst you're out.

Can you be hard up and buy cloths in M&S. Really???

Get a grip.

YABU.

dearprudence · 03/07/2012 19:36

I totally understand the inconvenience of your partner inviting/allowing people to come round when you're busy - my husband once invited our neighbours round for a drink on Christmas day, then forgot to tell me, when I had 17 people coming for dinner. But once it's done, you have to be hospitable and spend time with them, otherwise you run the risk of looking - oh, I don't know - unfriendly

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:36

mynewpassion, that's a horrible thing to say. You think it's ok for people to bully shy people who aren't very confident then?

OP posts:
dearprudence · 03/07/2012 19:40

I didn't know M&S sold cleaning cloths.

Slobby · 03/07/2012 19:40

YANBU about the cloth - I completely feel your pain on this. If someone picked up one of my best cloths I'd be livid too.

However, YABU about the money - it's only a monkey. Surely a highly educated man like your DP shits that amount?

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:40

I once walked into M and S in a baby daze and bought cloths - get over it!

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 19:41

"get over it!"

I think that is what you need to do! Grin

NovackNGood · 03/07/2012 19:41

You are worried about 500 pounds but you buy cleaning cloths from M&S and and boast about having them but don't want anyone to use the cleaning cloth. You roll your eyes at someone buying their council house. You sound rather like a pastiche of every comedy of middle class wannabes that have every featured in a T.V. comedy.

Giving a present should not be about how it makes you feel either so you are being rather unreasonable all round in my opinion.

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 19:41

Where am I being a bully? Where I am sitting, you are obsessed with clothgate after practically every poster telling you are being unreasonable and to let it go and you go and ask if YABU again.

Yeah, I do feel sorry for your DP's family.

helenthemadex · 03/07/2012 19:41

yabu except about the money that should be mentioned and payed back

you were rude and unfriendly to stay upstairs cleaning, Unless of course you live in a 60 room mansion, at the very least you could have spared 5 minutes to have a quick drink and chat with them and explain that you had to clean up

dropping off the present again if you didnt take the time for a quick chat I can see how someone would think that was rude and unfriendly

as for the cloth Biscuit if I was sil or bil I would bloody well wrap you one up and give it to you for christmas!!!

SerendipitousHarlot · 03/07/2012 19:42

I agree with mynewpassion I'm afraid. You sound hard work. And now you're saying you're being bullied??? Please.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:44

No, newpassion, it is they who are bullying.

I don't mind them buying their council house, my point is maybe they shouldn't be buying a house when they owe people large sums of money.

How did I boast about the frigging stupid cleaning cloths?

OP posts:
SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:45

Again, I did have a quick chat with them the day of the big clean, and we did have a quick chat the day we dropped the present off.

OP posts:
CurrySpice · 03/07/2012 19:46

Sorry OP but you sound incredibly petty.

TicketToHull · 03/07/2012 19:47

I don't think you're being unreasonable! It doesn't matter where you got your cloths from, the point is that he didn't acquiesce to a simple request.

The rest of the issues do seem to be due to your DH's unwillingness to confront them on anything though, small or large.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:47

Surely you pay off all your debts before buying a house?

OP posts:
DowagersHump · 03/07/2012 19:47

I don't know why you posted in AIBU because you're not interested in anyone else's opinions.

You don't like them, they don't like you back. Why do you care given you hold them in utter disdain? Confused

Slobby · 03/07/2012 19:48

Don't listen to the haters Sylvie - you have every right to be upset about the cloth. I have one of those and I only use it to wipe surfaces that are already spotless and bacteria free.

Don't you all get it??? It wasn't just any cloth, it was an M & S cloth.

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 19:48

Hang on, you said you did a nod and a wave, now its a chat?

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:49

Thank you TicketToHull, you obviously get what I'm trying to say.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 19:50

"and it wasn't just any old cloth but a fancy M&S one"

sounds like boasting to me Grin

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 19:50

DP chatted, I stood there. I'm shy! The point is small talk was exchanged.

OP posts:
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