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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:
squeakytoy · 03/07/2012 20:03

"we didn't just stand on the doorstep, we went into the house."

you went in the house and nodded and waved?? you seem to be changing this tale rather a bit...

BlackOutTheSun · 03/07/2012 20:05

but couldn't because op's mum was waiting in the car

diddl · 03/07/2012 20:05

"I used to get myself all worked up and upset about my ILs failings but honestly its not worth the headspace. "

Me too-I find them hard to get on with & used to analyse everything they said did during a visit.

What a bloody waste of time-I´m sure they never gave me a moments thought from one visit to the next.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 20:07

DP said to pay the money back when they could, which they have been able to do for a while.

If you think my posts have been inconsistent just say why and let's tackle it.

OP posts:
dearprudence · 03/07/2012 20:07

Did I sound like a bit of a dick then eliza? Was trying not to. Blush

EnjoyResponsibly · 03/07/2012 20:08

But if you loan a person money, you have no control whatever over what they chose to spend it on. You make a choice regarding their reliability, make it clear when you want it back, and whether you want interest and you get assurance that will happen. None of this appears to have happened, so once again YABU.

If they asked in another thread I'd happily say they were very U nt to have repaid you.

wigglesrock · 03/07/2012 20:09

I have a funny feeling you might be my sil with a few details changed Grin

Seriously I don't get on with my sil for a variety of different reasons - as a quick snap shot - I'm a cleaner, she's not, she doesn't agree with the school I sent my children to, she thinks I'm a bit lax re what my children eat etc and she's never accepted that I don't feel the need for my children to go tennis lessons (she has seriously taken the nick with us a few times over this) and we had a huge falling out/Eastenders type drama over my dd3s christening but we are all going to be in each others lives for quite a long time.

I want my children to know their cousins (they don't have many) and I don't want to make it even harder for my parents in law, so we each bite our tongue and let stuff go. You need to let the money go, your partner lent this to his brother - they can sort it out. It doesn't matter what they feed their children tbh its got feck all to do with you.

ladyintheradiator · 03/07/2012 20:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 20:10

The debt -- from the OP's original post:

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 . (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).

So.....reading between the lines, your DP told your BIL to not pay the money back. Take it up with your DP, not with your BIL.

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 20:11

Op -

do your in laws know or not that the money was a loan.

I dont think they do - i think DP is embarrased about his " perceived status" and gave them the impression that £500 was no skin off his nose.

I can imagine DB wife - go on ask them - they are better off than us...we need it they dont...

You need to make sure they understand your circumstances, with imagination you can do this in a number of ways...without being rude to them...

crunchbag · 03/07/2012 20:11

Sylvie, sort out the problem regarding the money with your dp and stop over-thinking everything else. Accept they do things differently to you and get on with it. Put in some effort to at least socialise with them and stop using being shy as an excuse.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 20:12

I don't know what's confusing. We knocked on the door. DB opened it. I must have acknowledged him with a nod or wave, because I'm not completely devoid of social skills, whilst DP said "Hi! We've come to drop off DN's present" or words to that effect. We went in. I nodded to DB's wife who was in the kitchen. We stood in the hallway whilst DP chatted to DP and DN about what they'd been doing and what she was planning to do with her friends. Then we said goodbye, as in DP verbalised 'Goodbye' and I nodded my head again or whatever. Then we left.

OP posts:
carlywurly · 03/07/2012 20:13

After 7 pages of this, I no longer care whether YABU or not, but I do want to get me one of those M&S cloths now..

mynewpassion · 03/07/2012 20:14

You nodded instead of saying "hi" when they opened the door?

I think their no thank yous cancel out your lack of acknowledgments. Both are so rude.

ladyintheradiator · 03/07/2012 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 20:15

wigglesrock, I know what they feed their children has got nothing to do with me and that's why I've never brought it up with them. Don't attack me for things I've not done!

OP posts:
elizaregina · 03/07/2012 20:16

dearprudence

Did I sound like a bit of a dick then eliza? Was trying not to. blush

NO! not at all - its just that there are some serious issues being raised here - including the said 10am visit and I am not sure that us lot have the neccasary skills to disect them properly...

MorrisZapp · 03/07/2012 20:18

Blimey. You must be really shy.

Popping in to somebody's house and nodding at them?

How very, very odd.

EnjoyResponsibly · 03/07/2012 20:19

OP I think you've held your ground pretty well, but in the face of overwhelming Hmmness I seriously recommend you think about calling it a no win situation.

Have a Wine and watch a nice film and enjoy your evening xx

elizaregina · 03/07/2012 20:19

Blimey. You must be really shy.

Popping in to somebody's house and nodding at them?

How very, very odd.

YES maybe SHE the OP also picks up that these people dont like her and it ADDS to her shyness and awkardness, just as much as they pick up she perhaps isnt keen on them!

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 20:20

When I wrote the post title I was also going to talk DP's other brothers and MIL then I figured the post was getting a bit long and thought I just ask for people's opinions on this DB. Is this DB's behaviour alone outrageous? No. The behaviour of the family taken as a whole, with all the other stuff that's gone on? Yes.

OP posts:
vodkaandcaviar · 03/07/2012 20:20

If you couldn't afford to lend them money, you shouldn't have done it. If your DP insisted then your beef is with him. I agree that it's a crap thing for your BIL to do but some people are like that I'll only lend something to someone if I'm 10000% sure I'll get it back or if I don't care about not getting it back. If your DP hasn't mentioned it to his brother since, he probably never will. You'll have to let it go.

As for the cloth, I guess you were kidding...it's the sort of thing that would bug me too to be honest. Adding salt to the wound or something like that.

It depends what you want - if you want a close relationship with these people you're going to have to accept them for what they are and find a way to make them see you as a friendly relative.

SoleSource · 03/07/2012 20:21

You wanted your DP tio have a confrontation with his DB because you would be at work on Sunday? Why so agressive? Are you sane?

SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 20:21

Sorry, talk about.

OP posts:
SylvieSmith · 03/07/2012 20:23

Sorry, I would just ask for people's opinions.

OP posts: