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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed about DH's secret phone calls to family members?

86 replies

annoyedandannoyed · 23/07/2012 13:27

Okay, I'm not annoyed, but pretty pissed off about it now and don't know if this is normal behaviour. Pretty sure it's not.

Don't want to drip feed, so a bit of background: DH's sister has never come to our house. Once I repeatedly asked DH to invite her around when we were newly married and she declined over and over again, and then came around after about 8 weeks of inviting. She never came again or invited me around to hers (although I'm pretty sure DH gets invitations and goes to hers). She never came to visit when DD was born nearly 5 years ago. I have no idea what her problem is with me, but I've let it go now, and don't really care if she is not in our life.

When DS was born, DH's brother phoned and asked if he could bring her and her family along to see the new baby, and that they were sorry for how they have acted over the few years. I had a 1 week old, was tired, hormonal with chest infection. I admit, I wasn't the bigger person and I told DH she could come and see the baby by all means, but I didn't want her in our lives because she didn't come to see our first born, and I can't just forget that. Unbeknown to me, DH relayed this back to his brother, and they never came. This is just one of the things that have pissed me off about DH - the constant relaying of information about OUR house and affairs to his family, without me knowing.

The other day we were about to go out for the day, and at 9am, DH took his mobile and went out to the garden for a phone call. (He often takes the phone and talks in the garden or out earshot). He does this alot since we've been married. That particular day, I got annoyed and took the phone when he was in the bathroom to see who he had been calling. There was a landline number, that was his sister's. When I asked him who he had been talking to, he replied it was "no one". I told him straight out, that he was lying to me, and why he felt he had to hide the fact he was talking to his sister? That I was his wife, and I don't believe in keeping trivial secrets like this. I explained to him that his sister and I don't see eye to eye, so when he makes secret phonecalls to her, wth am I supposed to think? I feel like she is backchatting me to him, and to stop all this bad feeling, he should be able to talk to her openly infront of me without this big secrecy. If he talks about normal everyday things, then why hide it from me?

This morning I took our baby upstairs to change his nappy, and his mobile rang. He picked it up, looked at the number and put it down. I asked him why he wasn't answering, and he said "I don't know who's number it is". He never saves numbers in his mobile, so I said to him "You never save numbers, so just answer it". He answered it reluctantly, and it was his nephew (sister's son). So again, he wasn't going to talk to his family infront of me. He knows I got pissed off because he was trying to hide it from me.

I don't understand why he does this. I have never stopped him from talking to his family. I was never this snooping type of person because I trust him. This habit of his has become worse and worse since being married. If your husband is talking to someone who dislikes you, in secret, then doesn't it just create bad feeling? I don't know if I'm being unreasonable or whether I shouldn't get pissed off with his secret phone calls. I only get pissed off because he hides everything. I don't care if he talks to his sister, but just doing it in secrecy - what could be the reason behind it?

Ready to be flamed or whatever for being a hen pecker or something. Thanks.

OP posts:
RubyFakeNails · 23/07/2012 14:19

Well don't you think you saying you don't want them in your life means to him and them that you don't want them in your life??? So he obviously wants to be in contact with them and have a relationship with them and is trying to hide it from you because he knows it will upset/anger/make you uncomfortable.

I think you are being massively unreasonable.

Put it in the context of your own children, if your dd dint get on with your ds's wife (say they'd even had an open argument with each other which even you haven't) would you expect your dcs to have zero contact or would you think it was reasonable that they phone eachother but don't meet to keep the peace.

I imagine your dh wants to have a conversation with his sisters without you getting the hump or feeling guilty.

You either need to be relaxed about and happy with them taking I front of you or accept that he will do this privately.

It doesn't sound like he sees them so at least give him a phone call.

Also tbh I usually leave the room if I'm on the phone as its a bit disruptive to whoever you're with.

bowerbird · 23/07/2012 14:20

Annoyed YABU. I feel sorry for your husband, but also for you.

There was a great opportunity missed by you when DH's brother apologised. That was HUGE, and you decided to be petty. Alright, you had an infection, but you could have just put them off for a week or two, and then had them over. Instead you carried a grudge. Who cares that they never saw your first born when DC was born? They were wanting to make amends. You didn't want them in your life, or "our" life as you put it, which indicates that you resented him staying in contact with his family.

Why wouldn't your husband take a call privately when you've behaved like this? Why would he want to talk to his family normally? Why do you want to deprive your DC's of an extended family?

It's not too late to put things right if you're willing to. Please do.

Condensedmilk · 23/07/2012 14:21

OP you should have posted in Relationships - much more receptive audience Grin

This is my last post, but Ormiriathomimus where does it say it causes World War III? Should she not say anything to her husband who is lying to her?

It sounds as though the husband is deliberately excluding her from his family, and lying to her about it.

Tiago · 23/07/2012 14:22

So - she ignored you for five years and then suddenly wanted to play nicely when you had a second baby. She didn't phone to apologise - rather the brother 'passed on' apologies and you, frankly weren't in the mood. Now your DH is hiding calls to his family from you.

All sounds a bit odd. Unless you've said something to him about not contacting her, (maybe something that he has interpreted that way) then I wouldn't expect him to be so secretive about it all. The fact that you and she don't get on doesn't mean he can't talk to her. However, your DH is probably just trying to avert conflict.

bowerbird · 23/07/2012 14:23

Condensed, since when is having a private conversation deceitful? The husband is not deliberately excluding OP from his family. She did that herself.

ScrambledSmegs · 23/07/2012 14:24

annoyed have you spoken to your DH and explained that when you said those things you were tired, hormonal, in pain and that you didn't mean it? Because otherwise I can see why he wants to keep his contact with his sister a secret from you.

I can see how you were hurt by their apparent dislike of you, but they are your DH's family. They won't ever cease to exist, and it would probably make you happier if you could move on and put past animosity behind you.

mynewpassion · 23/07/2012 14:24

Her DH deliberately excluding the OP from his family? Didn't she do that already when they tried to make amends and she rebuffed them?

mynewpassion · 23/07/2012 14:27

I wonder if DH secretly talks to his whole family or just SIL?

Longdistance · 23/07/2012 14:27

Your dh is being a coward.
I've been in a similar situation, but dh bf's wife was a complete cow, and was pretty piss poor at being welcoming towards me, and friendly.
I too gave up as she made it perfectly clear she didn't want to know me.
I distanced myself, but when dh wanted to see his bf, he'd tell me he was seeing him, and his wife. No secrecy about it. I wouldn't go as was just not interested at this point.
Your dh should basically fess up, and tell you he's been in touch with his family, seen them. There shouldn't be any secrecy about it.

doinmummy · 23/07/2012 14:29

Sounds like your poor DH is stuck in the middle.

I feel sorry for him and think YABU.

Is there any way that yo could wipe the slate clean and start again.

It really is a shame to let this fester any longer.

bowerbird · 23/07/2012 14:33

Scrambled and Doinmummy have the right idea. Start again. Be generous and kind. Your husband will LOVE you for it. And you will feel better as well.

RE-reading your OP, I was struck by the phrase "I admit, I wasn't the bigger person". Well, be it now.

Longdistance · 23/07/2012 14:33

mynewpassion yes she did rebuff the olive branch so to speak, but she'd only had the baby, and it's a stressful enough time as it is, so I would have told them to wait til the dust settled. Than go guns ablazing when your hormonal trying to make up. Not good timing I'd say!

Shullbit · 23/07/2012 14:39

The OP's DH isn't the one purposely keeping his family and OP away from each other. The OP did that.

I am assuming you still don't have a chest infection, and a one week old. Why didn't you tell your DH that you didn't mean it and to apologise once you had calmed down?

It really isn't a surprise that he has kept the fact he has phone calls with them a secret given how strongly you feel against them when you can react in such a way to banish his family from all your lives, as you didn't say your life, you said our lives, which is a bizarre and unreasonable request.

I think the sister should of apologised herself though. But with everything else, YABU. He is allowed private conversations with his family without needing to relay them back to you.

BlueBirdsNest · 23/07/2012 14:41

It is sad if your DH is having to hide the fact he is speaking to his sister

As doinmummy asked, is there anyway you could wipe the slate clean and start again?

You don't need to be best friends , just civil to each other

solidgoldbrass · 23/07/2012 14:43

Get over yourself. You don't have to be friends with your SIL if you don't want to, but your H is entitled to have as much contact with his own sister as he wants. If you can't behave like a grown up and be polite to her yourself, let him see her on his own.

elizaregina · 23/07/2012 15:00

YANBU I really feel for you op.

Family is a web of jealousy and deceipt and lies sadly.

I fully understand why your upset with DSIL.

When we meet our loved ones - one would expect the family to be happy that thier DS/Db is happy. There are plenty of singles out there who are very lonely.

How many years do you have to try with DSIL? As far you say you have tried to be friendly with her and it was never receiporacated and you never knew why. What on earth else can you do except accept it and move on.

Then the biggest blow came with DD birth!

i dont think a call when a second DC has been born cuts it really, and if they were sincere in being sorry then they should have totally understood your reaction to them wanting to come - ie when they want something.

Surely this apology would have meant more had it been at another time, not at DS birth?

If they really wanted to make amends they should have " allowed" you your - perhaps knee jerk reaction adn come anyway.....to try and make amends and be soo nice and helpful etc....ie they should allow you your anger after - they themselves admitted to being awful for YEARS.

You need to ask your DH why his DS doesnt like you.

HOw he feels about that - is that fair - have you done anything to deserve this dislike - were they very close before you met him etc?

It seems to me - unless there more to this story that its DSIL who is jealous, not the other way round.

Whatever you need to ask DH why DSIL has never been friendly to you - how does he feel about that - and what is he going to do about it!

annoyedandannoyed · 23/07/2012 15:01

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I think most people seem to think I don't want DH to talk to his sister/family. I don't have a problem with his family. His brother comes around to our house and we go to his every 4-5 months. His sister didn't want to know me, so that was fair enough. I don't care if he meets his sister or talks to her, I just don't like him doing it in secret. I have also told him this. Why the secrecy if there is nothing untoward to talk about?

Also when I said that I didn't want her in "our" lives, I meant my children and me. Not his. As she couldn't be bothered to even pick up the phone to congratulate her SIL (me) when DD was born, it was obvious she didn't want to be involved with her brother's children, and only him. As an Aunt myself, I would put aside any differences I have with my SiL (I dont have any problems with her, this is theoretically speaking!) to have a relationship with my nieces and nephews. Why couldn't she do this?

I just want to know why the secrecy? So should I just let him get on with having secret conversations with her?

OP posts:
elizaregina · 23/07/2012 15:04

Her DH deliberately excluding the OP from his family? Didn't she do that already when they tried to make amends and she rebuffed them?

Isnt the timing rather disengenious? OK maybe that doesnt matter but to me it smacks that they wanted something and op was in the way - so a half hearted attempt at reconcillation followed that was batted away very easily.

DH could just be a weak though and woolley....you dont know what he is saying to the Other Side...he may not be diplomatic - he hasnt sounded it so far and could be making it worse.

JollyHockeyStick · 23/07/2012 15:07

What do you imagine that he's up to OP? He's talking to his SISTER and NEPHEW. It's not like he's having an affair. He obviously thinks that you don't approve, and clearly in the past you have tried to police what he is saying to his family so I could understand him wanting to have conversations in private.

I think YABU.

Possibly his sister doesn't like you. Clearly you don't like her. I don't see why your husband shouldn't continue to have a relationship with her.

doinmummy · 23/07/2012 15:07

Perhaps you unknowingly pull a cats bum mouth whenever his sister is mentioned so he'd trying to avoid this.

Perhaps he thinks it will upset you.

The only way to find out is ask HIM!!

annoyedandannoyed · 23/07/2012 15:13

Jolly - I don't police what he says to his family, but it's not nice having your family matters discussed with people who don't need to be involved. I never tell my brothers and sister things about our family life, because it's private. Why should he?

OP posts:
annoyedandannoyed · 23/07/2012 15:14

He can have a relationship, but why can't he be open about?

OP posts:
Shullbit · 23/07/2012 15:15

He is perfectly entitled to have someone to turn to for support and a chat outside your relationship. Just because you don't choose s relative, doesn't mean he can't.

JollyHockeyStick · 23/07/2012 15:20

OP, you said:
Unbeknown to me, DH relayed this back to his brother, and they never came. This is just one of the things that have pissed me off about DH - the constant relaying of information about OUR house and affairs to his family, without me knowing.

Whether you like it or not you ARE trying to police what he's saying. Just because you think you're justified in doing this doesn't mean that you're not doing it...

Maybe your idea of oversharing is very different from his idea of oversharing?

ENormaSnob · 23/07/2012 15:26

You are being very controlling IMO.

Yabu