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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell my judgy inlaws to leave me alone.

85 replies

honeytea · 31/07/2012 15:52

Our baby isn't even born yet and I allready feel like nothing I do is right. My DP comes from a very big family and they all seem to have made the same parenting choices, they see anything I do as wrong.

It started when I was about 7 weeks pregnant and I mentioned I would like to use cloth nappies not because of any environmental reason or worries about pfb's bum being eroded by chemicals purely because we have fre washing and drying where we live and using cloth nappies will save us around 2 grand for one baby all of his sisters and his parents sat around laughing at me saying how disgusting and old fashioned it was and how it was verging on abuse as our child will probably have red hair and be more likely to have nappy rash (logic?) his sisters didn't use cloth nappies where as I have cared for babies in cloth nappies so I don't see why they have an opinion as they have no experience. I left and was in tears, I was a little over emotional due to early pregnancy hormones.

Next his sister came to my 12 week scan, it was kind of her as my DP had to work. Here (in Sweden) they usually only have 1 scan at 18 weeks but I wanted a 12 week scan as I was very anxious (the baby took 2 years to conceive and it didn't seem real) she told me she disapproved of me having a 12 week scan as it was unnecessary and non of the family had done it, I said it was only one extra and we'd get a 3d scan done at the beginning of the 3rd tri and it was normal in the uk to have a 12 week scan, she was talking about it like I was allowing my baby to have nuclear weapons tested on it.

The most major issue is my drinking, my DP offered me a teeny beer at a party I said no thanks I'm waiting for my glass of wine at Christmas (baby is due on the 8th) mil was just horrified saying I was selfish snd risking dc's life and she thought the sight of a breast feeding woman drinking wine was disgusting. (bf doesn't really seem optional here it is what every mum does) my DP was great he said she has no right to judge me as mil has smoked through all her pregnancies and smokes infrount of her grandchildren and when I'm sat next to her.

Other issues have been me liking the idea of a water birth (you can't have a water birth in Sweden) and them saying it is unnatural I'm not a dolphin. Names, mil hates all the names we like just not going to tell her till after the birth now reigns (sp?) child abuse again apparently.

Should I just tell them I don't want their opinion even if that upsets them? Any nice ways of saying that?

OP posts:
CommanderShepard · 31/07/2012 17:08

My daughter wears cloth nappies and is ginger OH NOES. She also had nappy rash...

when she wore 'sposies.

lambethlil · 31/07/2012 17:11

They sound typically robustly Scandinavian! Do you think they realise they're upsetting you? I bet they don't...
I'd keep your plans closer to your chest. I'm struggling to think of my ils' opinions on cloth nappies, co sleeping, sling wearing etc. I'm pretty sure they didn't approve but I certainly didn't discuss it with them.

honeytea · 31/07/2012 17:19

I don't think they know they are upsetting me, I think they see it as educating me. There is nothing wrong with how they parented but I wish they would see that there is more than 1 way.

I'm loving the positive cloth nappy stories, SIL actually said that her DS with red hair got nappy rash and he only ever had sposies, I said well maybe it is time to try something different?

I think I need to be stronger and tell them no, we won't be doing that. My own mum was a bit too much of a hippy in my opinion, so her parenting advice is usually met with a Hmm face by me and I just tell her "no we won't be giving the baby food I have chewed up/communal breast feeding/Crystal healing" I think I need to be more open with them but it is harder as there are so many of them and they are so convinced of their "rightness"

OP posts:
lambethlil · 31/07/2012 17:44

Positive robustness is definitely the way forward! You're not going to convince a posse of Swedes that they're not right. Have you got anyone else to accompany you to scans, etc?

tiggyfours · 31/07/2012 17:49

We have had strange looks here ( France) when DD is wearing here backpack with rein handle. But then we also strap our children in on every car journey.

honeytea · 31/07/2012 18:00

My DP has been to my other scans so I won't be needing them to assist. SIL (the oldest of 3 sisters) has been to every one of the family births (10) so there is a little bit of preasure to have her at hospital with us, my mum is flying over when the school term ends so if she is in Sweden she will come to the birth with us, otherwise I think I will have to say no SIL can't come. She has said "helpful" things like "non of us needed an epidural I can't see why you will need one"

MIL said she will be ashamed if we put reins on DS when he is a toddler, she will just have to stay at home and not come out with us then!

OP posts:
ErikNorseman · 31/07/2012 18:00

You don't really need reins either. Just teach the child to walk nicely and hold your hand :)

mynewpassion · 31/07/2012 18:04

Sounds to me like cultural differences than being judgmental.

Queenofsiburbia · 31/07/2012 18:05

I'm pretty Shock at the MIL smoking! Obv in uk that would totally undermine anything she said about pregnancy & you should completely ignore her and explain that to her?!

My ILs are very lovely but really quite old as MIL was 21 with her eldest and 38 with last (my DH. There's just 3 of them I hasten to add, not like some Victorian monsterly large family!).

That means she's pretty dismissive of modern things to do with pregnancy like food bans. Keeps offering me pâté for e.g.

Understanding her old school ideas I keep everything to myself about things I intend to do, such as to BF or not, etc etc. Then there's no irritation on either side.

I also avoid going for dinner... Last time was asparagus with home made hollandaise (own eggs so a no no) then rare roast beef, then home made semi cooked lemon pudding. Lovely but not ideal for pregnancy Hmm

Badvoc · 31/07/2012 18:06

Tell them you are going to put the baby in nappies made from bamboo...very environmentally friendly you know!
Tell them you are going to ff from birth. And wean at 10 weeks.
Tell them you plan on a water birth in your garden to whale song cd.
Tell them if it's a boy you are calling him Herod.
That should shut em up for a bit.....:)

diddl · 31/07/2012 18:07

Used reins.

Mine are 21 months apart.

Todder was ousted from the buggy for baby to use it as a pram & was only in a buggy when husband & I went out together.

Aren´t they biking everywhere by the time they´re 5 in Sweden?

ChasedByBees · 31/07/2012 18:09

You cannot have someone there during your labour that will be negative about your pain relief choices, that would be hideous.

It sounds like you have the robustness to handle this well!

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 31/07/2012 18:15

I have SEVEN SILs on OHs side and a MIL who had 12 children.

It was a total nightmare until I learnt to ignore 90% of their advice.
Unfortunately they thought not doing what they did was a personal and grievous insult.
I just didn't want to feed my baby Carnation Milk and cod liver oil Hmm

epeesarepointythings · 31/07/2012 18:24

I'd be looking up what 'Fuck off' is in Swedish...

Dionysia · 31/07/2012 18:28

i have used reusables (the saviour of DDs bum! sposies had her red-raw..)

and reins (very handy)

but it isn't really about whether these things are good or not, it's the way they are being about it!!

It is your baby. your pregnancy. your birth.

smile, nod, do whatever you like.

rising to it will just upset you.

Interestingly although my MIl did pretty much the same as me she will object to the way i do things (she used cloth, but apparently i don't wash them right....) ANYWAY ..i suspect you would find the same!

Peevish · 31/07/2012 18:29

Honestly, OP, there don't even have to be cultural differences. If I had a pound for all the unwanted - and at times frankly daft or dangerous - advice from my MIL and SILs (who are all of the same nationality as I am), I'd be rich. I perfected a condescending, slightly surprised smile and the remark 'Oh, I think you'll find medical advice has changed a lot since you had children!' This when my MIL repeatedly told me to rub whiskey on my teething baby's gums etc.

But no way should you have your SIL present at the birth - you're not the Borg, for God's sake!

MammaTJ · 31/07/2012 18:32

I don't think you need worry about upsetting them by telling them you disagree with them, after all, they don't seem to worry about upsetting you.

TheWonderfulFanny · 31/07/2012 18:41

Oh oh oh! Tell them you want to call the baby Pippa! am told it's an astonishingly rude word in Swedish Wink

honeytea · 31/07/2012 18:44

The fully grown able kids in prams issue is not helped by the very generous offer of free public transport in Stockholm so long as you have a child in a pram. I think people might keep their kids in prams to save buying bus tickets.

Oh do admit I do not envy you your 7 SILs, you must be well practised at the Hmm face.

Tell them you are going to put the baby in nappies made from bamboo...very environmentally friendly you know!
Tell them you are going to ff from birth. And wean at 10 weeks.
Tell them you plan on a water birth in your garden to whale song cd.
Tell them if it's a boy you are calling him Herod.
That should shut em up for a bit.....smile

This list is fab! I told them I was going to make a smacking book (I have no intention of smacking DC) as smacking is banned in Sweden, I said any naughty behaviour will be written down in the book and smacks will be dished out upon arival at heathrow. I would never do this but there faces were funny!

OP posts:
honeytea · 31/07/2012 18:46

Oh oh oh! Tell them you want to call the baby Pippa! am told it's an astonishingly rude word in Swedish wink

Great plan! It means to shag in swedish.

OP posts:
MummyPigandDaddyPig · 31/07/2012 18:51

Being a Swede in the UK, I can tell you that I am equally baffled at the UK ways of having babies and bringing them up! There is definitly a cultural difference, but also remember Sweden is a tiny country population wise and the choice in consumergoods can be very limited hence everyone has the same pram...car...babygear...and all the kids wear POP outerwear....
Having spent the last 20 odd years in the UK I can see both sides, but I am still baffled at UK mothers love affair with formula. In Sweden as OP said it is not an option. The only one of my swedish family and friends who used it was the mum of triplets as she struggled to feed all 3....

I can explain the obsession with 5 year olds in pushchairs, in Sweden if you have a pram you ride buses for free. Hence DC will sit in the pram on the bus so or daddy doesnt have to pay. public transport is great and widely used even if you have a car, as its just much more practical than driving. The pram is also useful for getting the shopping home on the bus, with DC perched on top!

honeytea ignore the silly inlaws and enjoy your pregnancy! And remember your baby will be a very lucky child growing up in one of th safest cleanest countries in the world with brilliant schools childcare and opportunities. I would move back if I could now I have children as I envy the life my family in Sweden enjoy compared to the way my children live here in the UK.

MummyPigandDaddyPig · 31/07/2012 18:52

Haha xposted with honeytea re buses...

QuintessentialShadows · 31/07/2012 19:02

You married a Swede, and moved to Sweden. What do you expect?

That his family should adopt to the English way of doing things?

Why do you have to be so opinionated and insist to do it the BRITISH way in Sweden, why not go with the flow and adapt to the culture you adopted through marriage? You are in for a hard life, I am sorry, but you would be ridiculed if you moved to India and tried to do it the British way. Or the other way around...

Reigns are for dogs, not children.

I find it a lot easier to do it the native way, than my way, wherever I am.

(Speaking as a Norwegian who has lived in both the UK and Norway with small children)

Peevish · 31/07/2012 19:19

Quintessential, the OP probably expects a basic level of tolerance and politeness from her ILs, whatever their nationality. They sound bizarrely conformist and insensitive.

diddl · 31/07/2012 19:20

Actually if they all sit around laughing & belittling OP-isn´t that bullying?