Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Drama loving SIL and her awful parenting

163 replies

FobblyWoof · 26/12/2012 21:21

Uh, sorry this is way more of a rant than an AIBU but I just have to get it out.

Went to MIL for Christmas lunch yesterday. Got there at half two (they don't eat til gone three) and it was clear that SIL had been drinking. She's not a big drinker so whatever she has goes to her head but she'd definitely had too much. Her DC are 4 and 2.

It's christmas, so i understand wanting a drink but It transpired after lunch that her DP had also been drinking but hadn't had as much as SIL. The kids generally run rampant anyway. When they're calm they're lovely to be around but more often than not that's not the case. By 4pm they were both shattered. They'd been up since 3.30 that morning and it had clearly been a long day.

SIL went for a lie down upstairs (after spending ages ignoring the kids while she used her ipad. This is not a new thing) and when she came down her DP said he was taking the kids home. They live literally around the corner and the kids were both in tears and had got to the point where they couldn't be reasoned with. SIL then has a go at her DP, the gist being that she's having a good time and there's no way they're leaving. This included him and the kids.

He's a complete wet lettuce and just sat there sulking in the corner. Meanwhile both children keep falling over through exhaustion. The two year old asked MIL for a drink and spilt it everywhere because she couldn't even hold it. All the while SIL is sat on her useless arse ignoring them. they continue the scream, and no one is saying anything.

My DP (SIL's brother) had been in the kitchen so I told him what was happening. He calls SIL over (because he can usually get through to her), and says that her kids are clearly unhappy, let her DP take them home and we will take her back later so she can have a good time.

My DP then goes through to speak to her DP (politiely telling him to man up because his kids are more important) and SIL storms upstairs accusing my DP of calling her a bad mum etc. She is, but he didn't say that, nor did he imply it. MIL then runs up to talk to her.

Ten minutes later she's downstairs ready to go. My DP goes to apologise to her (because everyone in the family has been taught to pander to her) and she lays into him saying how much of a good mother she is even when drunk (she's not) and how even though we have DD now (who is less than a year) he doesn't know better etc.

Just to note, before we had DD she knew better than us because she was a parent, despite that fact she's much younger, has no life experience and is uneducated and now that we have DD we still don't know better than her.

So then we have to reassure her that's not the case and no one was criticising her because no one wants to see her lose it. She then left and I went mad. I was so unbelievably pissed off that not only had she been a shit parent, she creates drama and we all have to feed into it (because MIL has never EVER called her up on it) but she brought (albeit inadvertently) my PFB into it. Please also note that my 10mo is better behaved than her four year old.

Then we had to act normal with her today! I suppose I have to have an AIBU, so AIBU to still be shaking with rage every time I think of her and her stupid face?

That feels so much better Xmas Grin

OP posts:
gimmecakeandcandy · 26/12/2012 21:52

Yes - a ten month old is a walk in the park compared with two kids under five, ( yes I have two under five) so on that front you have no idea at all but your sil does sound like she isn't doing a very good job. Not sure about your uneducated remarks either.

Are you coming back op?!

ChristmasNamechangeBridezilla · 26/12/2012 21:52

My SIL who doesn't yet have children very smugly gave my three year old a (very tasteful and expensive looking) wooden toy on a spring on Christmas morning because she "refuses to buy plastic tat", looking pointedly around my living room.

It's broken already. The handle fell off when my ds swung it so not fit for purpose really. I am trying not to do this Grin.

WorraLorraTurkey · 26/12/2012 21:53

What a nasty thread.

Did you and your DH help out in any way at all or were you just sat there like Les Dawson hoiking your bosoms up?

Lizzylou · 26/12/2012 21:57

Ok, you are obviously and understandably peed off at Sil's behaviour. However you've done yourself no favours by the snobby, snippy comments and naive belief that you are somehow mother of the year because your 10mth old is well behaved.
Just come back and have a look at this in
2/3 yrs time ;)

Theicingontop · 26/12/2012 21:58

Just to note, before we had DD she knew better than us because she was a parent, despite that fact she's much younger, has no life experience and is uneducated and now that we have DD we still don't know better than her.

Hmm. Probably would have been best to leave that, and the comment about your ten month old behaving better. Of course they do, they're a baby, they don't do much do they?

Aside from your apparently superior attitude, yanbu. She does sound like a bit of a dramatic flop.

But you sound like a bit of a stirrer if I'm honest... :/

MsElleTow · 26/12/2012 22:00

I'm almost 42, and no bugger would have been able to have reasoned with me had I have been awake since 3.30am,TBH! I would have likely been unable to have held on to my drink, spilt the bloody thing all over the floor and had ended up in tears as well!

Instead of sitting watching and judging, you should have pitched in and helped out! After all, maybe she could have learnt something from your far superior parenting skills!

usualsuspect3 · 26/12/2012 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

everlong · 26/12/2012 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chrismissymoomoomee · 26/12/2012 22:03

I think I would be playing with an ipad, or on my phone, or watching paint dry or any number of other things rather than be in your company, I'm not surprised she felt the need to get drunk before you came over. Whatever your feeling towards her and her 'stupid' face I imagine they are mutual.

For someone with so much life experience you have so much to learn yet. Try posting again in a year or 2 when your PFB turns into a normal child who tantrums, gets hyper and misbehaves on occassion (although I'm sure your SILs children will be out robbing cars and shoplifting by then).

usualsuspect3 · 26/12/2012 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Saccrofolium · 26/12/2012 22:04

Your SIL had been up since 3:30 am, got a bit squiffy on Christmas Day at her mum and dad's house and the kids were whingey and you see that as dreadful parenting? And you're "shaking with rage"? And she has to face her superior divvy of a SIL and her perfect parenting? You're lucky you didn't get her sleep-deprived foot up your nobbish arse.

I'm begging you to print this thread and keep it.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 26/12/2012 22:04

Is this a pisstake?

usualsuspect3 · 26/12/2012 22:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NannyEggn0gg · 26/12/2012 22:09

Why on earth didn't her husband go home and get their pyjamas (which they should have brought anyway).
Speaking as a grandma, I would have then bathed the children and put them to bed upstairs, even if only until parents were ready to go home - although I probably would have kept them.

Why didn't her mother say something?

everlong · 26/12/2012 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TiggerWearsATriteSmile · 26/12/2012 22:10

Hahaahahaha

Haaaaaaahahahahahaha

Hahaahahahahahahahahaaaaahaha.. Ha, haha, ha.

That is all.

JingleJohnsJulie · 26/12/2012 22:11

How exactly are you defining uneducated anyway and why does that reflect on her parenting? Some of the best parents I know don't even have a gcse. Doesn't stop their children being happy and well cared for.

Theicingontop · 26/12/2012 22:14

Just re-read it... So, you whispered in the ear of your DP, DP went out and had a word on your encouragement, and you basically sat back and watched it unfold. And then, when she'd left after it was implied she was a drunken shit mother, you went off on one?

Hmm
SarahStratton · 26/12/2012 22:16

Oh. Trigger beat me to it. AH well, hahahaha just you wait until your perfect 10 month old hits toddlerdom.

SarahStratton · 26/12/2012 22:17

Tigger, sorry stupid autocorrect.

MummytoMog · 26/12/2012 22:17

My DD was a delightful ten month old. She went to the fecking opera and sat through it, i took her to the theatre all the time, people thought she was an angel.

She spent most of Christmas day screaming and hitting things. I am not a shit parent. She is a three year old on Christmas day. Try to be less sanctimonious and maybe your SiL won't react so badly to your 'gentle encouragement'.

trixymalixy · 26/12/2012 22:18

Please also note that my 10 month old is better behaved than her 4 year old

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

everlong · 26/12/2012 22:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flow4 · 26/12/2012 22:20

THIS is why I am so very, very grateful that I haven't any adult relatives I have to spend Christmas with.

SarahStratton · 26/12/2012 22:21

Sounds like the perfect Christmas day to me, everlong. But then I don't have my head firmly stuck up my sanctimonious arse.