Put a question to Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Education Minister

Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

AIBU?

AIBU or do I have to just put up with this? MIL related

129 replies

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 19:46

MIL is going to help with childcare when I return to work so I know we are very lucky. However despite the fact that I am 33 and by no means a spring chicken MIL treats me like I don't really know what I'm doing with my ds.

Example
He's 11 weeks and was talking to my dh about starting him Farley rusks now as 'a little taste' despite me stating that he will not be weaned until 6 months
She is going to stop medication prescribed by the GP for my ds as she doesn't think he should have it
She tells me to hold my ds differently to how I am, e.g. If he facing away from me and well supported she'll say oh turn him round
She stands over me when I'm feeding him and just watches, which I find so annoying.

He has really dry skin on his face and it's itchy, so I use the babygros with scratch mits as I don't want his face scratched, I came home today with a big old bleeding scratch on his face. I asked why the scratch mits weren't on and she said she was afraid his hand would go deformed . I tried to say look there wouldn't be scratch mits on the babygros if there was a danger of this but, no I'm wrong.
I know he will get lots of bumps and scratches in his life but I was very clear that I didn't want his hands scratching his face. FWIW I always allow him to use his hands to touch and explore and feel but then I cover them up again. I'm rubbish at trimming his nails, so I know the scratch issue is partly my fault.

I'm probably very PFB and my ds is only 11 weeks. I was away for 2 days on a work course so that's why she was with him.

I'm worried about how ill feel towards her when I go back to work (she will be doing 1 day a week). I really don't want my wishes ignored.

Do I have to bite my tongue? She said to my dh today that she has had lots of children so she knows what she is doing but she hasn't had my child before!

How do I get around this without falling out? I would never be disrespectful to her as my dh adores his dm and I adore him iykwim?!

Sorry for the ramble!

OP posts:

Thanks

Share

Report

ShadowStorm · 23/04/2013 20:25

I agree that her saying that she's going to stop your DS's medication is very worrying. What makes her think that she knows better about what medication he should receive than you and the GP?

The comments about early weaning would also bother me (not as much as the medication one), as would the general impression that she's going to ignore your wishes if they clash with her opinions on looking after children.

I'd seriously be looking into getting professional childcare instead.

Thanks

BlastAndDalmatians · 23/04/2013 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jacks365 · 23/04/2013 20:33

This could be my mother so its not restricted to mils.

She doesn't believe in feeding on demand.

She thinks picking up a baby everytime they cry is spoiling them.

I was unable to breastfeed for medical reasons so she said i should water down her formula.

If she tells me one more time that it was fine to put me outside in a pram for hours i'll scream.

I'd rather trust my mil to babysit.

I'm just a child who knows nothing about babies and she's brought up 3, problem with that is its dd4 i am getting the advice for and i was 42 when she was born. I think i have a good idea what i'm doing.

Good luck but you are fighting a losing battle find a childminder who will respect your wishes.

Thanks

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 20:39

It gets worse, I arrived home today and my ds was outside in the pram.

I've just answered my own question.

OP posts:

Thanks

Hissy · 23/04/2013 20:42

Please don't fail him here, please just take the decision that you will make the best choice for childcare for him.

Thanks

SquinkiesRule · 23/04/2013 20:43

Good gracious she doesn't listen does she!
I hope you have Dh on side for when you tell her she doesn't get to babysit anymore.

Thanks

FunnyBigToe · 23/04/2013 20:45

Find other childcare. YANBU.

Thanks

lauriedriver · 23/04/2013 20:48

Withholding medication doesn't count as harm. The op wrote one sentence about medication so I presume the medicine prescribed isn't some life saving medication or she might have focused on that point more strongly.

She focused more on the scratch mittens. The mil might be a bit of a pain in the arse but she will love your child & cherish their time together, more than any childminder ever will.

Thanks

badguider · 23/04/2013 20:49

I am going to not use MIL for regular childcare for work because although she is lovely I would rather she was available for emergency backup and also for babysitting when Dh and I want to do something together.

If you need a way to say 'no thanks' to your MIL and are worried she'll be offended if you get a childminder could you say you want to do the same as me?

Thanks

DontmindifIdo · 23/04/2013 20:52

I think that's answered it hasn't it?

She's bound to get upset, but quite frankly, someone is going to be upset, is it going to be MIL, or is it going to be you and your DS?

My view is, if you aren't going to do childcare for your own children, you need to be 100% confident that the alternative is as good as you doing it. It's hard enough going back to work without added worry that by doing so you are failing your DS.

Thanks

seeker · 23/04/2013 20:53

Not saying that all the other stuff was OK- but what's wrong with him being outside?

Thanks

flossy101 · 23/04/2013 20:59

I've been in a very similar predicament OP.

We have gone with paying for childcare (nursery).

Thanks

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 21:00

The medication was anti reflux, he vomits horrifically without it but she wanted to 'wean' him off it. I don't think she was trying to deliberately harm him.

I don't like him being left outside alone- a relative got bitten by a dog in their pram whilst being left alone so I'm a bit paranoid I suppose. Was left horrifically disfigured.

OP posts:

Thanks

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 21:01

Not that I've ever left him outside alone!

OP posts:

Thanks

elQuintoConyo · 23/04/2013 21:02

If you cannot afford other childcare, you should seriously stand your ground - and get your DP to back you up 100% in your presence and state that it's non-negotiable.
Do you think she's the kind of person who'll take offense at being left out when your own DM 'babysits' twice a week?
Maybe give her a month and see how it goes. If she's still messing about, fire her!

Thanks

Hissy · 23/04/2013 21:04

She's made all this easier for you.

Make it the straw that broke the camel's back, the example you need it to be.

Thanks

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 21:04

I quite like the idea of giving her a probationary period! I go back to work in September, so I have a while yet to get things sorted. I'm just feeling a little stressed about it all today.

OP posts:

Thanks

grograg · 23/04/2013 21:05

She left you 11 week old baby outside? The front? What did your DH say about that?

Thanks

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 21:06

Dh didn't really say anything but he thinks his dm can do no wrong so I have to be careful.

OP posts:

Thanks

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 21:06

Yes, at the front.

OP posts:

Thanks

mrspaddy · 23/04/2013 21:07

My honest advice is to go for paid childcare. I think she is irritating you already YANBU, she would irritate me too. It is going to excalate and it will be hard to not offload your concerns everyweek to your DH. I just think it your MIL is in your life and for the future. You don't need things getting awkward. A good friend of mine has a very difficult relationship now with MIL since she minded her child for few months and that was good few years ago.

Thanks

Pinkflipflop · 23/04/2013 21:08

I'm probably totally paranoid but I felt like screaming what if someone ran off with him?! It could happen.

All come to light today as its the first time I've left him and its given me an insight into how I will feel.

OP posts:

Thanks

grograg · 23/04/2013 21:10

Was she watching out the door/ window? I'd have taken the baby and then called her to ask how he was. But hen m a bitch. Seriously though its not on is it? I would be fuming. What did you say to her?

Thanks

idiuntno57 · 23/04/2013 21:10

free childcare comes at such a big price. I completely resented my MIL because she ignored me yet I had to go to work. Looking back paying someone who does what YOU want is the right way. Even if in the short term it means you are paying to go to work.

Thanks

diddl · 23/04/2013 21:13

"she said she was afraid his hand would go deformed"-seriously-how did you not laugh?

On the grounds of that I'd say no as she sounds completely witout common sense.

On the grounds of not giving prescribed necessary medicine I would say she's a danger!!

BTW-your husband needs to wise up & realise it's not about his bloody mother-but the safety of his own child.

So-upset his mum or know that his child is safe?

Thanks

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.