Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I have the most ridiculous MIL of them all?

74 replies

Dannilion · 10/06/2013 01:31

This is kind of lighthearted/ I want to hear about others experiences too.

My MIL is the most oppositional woman on the planet when it comes to my opinions. Whenever I'm in a room with her and I'm having a conversation with someone else she always jumps in, starts shouting that I'm wrong and then goes off on one.

Some gems from the past few weeks.

Insisting that newborn DD does not need a car seat, it isn't illegal and no-one could stop me from driving with her on my lap.

Saying its perfectly acceptable to trick your partner into having children with you by lying about contraception because "you know they're probably just scared".

Cheating in a marriage isn't really that big an issue and certainly not worth losing trust over.

Please... Tell me I'm not alone with this nonsense!

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 10/06/2013 01:36

Not my MIL but my aunt is like this. Seriously argued with me that I was wrong that most people in Australia live near the coast. "Alice Springs" she said triumphantly. I couldn't help myself, "Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane." Drives me potty but she just likes to be right even when she blatantly isn't.

timidviper · 10/06/2013 01:39

If you ever need an adjudicator I could loan you my MIL because SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING AND IS ALWAYS RIGHT!!!!

VonHerrBurton · 10/06/2013 01:44

You're not alone with this nonsense :)

In my case, my suffering lasted for 8 years of similar stuff to you before i decided my life was too short to spend sniping with her. We no longer see eachother but dh and ds are free to torture themselves as and when! It works for us.

I couldn't have an opinion, an idea, a viewpoint, a plan without her arguing with me. For the first few years i just put up and shut up - it was easier. But when ds came along i just couldn't handle her horrible, cynical, bitchy ways any more!

Funny, she seems to have alienated all her friends and none of the wider family speaks to her, so i know its not 'just me'. She used to say i was touchy and paranoid, no love, you're just a rude, insensitive cow!

Phew! Rant over...

livingdownunder · 10/06/2013 03:07

I'd have to namechange to tell my story but op you have my sympathy. It's exhausting having someone argue the opposite to you about everything, I don't know how people keep their cool. Any tips?

cupcake78 · 10/06/2013 03:34

They all sound utterly charming Confused

vvviola · 10/06/2013 03:54

My MIL isn't too bad with me (although she'll argue black is white with DH), but she gets these ideas in her head sometimes that absolutely nothing will dislodge.

One weekend visit we had to hear repeatedly that she had been taught at work that business writing no longer required punctuation or good grammar and that we were being offensive if we used it. Nothing we said would convince her otherwise.

She's otherwise lovely, if a bit potty, but at times like those... WinkGrin

TooTabooToBoo · 10/06/2013 04:18

vv - I heard that about business writing too, a few years ago. I was NVQ assessing at the time and one of my Learners argued the point with me to try to justify his appalling spelling!

Trinpy · 10/06/2013 05:40

No, Im sure mine is worse.

Did you know you shouldn't use a public swimming pool in warm weather because you WILL catch a disease from the water?

And that everyone on benefits is lazy and workshy (plus, filthy rich from TAXPAYER'S money!!!)

And that the only religion in England is CofE? No other religions exist in this country.

She also does the thing of getting in a massive strop and yelling/storming off for no particular reason.

And she has stockpiled children's clothes for our kids up to age 10 (we have no dcs and I am not currently pregnant).

SanityClause · 10/06/2013 05:54

If something is in the Daily Mail, it is troooooo.

She once read an article about how a Labour think tank had said that elderly people were now less likely to be involved in charity work, than in the past.

She walked around saying "cheeky bugger!" as if one person had made this statement. Oh, and she does no charitable work, although she will put money into a collector's tin but only if it is a cancer charity.

Mixxy · 10/06/2013 06:42

Oh I have you beat. I live State side, MIL swore that my DS was not a citizen of Eurooe because he was born in the US. She contacted a lawyer after finding my will (in my bedroom safe!) because my will says my kids will go back to Europe if me and my husband die. She contacted the foreign birth registry and the Irish Consulate to tell them I was insane and my will meant nothing. She hires only Asian women because she "has a great relationship with them". - "They are so respectful and cooperative, unlike the blacks". Fuck youMIL. Oh I could go on. ..but that would probably be my "weak Irish DNA".

marriedinwhiteagain · 10/06/2013 07:01

5 MCs, two children. When wWe were going through that "such a shame you can't perform"

And yes a strop because we said yes you are very welcome to stay with us but we cannot drive you to the party (M25 ncluded en-route) because we only have five seats in the car. No dd cannot sit on your lap.

Counting food. Once lips deceived me and when the "ours would have argued over that" came - well you ahould have put some more on the table just slipped out.

The bragging about exams - even at fil's funeral she included his exam results.

Sad really her dds live abroadm

Mixxy · 10/06/2013 07:22

Oh marriedinwhiteagain I'm so sorry, you "couldn't preform" . I feel much better knowing my MCs were due to my "weak Irish DNA" . At least we knew what caused mine. [Hmm]

Mixxy · 10/06/2013 07:23

Oh marriedinwhiteagain I'm so sorry, you "couldn't preform" . I feel much better knowing my MCs were due to my "weak Irish DNA" . At least we knew what caused mine. [Hmm]

MrsLettuce · 10/06/2013 07:23

My MIL is a (diagnosed) narcissist. Need I say more?

CustardOmlet · 10/06/2013 07:43

Taking contrarianism to a whole new level!!! Can't complain about my MIL, she's too lovely. But DH is very well read, where as my DM is not so, and she will argue the death with DH, then sulk when she knows she can't win and I have to peace make, pissing exhausting!

cozietoesie · 10/06/2013 07:45

......She contacted the foreign birth registry and the Irish Consulate to tell them I was insane.....

Yep - I think that takes a pretty good biscuit so far!

Grin
Mixxy · 10/06/2013 07:45

Oh marriedinwhiteagain I'm so sorry, you "couldn't preform" . I feel much better knowing my MCs were due to my "weak Irish DNA" . At least we knew what caused mine. [Hmm]

Mixxy · 10/06/2013 07:45

Oh marriedinwhiteagain I'm so sorry, you "couldn't preform" . I feel much better knowing my MCs were due to my "weak Irish DNA" . At least we knew what caused mine. [Hmm]

Mixxy · 10/06/2013 07:52

Sorry, posting from my phone, don't know why iys showing up 8 times!

Mixxy · 10/06/2013 07:52

Sorry, posting from my phone, don't know why iys showing up 8 times!

WaitingForMe · 10/06/2013 07:55

My MIL doesn't believe you can have an income without a job. When I went freelance she worried about DH having to support me as I'd decided to stop working. She's even more cross now DH works for me. He missed a call recently and when he called her back apologised saying he'd been in the middle of a work task.

She actually shouted "You don't work. You don't have a job!"

She is so annoyed that in paying the mortgage each month we are proving her wrong. SIL used to side with her for everything but the work thing has been a step too far even for her.

Wishiwasanheiress · 10/06/2013 08:06

When we had dd1, a Bbc show showed a prog where the mil bumped off said dil for the baby.

Dh refused to watch on the principle "that's not as far fetched as it sounds...." His mother!

Are there any mils about? Do you know you are doing this? Is it on purpose? When did you change from normal woman to freak in m&s clothing? Is it really only mothers of boys where this occurs? Why has noone done research into this? (Research every other silly phenomenon...)

Bearmonkeysmum · 10/06/2013 08:11

Mine generally would do anything for anyone but is v v judgemental & just a little bit bonkers.

DS doesn't like to wear socks & will without fail pull them off. Mil & oh took him out the other day (v sunny & warm) & oh said mil stopped to put his socks back on at least 10 times insisting that he was just stubborn. Also said he must always always wear socks (even in bed/on the beach etc.) until he is at least 2 or he WILL have violent diarrhoea.

cozietoesie · 10/06/2013 08:13

Not wearing socks in bed gives you diarrhoea?

Confused
crumblepie · 10/06/2013 08:18

i love reading these mil threads because i have the best one in the world , have been married 4 yrs and not ever met her , doubt i ever will , ahh bliss .