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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In thinking MIL is seriously overstepping

363 replies

Fairy1303 · 28/08/2013 05:25

I have posted similar before.

DSD(8) lives with us. Before me DH was a young single parent so MIL helped him a lot. As a result I have been more lenient with her blatant disregard for our family life.

We also have a 9 week old DS.

These things seem small, but she often lets herself into my house. She makes a beeline for DSDs room ( often with a brief you don't mind do you?... Over her shoulder), cleans it up, collects her laundry, makes her bed.

DSD went to stay for a few days over hols. Decided she didn't like a belt on some trousers. MIL "oh DSD says she doesn't like belt, so I have kept it." Why? Why not send it home and let me deal with it??

She 'popped' round today, asked me if she could take the children's washing home. Was visibly surprised and annoyed when I said I'd done it. Just to point up here - I'm not the type to have mountains of laundry piling up, she will literally leap on a few pairs of pants.

She also said "by the way, I'd you know the baby has a drs app on tues? I saw the note in your nappy bag. Who does she think made it????!!!

I may be sleep deprived over sensitive but this is lik, every other day. She is overstepping the mark isn't she??

It is constant. I feel that she thinks I am incapable, which I'm not.

Oh and we have lived together for 4 years now so I'm hardly new on the scene!

OP posts:
LongTailedTit · 29/08/2013 18:55

Meant to add - when she said that she felt hurt, I'd have told how hurtful it is for you to be constantly undermined in your own home. Angry

SauvignonBlanche · 29/08/2013 19:01

Hope OP isn't burying her MIL under the patio. Wink

everlong · 29/08/2013 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eatriskier · 29/08/2013 19:41

oh I don't know SB, I sorta hope she is Grin

InLoveWithDavidTennant · 29/08/2013 20:20

blimey!

hope the chat went ok today op

Ireallymustbemad · 29/08/2013 21:09

How did it go today OP?

Caoilainn · 29/08/2013 21:21

Update please!

WhatchaMaCalllit · 30/08/2013 09:58

Just hoping the "chat" went well Fairy.

UnicornsNotRiddenByGrownUps · 30/08/2013 11:06

Uh oh.... What's happened fairy? You've been away for too long!

BeansAndToast · 30/08/2013 15:01

I've been checking for an update all day as well. I really hope it went well, you have handled all of it much better than I would.

carlywurly · 30/08/2013 15:22

The obsessive behaviour with clothes is distinctly odd. I just read this and think mental health issues, but apologies if I'm way off the mark. Either way, a nightmare to deal with.

HeadfirstForHalos · 30/08/2013 15:40

I hope it went okay OP! I would get the key off her A.S.A.P.

fluffyraggies · 30/08/2013 16:01

Don't leave us hanging OP, we're all gnashing our teeth in outrage for you here Grin

Hope you're ok.

Fairy1303 · 30/08/2013 16:02

Sorry for committing the cardinal sin and keeping you all waiting! It has been a stressful and hectic couple of days!

Are you all sitting comfortably? I'll begin.

She arrived. With bag full of washed clothes (when did she even pick those up?!) did her usual, went upstairs, put them away.

I sat her down and cited this as an example of all of what is wrong.
I told her that we have appreciated it all andi could understand why but that I am a grown woman and I can look after my own family.

She could not understand AT ALL. Said she thought she had made an effort to be helpful but 'allow' me my independence and that she couldn't understand why I had suddenly become so obtuse.

She finds me 'most ungracious'. I have thrown her attempts at love back in her face and I am undermining her relationship with her grandchildren.

She thinks I am unfair on DSD and she didn't want to say anything but I am really unfair not keeping her room tidy for her Hmm.

She doesn't understand where she went wrong with her children so that they all hate her so much.

We are making her feel depressed and ill and she hadn't been able to sleep since our phone call.

All she has ever tried to do was help us.

She then gathered up her things and left! She has resigned herself to the fact that we will not let her see her grandchildren!! I have told her I am sorry she feels that way but to contact me when she has taken some time out and feels ready to move on positively.
I said that it has never been our intention to stop her seeing her grandchildren and she is welcome to see them, have them to stay, play, whatever when she wants to, but that it is not appropriate for her to be so involved in day to day chores and that it is time I put my foot down!

So now she is not talking to us.

Shame.

Long may it last. I suspect not long!

OP posts:
ClaraOswald · 30/08/2013 16:04

She has thrown an almighty tantrum. Let her stew. But do be prepared to fight the rumour machine as she n starts telling everyone about how horrible.you are.

DIYapprentice · 30/08/2013 16:07

She doesn't understand where she went wrong with her children so that they all hate her so much.

Hmm. So this isn't an isolated example of her controlling behaviour, is it?!

fluffyraggies · 30/08/2013 16:08

Cheers OP.

As clara says - let her have er tantrum. She has much much more to loose than you by disappearing in a huff. If the dust is left to settle i would hope she will have sense to make the first move.

Don't bow to emotional blackmail.

eatriskier · 30/08/2013 16:10

Oh fairy

She obviously does not get it. You need to change your locks now. She will be in your house when you are out of it.

A few other posters have said she will not take this rationally with words. You now need to back your words up with actions.

Don't initiate contact with her, its another way of controlling things. Let her contact you then take your sweet time returning contact. Time to drag control back. Or as someone else brilliantly put it, time to piss back!

FixItUpChappie · 30/08/2013 16:11

Sounds like you stayed calm and were respectful OP - good on you for setting straight what you need to happen. Its in her court really - I hope she was only so childish out of sheer shock and that its not going to be an ongoing sulk.

clam · 30/08/2013 16:13

Oh wow! Shock

Well done you, anyway, for being assertively pleasant, even if she has flounced!

GobTheGoblin · 30/08/2013 16:17

Did you take the key off her? If not I suggest you change your locks pronto or she'll coming in when you are out.

UnicornsNotRiddenByGrownUps · 30/08/2013 16:20

Good question Gob ... Are you taking the key or getting the locks changed? I would go bat shit crazy if someone touched my washing like that. Freaky freaky.

Viking1 · 30/08/2013 16:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Donnadoon · 30/08/2013 16:26

Sorry that is so funny ^ " regularly gets cancer when anyone stands up to her"

buss · 30/08/2013 16:36

well done OP - what does dh think?

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