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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to have told MIL thanks but no thanks

22 replies

Bearfrills · 14/09/2013 15:54

There have been issues in the past with MIL playing favourites and also issues with her not bothering at all with our DCs in favour of her other DGC (I won't give specific examples or this will turn into an essay!). In 2010 it all came to a head and DH decided enough was enough, we cut her off as she was basically a toxic presence in our lives. A year and a bit later I'd not long had DC2 and she contacted me wanting to making amends. DH didn't want anything to do with her but agreed she could see me and the DCs if that was what we wanted.

There have been a couple of minor issues since then. I stopped taking the DCs to her house nearly a year ago when snide 'jokes' were made about DS such as "quick, here comes [DS name], hide the toys!" (she keeps toys at her house for her other DGC) and him being a handful/tornado/wrecking ball, etc (he's energetic but no more than any other 4yo and 4yo other DGC is exactly the same but no such comments were directed at him). The day I stopped taking them there was when DGC bit DS because DS was touching 'his' (DGCs) toys. DS immediately hit DGC. I told DS off for hitting, even in retaliation. DGC was told "next time he hits you, hit him back, don't be so soft" Hmm

She carried on seeing the DCs but things have gradually come to a head again. Again, I won't list example after example or this post would be even longer than it is already. She hasn't seen the DCs in five weeks, by choice and she only lives down the road, she just hasn't seem them and hasn't responded to calls or messages. Five weeks ago she made arrangements to come see them. We waited in for her and she didn't come, she didn't answer my calls when I tried to ring her, ditto texts. I was actually getting worried something had happened to her. That evening she texted to say she couldn't make it as her DP was ill. Fair enough, I thought. Except it turned out he wasn't. Instead of visiting, like she arranged, she went out for a meal with SIL and the DGCs then lied about it. She never, ever takes the DC anywhere becaus she takes the DGCs out every weekend and she says she can't cope with four. Fair enough, was my opinion, it would be better if she could maybe play turns but again that's her choice and I can't force her. Except it turns out she's been taking the two children from next door to her out all summer along with the two DGCs. In conversation she talks about her "two grandchildren" and then immediately corrects herself "I mean four grandchildren" - not just one conversation but several.

DS birthday was a few weeks ago. She didn't come to see him. Her DP arrived just as DS was going to bed, delivered £5 in a card, and left. DDs birthday is today. MIL rocked up this afternoon with cards and a relatively pricey Vtech toy.

I turned her away at the door as I finally have had enough. I didn't shout, I didn't scream. I calmly pointed out that DS got £5 and she cannot then give DD a gift worth a lot more than that. I stated that I won't have them treated differently to one another so thank you, but no thank you. DH is in agreement with this. She got very upset and said she doesn't treat any of the children differently, she treats them all the same. I pointed out that this is not the case and asked her to leave as it was going to turn into an argument with her upset in that way.

I feel like crap. I hate confrontation and usually I just bite my tongue for the sake of keeping the peace but I'm so sick of it all. Have I been unreasonable?

OP posts:
ScottishInSwitzerland · 14/09/2013 15:57

YANBU
Sounds like your DC will be better off without her.

expatinscotland · 14/09/2013 15:58

This woman is toxic. Your h is right about it all. Just drop her. No more attempts to contact her or set up meetings. Move on with your lives. If your children ask, tell them it's none of their faults, that some people are very mixed up and have issues.

YANBU.

themaltesefalcon · 14/09/2013 16:00

Well done. Your children don't need this unpleasantness in their lives. They can't possibly understand it.

Walkacrossthesand · 14/09/2013 16:01

Well done for standing up to her, is all I can say. 'I treat them all the same' - deluded woman!

Snazzyenjoyingsummer · 14/09/2013 16:01

In general I would say YANBU although it does come to mind that having been crap about DS's birthday it's a but of a lose-lose for her - either she treats your DD the same (crap) way or she steps it up but then is wrong for treating them differently. But she does sound in denial about a lot of the other stuff, and the behaviour towards them at her house isn't good.

Is your DH still not seeing or speaking to her? And it's his mother? I would get him to sort it out/deliver the 'don't contact any of us again' speech. Sounds like you have been soaking it all up.

YouTheCat · 14/09/2013 16:02

Just think of it this way, in a few years your ds is going to notice the difference in how he is treated.

You've tried your best.

Leave her to stew.

Bearfrills · 14/09/2013 16:02

I remember I was my paternal grandparents favourite, me and my cousin. At the time it was cushy and I loved being their "little darling". It's only as an adult that I've realised the effect it had on my brothers and the arguments my parents had about it. I really don't want that for the DCs :(

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 14/09/2013 16:04

TBH I think you've gone above and beyond ,particularly as your husband isn't bothered . She is not the kind of person your children want in their lives you are well rid . Congratulations !

phantomnamechanger · 14/09/2013 16:07

so are the other GC her daughters kids rather than her sons?

I don't think it should make any difference but you do see it all the time on here that some MIL feel more of a bond to their own DDs kids than to their DILs kids. And some mums feel their DC have more of a bond with their mum than their DH mum. Their mum has free access to the kids and is welcome to drop in but the MIL must book in advance or wait to be invited and no more frequently than once a month.
If that's down to personality/different way of doing things, that's one thing, but just for the sake of whos kids they are, no. She is in the wrong though, no favourites.The children would soon start to notice being treated differently.

nurseneedshelp · 14/09/2013 16:07

My grandmother treated all her grandchildren differently and unfairly, she was very spiteful and when I turned 15 I made the decision to cut her out my life and its the best decision I ever made!

I see her from a distance all the time but unsure if she recognises me.

Don't let her treat your dc this way, toxic people should have no place in your life regardless of who they are.

Bearfrills · 14/09/2013 16:10

Yeah, the other DGC are SILs children. They're the same age as DS and DD, there are two months between DS and Dnephew and two months between DD and Dniece.

OP posts:
ScottishInSwitzerland · 14/09/2013 16:16

seriously bear ditch her and don't give her a second thought. your children deserve better

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/09/2013 16:18

YANBU for turning this woman away.

Your DH was right all along re his awful mother I am sorry to say.
Cut her off now and do not let her or her man back into your lives.

Not all grandparents are kind and loving and this woman certainly is not. Not just content with having favourites within the family she was also trying to make a favourite child within your own family unit.

BTW gifts can also be used by such people as a means of power and control.

Well done for putting a stop to this overt favouritism, not all would have been so brave or insightful.

I would also suggest you read "Toxic Inlaws" written by Susan Forward.

phantomnamechanger · 14/09/2013 16:52

crikey, given that the DGC are even the same ages and genders, any decent GM would be buying them EXACTLY the same presents (Unless one child already had the item and the other wanted one)

JoinYourPlayfellows · 14/09/2013 16:58

You were right to tell her to go.

morethanpotatoprints · 14/09/2013 17:15

YABU and you can't have her in your life anymore.
Poor kids. My mil is a bit like this with dd and treats her differently to our ds's and hardly saw them when they were little as we lived miles away. So not exactly the same, there. The thing is they notice, even at 18 and 22 it hurts that when we moved here, closer to them they weren't bothered. Now we have a dd, they visit regularly.
Your dc deserves better than this and would notice her behaviour as he grows up.

pigletmania · 14/09/2013 17:40

Yanbu at all, this is the icing on the cake, she sounds very very toxic and not a very nice person. Cut her out, your children don't need someone who treats them 3rd rate (chosen to take her other grandchildren out, as well as neighbours kids above your children)

elcranko · 14/09/2013 17:53

YANBU at all. She sounds awful. I hope that in the future she realises what a mistake she's made and contacts you apologising but until then cut her out. Your DC don't need this crap in their lives. Well done for standing up to her and refusing to let her treat you all like this.

Pigsmummy · 14/09/2013 17:59

You have far more patience than me! Recently my MIL referenced having "all her grand children together" missing out my DD and it really hurt! I wouldn't be able to put up with as much as you. Distance yourself and don't feel bad x

JerseySpud · 14/09/2013 18:01

You've done the right thing

My male cousin was always my grans favourite and my female cousin my grandads.

I've noticed it all through growing up and now its worse.

My gran has no interest in my DD's. If my cousin had had kids instead of screwing around then she would be all over them. She tells me she can't afford to come and visit us here and see DD's but she can fuck off to Kenya for 3 weeks or accross to see the 4th cousin in San Fransisco.

So i don't bother now. I don't call her or send anything to her and we have no contact apart from over facebook infrequently.

It works for me, not my DM but DF thinks i'm doing the right thing as well

MammaTJ · 14/09/2013 18:09

My own DM has a definite favourite among her GC. My eldest nephew is now called 'Golden boy' by the rest of us. He is actually a young man in his early 20's now and actually adorable, but so are my sisters other two children and so are my three.

Out and out favouritism is horrible. At least my DM only shows it in funny ways, like when I stay and ask if we can watch a particular programme when DNephew is going to visit I get told 'Oh, if it's ok with (Golden Boy)'. I then text him and tell him to indulge his old Aunt and because he is so lovely, he does!

My DM is obsessive about giving us all equal though, to the point that if any one of us wants a present over the £20 allowed for Christmas, we have to give her the extra money, even if it is just a £ or 2!

I really think YANBU OP. As your DH agrees with you, he must think that too!

NotYoMomma · 14/09/2013 21:23

I think when one person goes NC with a toxic parent their partner should support that and also go NC.

shouldnt have gone back for more

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