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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to actually not get why SIL has stopped talking to us since DS was born

118 replies

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 13:49

DH, his parents and his siblings are scattered across the globe. We used to be very very close to his sister. Regular calls, texts, emails and visits.

Since DS was born a year ago she wants nothing to do with us. We used to Skype her monthly and email more regularly than that, and we've heard nothing from her since DS was about 4 months old, aside from the occasional "like" of a picture I post on FB. I email her photos (copying in other family members, friends etc) and ask how she's going. She runs her own business which hasn't been doing so well over the past few years but she used to talk about it with us and we tried our best to support her. I would go in and help her out at work when I visited her.

She and her DP live the fab/hip/cool/edgy life in a trendy city. She's late 30s but has said she's not sure whether/when she will have kids, so I don't think she's jealous of us having DS or anything like that. A couple of her friends have had children recently and she slags them off a bit for moving to the suburbs/not wanting to come out anymore. I'm not a complete new-mum bore I think - I mean I do post photos fairly regularly on FB (2-3 times a month) and email more personal photos round to close family and friends including her. But I'm not one of those forever-updating-about-PFB-types.

When DS was very young we went back home and she came to visit us with her DP, but she spent most of the time working and not wanting to hold DS or do anything with him. She kept calling him "it" instead of his name and it was a bit annoying really. But overall it seemed like a good holiday, when she wasn't working we did get to do stuff together and it was fun. I just don't understand why she's so quiet now? I just can't get through to her. DMIL has said TBH it's just like what DSIL does to her - no replies to emails, calls are very rare (couple of times a year etc).

It makes me sad Sad and I have given up emailing her to set up Skype dates because she never gets back to me. She doesn't reply to DH's few emails either - although it's always been me that was the one setting up Skype dates etc. He's annoyed at her but is a bit like "that's just what DSIL is like". I don't only want to talk about DS to her and bore her with kid stuff, I want to hear about her life, what she's doing, her work, all the stuff we used to talk about. I am worried about her because from what I hear through DPILs her biz isn't going well and DH and I would like to just be there for her and listen, even from a distance.

AIBU to not understand this at all???? Or more precisely, is she BU or am I BU and should just expect this as part and parcel of having kids ie people don't feel like they have anything in common with you anymore? I know it's hard when you're separated by distance too, but I keep in touch with friends in other countries quite regularly (monthly/bi-monthly skypes etc) so it's not THAT hard....

OP posts:
Oriunda · 02/10/2013 14:18

DH and I had been trying for 9 yrs before we had DS (several mc etc) and it was very hard being around friends/family with children, especially after each mc. We're not sharers so dealt with our sorrows in private. During our childless years we took holidays, went to nice restaurants etc. The number of people after we had DS who thought we were enjoying our cool lifestyle so much we'd put off having kids! People really have no idea what goes on below the surface.

If you think she's having fertility treatment so finds it all painful she's hardly going to tell you, is she? ! I would back off for now and let her come to you if and when she wants to.

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:19

Mooncup I know, what you say has run through my head too. I have never once pressed her about when/if she would have kids etc. I asked her once many years ago when she was with her previous DP but that's it.

OP posts:
DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 02/10/2013 14:21

She might actually really want to have babies of her own but for whatever reason it wont happen at all/anytime soon. Or she finds baby talk really dull and is avoiding you for that reason?

My own SIL was very unenthusiastic when the subject of her having children came up, lots of "oh maybe but I've got so much I want to do with my life before then, when will I find the time to go clubbing?! hahahaha!" but it turns out she can not have them naturally. And actually she really did want them badly. Makes me sad guilty that while I was wittering on about how happy I was to have mine she must have been praying I shut the fuck already because it hurt so much. She admitted at the time the truth came out she was jealous I fell pregnant with both of mine without even trying, let alone relying on ferility treatment.

I think you should cut your SIL some slack either way.

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:21

If I back off completely though will it not just give the impression that we're not interested in her anymore?! Because that's not the case at all! We miss her and we miss talking to her.

But maybe we have no choice.

OP posts:
Scuttlebutter · 02/10/2013 14:23

Can I just say that very tiny babies are not actually all that interesting, and if you are not used to them, actually rather intimidating. Will they cry if I hold them? Which end will leak first? What do I do with the head etc. ? Even if they are family members, I've always found it very hard to summon more than a polite interest in them, and have absolutely zero interest in holding them. I do find children become much more interesting when they've grown up a bit and are walking, talking etc and much more personality comes through, and there's less random vomiting. It may be that she will become a terrific "cool" auntie when your DS is a bit older and can really enjoy interacting with her - try to take the long view.

If it is fertility issues, which sounds far more likely, then leaving things be is probably best, and scaling back on your contact. Nothing you will say will help and could even make things worse. I'd gently take things down a notch.

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:26

Oh definitely scuttle little babies are boring - which is why I would love her to see him regularly on Skype now that he can do stuff, and move, and be more entertaining!

It's just bloody hard because DH and I - and worse of all DS - feel like we've been dumped - with no explanation. Obviously that is nothing compared to what she must be going through if she is having fertility/dealing with not having kids issues. But she and I were so close for ten years and now... nothing.

OP posts:
Tattiesthroughthebree · 02/10/2013 14:27

I struggle with people who had babies round about the time my 3 miscarried babies were due. Some of those kids are now teens, but it's still in the back of my mind when I see them; I could have had a DC who would be at the same stage of school as you / as tall as you / etc.

Don't back of completely, but try to send her chatty e-mails asking about her life?

Grennie · 02/10/2013 14:28

Zara, maybe she is feeling desperate but thinks with a new baby, she has no right to ask you for support. People can think either you have enough on your plate, or they don't want to spoil your joy.

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:28

I already do send chatty emails tatties/links to silly things/links to clothes and stuff we used to chat about but she doesn't reply!

OP posts:
DuckToWater · 02/10/2013 14:28

It could be she thinks you won't have anything in common now you have children, that you have moved on to a different way of life.

The fertility thing may be extremely likely, or maybe her DP doesn't want kids and secretly she does. It was only the bits about being all "Ew" around children and criticising friends for moving to the 'burbs made me think she "doth protest too much" and actually there is some insecurity there about her own lifestyle, even if it's not as severe as infertility issues.

Tattiesthroughthebree · 02/10/2013 14:29

Meant to say -for all you know, she's keeping quiet about a mc - I kept very quiet about my last preg, because of the previous mcs, and then when I mc'd, hardly anyone knew.

MooncupGoddess · 02/10/2013 14:30

Yes, it took me years to get over the 'shit - I might break it' reflex when someone asked if I wanted to hold their baby. It can also be quite hard to know what to say about babies apart from total banalities.

I'd keep contact quite low key and limited, and not mention your DS at all - but maybe drop her a line/Facebook comment occasionally if you see something that might make her laugh/relate to an interest you have in common? She sounds unhappy and might appreciate you are still reaching out, even if she doesn't show it.

MooncupGoddess · 02/10/2013 14:31

Sorry x-post, I see you're already trying that.

You sound lovely OP, I hope she cheers up in time and gets back in touch.

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:33

I might suggest that DH sends her a cheery newsy email on the weekend cos he's had a lot of stuff happen recently work-wise, and ask what's up with her. It may be harder for her to ignore an email from her brother.

But if she keeps not reply to ANYTHING I mean it's hard to keep on a one-sided effort.

OP posts:
Pigsmummy · 02/10/2013 14:33

I just found found out that one of my very close friends has had a second round of IVF fail and I was stunned that I didn't know that she had decided to do it, we had talked about it before and we are very close, however since the birth of my DS a year ago she hasn't felt able to open up about this to me. Could this be a similar situation?

I think that with her behaviour around your baby and the lack of contact the only conclusion that you can reach is that she has a issue with communicating with you as much as she used to, it's not your issue it's hers.

sebsmummy1 · 02/10/2013 14:33

I think if it were me I would reach out to her one more time saying you'd live to catch up with her but totally understand that she is busy at the moment. So you will leave the invitation with her and swinging lots of live her way etc.

Then I would drop it.

Personally I go into my cave when I'm worried about things and I wonder if she is actually having a seriously hard time right now and just doesn't want to talk. Give her space and hopefully she will resurface at some point xxx

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:34

Ask what's up with her in a "what's new" sense not in a "what's wrong with you" sense, just to clarify!!!

At one point we used to chat about living in the same city, next door even and sharing childcare!

This makes me cry Sad

Thank you for posting everyone. I have been feeling so confused about this months.

OP posts:
Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:35
  • about this for months

Yes I think a cheery email from DH, all newsy, sending lots of love... and then just leave it aside from FB contact etc.

OP posts:
sebsmummy1 · 02/10/2013 14:36

Sending lots of love even doh

Zara1984 · 02/10/2013 14:36

I hope it doesn't come to that though :(

OP posts:
DorothyMantooth · 02/10/2013 14:37

I also thought it may be fertility issues. I had a MMC last year with lots of complications and although we hadn't been trying long and don't necessarily have fertility problems per se, it was completely devastating and for a while I found it very difficult to be around people who had babies, were pregnant, or who might even want to talk about it. My DSS got pregnant just after I miscarried and it was just the worst. I told very few people, but unfortunately I did get the sort of response I was afraid of getting from some of those I did tell ("don't worry, you'll get pregnant again soon ... MC is really common you know"). If your DSIL is TTC and having difficulties I can imagine it would be very painful to see/talk to you, and maybe she's not addressing it because she knows it's not your fault that you have had a lovely DS, and doesn't want you to feel bad.

Personally, if it was someone I really cared about I would send them a gentle email saying that you have been trying to get hold of her, but haven't managed in a while for whatever reason, but if she ever wants to speak to you she knows where you are. You will just make yourself feel worse for constantly trying and being rebuffed, and at least that way she will know that you care and will be there for her when she needs you. This will also work if she's just ignoring you for another reason!

MooncupGoddess · 02/10/2013 14:37

Could it be that she feels really miserable what with her business going wrong, her friends having babies and moving away, etc., and thinks bitterly that you/your DH have perfect lives with everything you want?

CMOTDibbler · 02/10/2013 14:41

If I were your dh, her brother, I'd phone her, have a chat and see how that went. Email/txt/FB are so hard to judge anything on, and if her business is in crisis she may well just be overwhelmed and avoiding things.

AbiRoad · 02/10/2013 14:41

I would send a shortish friendly newsy email and just say at the end that you have not heard form her a while and dont want to pester her, but you are there if you need her. And then back off for a bit.

Grennie · 02/10/2013 14:42

I agree Dibbler. Depression can make it hard to answer emails/texts/fb

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