MIL is an OW! AIBU to tell her i disapprove?

[DuchessofKirkcaldy]

Backstory. Mil and I have always got on well. Mil is early 60s.Fil passed away 3 years ago (cancer).
Shortly after Fil died, mil recieved a letter fron an old male school friend. It stated that he had always been in love with her and had heard about fils passing.
Dh and I immediately decided to check him out as best we could as it all seemed a little fishy.We couldn't however find anything untoward.
This week mil has told dh that they are going on a date (no problem with that,she still deserves to live her life).She explained how much he says he likes her and that wait for it he and his wife are like brother and sister and she doesn't understand him .
Mil has expressed very strong opinions about affairs in relation to others, but seems to think this is ok?
Dh says she wants to talk with me about it when we meet for lunch next week.
Wibu to point out her general views on this subject ( and mine) or should I just smile and shut up?!

[DuchessofKirkcaldy]

The first letter arrived around 4-5 months after fil died. Other letters have appeared sporadically since then. The first we knew they had been in contact was just before xmas. One of her kitchen appliances had broken down, we offered to take her to get a new one. She replied " thanks, but x is taking me".
She has no need to run any decision by me ( or anyone else) but I do love her. I met dh very young so have known her most of my life. I dont think it would be natural not to worry.
namechange sorry to hear about your family. My views on extramarital affairs mirror yours.

[KurriKurri]

If his wife doesn't understand him and they are like brother and sister why hasn't he left her? Decent people end one relationship before they start another one.
He is using every cheater cliche in the book. And he wants to have his cake and eat it.

By conspiring with him in this deceit your MIL is going to be a cause of hurt to someone. Either his wife - who probably has no idea and will be devastated if she finds out, or your mIL herself when it turns out he wantsto try out two women and then choose which one he wants - it may not be her. This man can;t commit to his wife and he can;t commit to your MIL - he wants both, so he is using both women for his own selfish desires.

Even if he does leave his wife for your MIL - this is a man who is a liar and a cheat, and that wont change, it means that at his core he has no moral compass,so he will hurt you MIL at some point sooner or later.

I would let my feelings be known about this particular liason, whilst encouraging your MIL to go on other dates with available men on a friendly basis so that she can find the happiness and companionship she is looking for.

[diddl]

Sorry, I hadn't noticed the three years.

So he got in touch soon aftered she was widowed, they've been in touch for three yrs(?) & she is about to meet him.

I'd have to tell her what I thought if asked tbh.

[Iamsparklyknickers]

OP, how would the suggestion of meeting up with MiL and her friend for dinner go down?

[MistressDeeCee]

Change of mind - I think I would tell her - IF asked - but I would be very diplomatic. & my reason for advising would be her wellbeing. I wouldnt want my MIL to be (possibly) taken advantage of Id want to let her know she could do far better for herself than get entangled with another woman's husband.

[Iamsparklyknickers]

Whose husband/partner ever is ?

I think I would be concerned like the OP, that being taken for a ride will knock whatever confidence she has left and ruin things for her for a long time after.

Personal observation and pure amateur speculation, but I have noticed people on their own after a long marriage or relationship seem surprised that not everyone behaves/thinks the way their last partner did. It's almost like they're so tuned in to the person they felt they knew inside out that anyone they grow to like will fit into that mould - they don't realise they're squashing them in there and ignoring the blatant individual in front of them.

Subtly is the way to go, I'm a big fan of letting people come to their own conclusions, but if you can get them to think about things from a different angle then at least you can reassure yourself. A lot of people will go away and mull things over in private.

Until there is some sort of 100% factual evidence, you can't go bowling in to 'protect' her. Either you'll be way off the mark, or she won't accept your interpretation.

[MistressDeeCee]

To be honest I think Id smile and shut up. Whilst I know having an affair isnt appropriate - its none of your business OP. I suppose Id say different if this was 2 mates talking but as its your MIL, your husband's mother, I just feel its overstepping a boundary somehow. The dynamics are somehow wrong in terms of whats to be discussed..she's a grown lady, not of your generation and not of your own mother. Perhaps Im being unfair..Im not sure...but either way it just doesnt seem right. Also a bit of TMI really, seems strange your MIL would confide in you as opposed to friends of her own peer group. Im guessing she doesnt have many, or is lonely? Its a shame if thats the case but still, Id be wary of coming across disapproving or judgmental...

[FryOneFatManic]

TBH would be of benefit to get the OP's DH to read this thread?

Not something I normally suggest, but really my alarms bells are all ringing over this one.

• Letter from friend declaring love soon after FIL died
• A married man who's "misunderstood" by his wife what a cliché
• A large payout as compensation after FIL dies of cancer. Compensation for these cancers are common knowledge these days.

To me this just adds up to a bloke who's intentions are not very nice. I would be very surprised if this bloke's wife agrees with his description of their marriage.

And I think the DH needs to know that yes, people in their 60s do indeed shag, courtesy of my mum's chats that contain TMI.

[ilovesooty]

I'd be interested in who defined it as a date in the first place.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

I would be very wary about this. It is natural that your MIL would start dating again (3 years is not that recent a bereavement so no concern for me in that respect). However, dating a married man is wrong by most people's standards and by my your MIL's previous standards. I would have no qualms saying this. Also the fact your MIL has some money from FIL's payout would make me very suspicious that financial motives lay at the root of this. That would be worst that extra marital romantic ones as far as I'm concerned. I'd definitely let her know your views and concerns. She may not like it but she may thank you later if he tries to get his hand on her or her money.

[ilovesooty]

Perhaps the OP s husband isn't as naturally suspicious as some of the posters here.

[ilovesooty]

Sparkly point taken. To be fair it sounds as though she has little confidence in her own decision making and I think that's rather sad. She's not going to live her own life in any meaningful sense without developing that.

[Cocolepew]

If the man has said he has always loved her and they are going in a date why does DH insist it is just friends meeting for coffee? It's obvious it is more than that.
If yourr fil died from something like absestos poisoning, then people will know there would have been compensation paid out.

I would tell her how I feel if asked. It sounds like he's out to fleece her

[Iamsparklyknickers]

Ilovesooty, I was thinking it was more to do with looking out for someone grieving and lonely, who's spent a long time nursing their partner. It takes it's toll emotionally doesn't it and can skew peoples perspective.

When it's someone you love, you probably do poke your nose in to try and prevent them getting hurt, I couldn't sit back and do nothing if I had an option not to for the sake of not annoying them.

Not so much to do with age.

[Mollydoggerson]

What's in it for her?

Does she fancy him or is it an ego boost? What is she going to get out of it?

Can she meet him in public or have any type of public relationship with him?

I think the advice should be, she should tread carefully. If he means what he says why doesn't he separate from his sister-wife and be free to do as he wishes?

As for the inheritance, you don't want to insult your MIL, presumably she is clever enough not to share any money with random men. I would be cautious about telling her the school friend is just after her for her money, there doesn't seem to be any basis for that extrapolation from the info you have given. Secondly she is not looking for financial advice, so I would be careful on that front. Her money is her money and for her to decide what to do with it. (you don't want to appear grabby).

[CalamitouslyWrong]

I feel for your MIL. The old school friend sounds dubious and somewhat predatory. A 'misunderstood' married man writing to recently bereaved widow to express feelings for her sounds a lot like targeting a woman while she's vulnerable. I can't see how she could come out of it not hurt.

I think, if it were my MIL, my DH would be livid because the old friend sounds like an arse.

[ilovesooty]

I'm a bit worried by your need to check him out when she got the letter. She's early 60s, hardly old. Does she run everything by you? Doesn't she make any of her own life decisions?

[tilliebob]

Yeah, I had my hen night in Nicols/ Mammia Mia's pizzeria!

(Decades ago.....)

[diddl]

"Shortly after Fil died, mil recieved a letter fron an old male school friend. It stated that he had always been in love with her and had heard about fils passing."

That is just bleurgh/stalky/innappropriate & for that alone she shouldn't be going.

[DuchessofKirkcaldy]

Yes sparklyknickers that may work. I will need to get dh on board as may end up with bruised shins under the table.

[Iamsparklyknickers]

Actually, having someone there to prevent the subject being talked about openly might work in your favour. If you can steer conversations to subjects that mirror elements of the situation it's an opportunity to get her thinking.

It all needs to be subtle obviously, but if you can manage it, it's not a bad way to get her thinking realistically.

I suppose after being married for so long, her feelings now are very much like young love. The need to be with someone is stronger than the need to take care of self preservation, and that's what gets taken advantage of.

[DuchessofKirkcaldy]

tilliebob They stole my name! I had it first
Pop in if you can it's v nice.
I still miss it as Nicols though. shows age

[DuchessofKirkcaldy]

I don't know really.I just got half a message from dh.
Dh is an only child so she has no daughters of her own and her dsis is ill at the moment. I think she just wants a friendly ear and maybe a blessing?
Perhaps she wants to win me round so I can work on Dh.
I wont know for sure until I see her

[Iamsparklyknickers]

I think you need to broach it quite neutrally and softly if you can, you can't let her get defensive over it - I've seen too many people too proud to go back to their friends/family or put an end to a situation because they can't face the 'told you so's.

If you can plant the seeds for her to mull over in private without losing face she's much more likely to keep an open dialogue with you should it all go tits up.

The 'she doesn't understand me' line is so old and cliché, but it works because in the moment both parties want to believe that their justified and it lets them ignore the reality of what their doing. As a stand alone line it's whiny and immature.