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AIBU?

To be worrying about how FIL will be when baby arrives...

128 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 12/01/2014 21:07

Currently 30 weeks pregnant and can't tell if I'm being irrational and unreasonable or if there really are red flags....

I have lovely PIL, have never had reason to fault them or be annoyed with them or anything like that, I get on really well with them both. However, over the last few months FIL had been showing some traits that have unnerved me as to how he may be when the baby arrives.

I feel like he is always offering his 'opinion' and that whatever me and DH think or want to do isn't correct in his eyes. Me and DH were talking about our storage plans for when baby arrives, what will go in what cupboards etc but no, FIL has a better idea and we should obviously follow his advice... Hmm.

We are having a new kitchen fitted on Friday and FIL has been making negative comments about what plans we have gone for and belittling the decisions we have already made. We are having our garden renovated in the Spring and the way in which me and DH want it done apparently isn't right in FIL's eyes and instead he is telling us what we should do.

He was very pushy about what kind of cot we should buy and now he keeps telling me what kind of pushchair I should buy. He keeps giving me suggestions on what I need to do round the house ready for when the baby comes - including comments on net curtains to keep flies out and how the 'little one' can't be expected to go up a flight of stairs every time he needs the toilet wtf Hmm He keeps asking if we've done X, Y and seems to have a disapproving look on his face if we don't give the answer he wants. He isn't doing it in a nasty way at all but it makes me feel like he thinks me and DH don't know what we're doing.

He was passing comment earlier that showed he wasn't happy he'd not been here when we had assembled all the nursery furniture (my dad and DH did it) as he thinks he would obviously had made a better job of it. It is just little digs and comments that are continuously coming. He is never, ever normally like this.

It's like he thinks he knows best about everything and I can't tell if I'm just being over sensitive. I just want me and DH to be allowed to make our own decisions and not have them questioned or belittled.

I actually had a cry over it earlier when I was doing the washing up because I can't help but feel that when baby comes I'm going to be under constant criticism for whatever parenting choices I make Sad

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LegoCaltrops · 13/01/2014 08:15

Seriously, put your foot down. I didn't, massive mistake. It's my MIL that's the problem (cliche!) PILs invited themselves round almost every day of my mat leave, without warning, they would literally just turn up & bang on the door until we let them in (in embarrassment at the neighbours staring). They buy/give things for DD that are unsuitable & unsafe (think things with blades, sharp points or 3ft of cord for a baby). MIL is manipulative & opinionated & likes stirring. She undermines me & calls me precious about safety. This isn't the half of it. I've vetoed any more babies until we can move away.

Sorry, derail over. Put your foot down. You know best.

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 08:33

My IL like to let themselves into the house. His mom will knock a few times but then let herself in if we don't answer, whereas his dad tends yo just walk in. On occasions I've been asleep and they've come in, one occasion I was in the shower....and some days I just want to slob out in my dressing gown without worrying the IL may come round, let themselves in and then I have to get dressed. If I'm home alone I now lock the front door. I hear them knocking and them trying the door handle etc and it does make me feel a but guilty. They must know I'm in as my car is on the drive but sometimes I just want to be left alone.

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Kundry · 13/01/2014 08:38

Do they have a key? Keep the door locked or install a bolt so they can't open it.

I don't think smile and nod is going to work for you as they have very different concepts of boundaries. You are going to need to point them out to them unfortunately eg please can you call round before coming over, it isn't always convenient.

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 08:49

They have a key for emergencies, as we do to their house, which is why when I lock the front door when I'm in the house I leave the key in the door. I honestly don't believe they would ever let themselves in the house with a key though unless we had specifically asked them to. I could ask them to call round but seeing as they only live about 20 houses away from us on the same street they see no harm in just making a 10 second walk to see if we're in. Me and DH do sometimes unexpectedly go and visit them so I guess I can't complain, but 95% of the time we let them know we're coming and we always knock and wait to be let in Smile

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LegoCaltrops · 13/01/2014 08:53

'Lose' a key, necessitating a change of the locks. Add a bolt for extra 'security' due to your concerns.

Your FIL does sound very controlling, it definitely sounds more than just wanting to be involved. And that's utter tosh about the downstairs loo. We have one, never used it. It's now full of DH collection of CDs, books & vinyl discs.

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minibmw2010 · 13/01/2014 08:54

It sounds to me like he's over-excited about the new baby (possibly precisely because it's nearby and the others aren't). If his personality has always been to give opinions before you were pregnant then that isn't going to change just because you are. How did you deal with him before you were pregnant? Did you indulge, ignore? Keep doing the same now. You can show your strength when the baby is born but it doesn't have to descend into a family row.

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minibmw2010 · 13/01/2014 08:56

Actually re the toilet thing, I don't think it was criticism, I think you were over-sensitive to the fact he had given his opinion again. A downstairs loo, especially when potty training, will be pretty helpful. You can't see it now as you say you don't use it, etc. but his point about a little one having to get upstairs when desperate is not a bad one.

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Chrysanthemum5 · 13/01/2014 08:56

My FIL gave me the best advice when I was pregnant with DC1. He said people can't help themselves offering advice, but really what they want is for you to acknowledge their way is correct. So what he did when his children were little was to listen politely, thank the person for their suggestion, say how helpful it was to hear from experienced parents, and then carry on doing what he felt was best for his family. He said he was telling me because he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself from interfering and he wanted me to feel free to ignore him!

To be fair, he really doesn't interfer too much, and overall he's a great grandad. I find the advice he gave me has been very liberating - I just don't really bother about what other people think I should do with the DCs.

Maybe your FIL is keen to be involved? Is listening to him, but ignoring his advice a possibility?

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hamptoncourt · 13/01/2014 09:00

OP I really think you should move! Seriously!

All this popping round all the time? Once you have the baby it will do your head in.

It sounds like FIL is waaaay too involved in your life. He is going to come round as soon as the kitchen is fitted to slag it off? Er, why? Just keep him at bay for a few days. Do you have any boundaries with PIL?

If I were you I would be putting geographical and emotional distance between myself and PIL. If you really can't move, then see them less often and when it suits you. Don't tell them any plans you are making. is it you or DH who does this? If they don't have the information they cannot use it can they?

Boundaries. Just be brave and tell them you feel overpowered and that you are making your own family unit with your own decisions and you only want advice when you ask for it.

Good luck with the baby :)

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TheGreatHunt · 13/01/2014 09:01

You're being a bit YABU

I read the title and thought your FIL was a dodgy paedo or something. He's interested and wants to help. Yes he's a bit annoying and picky but that's not that bad.

My ILs drive me mad. They sound like yours. My FIL does the making comments thing. They even have a key and let themselves in but:

DH established ground rules quickly so they don't come over unannounced. He also brushes aside or picks his dad up on any criticism. As do I now.

This is your family now, like it or not. You have to deal with it in a mature way but don't let it get to you!!

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 09:01

His previous opinions never bothered me, in fact I don't recall him being particularly opinionated. He would give us advice about things but that would just be about mundane things like where was best value for shopping, what might be wrong with my car, what types of paint we should use in the bathrooms etc - just general every day discussions. This side of his personality has never offended me before I've always considered him knowledgable and helpful.

However, The difference is that he has gone from just giving advice and opinions to now being quite critical about something very important and very personal to me and DH. I think that criticising the changes we are making to the house, questioning our choices, belittling our plans, implying we don't know what we are doing,and trying to enforce on us choices he would make and disregard ours is taking it to another level.

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minibmw2010 · 13/01/2014 09:05

Well if his personality never annoyed you pre-pregnancy, then it is quite possible that post-pregnancy it'll be the same. He sounds excited, over-excited definitely, but if he wasn't over-bearing before then with a little work he can be reined in. Everyone assumes it's only MIL's who get excited about new babies but why can't FIL's? That's where great grandfathers can come from (and that I envy you actually because my DS has no grandfathers). Get your DH to speak with him and explain you are finding it all a bit over-whelming and could he be a bit more respectful to you. As they live down the road they'll always be nearby so it needs dealing with before it escalates.

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 09:08

It's just so difficult because they are the loveliest people, will do anything for anyone, including me and DH, they are kind, generous, thoughtful etc but this one issue is really getting to me. I'm really, really hoping I'm just being hypersensitive to it all but if it continues on, especially after the birth then I fear what will be the outcome. I would never want to offend them and I doubt FIL has any idea how much his comments get to me, he probably just thinks he's being really helpful, but it's starting to grate a little bit now. He'd probably be upset if he knew how I was feeling, and that makes it worse. It's horrible feeling this anger towards someone I really like.

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WhenWhyWhere · 13/01/2014 09:10

You must have seen a kazillion threads like this on Mumsnet. You and your DP need to stop being such wuss'ss Blush and decide what is and is not acceptable. If you don't won't them popping over all the time you have to TELL them. They can't read your minds and it's much better for everyone if you say something rather than let it build up into a huge thing.

The baby arriving is a perfect excuse to tell them that you no longer want unexpected visitors. It's not rude.

If he is giving too much advice simply tell him that you want to make the decision yourself and don't want any advice. You can say it politely.

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Onefewernow · 13/01/2014 09:11

Just buy whatever pushchair you want. Make light of it and make some joke about not coming between a woman and her pushchair. Oh, and also that we all need to be free to buy the wrong pushchair (and believe me, you will!)

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 09:15

onefewernow - your last comment made me laugh.

Thankfully DH is on my side and has told his dad that I want to choose a new pushchair and so to leave me to it but when his dad next came round he was full of ideas about what size and shape pushchair we should get and with what features etc etc. I caught my husband trying to smother laughter whilst I smiled and nodded Smile

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tinselkitty · 13/01/2014 09:28

My FIL was and still is a bit like this. It's not as constant as yours by the sound of things.

I either smile and ignore or, if he won't give up like he did about cutting down the bloody tree in our garden that is apparently going to keel over and kill us all at the slightest wind. It survived the recent storm though! I strongly say 'we are no longer discussing the bloody tree it anymore'.

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secretsofsanta · 13/01/2014 09:34

Yep smile and nod. Pil are like this and i have 4 dcs! Fil announced that Dd1 is at one of the best grammar schools in the country.....as someone had told him. So obviously didnt believe us when we told him this.

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 09:39

Grin - Tinsel your post made me think about last nights 'advice' when it came to how we should renovate our garden (as apparently our ideas are wrong...) and he kept talking about the position of the shed (we don't have one you see and plan to buy one) and what we'd do if the fence fell down.

He has a nightmare hypothetical situation for everything with the purpose of trying to either imply we don't know what we're doing or that we haven't thought things through properly. Admittedly, we hadn't taken the very stable fence into consideration but do all people with sheds and fences live their lives worrying if the two can co-exist? Or do people have sheds randomly placed in the middle of their gardens so that when their fences fall down the she'd doesn't get hurt?

It just feels like everything we say or do he has got a better idea and a better opinion....

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PacificDogwood · 13/01/2014 09:51

Ok, Writer, now I am more worried about your peace in the coming months/years and agree with others, you need to put firm bounderies in place and keep enforcing them.

This coming and going in your house is Just Not On.

This is what my parents have done to my brother and his wife and it has pretty much poisoned their relationship which is a great shame as they live 2 miles apart and I am hundreds of miles away (which is maybe why i get on well with my parents Wink).
Our parents were given a key 'for emergencies/to water the plants when we are on holiday' and got in to the habit of just using it. My dad would ring the door bell and then immediately let himself in - once encountering my DSiL in the buff, having just come out of the shower (it's a bungalow); once finding the two of them in bed at 10am on a Sunday morning (before kids). My parents overstep the mark All The Time and unfortunately, my DB is a people pleaser who did not from the beginning or after the first 'transgression' said "This has to stop".

Personally, I'd have my key back. Yes, change the locks if that is a way to achieve it. Be very clear about when you do/don't wish to have visitors - by invitation only? Every Tuesday afternoon? By prior phone call?

Also, this baby is not even born yet and you are getting in to discussion about where they are going to wee?? Seriously? Stop this madness now, don't discuss things with them, don't invite options. "We are going to convert the downstairs cloak room" or don't say anything until it's done.

I've had to be quite firm with my parents who wanted to know things like how much I/we earn, what our mortgage is, disagreeing with some of the ways we bring up our DCs (we don't slap which my mother feels is 'letting them get away with it' Hmm).

You MUST get your DH on board, properly and fully on board. In many ways this is IS fight, not yours. If you can get your MiL do be your ally, all the better.

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PacificDogwood · 13/01/2014 09:55

I also like the approach of laughing, kindly, and saying something like "Did you just hear yourself? Stop worrying about our shed, here's another drink/crisp/dinner is ready".
Don't engage, don't explain your choices and never, ever apologise for your choice of shed/push chair/garden lay-out.

"Well, we'll just have to learn from our own mistakes"
"We all do what works for us"
"Don't get stressed about our problems"
"Did you mean to be so pushy/overbearing/rude?" - I have deployed this and it was v effective tbh.

I've dealt with my parents and DH with his (much more awkward and bitter) mother.

You need lines in the sand, bounderies that cannot be crossed, really you do.

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PacificDogwood · 13/01/2014 09:56

Oh gosh, I may have become slightly over-invested in your dilemma.
Sorry Blush

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Tabliope · 13/01/2014 09:59

What a nightmare. I had this from my MIL for 2 months after my DS was born. She lives abroad but unknown to me turned up for 2 months to live with us after DS was born. She had a comment for everything. I was trying to be nice but it upset me dreadfully. I've never forgiven her. I look back and wish I'd said "look, thanks for the advice but I don't want it. I'm intelligent and more than capable of making decisions. Whether you think they're right or wrong I still want to make my own decisions." I should have been more forceful which I think can be done without alienating people. If said in front of your MIL and your DH I'm sure they'll back you up. Your MIL will probably tell your FIL off when he gets home. You need to say something or your DH does but I think it needs to come from you and I think you need to be a bit sharp about it. Time to stop moaning and get assertive or put up with it.

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 10:00

You're right about the insanity of discussing a child's weeing issues before it has even been born - I don't even know why he was talking about it. I think it was just another way of trying to put across a comment that we aren't thinking things through. Same as when he was talking about how we need to buy nets to put across all the doors to keep the flies out....we have never had any kind of mass fly infestation so where do his thoughts come from? I know full well he will mention it again at some point and wouldn't be surprised if he turned up with some net curtains and start putting them up....

I like the idea about just converting the ground floor toilet into a cloakroom anyway and then presenting it to him - I think we need to make a point of doing something we want to do regardless of what his thoughts are. Me and DH have also definitely decided the shed is going to go exactly where we wanted it to in the first place Smile

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Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 10:01

Don't worry dogwood - at least if someone else is over invested I don't feel so crazy Grin

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