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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Being treated differently then sister in law

315 replies

Lancashiregal10 · 01/06/2014 11:49

Basically sister in law has a four year old and we have a 10 month old. Sister in law is a single parent (she adopted as a single parent).
A bit of background at the time of adopting me and DH thought we could not have children and would find it hard to be approved as adopters as I have uncontrolled epilepsy (been through process and told this). SIL then suddenly decides she wants to adopt as a single parent (fine, no issue with this). When she was approved she tells my DH that "she will finally have something that we don't have". Now she has always been like this so we are a bit disgusted but we both shrug it off.
She has always had her mum and dad (my DH parents) pay for everything and they practically bring up her child for her. (Again if she and inlaws are ok with this its their issue, we can afford stuff she can't and its none of our business how her child is brought up).
Anyway fast forward to me and DH having child that we never though we could (cue major paddies and childish from SIL but that is another story).
But now we are finding her little boy is being treated so different then ours. They never have time to spend with ours (apart from one afternoon a week which they look after and we are very gratefull for)
If we arrange to do something with them at weekend SIL butts in and they end up bein with her (apparently we can't do stuff togther as SIL hates me and does not want to spend time with me)
We have to provide all milk, food, nappies for that one half day a week yet They have SILs kid fours days and she provides nothing.
They are always buying nephew toys but none our little boy. The rare times we are all together inlaws give all attention to nephew and intoned our little boy.
Last year when DS was six months we had arranged to go away with them for a week to the Peak District but due to SIL kicking up fuss that she could not cope, they only came for a night however they go away with SIL a least four weeks a year (all paid for by them) and we are never invited as again SIL hates me (My crime was marring her brother and even worse then that proving to be fertile after all)
Until now we did not give a toss but now we are starting to see the differences between inlaws treatment of our little boy and nephews already.
Maybe we are just being anal. DH has taked to his mum and dad but its a case of SIL needs them and we don't. Which is true we don't but we want our little boy to feel as close to them as nephew does and not feel left out
Tell me please if being unreasonable

OP posts:
tobiasfunke · 03/06/2014 17:13

This woman sounds like she has many traits for Narcissitic Personality Disorder or something akin to it. There is absolutely no point in trying to deal with her- you have to disengage completely and affect indifference. That is the only way. Confronting her will make it worse. They don't do rational. You will never win.
I feel sorry for her son.

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 03/06/2014 17:14

maybe its just me but I doubt the SIL is the Devil + Jezebel so perhaps the OP and the SIL just don't like each other.

just saying.... GrinGrinGrinGrin

Beeyump · 03/06/2014 17:15

Yes, that thought had crossed my mind... Grin

Beeyump · 03/06/2014 17:16

I'd dearly like to hear from the SIL! Two sides and all that.

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 03/06/2014 17:17

and beeyump another...possibility...is that this thread is full of clinical psychologist who have full access to the SIL's files and a fully aware of all the facts so their diagnoses of narcissism should be taken as completely accurate, fair and objective. Wink

Beeyump · 03/06/2014 17:21
KnittedJimmyChoos · 03/06/2014 17:21

so perhaps the OP and the SIL just don't like each other

perhaps but there seems to be more motivation for a single, never had a partner 36 year old prude who loves her brother in a strange way, to be jealous and horrid to the usurper...op. Rather than op to be jealous of .....single, miserable 36 year old living out of her parents pockets?

KnittedJimmyChoos · 03/06/2014 17:22

is that this thread is full of clinical psychologist who have full access to the SIL's files and a fully aware of all the facts so their diagnoses of narcissism should be taken as completely accurate, fair and objective

This is what MN is all about we only ever get one side and we are all, CP. Smile

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 03/06/2014 17:23

6 of one.
and
one half
of a dozen of the other.

Beeyump · 03/06/2014 17:23

Also, I'm finding it hard to believe that someone actually uttered the words 'supposedly barren bitch'.

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 03/06/2014 17:28

my SIL has made it obvious that she would prefer it if DP & I are unsuccessful TTC (so she and my b are the only producers of DG) but ....

(1) that really is her problem
(2) its not worth having a big falling out over as her thoughts don't change reality
(3) she is not worth the hassle to me or any other family members.

bury the hatchet and all that.

isabellavine · 03/06/2014 17:30

sigh Mumsnet IS just one side of things. Always. Until the SIL finds this thread and goes mental, that is. We have to go on what we are given. We are not in a court of law, and the OP does not have to prove their account beyond reasonable doubt (thank goodness).

Some people can be REALLY horrible, properly bad to the bone. Others are just a bit selfish, inconsiderate, whatever. I see no reason to doubt the OP's statements any more than any others on here. I also think that there is a class politics to some of the doubts on here.

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 03/06/2014 17:33

Some people can be REALLY horrible, properly bad to the bone

most people are just doing things what's ok from their own perspective. which isn't the same as others.

KnittedJimmyChoos · 03/06/2014 17:34

bury the hatchet and all that

Yes it is a rather large hatchet in this case isnt it.

Beeyump · 03/06/2014 17:36

'I also think that there is a class politics to some of the doubts on here.'

What do you mean?^

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 03/06/2014 17:36

well the OP needs to start getting things in proportion. i doubt she or her DH are blameless - because very few people are in family issues.

then the hatchet may seem smaller than it does now.

isabellavine · 03/06/2014 17:41

I mean that providing milk, nappies etc. is a much bigger deal for some families than others, and that this may be getting overlooked in arguments about 'proportionality' Smile.

ScarlettlovesRhett · 03/06/2014 17:41

How much of an age difference between your husband and your sil?

Beeyump · 03/06/2014 17:45

Ok

skivingatwork · 03/06/2014 18:21

Beeyump
Also, I'm finding it hard to believe that someone actually uttered the words 'supposedly barren bitch'.

Glad someone else thought that. Expecting tales now of times SIL has kicked kittens.

ThaneOfScunthorpe · 03/06/2014 18:31

I don't believe the 'barren bitch' thing either.

KnittedJimmyChoos · 03/06/2014 18:34

wow there is another thread about 800 babies buried in a septic tank but your struggling to "understand barren bitch" Confused

isabellavine · 03/06/2014 18:36

KnittedJimmyChoos There IS?

ThaneOfScunthorpe · 03/06/2014 18:41

What's that thread got to do with this one? Hmm

Beeyump · 03/06/2014 18:42

I'm 'struggling to understand' the connection between the threads.

Swipe left for the next trending thread