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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:
Nomama · 01/06/2014 13:44

Why? Op asked if she was being unreasonable from her perspective.... she isn't.

SIL may or may not be, but that isn't the point. OP needs a way to deal with her reality. You're just being uber nosy!

MaryWestmacott · 01/06/2014 13:46

OP - I think you need to stop thinking about what your PIL are doing for your SIL, and think instead about what they are doing for DN. They clearly don't need to run round looking after your DC because if they don't do it, your DC won't go without/suffer, whereas, if they genuinely think your SIL can't look after her child by herself, then they might feel they need to do it for the child's sake, not her sake.

I would take it as a compliment to your obvious parenting skills that they aren't worried about the level of care your child gets.

As others have said, it reads like they have taken on a parenting role with DN, this might well be because they can clearly see if they don't do it, no one will, and in order to be put up for adoption in the first place in this country, that child has already suffered in their life, they probably just aren't prepared to watch that child suffer further.

Allow them to be just grandparents to your child, not extra parents. You don't need that do you? You are capable? then you don't need to play these silly games with SIL.

Perhaps stop looking at her as 'competition' and start pitying her, for her to come out with crap like that, then she is clearly not an emotionally strong person. She must have fought to adopt a child on her own, how sad to have gone through all that and then not be able to cope with the reality.

Viviennemary · 01/06/2014 13:49

I agree with counting your own blessings and stop worrying about how much your parents do to help your sil. Your sil sounds toxic so have as little to do with her as possible. In fact step away from the lot of them as they have proved to be unreliable. Letting you down over the holiday was very bad indeed. There is no doubt you are being treated unfairly so just step away. That will say more than anything.

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 13:50

Well we only have OP's word about how awful her sil is. I wonder how sil got through the vetting process? I thought adoption was difficult for couples let alone a single person.

Given the OP thinks it's unreasonable she should take along spare nappies when her child stays with his grandparents the OP's view on other issues seems fairly skewed to me.

She's also complaining that when they are together the in-laws focus more on the sil's child - possibly because a 4 year old can walk and talk and you can read/play games and interact with a 4 year old. I think she over-estimates how fascinating babies are.

HauntedNoddyCar · 01/06/2014 13:56

Thing is though Phaedra, the advice given which seems to be along the lines of step away work whether the op is reasonable or not. For whatever reason there's a clash and stopping the clash is in everyone's interests.

Even if SIL IS Queen Bitch the op isn't going to become more favoured in the ILs' eyes.

RazzleDazzleEm · 01/06/2014 13:58

Given the OP thinks it's unreasonable she should take along spare nappies when her child stays with his grandparents the OP's view on other issues seems fairly skewed to me

No she doesn't think its UR please correct me op if I am wrong, i think if OPs PILS were baby sitting all week, op would happily provide everything,
Whats upsetting her is that they baby sit for one day and she has to provide but sils child gets everything brought for 4 days.

She is also complaining Phaedra about lots of other instances when pils put sil infront of them...

RazzleDazzleEm · 01/06/2014 14:01

Thing is though Phaedra, the advice given which seems to be along the lines of step away work whether the op is reasonable or not. For whatever reason there's a clash and stopping the clash is in everyone's interests
Yep totally agree, and op its soul destroying and demoralising to be around people who dont like you - as in YOU and who treat you differently as in YOU and your whole little family.

Its liberating to be free of them.

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 14:02

Mary the OP we only have sil can't look after the child. Her main complaint is ils pay for things. Paying for things does not mean sil can't parent properly.

Presumably sil is still in contact with a Social work department? If sil is as useless/awful as OP makes out why on earth would she be considered for a second adoption?

OP's child has 2 natural parents, 4 natural grandparents and maternal uncles and aunts. Sil's child has 1 adoptive parent,2 adoptive grandparents, what seems like a jealous and bitter adoptive aunt and an adoptive uncle who may well be put off paying attention to him by his wife's attitude. Even if ils are paying more attention to sil's child it's hardly unreasonable in the circumstances.

I don't know if OP has a personality; she certainly has a life many would envy yet wants more.

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 14:05

Razzle she was complaining about being expected to bring nappies for her child.

We have to provide all milk, food, nappies for that one half day a week

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 14:06

Seriously Razzle you think the ils should buy in a stock of nappies?

Nomama · 01/06/2014 14:18

Phaedra, she is complaining that the inequity of PILs response to the 2 kids is beginning to grate on her and will continue to do so as her DS gets older and may begin to notice it.

The details are petty, the outcome may not be. She is NU to be worried that her DS will notice, kids do.

RazzleDazzleEm · 01/06/2014 14:23

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.

phaedra she is complaining in the context of her situation.

Writerwannabe83 · 01/06/2014 14:28

YADNBU OP - it sounds like a very odd family situation and I'd feel exactly the same as you.

Stay away from SIL and reduce contact with the IL - your child should not be around people who will treat him as 2nd best. Or maybe 3rd best now your SIL is adopting another.....

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 14:37

Nomama Oh I'm sure it will continue to grate.

Personally I think she is being extremely unreasonable expecting there should be absolute equality given the different circumstances of the children.

How exactly are the ils supposed to give equal attention to a baby and a 4 year old when the families are together?

Babies need special stuff when they stay -4 year olds don't so I'm falling to see what the ils have to provide specially when they have the 4 year old. And for the OP to care is petty.

I don't believe sil is toxic. The OP is painting her that way. The sil has been judged by the adoption process and found fit to be a parent.

I'm not inclined to take the word of a grown woman who can write SIL hates me (My crime was marring her brother and even worse then that proving to be fertile after all) That does not sound like a rational statement.

I can fully believe the 2 sils don't like each other. I don't find the OP particularly likeable. She comes across as very self-centred.

Tanith · 01/06/2014 14:38

Well we only have OP's word about how awful her sil is.

Of course we do. For that reason, people are answering according to the information she has given. There's no evidence she's lying through her teeth, either, so I don't see the point in trying to second guess her situation and selectively quoting from her posts to make your theory fit.

Trojanhouse · 01/06/2014 14:38

Phaedra, I agree that we don't know the other side of the story. However, Op's real issue is the fact that the inlaws are treating her chid differently .
It could be because the Sil's child is adopted and they want the child to feel loved.

HelenHen · 01/06/2014 14:42

What a horrible woman!

Ifeel a bit sorry for the gps though! They're in a bad situation with her childish manipulation and don't need you giving them ultimatums too! Stick to ur arrangements and feel sorry for them!

Lancashiregal10 · 01/06/2014 14:44

I would cut them out with pleasure. DH will not and I cant force him. He is deperate for them to treat him the same as SIL, not the money we are proud to be doing it ourselves. I think he though us finally having a kid would do it.
DH was delighted when they asked us to go on holiday with them and thought it was a chance to spend time with them without his sister, and I honestly think going on holiday with grandparents and a young baby is not that unusual.
Prob are being petty with the nappies etc but its just another way she is treated different Btw nephew is still in nappies
I don't think it unreasonable to expect grandparents to treat at least when they are together grandchildren the same
I also don't think it's unreasonable to expect my SIL not to refer to me as a "barren bitch" or for my husband to be told "I now have something you don't" in reference to her soon to be child

OP posts:
PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 14:44

trojan

"It could be because the Sil's child is adopted and they want the child to feel loved."

Yes and any way decent person should see that. Instead OP is working herself in to a lather that her child who already has considerable advantages over the other child might miss out. OP's child has another set of grandparents and 2 parents. There cannot be equality between these children. I think OP is being selfish and unrealistic in insisting on it. I also think she is very jealous of her sil.

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 14:49

OP a 4 year old still in nappies is very likely to have a developmental problem. If that comment is supposed to strengthen your case it fails miserably.

Your ils sound like good people trying to do the best for a child who did not come into the world with the advantages yours did.

LtEveDallas · 01/06/2014 14:51

SILs quote lucky really. If my SIL called me a 'barren bitch' I'd break her nose.

Distance OP. Distance and CHOOSE not to let it get to you.

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 01/06/2014 15:02

i agree with everything Phaedra says.

I do wonder about the DH's role in this. the OP only knows what her DH says his sister says. and he is 'desperate' to be treated the same as his sis, even though she is a single parent of an adopted child and he has a family.

he seems, at best, shit stirring.

Livvylongpants · 01/06/2014 15:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cleanasawhistle · 01/06/2014 15:16

There have been a lot of posts on here over the years re grandparents treating the children differently or having favourites.
When I had the first grandchild on my OH side I did expect fuss and excitement but it never happened.It took MIL a week to come and visit and there was no gift or card from her,fair enough if she didn't feel the need.
When her daughter anounced her preganancy a few months later it was all my MIL could talk about.When we visited her she said come look at what I have been buying,there was a huge pile of baby clothes,toys etc...my 1st though was that they were for my son but MIL then added they were for the new baby for when it arrived.
Her money so she could spend it on what she wanted but I thought it was quite cruel to lead me to a room to show off the stuff.
Things got worse once the baby arrived so the only thing I could do was to distance myself and protect my son.Myself and my son haven't been to visit for years,if I was asked why then I would tell the truth.
Makes no sense to me why a grandparent would do this.
Hope things improve for you if your OH has another word.

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/06/2014 15:30

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime I hadn't picked up that these terrible comments weren't said direct.

I think it's irrelevant whether sil needs 4 days support because she is working or if she is finding it difficult-in either case she needs the support.

OP would be better to treat the arrangement with sil and gps as if all 3 are co-parenting the adopted child.

A 4 year old who is not potty trained is a child who is behind the usual development stage for his age. Who knows what difficulties this child came with and which are known to the sil and ils. I'm afraid that little throwaway remark about nappies weakens OP's case a lot.

The situation of the 2 grandchildren cannot be equal and insisting on equal time from the in-laws won't make it equal.