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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Think future DIL is trying to separate us from our DS

485 replies

LifeAndThymes · 31/03/2015 20:55

DS moved out from our home about 4 years ago, to set up home with his then girlfriend, which we were over the moon about. However she subsequently cheated on him, several times, and, understandably, they split up. Only 5 months later he started dating another young woman and she moved in with him after 8 months together which I thought was fast, especially as she had a daughter, 7 years old at the time, but she seemed very nice and sweet so I was happy for DS. Since then however I've started to see a different side of her and worry she's trying to take over DS's life and stop him being so close to his family, especially as DS is so gentle and will do anything for anyone so might be a 'soft touch' for her to control.

It's difficult to make clear what I mean as it's every day/week things but some major things are;

They moved 170 miles away 6 months ago when DS had always lived in the same town, with all his close family and friends and most of his extended family here, and he'd never before even hinted at wanting to move away.

They got engaged last month when I know DS wasn't at all keen before on marriage after the betrayal of his last girlfriend, so I'm assuming she instigated the idea. They're already talking about dates in a year or so, so it's not a long engagement type thing.

They came to us for Christmas last year but mentioned about having to alternate Christmas Day between our family and her parents as we're now too far away to do both in one day, which left me reeling as we've always spent Christmas together as a family, DD and her now DH have been happy to do the same (SonIL sees his mother in the evening but they live close to us). No idea what Christmas will be like without DS, and DIL-to-be hinted that they might have some Christmases for just the 3 of them so I don't know how many family ones we'll even have.

On a smaller but far more frequent scale I feel DIL constantly tries to control my DS's life and doesn't want any input from me or my DH (DS's father) to interrupt that. Often I'll suggest something to DS or give some (asked for) advice and he'll genuinely agree and then 9 times out of 10 he'll come back later having spoken to DIL and say 'oh we've decided something different' as she seems to run his life for him. She talks for him some times, seems to decide a lot for both of them even if it's something mainly concerning DS, and is very stubborn/strong willed,eg I was harmlessly ribbing DS one day about a silly mistake he'd made and she roundly told me off as if I was a child!

Really feel as though we're being pushed out, DIL regularly refers to DS, her and her daughter as 'our family' and we seem to be more and more like acquaintances. Worried that soon we'll be completely out of his life.

OP posts:
Discounted · 31/03/2015 21:07

Yes, sorry, everything you've said is perfectly reasonable IMO. DIL and her child are DS's family now and it is absolutely right he prioritises them.

Sharing Christmases and having some of them alone as their little family is completely reasonable too.

He left home 4 years ago, his mum really shouldn't have much input in his daily decisions.

And the best bit, you're upset that your DS's son was defended by his fiancé?

If you keep seeing it as a competition, you may well find yourself out of DS's life, but it won't be DIL's fault.

DixieNormas · 31/03/2015 21:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wowfudge · 31/03/2015 21:08

Maybe he didn't mention moving away because he knew you wouldn't like it? Presumably it wasn't on a whim and they had jobs to go to?

He has simply grown up!

bedraggledmumoftwo · 31/03/2015 21:08

Congratulations, your son has grown up and got a family of his own.

Surely you don't think she should never see her parents, and her daughters grandparents at Christmas, simply because you have always spent Xmas with him. Surely the same is true of every child and the maths doesn't continue one they get their own family!

kewtogetin · 31/03/2015 21:08

Back off, right off. You talk about him like he's a 15 year old kid being roundly taken advantage of. The Christmas scenario is exactly what we do. Some years we go to my parents, sometimes we go to my in laws and sometimes we stay in our own home with our own children, why? Because we are our OWN family. Your son is part of the wider family now, he has his own partner, child and home.
You and your feelings and what you may want are not his priority. He is putting his fiancée first, as he should, her sticking up for him during your 'ribbing' shows she is doing the same.
With the best will in the world, cut the apron strings before they start to find you overbearing and cut contact for good.

Arsenic · 31/03/2015 21:09

You sound like a nightmare.

SisterMoonshine · 31/03/2015 21:09

It's a big ask for them to spend each Christmas travelling 170 miles, especially with DC.

crimsonh · 31/03/2015 21:10

You just don't like loosing control over your DS.
YABVVVU

Joyfulleastersquad · 31/03/2015 21:10

YABU - massively.

AlpacaLypse · 31/03/2015 21:11

Reverse aibu anyone...?

GetOutOfBed · 31/03/2015 21:11

Just incase this isn't a reverse which I strongly suspect it is yabu.

Costacoffeeplease · 31/03/2015 21:12

And this is why MILs get a bad rap, he's an adult, he's making his own way in life and his own family, you should be pleased he's happy and planning on getting married

It is very selfish to expect or insist on them spending Christmas with you every year, and the more you push, the more they'll resist until you do push them away

Welcome your future DIL and support them both, I've been the resented DIL for 30 years, it's not pleasant

Chippednailvarnish · 31/03/2015 21:12

Welcome to MN OP!

shinynewnamechange · 31/03/2015 21:13

Oh dear. I can see your DIL on here in a year or 2.

Ionone · 31/03/2015 21:14

I really hope this is a reverse!

TSSDNCOP · 31/03/2015 21:14

I think you're going it have to make some concessions. First 170 miles isn't that far. Drive up occasionally and stay in a little hotel and make weekends of your trip, including your DIL to be and her daughter.

Christmas really isn't that bad, let's face it your SIL's parents have been the loses since your DD comes to you every year.

Try to back off a little and see her in his life as a positive for him. I can understand you want to look out for him, but he's a man now and if you did your job right he can stand on his own feet.

bananayellow · 31/03/2015 21:14

Another, sounds like a normal equal relationship to me. Of course he's going to consider her feelings. There is nothing in your op to suggest that he is doing anything that he has expressly said he doesn't want to do. Their decisions are made as a couple.

BoyScout · 31/03/2015 21:14

The Christmas thing is not unreasonable of them - most people alternate.

The rest, well, I think people are being harsh. It could just be a normal relationship or could be the beginning of a controlling one. But you can't know yet and you can't do anything.

You have to accept that his little family is his priority now, not yours, and actually, the fact that it is means you've raised him right.

The worst thing you can do is start tugging him in your direction. You won't win. Make friends with her, support them, it's your best option.

CheerfulYank · 31/03/2015 21:15

Yabu.

Except maybe about being told off. But that would depend on the circumstances.

FuzzyWizard · 31/03/2015 21:16

I can't for the life of me see what your poor DIL has done wrong.

TheSingingMonkey · 31/03/2015 21:16

Yabu.

Why do your family trump hers at Christmas? Answer: they don't. Alternating is perfectly reasonable and fair. And you know what? Sometimes it's nice to have a small family Christmas, I've done it with just my DH and our DC, it was great.

Maybe he didn't want marriage before because he didn't want to marry her?

You sound overbearing. Back off.

TSSDNCOP · 31/03/2015 21:16

It's a complicated reverse if that is the case.

Allstoppedup · 31/03/2015 21:16

I'm usually a staunch MIL sympathiser as I think they get a bad rep but honestly YABU.

I completely understand, I think the kicker here is your son has moved away. I can't help but feel you might not feel as against her if they had stayed locally.

I live very far from my family and now we have small children, we don't even do alternate Christmases anymore as it's such hard work arranging travel at that time of year. I think they have a fair set up.

As for being brow beaten into marriage, your son is his own man and you are being very presumptuous to assume it's all her. He may have been hurt and unwilling to marry following his previous experiences, but he's also moved quickly with this new girlfriend so maybe he feels differently and more strongly about her and that has over ridden his initial hesitations.

It's normal for couples to discuss advice and again you can't assume she is purposely changing his mind on things you have 'agreed' together. In the nicest possible way, I've often nodded away at both MIL and my own mothers suggestions, talked things through with DP and decided on something different. Perhaps your son may have been humouring you on some of these occasions.

Providing your son is happy, there is not much you can do but stand back and be happy for him, letting them know that as a family you are there for them.

The new set up must be difficult for you but it's your sons choice.

LittleBairn · 31/03/2015 21:17

I'm betting the reason they moved 170 miles away was to purposely put space between you all. That's not because your DIL is evil but because you are overbearing.
You seem very put out that another woman's opinion might have more value than your own. Its his wife to be of course her opinion is going to carry more weight. If you don't find a way to deal with those feelings you are going to alienate yourself further.

drudgetrudy · 31/03/2015 21:18

I think reverse too. Few people would have so little insight as to post this (I hope)

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