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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be sick to death of MIL's reaction to DS's name?

115 replies

AberdeenAngus · 27/08/2015 19:53

DS has a normal, everyday, run of the mill, boys name. We picked it because it's a varient of my dad's name. He died while I was pregnant. :(

The response of everyone else to his name was an 'ahh, that's nice, like your dad' kind of response. MIL's response was 'ahh, that's nice, like the [insert name of obscure breed of farmyard animal]. I put that down to her being a bit batty and just ignored it, but for the last 3 years she has been obsessed with this connection between his name and this farmyard animal. Every item of clothing she buys him, every toy, every book has it on it/in it. It's not even the breed that has his name as that's too obscure and she can't find anything, so she gets the bog standard breed instead. A dress up costume came in the post today.

AIBU to be sick of this and to wonder what the fuck is going on in her head?

OP posts:
FortyCoats · 27/08/2015 19:56

Yanbu

Give us a hint for her name?

CruCru · 27/08/2015 19:57

I would love to know the name. YANBU.

StonedGalah · 27/08/2015 19:57

I think she's trying to distance the connection between your ds name and your df.

I'd continually reiterate why he was named that if it's really starting to annoy you.

Like oh that's nice mil, but he's not named Angus after the beef burgers Hope it's not Angus?!

19lottie82 · 27/08/2015 19:57

I understand it upsets you because perhaps it seems disrespectful to your fathers memory,but tbh it just sounds like your MIL is just trying to be affectionate to her grandson with these little gifts.

PennyHasNoSurname · 27/08/2015 19:58

Just start referring to her as Crazy Nanna to your son Grin

Is there anything even vaguely related to her name that you can hound her with?

scarlets · 27/08/2015 19:58

Perhaps she thinks that it's a cute family in-joke.

It's a joke that's worn thin, I'm sure. Yanbu.

Novia · 27/08/2015 19:58

Yanbu. Angus?

cashewnutty · 27/08/2015 19:59

Jacob? As in sheep?

DisappointedOne · 27/08/2015 19:59

Have you told her you don't like it?

TheHoundsBitch · 27/08/2015 20:00

Is it Dexter and she's buying him things with Holsteins on?

YANBU, I can imagine my MIL doing the same thing Grin she's lovely most of the time but has a very weird streak Confused

CheekyMaleekey · 27/08/2015 20:00

If it's a variant of your dad's name, rather than exactly the same, maybe it's not an obvious connection for her.

BarbarianMum · 27/08/2015 20:01

How old is your ds? The days when he will even consider wearing anything with a farmyard animal on it are limited so I reckon that things will sort themselves out in time.

NobodyLivesHere · 27/08/2015 20:04

have you ever actually told her it bothers you?

ChilliPeanut · 27/08/2015 20:04

In this instance I would say something most certainly. I can def see why it grates. The connection is to your late df and is therefore very personal. Everyone else seems to have understood. Why can't she focus on that instead of a tenuous link to an animal all the time? Hmm

Original poster
AberdeenAngus · 27/08/2015 20:05

My dad was Jamie and DS is Jacob. Apparently there is a breed of sheep called a Jacob. Our house is now full to the rafters of fucking sheep. Anything with sheep on she sees, she buys.

OP posts:
NobodyLivesHere · 27/08/2015 20:07

can't say i would connect Jamie and Jacob myself. i'd also not associate Jacob with a sheep though it has to be said!

NobodyLivesHere · 27/08/2015 20:09

and i'm welsh and know a lot about sheep haha

TheBeautifulAndTheDamned · 27/08/2015 20:09

Unless he is called Bull or Crow, she is BVU.

LazyLohan · 27/08/2015 20:12

I think she probably thinks it's cute rather than meaning anything by it. I honestly thought you were going to say that you called him after your father and she was being nasty and saying it was a horrible name. I really don't think buying him animal presents is anything worth getting upset about. YABU. Sorry.

YeOldeTrout · 27/08/2015 20:13

awwwww, look, I think YABU she's being a daft granny & that's her prerogative. At least she's always thinking bout him. Liberate some sheep to charity shop if so bothered.

tabulahrasa · 27/08/2015 20:13

Jacob sheep don't look at all like sheep you'd get on things...and they're named after Jacob, as in biblical Jacob - so she's being pretty odd.

But Jacob also isn't like Jamie either, so...

Floisme · 27/08/2015 20:13

Jamie and Jacob? I don't think I'm particularly batty and I wouldn't have made a connection. As other posters have already said, if it you find it upsetting, you need to tell her. She can't read your mind.

NotMyMonkey · 27/08/2015 20:14

I would never make the connection between Jamie and Jacob, maybe she hasn't either Still annoying though!

itsraininginbaltimore · 27/08/2015 20:15

LOL that is properly nuts. It's what we all think every time we hear Jacob isn't it? Sheep. not

This would drive me insane. Get your DH to tell her to STOP NOW.

FadedRed · 27/08/2015 20:16

You know how on MN that "No" is a complete sentence? Well it isn't in this particular circumstance- you need to add two or three additional words.
As in "No more fucking sheep."
If you like, you could insert this between "Dearest MIL," and "thankyou for the kind thought, but enough is enough.
Grin

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