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AIBU?

AIBU? New Baby, Return to hospital & MIL drama

118 replies

Tired2ndTimeMum · 07/09/2015 03:25

Long time lurker and slightly addicted to AIBU but never posted before today.

I won't go into the full backstory but I don't really get on with my in-laws ever since they cornered me in a room in their home a few weeks before my wedding to their son And made me cry because they didn't agree with my choice not to change my surname on marriage.

My husband had been happy with my choice up until he mentioned it in passing to his mother and suddenly it was a massive drama.

I actually considered changing my surname to keep the peace but, as my FIL and SIL didn't turn up until after we exchanged vows and then my MIL made both my sister and I cry during the meal after the wedding, I decided I would stand by my principles and keep my own name.

When my first son was born there was additional drama with MIL. I cried because MIL had bought my son something he could no longer use due to health problems. I had originally asked for the item but hadn't known that my son's health issues would prevent him from using it.

I tried explaining this but ended up crying. My husband believed that was rude and it caused a massive argument (We had only been home from hospital for a day).

Fast forward until today. I've just had a baby girl. We were home from hospital on Friday afternoon. On Saturday the midwives checked my stitches and advised that I should go back to hospital for a second opinion.

My in laws life 5-10 minutes away. My own parents are an hour away. My husband said we had to return to hospital and asked if any of his 3 sisters or one parent could babysit while we returned to hospital. They were unable to help as they had an appointment booked to look at wedding dresses.

No big problem or drama - I called my parents and they came to babysit my 22 month old.

At hospital I'm told that I have a prolapse which should have been stitched following childbirth. I'm not in pain but they won't try to fix this for at least 6 weeks. We spent hours in hospital waiting and o was a bit traumatised by the news that it couldn't be fixed there and then. The waiting, the exhaustion and the lack of a revolution led to lots of tears.

This morning one of my SILs texted to ask how I was and to ask what time was best to visit. I suggested a time to my husband and he let his sister know that i'd be fine but would need another checkup.

We discussed how he would word his response as neither of us wanted to go into full details of the problem. We agreed that we'd say I was fine, that I would need a further checkup in 6 weeks. I said that, ultimately, we didn't want to talk about it. My husband said he wouldn't put that in the text (which I understood and was fine with) but I told him it was perfectly acceptable to say that in person if required.

I hadn't slept or showered/washed since returning home from hospital so, when both babies fell asleep today, I went to have a shower and wash my hair.

I took my time as I wasn't expecting his sister until 2.30pm/3pm but, just after 2pm I became aware of my husband talking to other adults downstairs.

I finished getting dressed and went downstairs to find my PIL and one SIL (who was outside on the phone).

Instead of sitting in the lounge my husband had directed everyone into the messy kitchen (which instantly annoyed me). Instead of handing the baby over to one of his family my husband was sitting holding her.

By way of an explanation for my earlier absence I commented that my husband should've told me we had guests. I.e. I would've come downstairs sooner had I known people were there.

The first thing my MIL asked was 'How did you get on at the hospital yesterday?' That's a perfectly acceptable question but my hormones are everywhere and the thought of my whole experience (stuck in TV maternity waiting area with a newborn for 4hours, being checked by MORE people and then being told they wouldn't 'fix' me) has left me really upset and emotional.

I was annoyed that my husband hadn't already briefed his mother and told her I didn't want to talk or think about it. But clearly he hasn't.

My response was 'I'm fine. We don't really want to talk about it.'

My husband looked horrified by that response so I said 'but we DONT want to talk about it.' As in... That had been our agreement.

My husband then continued to sit with the baby whilst I busied myself tidying some of the mess in the kitchen and getting cups ready for tea.

After a while I took the baby as she was long overdue a nappy change and feed. My husband made tea and our toddler woke up.

SIL said they'd go as they wanted to attend a wedding fair. I stopped breastfeeding so she could hold her niece for the first time. They took some photos, we waved goodbye, they left.

My husband disappeared upstairs and left me wrestling with both children. When I went to look for him to ask for help he started shouting - seemingly the way I had spoken to his mother was totally unacceptable and I was an evil cow.

I pointed out that we had both previously agreed we didn't want to talk about it. I also said that he could've told his mother that before I came downstairs. Yesterday when we returned home from hospital and my parents asked how I was I just cried. When that happened my husband had said I was five but upset. I couldn't understand why he couldn't have done the same thing today.

Instead he just went on and on about how I'm a horrible person and how hurt and upset he was at how I had spoken to his mother.

I'm still hurt by the experience of our wedding as my husband never really accepted that it was okay for me to be upset at what happened. On our wedding night he called his mother for a little chat while I cried my eyes out in the bath: I never received any sort of apology.

Yet here I am... Just two days after giving birth... My hormones everywhere and totally exhausted from lack of sleep and juggling a newborn with a needy and upset toddler, while my husband once again expects me to just overlook everything that happened in the last and treat his mother like some sort of queen.

I said I felt like I should be cut some slack given how close this is to the birth and given that I had received really upsetting news yesterday about the missed stitch. Seemingly not.

So... If any of you have made it this far, WIBU?

I accept I was abrupt... But surely I should be cut a little bit of slack? And surely I should expect my husband to back me up for once? Or is that unreasonable?

OP posts:
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Hellocampers · 08/09/2015 10:49

My darling if you were my dd I would tell you that this marriage isn't worth saving. You deserve far better than this apology for a man could ever give you. So do your children.

Call your parents and either get then to stay or go to stay with them. I have no idea whether it would be better legally for you to stay in the marital home or kick this bastard out. Others will post who know.

My very first LTB...

It's not often a post upsets me but yours has my love. how fucking dare he

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emotionsecho · 08/09/2015 10:53

I think you and your children should go and stay with your parents for a while, you need help, support and somewhere where you can't cut the atmosphere with a knife, where you are now is no good for you or your children.

You will be able to look at the situation more objectively from a distance and place where you feel loved and supported.

Please call your parents.

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leedy · 08/09/2015 10:57

Agree with the PP - how fucking dare he. I am furious on your behalf. That's no way to treat the mother of your children WHO HAS JUST GIVEN BIRTH.

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Groovee · 08/09/2015 11:07

You really are having to deal with a man child at a time when you should be resting, especially feeding 2 children.

Phone your parents and go and stay and get pampered!

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 08/09/2015 11:08

So he's taken paternity leave to lie in bed and verbally and emotionally abuse you, while you struggle on with a prolapse.... ? Holy fuck.

Please call your parents to come and get you. Or to come and stay with you if you don't feel up to the inevitable confrontation. I am guessing that the only way you could safely depart with both your children right now is with a police escort to be honest.

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var123 · 08/09/2015 11:08

Time to go to your parents for a few days. You need proper help and you aren't getting it at home.

Suggest your DH uses the time to consider what he wants going forward.

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WeirdCatLadySaysFuckOffJeffrey · 08/09/2015 11:09

Im sorry OP but your husband is being a horrible twat. Another vote here for calling your parents so that they can come and get you and help look after you and your dc.

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yorkshapudding · 08/09/2015 11:13

In your position I would definitely call your parents and ask them to come and get you and the babies. They sound wonderful and exactly what you need right now. The atmosphere at home sounds so oppressive, just the simple act of walking in and turning off your music, it's so petty and controlling. You shouldn't have to walk on eggshells in your own home, with your own husband.

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FarFromAnyRoad · 08/09/2015 11:18

I so totally agree with Hellocampers. You are being treated like shit here and the injustice of it is making my piss simmer. The trouble is - if he truly can't see what an absolute twat he's being then what hope for the future? I'm sorry - I really think you might need to extricate yourself and your precious babies from this for the sake of your sanity. Your parents will love and cherish you and help you on the road to recovery - your husband won't. Please consider it.

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shutupanddance · 08/09/2015 11:19

Yanbu. Once your hormones have settled, don't cry over them, not worth it. Tits

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yorkshapudding · 08/09/2015 11:20

Just to add, if you do call your parents and ask them to collect you, don't tell your husband until they arrive. That way if he turns nasty (which seems likely) you're not on your own and your parents will witness his being abusive towards you. I understand your not wanting to worry them but I'm sure they would rather know what's going on and have the opportunity to support you.

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Murloc · 08/09/2015 11:29

Oh, love. Flowers

Another voice here calling for you to go to your Mum and Dad's. This really isn't going to get any better, and you've a chance to be happy, with children who can't remember his abuse, if you go now.

I'm sorry this is happening to you, your husband is a prize dick and deserves to be alone.

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JumpingJack56 · 08/09/2015 11:33

Please call your parents, he is abusing you when you are at your most vulnerable. You don't deserve this at all, neither do your children. Take them to your parents and allow your parents to support you. They will be more heartbroken to know you stayed and put up with what you are through not wanting to worry them.

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Missrubyring · 08/09/2015 11:50

Another one calling for you to go to your parents with the children, they sound like what you need right now. You need support and understanding, not an inconsiderate man-child (putting it nicely) making life difficult.
Sending Flowers and hugs to you.

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var123 · 08/09/2015 11:59

I'm not one of the posters who always says LTB. For me, that is a last resort. Look back at my first post - I was advising trying to put it behind you.

I am not saying LTB now either, but I am saying that you need to get away for a few days at least. Something will have to give if he continues like this and you stay and it will either be the care of one of the children or your own health. That's why you need to prioritise by going to your parents.

FWIW, if it were me, i'd seek the moral high ground by texting/ email your MIL to apologise for snapping at her in the kitchen. Explain you were feeling upset, and really didn't want to tak about it, but you didn't mean for it to come out that way. I know she's done a lot of bad things, but she probably doesn't see that and is just obsessing about how cruelly you spoke to her.

If you do this, and you leave for a few days, it will give you DH the space to realise that he needs to behave like a grown up too. If he doesn't come to that conclusion, then you've just taken a shortcut to finding out what your life is going to be like with him.

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yorkshapudding · 08/09/2015 12:14

var123, I would be concerned that apologising to MIL at this point might send DH the message that being emotionally abusive and verbally aggressive is the way to get what he wants in their relationship.

All along he has ignored OP's (not to mention his toddlers) distress and tried to excuse his bad behaviour by fixating on the perceived wrongdoing towards his precious Mother. I think the focus actually needs to be shifted away from the MIL incident and onto HIS behavior towards his wife and children. I hope i'm not coming across as being contrary for the sake of it and im sure others will agree with your suggestion. I just worry that if OP aplogises I think he will feel vindicated in his poor treatment of her.

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DistanceCall · 08/09/2015 12:26

To be brutally honest, in a way it's lucky that this has happened now. You have seen your husband's true colours very early on, when your children are still very young. If this leads to divorce - and it might - your children won't be affected by it as they might be if they were older.

I think you need to draw a boundary IMMEDIATELY. Ask your parents to come for you and leave with your children. And see how your husband likes it. He may reflect and see what a bully and a fuckwit he has been. Or he may not. But in any case, things really, really need to change or you're in for a lifetime of grief.

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var123 · 08/09/2015 12:55

yorkshapudding - I think we are agreed actually on what the priorities are.

Apologising does carry the risk that Tired's DH will think it vindicates his behaviour to her, when it doesn't in any way.
I'd only suggest apologising if Tired also leaves for at least a few days. he's probably on paternity leave atm, so it will be good to let him dwell on how he's got paternity leave but no family to use it on.

OP, you really need to leave. If you stay and tolerate this behaviour, it will be the new norm, and then what will he do next when he wants to show his displeasure? I am so sorry you have to deal with this now, but you need to show him that he doesn't hold all the cards.

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ChickenTikkaMassala · 08/09/2015 13:10

You need to get away from him, he sounds awful.

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BerylStreep · 08/09/2015 13:57

It would be a cold day in hell before I would apologise because a) it wasn't that bad; b) the MIL's alleged reaction is completely over the top; and c) as Yorksha says, it will affirm the husband's behaviour.

If my life depended on it, at a stretch I would probably only manage a pa 'sorry to hear you were upset by my reluctance to discuss the details of my private medical issue, I hope you understand.'

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Hellocampers · 08/09/2015 14:23

I see the point made too but no I
Wouldn't apologise to mil as there's a pattern of bad behaviour. Also I see the dh feeling vindicated and somehow winning the twisted little bastard.

However we all agree on this op. Your dh is a monumental shit head, a vile bastard and personally I would delight in kicking him very hard in the bollocks right now.

Call your mum and dad love.

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Hellocampers · 08/09/2015 14:25

Sorry that was violent but feel so angry on your behalf. My God if you were my dd he would need to go into hiding from me her dad and brothers.

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Clutterbugsmum · 08/09/2015 14:36

I'd do two things

One - phone your family and be honest with them about how your husband is behaving, and ask for their help.

Two - don't apologise for your behaviour, but apologise for sending her man child home.

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amarmai · 08/09/2015 14:59

presumably op knows that simply saying fine will not stop mil, that's why she tried to get her h on board and he agreed that it was ok to say 'we don't want to talk about it' So why did he choose to react as if they did not have this conversation ? Bottom line- her body ,she decides. H sounds like he's not on your side op.

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featherandblack · 08/09/2015 15:21

You do sound as if your finger's on the trigger but this is NOT unreasonable in the circumstances. Everyone should walk on egg shells if necessary, rather than upset you.

Your DH does sound as if he has 'apron string' issues, given everything you've said. It's also very, very unkind of him to sulk, shout and fail to help you. It sounds as if he simply can't cope when his mum is being slighted in any way. He's obviously blind to her being rather spoilt and perfectly capable of fighting her own battles. This will only continue to cause more trouble if it's not looked at.

I would tentatively suggest that, although we know why you were abrupt when speaking to your mum, she didn't know. It did make you look passive aggressive and the busying yourself about the kitchen may have added to that if it was done in the same style. I can see why your DH might feel miffed, because all he had done was treat his family as if they are family, rather than guests - by not worrying about the state of the kitchen, not thinking about handing the baby over, not making tea. It doesn't sound as if there was an agreement between you that he would brief his mum about your health - more that you told him it was perfectly acceptable for him to say something that he then, infuriatingly, chose not to say.

I agree that something about his attitude is very off. But I think at the moment you will make yourself very unhappy if you make a huge deal out of it. The more adversarial you are, the more he will feel sympathetic towards his mum.

Congratulations on your gorgeous baby Flowers

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