Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this a bit weird - sorry another mil one!

60 replies

Maisy313 · 26/09/2015 22:30

Went for a meal with dh extended family, popped to the loo for a minute or so, later in the evening I saw a photo of the whole family at the dinner table on FB and asked when it happened, MIL said 'oh I asked the waiter to take it when you were in the toilet' I have had two of her grandchildren so feel a bit odd that I'm still excluded from these things... It sort of made me lol in my head as she must have had to of been so quick, but can just never imagine my mum behaving like that. I'm very much expected to arrange their bday / Mother's Day presents (mil messages to remind me) yet they don't acknowledge my bday, just dh and grandchildren. I know this is all 100% pathetic but just gives me a slightly off feeling...

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 26/09/2015 23:01

Why didn't your DH ask her to wait?

Tiptops · 26/09/2015 23:03

YANBU, it was weird and mean BUT why on earth didn't your DH speak up?

Maisy313 · 26/09/2015 23:06

He should have asked her to wait, but he definitely didn't. No one mentioned it when I got back to the table. It sort of makes me laugh as it is ridiculous, but I just find it uncomfortable. Now I come to think of it they did a large family photo in my living room for MIL to plaster on FB that I wasn't invited into, though maybe more fair enough as was just nuclear family. Felt a bit weird sitting on the sofa by myself though! I don't actually like being photographed so should maybe count myself lucky!

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 26/09/2015 23:08

It's not ridiculous at all. He's being totally complicit in their treatment of you.

Champagneformyrealfriends · 26/09/2015 23:15

She sounds like my MIL. My MIL and SIL treated me so badly over the last year that i have now refused to purchase any birthday presents/cards/remind DH to. They don't acknowledge my birthday so I don't see why, when I sort all my families gifts, that DH shouldn't buy for his family and niece/nephews. I know it seems petty but they've truly made my life miserable recently.

Pilgit · 26/09/2015 23:18

What a horrid way to treat you! And why is your DH not sticking up for you? I'd not be going to future events and would keep the children away. This is not out of spite but because they should not be taught that this in an acceptable way to treat their mother.

NotOneIota · 26/09/2015 23:23

OP,not quite the same thing,but I recently went out for a meal with two colleagues from work. After,when I got home,I went on facebook,and saw that they had posted a photo of the two of them,obviously taken during our evening together, when they both went to the bar. I felt excluded and a little paranoid,tbh.

Your situation is different though. I can chose whether to be with my colleagues. If MIL constantly pecks away at you,it must make it exhausting even thinking about family get togethers!

You need DH onside. Don't let her snipes and jibes go unnoticed. DCs will pick upon the atmosphere at some point,if they haven't already. Good luck!

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 26/09/2015 23:23

Not one single bit of any of this is ok, OP. I think you are so close to the situation you don't see how truly shocking and awful it is!

DH needs to step up and support you. Do not go to these poisonous people for Christmas.

Creatureofthenight · 26/09/2015 23:26

YANBU, that was not a nice way to behave. You are not pathetic!
I think I would have said something at the time, but perhaps you've tried that before!
Next time she messages you about presents, just reply saying suggest you forward this to your son. Tell your DH that as you are not regarded as a member of the family, you will not be taking responsibility for buying cards/presents any more.

Maisy313 · 26/09/2015 23:29

It feels like such a relief to hear from you all and know that I do have reason to feel angry and dismissed by them all, and that includes dh. Now my mind is going mad remembering all the other things that I have dismissed as them being insensitive or me being too sensitive, and feel like telling all of them to fuck off permanently.

OP posts:
Dollymixtureyumyum · 27/09/2015 00:07

At my father in laws 60s my SIL put up loads of pictures of family and friends. I was not on any of them. She had even managed to include pictures from our wedding without me on them.

When my DH challenged her she said we have not been together that long so they did not have many photos with me on them. We had only been married 7 years and been together for 9 at that point in time.
Yes the bitch hates me Grin

bloodyteenagers · 27/09/2015 00:36

Anytime she contacts you about presents or dates. Tell her 'oops.
You did it again. Contacted the wrong person. You got me not mrmaisy. What are you like?' And hang up. Every time.

Tell him he is dealing with all his families stuff. And this year you have decided fuck it,
You aren't wanted anyway so you are starting a new family tradition and staying at home. Where it's you him and the kids.

Italiangreyhound · 27/09/2015 00:59

Wow so rude, What did you say?

In your shoes I would have been tempted to say "That feels really rude to purposely take the family photo when I was in the loo." If she apologised or whatever and if something similar happened again I would be tempted to say, exact wording ... "That feels really rude to purposely XYZ, a bit like when you took the family photo when I was in the loo at the last meal out."

If she did not apologise or accused me of being over sensitive I would just say "Oh well let me know when you go to the loo and I will get my camera out."

And agree with others, when she messages re presents, say 'I will pass it on to dh.'

I think people can only get away with this shit because they are allowed to.

I would almost be tempted to say loudly at the table (while grabbing the waiter) can we get another photo with all of us in as that MIL took the last one while I was in the loo!

And Maisy re 'couldn't find my phone at one point and she said to my son twice 'mummy needs someone to look after her',

I'd make a job - are you offering to look after me, how sweet!

and 'why don't you just give up your job'

"Well I earn as much as your son and the kids are both of ours so maybe he should give up his job!."

It just sounds like they are picking at you.

Maybe a more productive way to deal with it would be to speak to her woman to woman and say 'I feel undermined when you say ABC (examples of what has happened) and I know we can have a good relationship, you buy nice things for the kids and I help you out with good ideas, I organise family gatherings etc whatever... so wouldn't it be nice to be more civil and polite and friendly with each other,"

She will doubtless protest she is civil and polite and friendly so you can cite some examples, in your shoes I would end with .. would you feel good about being exuded from photos or having it implied to your kids that you needed looking after....."

Good luck.

Italiangreyhound · 27/09/2015 01:01

I should clarify! while grabbing the waiter to take a photo!

BoldFox · 27/09/2015 01:06

the colleagues taking the picture at the bar and then posting it on fb kind of thing has happened to me. I have an old school friend, but she only posts pictures of people who are more glamorous than I am (I'm not unattractive) but when she posts pictures of people she's been out with, they look really blonde, groomed, expensively dressed, propping up bars with cosmopolitans............ I don't cut it. It has P'd me off in the past. Once I posted something to her wall and she instantly deleted it!!!! ONCE, & it was just a quiz that had a meaning to her. Then she posted something to my wall once and although it was slightly embarrassing in that it was something from the waterford whisperer and she'd taken it seriously, I just replied kindly.

Some people are weird on fb

Chottie · 27/09/2015 06:29

Maisy I am a MiL and I do not get this at all! I agree with everyone else that your MiL was bang out of order.

Christmas - do your own thing and make your own traditions
Presents - pass her on to Mr Maisy

Call her out on the photos and other stuff every time.

Spartans · 27/09/2015 06:48

Yanbu.

However you don't only have a mil problem you have a dh problem. My mil wouldn't do this, but if she tries Dh wouldn't allow it.

It mil messages me about birthdays for his side, I would message back 'have you reminded dh, I am not with him at the moment.' And leave it there and I would leave dh to sort the present.

Tbh I get on with pil. They are not overly involved with the kids which bothers me a bit. But we only get on. They used to live an hours drive, so we used to go to their for Christmas lunch and my mums for tea. But a few years ago I said no. I wasn't spending 2 hours in the car and all day out of the house so now my parents come one year and pil the next.

Pil have moved even further away, so no idea when we are seeing them this year.

I love Christmas at home. Take our time opening presents, get dressed when we want. It's so chilled out. We love it. Mum loves it as we cook Christmas dinner.

If it's upsetting you both you and dh have to tackle it.

My response to her comments about work would be to point out that dh could also give up work. Then chuckle and say 'oh it's not 1950 anymore you know' with a big smile.

My dh is not perfect but he wouldn't have any of this shit off his parents.

WhoTheFIsJeff · 27/09/2015 07:58

Yanbu op or over sensitive.

You need to start making a stand now, if she texts you about presents tell her she needs to text dh. Don't engage.

And your dh needs to step up here, he should be standing up for you.

Do whatever makes you happy at Christmas, it's your Christmas too.

mysteryfairy · 27/09/2015 08:29

Can you on getting the Mother's Day reminder thank her profusely as you really want to treat your mum!

aprilanne · 27/09/2015 08:53

maisy i would just tell your hubby to deal with her .my mil is awful to me even my sons girlfriend is horrified .now my 3 sons don,t even visit there grandparents .because of stupid behaviour just rise above it .next time she phones just say i will tell your darling son and forget about her

BolshierAryaStark · 27/09/2015 09:05

Depends how confident you are but I would call her out on this kind of shit, every fucking time. DH's GM used to constantly tell me I looked tired/unwell, pretty irritating really but tbf DH used to do this face Confused a lot & say 'really? I just don't see it' bless him
As for the present thing, agree with others-tell her she needs to contact DH as he will be dealing with them from now on.
Xmas should be a definite no, do not spend that lovely day with someone who makes you feel shit. Tell DH you will be spending it at home as a family & make sure he knows exactly why.

QuietIsland2 · 27/09/2015 09:17

My mil and sil treat me like this. My sil even sends Christmas children's books 'for cisy family moments' but the gift label is addressed to dh and ds - I'm left out! I find the clannishness so weird.
And a friend of mine went nc with the oil who kept forgetting to set a table place for her Hmm at family lunches.

QuietIsland2 · 27/09/2015 09:18

Should read 'cosy'

Ememem84 · 27/09/2015 09:22

Definetly not on. Call her on it next time something happens.

My mil does this to me. She now barely acknowledges I exist. It's my birthday next week and I know she won't send a card or wish me happy birthday.

TheUnwillingNarcheska · 27/09/2015 09:23

Agree with others, you are unreasonable. They are treating you like shit. Including your Dh.

My FIL over-stepped about 10 years ago and Dh waded right into it, told them straight that there was no way he would have me treated badly by his family. Do love him.

It is not normal for MILs to ignore your birthday. I had a lovely MIL, sadly she died last year. Sad She was lovely to my children, and to me, thoughtful in choosing the cards she sent etc etc.

Your Dh needs to stop pandering to them.