Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Are my parents unreasonable? And what do I do next?

385 replies

deerman · 15/02/2016 20:50

Sorry a bit of background here.

My mum has never really liked my DW. When they first met long before we married my mum was very nice to her. But as time went on she became less comfortable with DW being around. I asked her about this and my mum says that at first she thought I was only dating my wife to get ahead in my career but now she could see that I loved her she thought I could do better. DW is always pleasant towards my mum. We only see my parents once a year now as they live far away we don't keep in contact only on birthdays and Christmas when I call them.

So my DW had our DD a couple of weeks ago. DD was a bit early and the labour was very traumatic for dw who had to have an emergency c-section in the end. But both did very well and they came home today.

So after the birth I video called my parents to tell them DD had been born and told them her name etc. My mum was upset that I hadn't called earlier when dw was in labour. I explained that there was no time beforehand and she quickly moved the conversation on to when she could come and visit. I said I would tell her when but probably not for a few weeks and they would have to stay in a hotel which I would pay for. My mum was a bit upset and said she felt left out. I apologised but said that I wanted to spend time with DD as a family of 3 and get used to her before any visitors.

So last week the doctors said that if everything was good over the weekend then DW and DD could go home on Monday (today). I texted this news to my dad.

So today we got home and we had just sat down and suddenly there are my parents standing at the door complete with suitcases. DW and I were in shock. I let them in and asked them why they were here. My mum said that they assumed my text was an invitation to come over and stay.I said I didn't have a hotel for them or anything and my mum said it was too late now as they were here and they would have to stay with us if they couldn't find one.

They went and sat in the living room with dw and DD. Dw was holding DD and my mum started stood in front of them and started cooing right in DDs face. I told her to sit down which she did and I went online to look for a hotel for them.

My mum then started referring to DD by her middle name. I reminded her that DDs first name was X. But she then did it again. I told her again that DDs first name is X and she was using DDs middle name. My mum said that this was because she didn't like DDs first name because it was unusual (DDs first name is Welsh as is my wife and DDs middle name is a common name which a member of my family has). My dw told my mum that we liked the name and she explained the meaning behind it. My mum said fine then and sighed.

Then DD started crying so dw asked if my parents could leave while she fed DD. My mum stared muttering about coming all this way and not getting to hold her but they both left. But then as soon as dw said she was done my mum was in the room like a shot and she grabbed DD out of my dws arms and started kissing her and whispering to her she turned her back on all of us and cuddled DD.

I then found them a hotel and told them about it and said I was booking them a taxi. My mum said she was staying longer and started to cry. My dad asked if they could stay just an extra half an hour and they both turned to my dw and asked her again to stay longer. She said yes so I agreed as well and booked the taxi for half an hour later.

A few minutes later DD started crying in my mum's arms. My dw asked if she could have her back and my mum said no I want to hold her more you can have her all to yourself when I leave. I could see that dw was upset so I told my mum to give her DD which she reluctantly did.

DD settled and then my mum was on at dw asking for my dad to have a hold as he hadn't held DD yet. So we gave her to my dad and then my mum took her off him. DD started crying again and my mum started to shush her but used DDs middle name again.

Dw said sorry but DD is called x not by her middle name. My mum said that she was calling DD by her middle name and she couldn't see why we didn't give DD a first name from my family as my DWs family were all dead so DD wouldn't care about them or their culture anyway.

Dw asked for DD back now but my mum said no as she is the only grandparents DD has and DW has to learn to share. I told her to give DD back and I stood up and took her from my mum and gave her back to my wife.

I told my parents that their taxi was coming and they should wait outside. My mum went towards dw to kiss DD, as she did she whispered something which I couldn't hear and I got both my parents out the door and when I returned my wife was in tears. Turns out my mum had told her that she didn't deserve DD but it didn't matter because she would probably kill DD just like she killed her family. (Her family died in a tragic accident which was not my wife's fault at all)

A couple of hour ago my dad called. DW didn't want me to answer but I did anyway. He said that my mum had got carried away because she was upset that she wouldn't get much time with DD before they go home and could we just put up with them for the week and then they will go home and we won't see them for ages. He asked if I could do it for him as he wants to know his granddaughter before they leave and he loves her and us and wants to see her again and a couple more visits before they leave wouldn't be too much to ask as they had travelled a long way and didn't get a chance to take a picture. My mum was crying in the background. I said I would see what happens.

But dw was listening and she was really upset because I wasn't more firm with them.

So now I don't know what to do. My mum was awful but they travelled here and they don't have pictures and my dad didn't even really get to hold her and they will probably turn up again this week and try and see DD again. I'm not sure what to do if they come here again.

OP posts:
gleekster · 15/02/2016 22:36

Well done deerman. If they do show up and cause a fuss, just call the police.

Don't even answer the door - people like your parents will just muscle their way in. Sad

EweAreHere · 15/02/2016 22:36

You're making the right choice for your family.

I hope tomorrow is the start of a happy life for you and your new little family of three.

Good luck to all of you.

Lj8893 · 15/02/2016 22:36

Some may say this is an overreaction but I would go as far to threaten to call the police if they turn up tomorrow and won't leave. That's harassment.

Justmuddlingalong · 15/02/2016 22:36

DO NOT make them think this is your DW's decision. MAKE SURE they know it is a family decision.

deerman · 15/02/2016 22:38

We are from an Asian country, and my parents still live there.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 15/02/2016 22:39

Well dine for stepping up. What a horrible thing to say/do

gleekster · 15/02/2016 22:39

deerman I would turn your phone off now if I were you - you will need your sleep and your parents are likely to keep up the pressure I fear.

Congratulations on the birth of your baby Flowers

DinosaursRoar · 15/02/2016 22:40

You are making the right choice.

This is beyond being nasty. This sounds like mental health issues, and possibly that your dad is covering up, but in the long term, not really helping her.

I would suggest you talk to your brother, perhaps it would be helpful for your DW to build a relationship with your brother and his wife.

Lj8893 · 15/02/2016 22:40

Yes make it clear this is your decision, not because your wife has made you choose.

AdoraBell · 15/02/2016 22:41

^^ and that apology needs to be in your presence and spoken out loud so she can't whisper more poison under the guise of being nice.

If your father cannot stand up to your mother that is his problem. He decides, and acts accordingly, whether he wants to loose contact with you as well as his other son.

Also, the reason he hardly got to hold his new grandchild is because his wife took your baby away from him.

As others have said, if they turn up don't let them in and it would be more effective to meet up with your DF away from your home. If you do this make sure your DW knows so that if your mother turns up at your home while you and DF are occupied she doesn't need to open the door.

Indantherene · 15/02/2016 22:41

My ILs turned up the day we came out of hospital with DD1, at 7pm and sat there until gone 11pm, then kept phoning for no reason and dropping in unannounced and grabbing the baby and refusing to give her back. They weren't evil (like your DM), just very very thoughtless.

That baby turns 30 years old this week and it still makes me angry to think of it. What your DM did was so much worse, and will stick with your DW for ever.

My DH always sided with his DPs and always put their wants before my needs. It has caused many rows. Please consider your DW and tell your evil mother to butt out.

Ohfourfoxache · 15/02/2016 22:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

DartmoorDoughnut · 15/02/2016 22:41

Well done deerman now give your wife a massive hug and tell her how much you love her, how sorry you are she had to go through that and make her a cuppa!

honeyrider · 15/02/2016 22:42

I'm absolutely shocked by this thread but I'm more shocked that the OP is even asking if his parents are being unreasonable and what should he do next?

If you love your wife and DD then you protect them and cut your parents out of your life. If you don't stand firm on this with your poor DW then your marriage is doomed. Your DW will remember this until the day she dies and she'll also remember how you deal with it.

Anyone I know that have lost a parent and then had a baby have all said they felt really sad that their parent wasn't around when they had their baby. Your DW has probably had the same regret and then to have such vile and nasty accusations thrown at her when she's at her most vulnerable is beyond disgusting.

OP your mother will not change as she has a history of this, at least man up and grow a pair like your brother.

hownottofuckup · 15/02/2016 22:44

Have you ever spoken to your dad about your mum?

SouthWesterlyWinds · 15/02/2016 22:44

I suggest you call/text your older brother to compare strategies.

shutupandshop · 15/02/2016 22:45

Well done op. Don't let them push there way in. My dd1 is 14 and the way mil treated me when she was newborn still fills me with rage. Angry

AdoraBell · 15/02/2016 22:45

Cross post, sorry. Well done deerman and congratulations to you and DW on the arrival of DD Thanks

hownottofuckup · 15/02/2016 22:45

Oh and if you're not sure what to do if they turn up, ask DW and agree a plan between yourselves.

Justmuddlingalong · 15/02/2016 22:47

How sad that such a memorable and special day has been tainted. Please ensure that not 1 single day of the future is spoiled by your mother. It is up to you to prevent anything like this happening again.

LaContessaDiPlump · 15/02/2016 22:50

Call your brother and get some support from him!

Also, you need to harden your heart to your dad. He is actively choosing to live with and enable his psycho wife. You can't make your wife miserable in order to enable your dad's shit choices, can you?

zzzzz · 15/02/2016 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadamDeathstare · 15/02/2016 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WonderingAspie · 15/02/2016 22:55

I'm glad your DW gave you that ultimatum because it shows how bad this is. I'm also very glad you are standing by your wife against your awful mother. The fact that you are expecting them to turn up again regardless of your wishes speaks volumes about the type of people they are. Don't forget this.

0christmastree5 · 15/02/2016 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Swipe left for the next trending thread