Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Daughter's In-laws make her feel excluded

60 replies

jodie67 · 24/04/2016 13:57

Eldest DD and her OH have been living together for 3 years, got engaged this year and are now expecting a first baby.
She text me this morning very upset to have discovered that he, his parents and siblings have a 'secret' group Viber chat. I wasn't sure whether she was right to feel wronged. His family have moved away so the two of them spend a good bit of time with us. She is the eldest of 4 and he is included in our family viber group. Obviously these means of communication didn't exist when I was her age so don't have any reference points other
than what we do now.
While I certainly have things I might hesitate to discuss in front of her OH, I feel it would be rude to have a group like this that so clearly excludes him.
What do other people think? I hope I've explained properly. I seem to spend a lot of time reassuring her that his family is just different from hers in various ways, but in this instance I'm finding it difficult to justify.
Thanks

OP posts:
Roussette · 24/04/2016 16:17

Firstly, why have you included him in your viber group, did he have a choice, does he participate? Why can't you talk to your kids without involving your DDs partner? It is not rude for him to exclude him! He isn't your son!

Secondly, why on earth does she want to be in his Mum's and siblings Viber group. Weird. I have whatsapps groups with my DCs and no one else, it's normal.

Roussette · 24/04/2016 16:19

I meant it is not rude for you to exclude him from you and your DCs viber group.

Noodledoodledoo · 24/04/2016 16:31

I don't even have my in laws mobile numbers! Have been married 3 years. Only have PILs home number as it's saved on our land line phone handsets! All communications are done via DH.

MatildaTheCat · 24/04/2016 16:39

It would be rude if they were talking about your dd but otherwise perfectly normal. I am in a WhatsApp group with dh and his siblings but I set it up to facilitate the help and visits needed by their parents so hardly interesting.

mmgirish · 24/04/2016 16:51

My Dh has a family chat group with his siblings and parents that I'm not included in. I think it's pretty normal these days.

TheSnowFairy · 24/04/2016 16:52

DH is in a group with his brothers and his dad. Not an issue for me or any of the OH's.

sleeponeday · 24/04/2016 17:15

You often see MIL who expect to be present at the birth of GC if the DIL's own mother is asked, on grounds of "fairness". It always amazes me, because the assumption that the relationships between parents and children are not biological plus years of love and nurture, and that a marriage or long term relationship means a woman has an equal obligation to her partner's mum, is bonkers. Sure it's the birth of a baby, but it's also a labour, and the birth of a mother. And there is in such cases absolutely no recognition that the woman and her mum have a unique bond, and it isn't the MIL's son giving birth. And that assumption that a relationship with the son devolves rights to his mother, over the life of the DIL, seems at the heart of a lot of problems.

I tend to think it's because women are always supposed to service family connections, and the idea that a son should sort out the relationship between his parents and himself and his kids, rather than the DIL being saddled with it, a remnant of the old idea that women married into another family.

But this is the same thing. Your DD's partner is his parents' son and his siblings' brother. They (hopefully) love one another and share a history nobody else ever could. Why should your DD be part of that? It's lovely when someone marries into a family and develops a bond with the extended relatives, but it isn't automatic and instant, and the reality is that the rest barely know her - she's his partner, not their child or sib. Of course they like having a way they can chat and communicate without having to check their words or parse their statements. And that's not possible when someone new is involved. They aren't rejecting her, just because they want to speak sometimes with their own nuclear family. Over years, she may join them in that intimacy - or she may not. What matters is that she develops it with her own partner and children for herself, as is her right.

I think your DD needs to stop and have a think. She'll soon be a mum herself - would she really like it if, 30 years ahead, her child's partner won't accept that she may want a loving, close and private relationship with her kids, and their father, to continue... without that upsetting a newish partner?

Joinourclub · 24/04/2016 17:40

I never considered adding my husband to my family whatsapp group! He'd be driven mad by all the cat pictures and gossip about people he's never met.

sykadelic · 24/04/2016 17:43

I think she IBU only because:

  1. You didn't mention whether she was already a part of one with his family and this was a second "separate" one, but assuming she wasn't in a chat with them already... she obviously wasn't bothered not to hear from them
  2. Surely she doesn't expect to know everything everyone is saying at all times
  3. Is she involved in all his messages to other people, or he in hers?
  4. Do you never have a private conversation with her? i.e. he knows all about her calling you upset about this right?

His family is obviously choosing their main for of communication as Viber as opposed to phone calls/meet ups/texts/e-mails. Nothing wrong with that. She (and he) don't need to be involved in every facet of each others lives.

The only reason I think she's feeling bad is because she didn't know about it right away... which is also odd that she feels he should tell her the minutia of his life "hey btw my family and I just set up a viber chat". It just is what it is. It's hardly the end of the world or a sign of something bad (either within her relationship with her DH or his family).

My DH doesn't talk to my family (international and all that) and certainly doesn't feel excluded to not be included in the chat/drivel. I tell him if there's something interesting but most of the time its "hey hows things?" or funny posts or something.

Maryz · 24/04/2016 17:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page