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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

re widowed MIL and wedding ring?

218 replies

lulucappuccino · 24/04/2016 16:48

FIL died (relatively young) three weeks ago, after a long illness. MIL isn't a particularly warm person, but they had a long, good marriage.

I noticed that that she's not wearing her wedding ring (not a one-off, it's been several occasions).

She's definitely not on the lookout for another man.

I haven't mentioned this to DH.

I think it's odd. It's absolutely up to her though, of course. Her marriage. Her grief. Her finger!

Just seems a bit odd. I'm being unreasonable to think that though, aren't I?

OP posts:
PPie10 · 24/04/2016 16:50

Wow really mind your own business. Why are you even mentioning such a thing to your Dh? Really have you nothing better to pick about than why your grieving mil isn't wearing her ring. Yabvu.

MrsH1989 · 24/04/2016 16:50

I would think it strange that she has removed it so soon but suppose it is her business.

VimFuego101 · 24/04/2016 16:51

Wow. MYOB. Maybe she finds it very difficult to look at it and be reminded of her marriage right now.

AyeAmarok · 24/04/2016 16:52

You don't like your MIL very much, do you?

MissTurnstiles · 24/04/2016 16:52

Yes, YABU, but you know that. Grief is very different for many people.

Sorry for your loss; hope your DH is OK Flowers. Don't mention anything to him.

DancingDinosaur · 24/04/2016 16:52

Jeez. Keep your beak out.

Coconutty · 24/04/2016 16:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 24/04/2016 16:53

You'd do well not to mention it to your dh!Hmm

Floralnomad · 24/04/2016 16:54

Did she wear it all the time when he was still alive ? Either way it's none of your business .

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 24/04/2016 16:54

Grief is odd.

It's possible she's totally fucked off with him for dying. People can act strangely.

Toooldtobearsed · 24/04/2016 16:55

I have been married for 38 years. I took my wedding ring off 8 years ago and have not worn it since. It does not mean that I am on the look out, nor that I love DH any the less.
Just leave her be.

PenelopePitstops · 24/04/2016 16:55

Did she put it in his coffin?

ilovesooty · 24/04/2016 16:56

Yes. YABU.

SilverBirchWithout · 24/04/2016 16:57

I've been married over 30 years and don't wear my ring that often.

Not quite sure what the problem is.

Her grief, her choice in how she copes.

Northernlurker · 24/04/2016 16:58

Oh do mind your own business!

Are you doing anything to support her or just speculating about her behind her back?

I agree with another poster btw - chances are it's in his coffin. Now do you feel proud of yourself for wondering about it?

lalalalyra · 24/04/2016 16:58

Has she lost weight since the loss of her husband? My best friend took off her wedding ring days after her husband died because she'd lost so much weight she was scared of losing.

SilverBirchWithout · 24/04/2016 16:59

I wonder whether she has put the 2 rings together some place that is special to them both?

Somerville · 24/04/2016 17:02

Seriously? SERIOUSLY?

DancingDinosaur · 24/04/2016 17:03

I expect she would be delighted to know of all the online speculating that you have created about her grief op. Maybe you should show her the thread and get her to pick which answer is correct to satisfy your curiosity. Hmm

catsrus · 24/04/2016 17:05

My mother removed her wedding ring when she lost her engagement ring due to weight loss after my dad died - it slipped off her finger. I told her she could get it made smaller but she was very pragmatic about it. She no longer had a husband so was no longer married so it wasn't important to wear one. Not a big deal for her or me to be honest.

Maryz · 24/04/2016 17:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

timelytess · 24/04/2016 17:07

She might be angry with him for leaving her. She might feel that now he's not here she isn't married any more. Poor woman.

When my marriage was ending, I couldn't wear my ring. Every time I put it on, the skin under it became sore and inflamed. This went on for months. I'd stopped wearing it altogether before we actually split. I am convinced it was psychosomatic, and that if we'd been happy I'd have been able to wear it. Maybe she's lost weight or the skin is sore. Or the weight of her ring reminds her of her loss. Or as suggested above, it might have gone in his coffin.

My dad, the most undemonstrative of husbands in his youth, had a single red rose placed in my mother's coffin, because he bought her a red rose on the night they met.

Herewegoagainfolks · 24/04/2016 17:07

YAB sooooo U

She is entitled to grieve in her own way.

Perhaps the ring was buried with him.

Perhaps the sure if it distresses her

Perhaps she's lost weight in her grief

Perhaps she has never liked it and only wore it to please him.

Perhaps she's having it reset with some of his ashes

Either way - not your business and I can't believe you'd add to you DH's distress by commenting on it.

Maryz · 24/04/2016 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PortiaCastis · 24/04/2016 17:08

The woman is grieving and what she does with her wedding ring is her business. Butt out