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 MIL being unreasonable or am I being over sensitive?

224 replies

WinniePooh101 · 12/07/2016 15:06

Short back story - I have a 14 month old and I'm 7 months pregnant. Both sets of grandparents live nearby. I've had a few problems with MIL over the past 14 months, she's very possessive of my daughter for instance anytime she looks after her she doesn't answer the phone, doesn't tell us where they are until afterwards because she doesn't think they need to ask permission and we keep repeatedly asking them to stop buying toys for their house, she has so many toys it's beyond ridiculous. We were told within weeks of daughter arriving they would see her every Thursday and insisted on having time 'alone' with her e.g.: going for a walk or out to lunch. There's hell to pay if we ever try to cancel 'their day'. This has now become Tuesdays and Thursdays. They were all set to kit out their spare room as a nursery before my daughter arrived, they bought a cot, pram, were going to put her name on the door until it reached a stage it was freaking me out and DP asked them to calm down and pointed out daughter wouldn't be staying there until she's much older. They have their own clothes for her at their house and I found out by accident they change her clothes into their clothes when she's at their house.

Today, I took her up to see them and discovered they've bought her a baby doll complete with bottle, nappies, blankets, crib etc. Two months ago they said they wanted to buy her a baby doll kit and I asked them not to because we've bought one for her as a present from the new baby when he/she arrives. I wasn't rude or angry, I just politely pointed out we've bought all that as a gift from new baby and reminded her we asked them not to, she denied all knowledge of conversation and went on to tell me that our doll etc will be at our house and theirs is at their house so she can't see what my problem is. Then started showing my daughter how to feed the baby doll!! At that point I said I thought it was best I didn't stay and they'd have a better afternoon if I went home, she replied 'Because you're upset we've bought her dolls?' We reached the doorstep, I kissed my daughter, turned around and took a step down and she'd shut the door on me with my daughter inside! I can;t believe yet again she seems to think she can do whatever she wants with my daughter! I accommodate DP's parents a lot but they seem to think they have a right to do and say what they want even when I've asked them not to. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Londonmamabychance · 13/07/2016 14:48

sounds like your MIL is not taking your feelings or opinions into consideration, almost like she's trying to provoke you on purpose by e.g. buying the dolls when you specifically asked her not to! I think her behaviour is very wrong. How was your relationship before you had kids? Has it always been difficult? Is it something between you, or is she just generally insensitive to other people's needs and wishes and always wants her own way? The answers determine how you need to proceed.

Before you get too fired up - although you have all good reason to be, I'd be if I were you - I'd just gently remind you, although I'm sure you're only too aware of the fact, that she will always bee you MIL and you have to find a way to deal with her and have a reasonably harmonious relationship. Maybe the key could be finding out why she's behaving like this, if it's just misunderstandings or plan bad will from her side, and then finding a way to live with the situation. On the plus side, I'd say it sounds like she cares a lot for your daughter and really spoils her, and once you have a second child, you'll probably appreciate the help you're getting from them. Not al all trying to diminish what you're having to deal with, sounds very difficult.

milkingmachine1 · 13/07/2016 15:43

Waiting for an update now...... 🤔

zofranks · 13/07/2016 15:56

good god she is batshit crazy, hope you have stopped all visits for now and got you dd booked into a nursery instead.

Memoires · 13/07/2016 17:25

On the plus side, I'd say it sounds like she cares a lot for your daughter...

Personally, I'm not convninced of that. It does sound like your MIL entered into a power struggle with you - without you knowing - over who is going to be most important in your dd's life, and that says she doesn't really give much of a shit about your daughter at all.

mustbetimeforacreamtea · 13/07/2016 18:40

Mint I think once it emerged that I couldn't provide her with more gc (medical issues) I was of no use to her. She introduced him to the OW and provided opportunities for them to get together. There wasn't even a token gesture of regret for the split and the OW was present at all family events within a few weeks. Xh couldn't/wouldn't go against her wishes.

Life is so much better now she's not dictating how I live my life. Dd has the measure of her and dislikes spending time with her. She's very keen to get to an age when she can decide whether to see gm or not.

mustbetimeforacreamtea · 13/07/2016 18:46

Londonmama I think you'll find it's more about control than love.

Atenco · 13/07/2016 19:00

"I'd say it sounds like she cares a lot for your daughter"
I am another who disagrees. Deliberately sabotaging the present from her new sibling was extremely unkind to the child.

Dutchcourage · 13/07/2016 19:32

I have a feeling op will come back on and say things have been 'smoothed' over . till the next time

wizzler · 13/07/2016 19:48

op.. Waiting for an update confirming that you will look after DD tomorrow

rumblingDMexploitingbstds · 13/07/2016 20:08

op.. Waiting for an update confirming that you will look after DD tomorrow

So no pressure for the OP then. Wink

coconutpie · 13/07/2016 20:31

MIL sounds batshit. Don't guilt yourself over walking away yesterday when she slammed the door on you - you were in shock. Time to stand up to her now though and tell her visits will be stopping, effective immediately. She can fuck right off.

hawaiibaby · 13/07/2016 20:33

Come on op! Wink hope you are OK. We are all steaming here on your behalf Flowers

AnotherPrickInTheWall · 13/07/2016 20:57

My DM is also known to not answer the phone if she sees my number. I occasionally 141 it and she picks up the phone in seconds the asks why I have withdrawn my number. I lie and say it must be a blip.
SIL sent my DD a load of new clothes ( really expensive designer brands)for her birthday; I rand to say thank you and she told me DM had told her she was short of basics.
WTF?? She has a ridiculous amount of clothes, some new ,some charity shop finds (of her own choosing) and a fair few hand me downs.
DM is critical of me colouring my DD's hair in mad temporary colours for the holidays. DD loves to experiment with green/ pink/ purple ombre.
DM tells her she will pay for expensive highlights when she turns 11.
Over my dead body!
I think it is a common feature of grandparents who failed in parenting their own kids well.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 13/07/2016 21:20

I hope you've told the horrible cow to fuck off by now. I don't think I would have been able to help myself after being told they would be having your child on Thursdays!

MintyChops · 13/07/2016 21:46

OP your MIL sounds beyond awful and quite chilling if I'm honest. I hope your DH managed to give her a piece of his mind last night and you are on the path to raking back control. Please come back and give us an update when you can.....

NCInger · 14/07/2016 13:17

To the couple of posters asking for an update, why? The OP asked a question, has had some great advice and needs time to digest, no one ever owes someone an update on a thread because they want to know.

MintyChops · 14/07/2016 20:23

Really, not saying she owes us but would like to know how she is doing, whether her DH stood up to his mum, if she needs more support etc. Why? What's it to you?

Proginoskes · 14/07/2016 21:26

Didn't OP earlier say she was signed off work with a possible blood clot? I hope she's okay and the "possible" didn't become "definite"! Shock Sad

WonkoTheSane42 · 14/07/2016 21:35

We reached the doorstep, I kissed my daughter, turned around and took a step down and she'd shut the door on me with my daughter inside!

And then you banged down the door and took your daughter home, right?

sykadelic · 15/07/2016 01:24

Hope OP is okay!

rwilkinson84 · 15/07/2016 09:37

OP? Have literally been thinking about this all day yesterday cause I was so fuming for you. Hope everything is ok Flowers

WiddlinDiddlin · 15/07/2016 19:47

Ditto, just spent ages looking for this thread hope everything is ok OP!

Samkate · 15/07/2016 22:16

How did everything go OP?

george1020 · 19/07/2016 21:12

Just Checking to see if there was an update, Hope your ok OP!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page