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.

To stay away from MIL from now on?

86 replies

PinkCollarCat · 08/08/2016 22:18

Sorry if this long, I need to give all the background.

DH and I have been married since April, have a 13month old DD together. We've been together 4 years, and lived together for nearly 18months. DD wasn't planned, but we're happy and love being a family.

MIL was lovely until DD was born. She would often invite me over for meals when DH lived there, and then when he moved in with me she'd often text us asking us over. They helped us furnish our flat and seemed genuinely happy for us as a couple.

Then DD was born, and she started refusing to come visit our flat as apparently it was "dirty" after she visited once after the birth - DH was working 6 days a week with no paternity leave, DD was a few weeks old and I was struggling to breastfeed after having a episiotomy which resulted in me losing 4 pints of blood and having a transfusion as well as 16 stitches (10 external, 6 internal), I was on iron tablets, and antibiotics to stop me getting an infection and had only come out of hospital the day before after spending 10 days in as DD also developed a chest infection and had jaundice, so I've no idea why she expected me to have done the washing up or the laundry to be caught up on.

Things just got worse from there. I have no doubt she loves DD, and I'm not sure if she's just overly fussy or I've upset her but since then we've all (DH included) had a tricky relationship. MIL insisted I visited them once a fortnight on the Friday off work, DH was always working so I'd have to make my own way over with baby DD, and as I don't drive this meant an hour round trip. I always did it because I wanted to keep the peace.

At 6 weeks old DD was diagnosed with hip dysplasia (aka Clicky Hip) and was placed in a special brace for 12 weeks. I had to stop using the newborn section of the travel system as it was hindering her recovery. I put her in the next stage bit but she didn't like it and just cried. I thought she was too tiny for a stroller so instead switched to using a soft carrier which was recommended by the Orthopedic Nurses doing the weekly physio and bath on my DD.

Surprisingly as I'm quite short, both DD and I loved the carrier. And it was a godsend when she started teething and became clingy. However, MIL hated it and made her feelings on it clear. She moaned that the carrier was unsafe, DD apparently hating it (despite her smiling and babbling away when she was in) and that she thought it was neigh on child abuse to keep using it, she never said these things to me or DH but FIL would repeat them too us or she'd ring my mum concerned and my mum would tell me - my mum loved seeing her gd happy and just wanted her to get better so wasn't bothered with us using the carrier.

After the brace came off DD I continued to use the carrier, but also used the pushchair just as frequently, which DD was now happy to be in again. If we saw MIL she'd talk to me/DH/DD if we were using the pushchair, but completely ignore us if we were using the carrier - DH liked wearing it as much as me.

When we announced the date for our wedding in September, MIL just sighed and said "you don't have much time to plan it do you?" no congratulations, no asking about our plans, just a sigh. I was pretty put out.

At Christmas we planned to spend the day together as a family, just the 3 of us. The plan was to go to PILs on Christmas Eve and then to my mums from Boxing Day for a few days (she lives an hour away by train). But when DH told MIL the plan she threw a strop and told us we were ruining her Christmas - she has a party with all of her side of the family at her house (her 5 siblings, who have 18 children between them, plus her parents and grandparents, and SIL and her partner) which I thought would be too much for DD. DH didn't want to cause an argument at Christmas so we ended up going (DH drives). MIL even demanded that I express some milk rather than breastfeeding so I could in her words "have a break" (I have always known she's not a supporter of breastfeeding - she told me she wanted to me to give the baby formula several times while I was pregnant).

We turned up with DD in her carseat asleep, and MIL woke her up, got her out and we didn't get a look in for the rest of the afternoon, not even for feeding - we suspect MIL gave her formula at least once as I'd only expressed enough off for one feed as we only intended to stay an hour, but stayed all afternoon as we couldn't get DD back off various relatives who'd remove her from the room or be taking pictures when we went to get her.

I stopped the fortnightly visits after that. DH told MIL they were stopping as I was going back to work 3 days a week and wanted to get DD used to her childminder before I did (DD actually took to the CM straight away and was happy to be left from the start but MIL didn't need to know that). MIL was happy I was back at work, and started going on about DH and I getting a house closer to hers even though she knew that all our money was going on the wedding after the bills were paid and then on a family holiday after the wedding.

On the day we got married, MIL turned up late. FIL couldn't drive at the time, and I'd said we didn't have the room for GFILs parents - So DHs great grandparents who he's met once in his life, never receives christmas or birthday presents from and probably have no idea who he is as they have 9 living children, who all have at least 3 children each and god knows how many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. And they were the only ones who could apparently drive her and FIL to the service, despite us inviting all 5 of MILs siblings, their spouses/partners, all DHs cousins on that side, both of FILs sisters and their husbands, all 6 of DHs cousins on FILs side plus his cousins 2 step children, all 6 of DHs grandparents (FILs parents both remarried before DH was born and he calls the step GPs granny/grandad) as well as SIL and her partner most of whom could drive and us getting married in their home town which would have been a 20minute walk or 10minute taxi journey. So she turned up late by 10 minutes and nearly missed the ceremony - had the couple before us not overrun she would have missed it. She claimed she didn't know that GFILs parents weren't picking her up.

Then at the reception she refused to pose for photos, took DD off my relatives several times and passed her to her relatives, constantly asked where my dad was even though she knows that my dad walked out on my mum when my DB and I were teenagers and we've never had contact since with him or his family (I told her this when DH and I got together), Asked my brother twice if he and I were twins (we are, but again she knew this) and complained loudly that it was unfair that we hadn't invited GFILs parents.

Since we've been married she moans about DDs clothes; she doesn't like the dress we've dressed her, she doesn't like jeans on such young children etc. She also takes off any cardigans/socks knitted by my family when we go round.

But the final straw was when I bought a new carrier. I wanted to carry DD on my back and she was getting close to the weight limit for the front carrier so I treated myself to a new soft back carrier. I took DD out in it the day it arrived, and we both loved it, so now I rarely use the pushchair. MIL told me she doesn't want to see me using the carrier, and she's going to ring my HV as she thinks it's damaging to DD for her to be in the carrier - to add my HV is lovely, and I've taken DD to the weighing clinic in the carrier and my HV and her colleagues all thought it was brilliant and DD was very happy in it, they recommend them for this age group anyway as they go through separation anxiety and being close by can be helpful for them.

MIL never speaks to DH unless he contacts her, it's always me. Whenever he asks what I've done to upset her she denies there's a problem.

AIBU to tell DH I don't want anything to do with MIL until she tells me what I've done to upset her or stops acting to childish?

OP posts:
isitseptemberyet · 14/08/2016 22:53

I would have ceased contact at th formula !!
i do feel really sorry for you, she sounds an awful lot like my MIL (no contact for 4 years)
have a gander at this site:
www.daughtersofnarcissisticmothers.com/narcissism-definition/

sounds like she could fit the bill!
Good luck x

magoria · 14/08/2016 23:08

Your MIL does not have your DD's best interests at heart.

Only a completely selfish fuck wit would take a child and feed it formula with no clue or idea as to if that child had any allergies or problems.

She cares so little about your DD she would rather see her suffer in a travel system than comfortable in a carrier.

She will be trying to wean your DD on what she sees fit to at Christmas/birthdays etc not matter what you think if you go there.

You need to make a stand and a scene if that is what it takes now and stick to it. Otherwise she will ignore you and do what she likes for the next 14/18 years.

Lilacpink40 · 14/08/2016 23:19

I haven't read all of this, but I wonder if your MIL is like this because she just is not usually a nice person?

If she's generally spoilt and petulant with few genuine friends, I'd stay away. She won't improve for a DIL. If it's just you, you need to find out why.

Whatsername17 · 14/08/2016 23:37

Wow! That's woman is crazy. You need to be stronger with her. Id have laughed in her face over the carrier thing. I mean really, she is going to report you for using a safe, purpose built carrying device? It's not like you are wheeling dd around in a dog crate. Baby carriers are designed and sold for this purpose. The hv team will laugh at her.

Dragongirl10 · 14/08/2016 23:42

You sound very patient...well done for staying calm.

but why do you let her take your DD away from you, wake her without permission, hand her round to other relatives, possibly feed her formula sneakily, make very rude comments, criticise your ( good ) parenting?

Look at that list...would you let anyone else do those things? of course not, it is appalling and needs to stop as others have said.
Stop seeing her and if you have to on occasion then be assertive and challenge every comment and criticism, every time...she will have to get the message sooner or later.

Never let her just take your DD, Be prepared with a response..' don't wake her l am establishing a sleep routine'..no discussion, just repeat firmly if she persists.

Have a prepared response for each issue and use them, practice if you find it hard to stand up to her.

You do not need to apease her or keep the peace as she is overstepping boundaries and will probably get worse if unchecked.

Stop caring if you upset her, stop caring if you get upset with her, you have every right to control access to your own DD, and would not put up with these comments from a friend so why her?

You sound lovely, but you have to toughen up with MIL.

I wish you luck

Purpleburple123 · 02/05/2019 11:05

The first thing that springs to mind here is 'boundaries' sounds like MIL has crossed the boundaries quite a few times and either thinks it's her right to do so (which it is not) or is unaware. She sounds like she may be a narcissist. People with this type of personality disorder really struggle with boundaries and like being the centre of attention and putting others down.
It is certainly not her place to tell you how to do anything at all!!! She can make friendly suggestions, yes but this is your life with your DH and daughter and not her business. I would suggest just saying 'thanks for your advice' and leave it. You do not need to explain your reasoning. She should catch on that her opinion (if invalid) is not as important as she'd like to think!
I would definitely take a step back. Don't pander to her needs at all. She should be making the effort to visit you and fit into your life. Try not to be critical as she could become nasty and you don't need that. I suspect your DH has had a lifetime of it and realises that taking a step back is the least stressful way to manage her.
Put yourself first. Don't give her opportunity to bully and criticise. Stand tall. When she was handing the baby around at her house and feeding it away from you, I would have politely taken her back. People then come to you both and she looses that control. I think your MIL wanted the attention like it was her daughter. That's not right.
Be strong, stand your ground, don't get stressed as it's not worth it, don't be rude or criticise her, but step back and she might realise that you are not going to fit into her rules which are just not acceptable!
Hope that's helpful.

caringdenise009 · 02/05/2019 11:11

How did you find this 3 year old thread Purple?

Dvg · 02/05/2019 11:54

Yeah i would putting our relationship behind me, she has no right to have any say in your DD's life, she is a grandma not the mum and not the dad.

I would start either standing up for yourself or stop the relationship between you two

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 02/05/2019 16:26

Hi OP

She wont tell young what you've done to upset her. Because what you've done is not allow her to dictate exactly how to feed clothe and look after your daughter and not bring her up in the exact same way as she brought up her son. And she knows she cant say that as if she admits it shell come across as completely crazy. I mean she wanted to report you for not taking her advice - that beyond interfering - it's extremely controlling and manipulative as although you're clearly not doing anything wrong, its horrible feeling like you have to justify yourself to the authorities

I do think you and your husband have got used to it and don't see how awful its become. It's one thing having an opinion, it's another to voice it, but she's actively pushing it much further -taking off clothes she doesn't like etc

You need to tell her husband to pull her up on her actions every single time. Please dont take her clothes off, it's our choice what we dress her in, or we will leave. Every time. At the moment she doesn't seem to have any real consequences to her awful behaviour so it's likely to escalate

MorningRichie · 02/05/2019 16:57

FFS, the bairn will probably be about to start school in September. Can people not read or are they just so full of their own self-importance that looking at the bloody date is beneath them?

Goldmandra · 02/05/2019 18:12

ZOMBIE THREAD **

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread