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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not invite this girl round again?

276 replies

WinterIsHereJon · 27/11/2016 10:59

BIL's DP has a DD aged four. She's a nightmare; stroppy, whinges constantly, loses her temper when not getting her own way. Some of it normal for her age, but she's noticeably more difficult than any child I've known at that age. No discipline from her mum, even when she has hit my dcs, broken things etc.

A few weeks ago we invited BIL and his partner for dinner. Evening invitation, didn't mention the child. Our DCs were staying with grandparents. When they arrived, the little girl was with them, in her PJs. Crossed wires possibly, but they were obviously hoping she would end up staying over. She ran riot and unchecked throughout the house for hours. She then through a tantrum as she was leaving and deliberately kicked my dog in the face. I shouted, in shock more than anything, her mum just told her that was unkind and to apologise to the dog Hmm they left soon afterwards.

I was furious! Thankfully the dog is as soft as they come and just wandered off to bed looking confused, but that is pure luck and there are no guarantees she couldn't snap. Had she bitten this girl I have no doubt they'd have demanded she was PTS, and I'd have been forced to rehome her. DP and I agreed that we would not have them over again unless things improved with her behaviour.

Since this, MIL has invited them to join us on Christmas Day without asking me first. They are all basically making out that it's me being precious over the dog rather than taking any responsibility for her behaviour, and suggested I send the dog to my mums "if that's the issue". It isn't!! I sense a big family fall out will ensue but just wanted to check whether IABU before making a fuss!

OP posts:
THirdEeye · 28/11/2016 19:47

Well after you ignore the phone calls, text messages and flying monkeys and when she comes grovelling back saying look I'm sorry...I'll bring an extra chicken so they can come......I would anwser with a no.

I'm always a great believer in what's not been said that speaks volumes. For instance, she didn't mention your DC, she didn't apologise for inviting extras to your house why isn't BIL and his partner organising their own Christmas celebrations and when told to host it herself proceeded not to invite your family.

AddToBasket · 28/11/2016 19:55

I know the text messages aren't great but it sounds as though the situation has more or less worked out for everyone.

You don't need to have BiL/DP/4yo and your MiL gets to look welcoming.

SouthWindsWesterly · 28/11/2016 19:59

So effectively stamps her foot, wants her own to think of the baby, ignoring the fact that she's actually dismissing her other grandchildren.

Yep. Fuck that for a bunch of fuck-you-nots. At least she's solved one problem and you can have a lovely Christmas Day with your own little family then.

Mouthofmisery · 28/11/2016 20:01

Sounds awful. My niece is similar. All very awkward. You have to like them because they are you're family when in reality you'd rather not have them near you... perhaps have your own nice Christmas Day when they aren't coming. My other sister in law won't have the one with the naughty niece for Xmas as her behaviour is so bad. I won't do that as it upsets my parents.

Daydream007 · 28/11/2016 20:07

YANBU

cheval · 28/11/2016 20:13

Would definitely have your husband to have a word with his mother re inviting people to your home. Quelle rude. Then just make it be known your having a quiet family Christmas on your own. Stand your ground!

NancyJoan · 28/11/2016 20:18

Quick! Book and pay for lunch at a nice hotel/pub/whatever, then you can't back down/ be strong-armed round.

CountessWindyBottom · 28/11/2016 20:28

I'm so pleased for you and your family OP. This is exactly the outcome one would wish for. The child sounds like a deeply disturbed little individual and her mother evidently inherently lacking in any parenting skills. Why should your own children and indeed your own dog be made to feel uncomfortable and frightened in their own home? And by guests that weren't even invited! Let your MIL deal with the little terror, she may feel differently if the unruly delinquent decides to kick her in the face next time.

Tapandgo · 28/11/2016 21:11

Best outcome.
They all sound like nightmares and deserve each other.
Can't believe MIL invited others to your home, and the child sounds like a nightmare. I suspect that is why they choose to go to other people's homes - they can't cope.

girlywhirly · 28/11/2016 21:22

It worries me greatly that the 4 yr old girl will hurt the new baby, when it's eventually born, either by throwing something at it or directly hitting or kicking. With next to no discipline and intense jealousy there is an accident waiting to happen.

Katherine2626 · 28/11/2016 22:24

I'm with YouTheCat. I wouldn't have them in my house to allow the child to run riot unchecked and then deliberately hurt my dog. What kind of day would you have? If anyone else in the family thinks that this is ok behaviour then they need to wake up too - or be the host.

DartmoorDoughnut · 28/11/2016 22:45

Sounds like you'll have a lovely peaceful family Christmas now though OP, enjoy!

BerylStreep · 28/11/2016 23:42

I actually think that your DH needs to speak to his brother and explain, otherwise he will only have the mother's highly one-sided version to go on.

Something along the lines of the fact that the mother got carried away and planned an enormous Xmas day at yours without discussing it, and you really don't have the room or inclination. Perhaps offer to pop round to theirs briefly on Xmas eve to deliver presents.

I can sympathise a bit. My nephew has been 'energetic' since he was 18 months old (read: destructive little blighter). I have spent various Xmas days with him:

  1. Playing with the cooker knobs. When I told him no, it was dangerous, my sis intervened to say that if the cooker couldn't withstand the rigours of a 2 year old playing with the knobs it mustn't be very good quality. WTF?
  2. Standing at the top of the stairs hurling toys down them.
  3. Standing on the landing throwing toys, taking large divots out of my paintwork on the bannisters. (Response: Oh, he gets a bit like that when he's tired.)

If he had been unkind to my cats, I agree, it would be the final straw for me, and I would have no hesitation in saying he couldn't be trusted to be kind to animals.

Anyway, if you can ignore the texts and huffing, it sounds like you have a result.

LikeBigBotsAndICannotLie · 28/11/2016 23:47

YANBU. Your MIL had no business inviting anyone to an event in your housel. I would risk the fallout rather than spoil Xmas for my children. No way anyone gets to shit on that unless it is serious or essential.

RTKangaMummy · 29/11/2016 00:21

Hope you, DH and your DC AND YOUR DDOG enjoy a lovely peaceful calm Christmas Day (only excitement or noise bring your DC opening and enjoying playing with their new toys) SmileSmileSmile

Please ignore the texts from MIL

TheFirie · 29/11/2016 01:03

Lucky escape! Your MIL can enjoy the little angel in her house and maybe regret it at some point!

2rebecca · 29/11/2016 04:35

Agree ignore texts from MIL and plan for your Christmas without her.
If BIL is more important to her than your husband at the moment then that's her decision.
You don't invite people to someone else's house.
BIL and his new partner might not want to spend xmas day and new year with MIL anyway.

llangennith · 29/11/2016 06:10

Sounds like your MIL and the brat have a lot in commonConfused

Cucumber5 · 29/11/2016 06:28

Tell you mil and bil that the kids just don't get on and it's far too stresssful for you.

At least that's honest. The turkey table thing makes it seem like you are fobbing them off for no real reason.

You can always offer to meet on another day and go for a walk or do soft play. Or a very short visit.

Cucumber5 · 29/11/2016 06:29

Yes say the kids just don't get in and it's far too stressful. But you expect they will grow out of it with time.

skinoncustard · 29/11/2016 09:05

Result!!! You and your family get a peaceful Christmas. MIL gets to butter up Your BIL his partner and child, all in order to get her hands on the newborn when it arrives!
Personally I would pour myself a wee drink and sit back waiting for the shit to hit the fan, it should be quite amusing when MIL discovers that her idea of having a soft and squishy newborn to look after during the day and some overnights comes with the condition that the 4 year old comes too!!!
They will almost certainly come as a package .

Totalshambles · 29/11/2016 10:07

What a ghastly child with equally revolting parents. Your MIL should not be 'inviting' anyone to an occasion at someone else's house!! We have pets and regularly have kids around, of all ages from babies up to ten. I have never seen anything like this before. Anyone that rampaged through my home unchecked, who hurt an animal, would not be coming back. And I wouldn't even be giving whether or not I was unreasonable a second thought. You are being way too generous and hard on yourself to be even considering that you may be being unreasonable...!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 29/11/2016 12:41

"MIL has bombarded us with texts trying to make us feel guilty, saying she's ashamed her own family would make the mother of her new GC feel so unwelcome etc."

Of course she has! As you said, you've ruined her chocolate-box picture of how her perfect family Christmas should go.

"it's only since I came along that DP has started to stand up for what's right for him and for our family. Obviously she sees that as being my fault "

Ha. One of the times my MIL attempted to invite someone to our home was the first Christmas we were in Australia. It was DH's brother in this case as well - the difference was, no partner and badly behaved child - no, BIL was the badly behaved one! While having dinner at MIL's house one night while we were still staying there, he went nuts and started a full-on fistfight with DH, with me and DS1 (22mo at the time) there. Police were involved and a restraining order taken out to keep BIL away from us when he'd been drinking - and yet somehow MIL thought that having him to ours for Christmas lunch would be a good plan.
When I absolutely refused (as did DH, to be fair) she had the fucking cheek to blame ME for "breaking up the family" - no love, that would be your fucking loser older son who can't control his behaviour around tiny children when he's had one too many. NOT me.Angry

Puzzledandpissedoff · 29/11/2016 20:26

I'm sorry about the reaction you got, but sadly not surprised; the "MIL who expects everything her own way" is horribly familiar, as is the certainty of her blaming you - and anyway, someone so lacking in manners was never going to take it well

I do agree that honesty might have been the best policy though, and maybe it's not too late. If she continues to push, DH could always fall back on "look, we've tried to be diplomatic, but ..."

And I'll say again that's it's wonderful your DH's on the same page; the alternative is ghastly, as I know to my cost

Spadequeen · 30/11/2016 12:05

Do not give in. Treat her like a toddler having a tantrum. You came up with a perfectly good compromise, she caused the problem not you.

I do feel sorry for the child though, again, not your problem, her parents need to learn how to parent.

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