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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:
YouTheCat · 27/11/2016 11:27

Stick to your guns and keep saying 'no'.

Bambamrubblesmum · 27/11/2016 11:27

'Sorry that doesn't work for us. If it doesn't work for you then feel free to make your own arrangements'.

End of.

rollonthesummer · 27/11/2016 11:27

You don't need to say, 'we won't be having you around because of the dog incident'-just don't invite them over again.

What normally happens at Xmas?

Damia · 27/11/2016 11:27

I would contact bil and say he is welcome as per mil invite but if the dc comes she will have to be controlled much better than last time and make a big thing about your dog being injured and it would be such a shame if she got bitten doing things like that. If they do come on the day every single time the dc starts doing something annoying i would call her mum and start on about how youre worried shes getting wound up and wouldnt want her to end up attacking your dog. Do that as often as needed. Who knows some parenting skills may start to develop there.

blankmind · 27/11/2016 11:28

She ran riot and unchecked throughout the house for hours

She was in your house, why didn't you stop her? How is she supposed to know she can't do that if you don't?

My catch-all phrase was 'We don't do that here, let's go and join the others' when fetching a child who'd run upstairs, or was somewhere else in my home without permission or adult supervision.

rollonthesummer · 27/11/2016 11:29

Damia-that sounds like a miserable and stressful Xmas day for the op!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/11/2016 11:29

If she's kicking a dog in the face at 4. God knows what she'll be doing at 14 if she's not reined in. Has her mother got some sort of an aversion to discipline.
The dog can go elsewhere for Christmas. !!!!!!!!
Why should he/she. Its his/her home.

ClashCityRocker · 27/11/2016 11:30

Will the child be there on Christmas Day? Might have misread, but it sounds like it's not bil's daughter so maybe she'll be at her dads?

Your mil is a twunt for putting you in this position though and I think you need to address that with her and then have a chat to your bil to explain the situation.

WinterIsHereJon · 27/11/2016 11:30

MIL is already having them over on Boxing Day! We normally go too, and see my parents Christmas Day, but swapped things around due to my mum working. Invitation was clearly just to them though.

It's the first year BIL and his partner have been together so hasn't been an issue before.

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 27/11/2016 11:30

No one is that thick. They know they are just choosing to make out its everyone else being the problem..

Til they admit there's actually a problem there's no hope. Take it from someone who's been there. They can deny the issue all they want but soon the sweet little child will be a teen towering over them and punching you in the face while you have to escape out a frickin window...

MyKidsHaveTakenMySanity · 27/11/2016 11:30

I'd ask MIL if she wants me to bring anything like wine or a dessert to the Christmas dinner that clearly SHE is hosting at HER house seeing that she is inviting an extra three people to eat.

toptoe · 27/11/2016 11:30

agree MIL needs to tell them you hadn't actually invited them. Perhaps suggest MIL goes to BIL's place instead if she wants to spend christmas with them as you want to have a nice, relaxed Christmas.

When your dn does visit again very first thing I would do is say directly to the child 'we have rules in this house to keep everyone happy and safe. First is not to hurt the dog or anyone else. We treat everyone kindly, don't we [get the child to agree]. Also, we like everyone to play nicely so we don't break other people's things, do we? [child agrees]' Then any sign of aggression you reiterate these 2 things. Loudly, clearly and kindly. She'll soon learn even if her parents don't.

travellinghopefully12 · 27/11/2016 11:32

It is your dog's home. It is not the child's home - and this is coming from someone who has issues with dogs having been harmed by one when younger. The dog deserves to feel safe and not be sent away in case someone potentially abuses him.

JustSpeakSense · 27/11/2016 11:33

MIL can ask whoever she likes to her own house.

And you can ask whoever you like to your own house.

EweAreHere · 27/11/2016 11:33

I wouldn't have them round.

Honestly, I would have DH tell his mother that she should have checked with you two first, and that you are now unable to host them this year. Your children are entitled to enjoy their Christmas wthough being hit, kicked and having their toys broken. Can you imagine what will happen if the 4 year old terror starts breaking their new Christmas gifts?!

MIL can have them round to hers and she can host them, since she invited them. DH needs to tell her this now. So she can plan.

YANBU>

Aeroflotgirl · 27/11/2016 11:34

Yanbu at all. But, you should have have been clear that no children at the meal. You didn't, so they brought her. You cannot dictate who your MIL invites to her house, if you don't like it, don't go. You do not have to have her back at your house.

TheWitTank · 27/11/2016 11:35

Totally agree with Bambamrubblesmum answer.
No negotiations -just a simple statement. They do it your way or they don't come; they can make their own plans. I would be really pissed off with MIL for inviting them, how rude!

merrymouse · 27/11/2016 11:35

No, even if it were all about the dog, you shouldn't have to send your dog elsewhere because of a sibling's partner's child and you don't have to invite anybody to your house.

It's still only November. If your MIL would like to host Christmas then she needs to make plans accordingly.

RuggerHug · 27/11/2016 11:37

Ask them when they're paying the vets bill for your injured dog. Might make them consider the consequences are more then she was lucky not to be bitten through her own faultAngry
Okay maybe not the best idea but I agree with everyone else saying that they shouldn't be allowed across your door Christmas day and they need to know now so they can make alternative arrangements.
Have you spoken to BIL directly since being told they were invited?

Aeroflotgirl · 27/11/2016 11:37

Oh gosh your hosting. Mil is extremely rude and should host herself!

happypoobum · 27/11/2016 11:38

I would get DH to explain to MIL that she has no right to invite anyone to your home, particularly someone you have expressly said you didn't want there.

If MIL ends up not coming then happy days. Is she always so interfering with a lack of boundaries? What does DH say about it?

Bluntness100 · 27/11/2016 11:39

Ok, so this isn't uour brother in laws kid, so the child comes from a broken home, or maybe there is a back story there, or was this a single mum who happily chose to be a single mum?

My experience is that if kids act out there is often a reason, a back story. Not always but maybe it's worth trying to understand why the child is like this and why the mother is struggling to put boundaries in place.

SquinkiesRule · 27/11/2016 11:40

Child in my house running riot? I keep on top of them myself and keep sending them back to sit with their parent. I have found it achieves one of two outcomes. Either the child and parent realize that this kind of behavior isn't allowed in my house and they improve and try harder (which I am always grateful for and encourage) Or the parents gets huffy see nothing wrong with the behavior and never return with said child thinking I'm an awful host. I've had both happen with my friends and with Ds's friends who came to play.

mickeysminnie · 27/11/2016 11:40

I would say bil is more than welcome to come but you are not inviting people you have known a few months to your family Christmas dinner.

BlueFolly · 27/11/2016 11:41

Just say 'it's not just about the dog, it's the fact that our DCs and her don't seem to particularly get on very well, and we don't want to ruin Christmas for them.'

Does the rest of your family not know what this child is like?