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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:
Colby43443 · 28/11/2016 15:13

I would suggest to your kids to keep all play visible in front of adults so if she does do something terrible it can be contained. It's just one day.

minipie · 28/11/2016 15:26

I think on this occasion you would be perfectly reasonable to simply say that you didn't invite BIL and family and would prefer to keep to the usual/previous arrangement with PILs only.

You don't need to go on about the 4yo's behaviour (it will be quite obvious anyway why you don't want them there). Just that fact that you didn't invite them should be enough.

However - that's a solution for Christmas. I think you have a bigger issue which is that it sounds like BIL's DP is going to be a permanent fixture.

What are you intending to do in the future? Are you never going to see BIL and his new family because of this girl's behaviour?

I agree her behaviour doesn't sound great (especially the kicking the dog - if you are sure it was deliberate) however I'm also a bit sad about the idea of writing off a 4 year old. How is her mum failing to discipline her - does she simply do nothing when her DD does something wrong?

LineyReborn · 28/11/2016 16:07

If the little girl has special needs then that's all the more reason why her mother and step-dad should be making sure she's safe and not running amok and in someone else's house.

WinterIsHereJon · 28/11/2016 16:11

DP spoke to MIL and BIL together. He told a bit of a white lie about lack of space at the table and us having already ordered a smaller turkey so unfortunately we would be unable to host the extra people for Christmas dinner. DH and I had agreed we'd be willing to have them round for an hour in the evening to keep the peace, so have offered that as a compromise. It means my DCs get the day to play with their toys and DP and I will be able to supervise with not being in the kitchen most of the time.

Unfortunately MIL was highly offended at her plans being scuppered and has kicked off big time about not having the family Christmas she'd dreamed of. Even though we never even usually see her on Christmas Day! DH lost his temper and said that if that was the case, she should have offered to host. She then said BIL was invited but we weren't! I'm fine with that arrangement, as is DP, but since last night 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. It's exactly as I predicted Angry

OP posts:
kali110 · 28/11/2016 16:12

Op can still see them, just not in her house. She kicked the dog in the face! She's lucky it didn't bite her.

kali110 · 28/11/2016 16:15

I'd ignore!
I'd say im ashamed my family weren't apologetic when their child kicked my dog in the face and ran riot in my house Grin
If mil is so upset she's well ome to have them over at their house Grin

LaContessaDiPlump · 28/11/2016 16:23

she's ashamed her own family would make the mother of her new GC feel so unwelcome etc

God, I feel sorry for the current child of that mother; MIL won't care about her one bit once this revered new baby emerges, will she? And the dab will have been encouraged/let drift into being naughtier and naughtier by then, so she's in for a bloody great shock when no-one tolerates her anymore.

I do feel for you and pity your dog as well op, but that little girl is not being parented very well by any of the adults in her life if she's being allowed to get away with murder like that.

merrymouse · 28/11/2016 16:25

Your MIL sounds like a nightmare.

Positively, this would all have happened anyway. There is no way that she would have had her 'dream Christmas', and things would have kicked off on Christmas day.

Atleast now the bad behaviour can be kept away from your Christmas.

Hidingtonothing · 28/11/2016 16:33

Why is she focusing on BIL's GF being made to feel unwelcome when you haven't cited her DC's behaviour as the issue? She should have checked you had enough space and that there would be enough food (and that you didn't mind!) before she invited people and its jaw-droppingly rude that she's still kicking off about it having been told it won't work. She has no one to blame for this but herself, I hope this teaches her not to invite people when she's not even hosting! My MIL did the same, invited DH's nieces to our house for a meal while the PIL's were visiting us without even considering the fact that our table was only big enough for the 4 of us with DD squeezed on the end, where she expected us to put another 3 people I have no idea Confused

rollonthesummer · 28/11/2016 16:33

She sounds a little bit OTT!

What does she hope to achieve with her repeated messages? As she's now hosting and she's not inviting you-what does she expect you to say?!

Has she always been like this?

SapphireStrange · 28/11/2016 16:35

Block her texts.

It's a pity your DH didn't have the balls to just tell her the truth – that you don't want people there who won't stop their children running riot and that, anyway, it's not her house to invite people to.

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/11/2016 16:35

Well she's nothing but a big fat hypocrite ...

She doesn't want the dd there either she's just keeping the mum sweet cos if the baby...

FrancisCrawford · 28/11/2016 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pklme · 28/11/2016 16:44

she's ashamed her own family would make the mother of her new GC feel so unwelcome etc

But she's not ashamed to make her son, his wife and her other grandchildren unwelcome. Righty oh, glad that is clear.

There was no other way to play this sadly, she was always going to kick off. My DM is like this- able to use completely opposing arguments to back up her own preference.

rollonthesummer · 28/11/2016 16:47

She can have her house trashed on both Xmas and Boxing Day then!

Gymnopedies · 28/11/2016 16:51

My sensors are tingling OP, I think your MIL has narcissitic tendencies.
Lack of boundaries, wanting the babies for herself and golden child dynamic...

cheekyfunkymonkey · 28/11/2016 16:53

Flowers Oh dear, sorry you are having to deal with her tantrum op but you did the right thing. Once she realises her sulking is having no pact I'm sure she'll move on. I am sure BIL was a bit mortified that she had made arrangements without consulting you, and if he wasn't he should have been!

WinterIsHereJon · 28/11/2016 16:53

Yes, she's always like this. She's always been used to getting her own way with DP, BIL and FIL; 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 Wink

OP posts:
Gymnopedies · 28/11/2016 16:53

Oh just saw your last post. Yep, she'd be going for the FOG.

Gymnopedies · 28/11/2016 16:54

Sorry crossposted :)

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/11/2016 16:55

"It's a pity your DH didn't have the balls to just tell her the truth – that you don't want people there who won't stop their children running riot and that, anyway, it's not her house to invite people to."

I agree with Sapphire - your dh should,have been honest about why this child is not welcome, instead of making up nonsense about the size of turkey.

"Mum, we don't want to have little Mabel at our house, because she runs riot, breaks things, kicks the dog, and her mum does absolutely nothing to stop her. We want OUR children to have a fun day without having to worry about Mabel being allowed to break their toys, and we don't want to host someone who lets their child run riot and trash our home. This is not our idea of a happy Christmas for us or our children - YOUR grandchildren!"

NicknameUsed · 28/11/2016 16:58

I agree with Sapphire and SDTG

Sometimes only the truth works, even if it isn't what she wants to hear.

girlywhirly · 28/11/2016 17:08

I snorted with amusement at MIL's 'dream Christmas'! She sounds about 4 herself. Although she will now have to host BIL and family at hers and no doubt get a few breakages or damage there too. She cannot see that not to have them at your home is the result you wanted under the circumstances. So she is losing out on seeing your DC just to make a point, do you really think she would pop by at sometime during Christmas day?

happypoobum · 28/11/2016 17:17

Ignore, ignore, ignore.

rollonthesummer · 28/11/2016 17:18

Are you looking forward to your xmas day without that lot? I would be!

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