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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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MIL and being obese

988 replies

YellowBlinds · 17/01/2017 14:59

DH and I made the mistake move to be closer to his parents 3 years ago. FIL is fine, very quiet and reserved, but DH's Mum is your traditional Mumsnet MIL.

Since moving closer, DH and I have been very much at her beck and call - which at first I was more than happy to help (we moved closer to be more helpful and see each other more) however it slowly grew into taking the piss. She frequently invites herself around during the week when DH is at work (I work from home) and will actually let herself in with the spare key, often giving me the fright of my life when I come downstairs and find her rifling through the kitchen cupboards. Despite being able to drive and having a car, she will ask me to drive her to the supermarket/shops/cinema etc - whilst I'm at work.
I could go on but hopefully you get the idea! (don't want to drip feed).

So here's the problem;

She's a very large lady, clinically obese, so much so that it is causing her significant strain on her knees and ankles.
She claims that her weight is due to a medical problem however having been to the doctors with her on several occasions, I've been present when the GP has outright said (after blood tests etc) that there is no underlying health issue, she simply needs to change her lifestyle.

Her ankles are causing her a lot of pain, and I do have sympathy for that, but she is now insisting that she cannot drive or go anywhere unaccompanied and that because I am "at home all day" I should chauffeur her around.

When I have told her I can't do this regularly, she has become hysterical and cried that I'm refusing to support her and discriminating against her medical condition.

She absolutely will not help herself, and has said some really vile things about the doctor, and is telling everyone she has a gland problem - and then goes home and eats an exceptional amount of food pilfered from my kitchen.
She takes great delight, however, in telling me that I'm really fat (I'm not, at least I don't think I am).

AIBU in refusing to ferry her around and not supporting her with her "medical problem"?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
ShutTheFuckUpBarbara · 21/01/2017 14:51

At least you have managed to get some work done.

Hope you and your DH find a solution soon

Giraffeseyelashes · 21/01/2017 15:30

We're all here for you as a sounding board. I guess it takes writing it down to realise how absurd a situation has evolved into. Hopefully all of the players in your situation can work together to figure out a manageable way forward that doesn't involve you taking the brunt of MIL's behaviour. I actually think it would be quite fair for your contact to be limited to a twice monthly visit to MIL (at her house) for a cup of tea and if she starts her histrionics just calmly take your leave and go back two weeks later.

mya83 · 21/01/2017 15:40

.

YorkshireTree · 21/01/2017 18:17

I think you may need to start a new thread OP. Please link us all!

BiddyBooBiddy · 21/01/2017 19:33

I've been following. This is crazy behaviour! I'm on the fence for she uses your kitchen for her food fixes and now can't, probably why she is going crazy. I feel really sorry for both you and DH, the embarrassment for him must be awful. So pleased you stood up to her.

PidgeyfinderGeneral · 21/01/2017 20:17

mya83 do you ever post anything more than . ?

RandomMess · 21/01/2017 21:13

SadAngry

Can't believe she is carrying on still.

mya83 · 21/01/2017 21:19

Yes why, is there an issue?

PidgeyfinderGeneral · 21/01/2017 21:25

Curiosity. I see you frequently pop up on threads but only posting a . and nothing else.

QuackDuckQuack · 21/01/2017 21:27

The reason that threads aren't full of posts with just . is that people add threads to their watch list instead. You could do that mya83.

PickAChew · 21/01/2017 21:40

Or post something constructive and encouraging and bookmark it.

Hopefully Yellow and Mr Yellow have spent the day having fun, catching up with work and getting the house ready for valuations, in whatever proportions they deem necessary.

mya83 · 21/01/2017 21:47

I've seen quite a lot of people do it, I thought it was just a way to watch a thread. I do sometimes post constructive comments but sometimes I just want to bookmark something quickly to read later.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 21/01/2017 21:50

Mya83 there's a really useful bookmark feature Smile

Iamastonished · 21/01/2017 21:58

How does the bookmark work? I click on it but if I return to a thread it doesn't default to where I bookmarked it. I am on a PC and use Firefox BTW.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 21/01/2017 22:55

The OP might be doing her MIL a favour, cutting off her supply of extra food. MIL might lose a bit of the weight that exacerbates her knee problems

laurenandsophie · 22/01/2017 01:31

OP, I feel so sad for you and your DH. This must be so awful for you both. Good luck. Flowers

ChippyDucks · 22/01/2017 08:47

I've never read a thread like this Shock it makes my dh's family seem like the Waltons.

thinkimcrazy · 22/01/2017 13:18

I really hope she isn't making your life difficult yellow xx

Andylion · 22/01/2017 13:51

Iamastoished, do you "watch" the thread and "bookmark" the last post you read? That should work.

TheMaddHugger · 22/01/2017 13:53

I hope all is quiet and well for you OP ((((((Hug))))))
💓 💛 💚 💙 💜💗💛 💚 💙 💜

Fluffyears · 22/01/2017 14:15

You bred to be strong and show her how things are going to be. I'd also remind her of the boy who cried wolf.

MrDacresEUSubsidy · 22/01/2017 19:38

If you hover over the last post on a thread, a 'bookmark' sign should appear. This will add the thread to your watch list, so if you want to follow it but not post then you can. It saves threads being filled up with . which some posters might find a bit distressing if they have posted asking for advice but got people instead posting just to watch.

MrDacresEUSubsidy · 22/01/2017 19:41

Hopefully this should work

MIL and being obese
coconutpie · 22/01/2017 20:14

Hope you are ok Yellow Flowers

Iamastonished · 22/01/2017 20:15

I just click on watch this thread if I want to watch, but not comment. I thought the bookmark bookmarked the last post that I read.

I am Confused now