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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU : to never see MIL again

85 replies

TwinkleTwinkle123 · 27/01/2017 01:27

Okay here goes I hate my MIL, just writing that feels better. My MIL is a cruel and devious sociopath. I am stuck in this cycle and I do not know what to do other that never see her again but I feel terrible not letting her GC see her, yet I hate the idea of leaving them with her I honestly fear for them even with my DH there. It has nearly ruined our marriage and we have moved 200 miles to get away but her visit actually make me feel ill. I dread them for weeks before and they usually end in me and DH having a huge fight. After last massive incident DS birth I almost popped a stitch kicking her out of my house. Since then she has been on her best behaviour we moved away when he was 4 weeks old (now 8months) yet I am still scared she will start again and honestly feel scared and isolated about it.

OP posts:
Badgoushk · 27/01/2017 07:32

Your MIL sounds very petty and immature. My commiserations.

Letseatgrandma · 27/01/2017 07:36

Have you described your mother in law to a mental Health nurse and she has said what she sounds like to her? Or has the mental health nurse worked with your mil professionally?

Your mother in law sounds difficult, but so do you, to be honest.

Headofthehive55 · 27/01/2017 07:37

Of course you can demand no visitors. But by the same token, you can't demand someone comes to see you when you want, or then take offence and decide she isn't interested in your child.

You made it clear with your first you didn't want other people to hold her. That's fine. But don't then get upset when next time round people assume you feel the same and therefore leave you to hold baby!

Trollspoopglitter · 27/01/2017 07:38

It does not sound like your DH would agree with this. And no - this isn't your decision alone.

What do you think would happen if you divorced? She could see the children any time during his contact times and not only would you not be allowed to be present - you would not be allowed to dictate to him what to do and who to see during his contact time.

Keep this in mind when you're screaming at him, telling him who you won't allow your kids near. Hmm

picklemepopcorn · 27/01/2017 07:42

Did the people having a go at OP actually read her post?

I think you need to go LC. The key is to detach emotionally. Don't let her behaviour impact you and DCs. So when she visits, know she is going to be difficult, and be prepared to work around it. Don't be sad for your DS, he is losing nothing worth having.

If she says something mean to DD about missing mummy, just say "don't be silly grandma, dds do miss their mummies." Or even 'don't worry DD, grandma is being silly, of course you missed me and I missed you too'

Try that for a while- you have to really work at it. Stop letting it take you by surprise- you know it is going to happen. Don't make DH choose, he will sort it out himself.

SquarePegRoundHole · 27/01/2017 07:45

I think the majority of you have been very harsh towards OP. She has tried to articulate how she feels and why.

I get it OP.

People like your mil will not change. Your DH is in the middle and torn. He can she how his mums behaviour is unreasonable, manipulative and selfish. He seems paralysed by fear obligation and guilt.

You both need to agree what course of action is reasonable. IE, he visits with dgc on his own. Or go as a family and agree about when to come away prior to visit and stick to this unless her behaviour warrants leaving sooner.

It's not an easy situation and it must be horrible to have to live day in day out with all the anxiety this is causing. Perhaps seek counselling too. You can't change other people's behaviour but you can change your response to it.

watchoutformybutt · 27/01/2017 07:45

Yanbu to not have had visitors at hospital. I don't know why that's seen as unusual. We were home within a couple of hours, there wouldn't have been time for people to visit even if I'd wanted them too. You do however sound like you're creating more drama with her than is necessary. You can't just randomly diagnose someone with something after a cjst

watchoutformybutt · 27/01/2017 07:45

Yanbu to not have had visitors at hospital. I don't know why that's seen as unusual. We were home within a couple of hours, there wouldn't have been time for people to visit even if I'd wanted them too. You do however sound like you're creating more drama with her than is necessary. You can't just randomly diagnose someone with something after a cjst

watchoutformybutt · 27/01/2017 07:46

Posted too soon... a random chat with a nurse doesn't mean you can diagnose someone. Don't see her if you don't want to be you should let your partner visit with the children.

BillSykesDog · 27/01/2017 07:48

Twinkle, she sounds very much like my late grandmother and my parents (and by extension us children) did develop pretty effective strategies to deal with her. (Although they did also move like you!)

Accept that you're never going to be able to change her or her behaviour, that's not something that you can control. But what you can control is how you react. Behaviour like hers is designed to get a reaction, that's what she wants - so don't give it to her. Don't be drawn into arguments, don't allow her to upset you. Sit down with your DH and see if you can agree a limited amount of contact which is acceptable to you both. In the case of my family it was a visit every six months and a weekly phone call. Stick to those limits. That way you are prepared and know when it will be happening and then once it is over you know you won't have to worry for a set period of time rather than walking on eggshells not knowing when she will be sprung on you next.

Do not ever allow her to see that she has upset you. If she makes unpleasant comments ignore and firmly change the subject. Don't react. If she is at your house and becoming unbearable don't be afraid to decide it's 'nap time' and remove yourself and the children upstairs. Or decide the children are restless and need to go to the park. Don't make a big song and dance or point out of it which will show you're upset but firmly and assertively say this is what you're doing. If she demands you do things in a way she wants then politely thank her for her input but say you are happy with the the plans you've made. Don't be drawn into arguments. If she is nasty or ignores you just let it wash over you and remind yourself that she is doing/saying these things because of the way she is rather than because of any fault on her part. Don't worry about what she says to other people about you, they will know what she's like too and won't pay any attention.

Basically it boils down to not letting it bother you and refusing to engage with any tit for tat nastiness. It is hard at first, but in the long run it makes things much easier because if she's not getting the reaction she wants then she will be less inclined to try and get it. She'll be getting a great deal of satisfaction from causing a big row, upsetting you and knowing she's caused discord between you and DH so don't give her that satisfaction.

At all times in front of her you should be calm, serene and polite but also firm and assertive without rudeness, arguing or shouting which you mustn't allow her to draw you into.

A final point. She has mental health issues and it must have been traumatic for your DH to grow up with that. And your primary concern here should really be supporting DH with the fallout of her MH problems as it's not easy to cope with a relative with these issues. But also when she is being dreadful do try and remember that as she has MH issues it's not entirely her fault, although I appreciate that's difficult to do when someone's being very nasty. But keeping that st the forefront of your mind may help you to stay calm and not rise to her bad behaviour.

She can only bother you if you let her. Let it wash over you and let it go.

Skooba · 27/01/2017 07:51

You sound very young. You have married someone who cannot help himself pleasing his DM.
Isn't there a whole part of everyday life that she is not even part of? You seem to be letting her and her behaviour rule your life. Do you have to know what she is saying to everyone else. Keep off FACebook or whatever is keeping you up to date.
Tell DH your rules, perhaps agree to visit her once every 2 months for an afternoon (with DH), if you feel you MUST see her, and tell her that once DC is older you will come more often. End of.

TataEs · 27/01/2017 07:56

i get no visitors at the hospital. i didn't want any. well technically i didn't want to commit to any. and ds1 birth was awful. i felt really vulnerable after. i could hardly move and was bleeding heavily, leaking milk and hadn't managed a proper shower. mil phoned dh and screamed and cried until dh let her come to the hospital. i begged her not to bring fil, i was in a gown, blood everywhere, i didn't know him all that well, i dunno it just felt worse having a man see me like that, but she told me not to be so stupid and trapsed him along anyway and stayed the full 2 hours whilst i just wanted to die inside. i was in a pool of blood, milk on my gown, i couldn't move. it set a very bad tone for our relationship. i've never trusted her since. not with my children, not to think of anyone but herself. she's a narcissist. we ended up moving away after she allowed me to think my husband was dead for 5 hours (long story)

your mil behaviour post birth was shit. cut contact if u can. i had minimal contact (only with oh present a few times a year) for 4 years until we moved away cos she made ohs lif

TataEs · 27/01/2017 07:57

posted too soon.

ohs life miserable if i didn't go. it caused countless arguments. he still goes running every time they call. but accepts now they crossed a line with me and there is no going back.

nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice · 27/01/2017 08:26

Firstly don't feel like you have to defend yourself about the no visitors at the hospital thing. I didn't really want any either as I felt like crap, looked like crap and just wanted to be left alone! She sounds awful and if you don't get along, I would just stop bothering with her altogether. Ignore her nasty comments to other family members and let your dh take the kids to see her. It is disappointing that he doesn't stick up for you but it's his mother, he doesn't want to fall out with her either. Unfortunately you have to accept some people are just the way they are and not let her get to you. In your situation I wouldn't want to be around her either. Have you spoken to your dh about not having her round for visits anymore? It clearly causes a lot of arguments when she does come to stay.

TwinkleTwinkle123 · 27/01/2017 08:33

Thank you everyone the DS birth was the last straw in a long ling of incidents 12 years of being polite and I snapped . When I announced the my first pregnancy she actually said you can't be I am too young to be a gran I am not by any means a young mum so she is not a young gran . as I said I have always said she is there GM and they should see her but the move means I am next to my parents and they just remind me how GP should be kind respectful and above all loving. My DH loves them and says he feels more love from them than his own.

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityyhat · 27/01/2017 08:42

When people say "you can't be pregnant I'm too young to be a Gran" that is usually meant as a joke against themselves! It's just a slightly daft thing parents of adult children sometimes say. My Dad said when I announced my first pregnancy and he was 71 at the time! Why are you so insulted by that?

I feel you are just possibly a bit too keen to demonise your mil. She hasn't done anything so terribly dreadful as far as I can make out from what you've written. You don't have to love her or even like her very much ... making yourself ill over her visits sounds a bit melodramatic!

I feel a bit sorry for your dh, but let him deal with her. Do you love him? Do you mostly like him? Remember that she brought him up.

TwinkleTwinkle123 · 27/01/2017 08:43

As you the DS birth I had a c section and I am terrified of hospital after DC birth I struggled to bond and did not want this -also we told her we would be realised on the weekend only called to tell her she was priority to see DS her plans for 48 hrs was visting her sister in law who is10 mins from our house who she see her lots who is a midwife , who also wanted to see DS. After husband was upset at her dismissing not seeing her GS ( his feelings mine) PIL apologise for shouting at DH on the ward

OP posts:
KateDaniels2 · 27/01/2017 08:45

When I announced the my first pregnancy she actually said you can't be I am too young to be a gran I am not by any means a young mum so she is not a young gran .

Why did this upset you?

YokoUhOh · 27/01/2017 08:50

YANBU. Ignore the appeasers on this thread, she's totally toxic. Low contact would be a good option, and get your DH to police the relationship and make sure he protects your family, not her.

YokoUhOh · 27/01/2017 08:51

My MIL said 'I didn't want to be a grandparent' after DS was born. It's narc-talk. What's it got to do with her?

MrsDustyBusty · 27/01/2017 08:54

She may be absolutely dreadful, but if something as trivial as the clichéd joke about being too young to be a gran bothers you, it's hard to know what she could possibly say that wouldn't be further proof of how awful she is.

Crumbs1 · 27/01/2017 08:57

She sounds a tad insensitive, your husband feels like piggy in the middle and you sound ridiculously self centred and precious. Are you very young? Is that why a perfectly normal comment about being too young to be a gran upset you? you are being just plain silly.

SeaEagleFeather · 27/01/2017 09:05

My DH loves them and says he feels more love from them than his own.

This in itself shows something.

AIBU is a place where it's allowed to be more 'forthright' and unfortunately that means there's a proportion of people who post just to be nasty; you see the same names over and over and they are never supportive. I think they post just to tear people down.

Weigh up what people say and consider if it's valuable and resonates, or if they're just posting to tear you down.

Relationships might be a much more positive place, if you ask Mumsnet to move it (as someone said upthread).

Velvian · 27/01/2017 09:06

Yanbu. It sounds like she is deliberately picking on your insecurities. I don't think you should cut contact at this stage; I think it would be worth just not engaging with her and letting her show herself up with her own behaviour. She sounds like she was very unkind about you and unfair at that family party where she was already on her own turf. A raised eyebrow at the person she is talking to would speak volumes, I doubt you're the only person they will have heard her laying into.
Not caring or affecting to not care has worked brilliantly with my in-laws (who I now get on really well with) DH gets annoyed by strange behaviour way before I do, because I don't feel any responsibility for it. DH gets embarrassed.
I wouldn't leave it to DH to visit alone with the DCs, I would go along too & stay in the background & just let mil embarrass herself in front of DH, FIL & DCs. If the DCs question her behaviour (which they will eventually) let DH explain.

Cakingbad · 27/01/2017 09:12

If she actively ignores GS and plays with GD only then she is a truly nasty person. She will add nothing to their lives and YWNBU to go no contact.

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