Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my MIL is an idiot!

52 replies

Givemecakeplease · 23/02/2017 10:43

I'm breastfeeding DC2, I also breastfed DC1. MIL said to me the other day:

"One thing that looks terrible is when you see a lady with a big chest breastfeeding a little baby. It just looks wrong."

Honestly cannot cope with this woman.

OP posts:
PointxTaken · 23/02/2017 11:27

What a weird comment Confused

Being a MIL doesn't give you a brain, it's just unfortunate yours doesn't seem very bright. When you read the amounts of idiotic comments on this forum, you feel for the families and anyone who has to deal with them in real life.

SoMuchPain · 23/02/2017 11:27

I had a male neonatal nurse and he commented how my breast was bigger than my babies head. Bearing in mind my baby was early and in neonatal really not the best thing to say.

SoMuchPain · 23/02/2017 11:28

Baby's

PoorYorick · 23/02/2017 11:32

I've got photos of myself breastfeeding when I was oversupplying and lugging around K cup bazongas. Do you want the images? You can blow them up to enormous prints and hang them all over the house, make them the wallpaper on her phone and laptop, stick one on the inside of the sun visor in her car, etc etc.

Mountainsofmothermadness · 23/02/2017 11:33

how mean. My boobs full of milk were larger than my babys head when born.

SleepFreeZone · 23/02/2017 11:36

My MIL thinks it's hilarious that I'm continuing to bf DS2 after a year. She could just about cope with one year as that's what I did with DS1 but doing it for any longer is quite frankly child abuse in her mind. Luckily I see her about 5 times a year and her son supports me 100% in continuing to feed our son.

Rugbyplayersarehot · 23/02/2017 11:38

poor Grin op do that and make your norks her screen saver

Emmageddon · 23/02/2017 11:49

I would have said "How funny you are!" with a tinkly laugh. Silly bitch.

ohfourfoxache · 23/02/2017 11:49

Unfortunately no one can argue with stupid. No matter what you say she'll think she's right.

It's embarrassing really- imagine what other people think of her Shock

Could you just completely ignore the question of BF when she asks?

So:
"Are you still BFing?"
"It is a lovely day, isn't it!"
"I asked if you're BFing"
"Perfect for putting the washing out, don't you think?"

Etc etc.

seafoodeatit · 23/02/2017 12:07

Weird comment indeed!

People can have such strange opinions on breastfeeding, my mum has always berated me for not managing to breastfeed,we were discussing it again and she said it's very important to do so, she did it with me for almost 3 months even though she found it hard. I asked what did you give them onwards? she said boiled cows milk, but as I was on solids it wasn't as important. I was gobsmacked, I'm still alive clearly but I don't know what impact it's had on my health.

morningconstitutional2017 · 23/02/2017 12:09

Would you like to swap MILs? You can have mine - now that would be fun (not). Again it's foot in mouth syndrome plus mine is losing her marbles - she never had a full bag in the first place. But we trundle on.

Original poster
Givemecakeplease · 23/02/2017 12:13

Would I be within my rights to go NC Grin

OP posts:
DearMrDilkington · 23/02/2017 12:13

What a strange thing to say.Confused

If she keeps asking if your still breastfeeding, just reply "yes mil, but it's for baby, not for your cuppa!", with an added tinkly laugh at the end.

LotsOfAxolotlsAndOcelots · 23/02/2017 12:14

The under the thumb comment tells you all you need to know about your MIL. We should all know that there are some all domestic chores that men have the wrong shaped pelvis for Grin poor lambs have to just manage though don't they?

HarryPottersMagicWand · 23/02/2017 12:38

I would have given a "really" in a bored tone and rolled my eyes. And when she asked about BF, ask her why every time, then refuse to answer. I'd have whacked her over the head with that book well no, I would have immediately given it to the charity shop.

ohfourfoxache · 23/02/2017 12:48

Never mind whacking her over the head Harry - how about the potential for paper cuts instead? Grin

maddening · 23/02/2017 12:58

Gift her some feminist books :)

Waddlelikeapenguin · 23/02/2017 13:03

Also happy to provide giant L cup boobs feeding NBs pics for yourMIL's viewing pleasure Grin
Or pics of toddlers feeding maybe that would finish her off Wink

SleepFreeZone · 23/02/2017 13:09

Mine is also convinced there is zero nutritional benefit for the baby and I am pretty much now producing water 🙄

PoorYorick · 23/02/2017 13:10

Just seen the comment about being under the thumb too...lucky your husband isn't the massive prick your MIL wants him to be. Suggest you put the housekeeping book in the washing machine next time.

ItWentDownMyHeartHole · 23/02/2017 13:15

My DM gave me the "yuck" face while I fed newborn DS and said it looked like I was going to smother him. She's not much of a team player...

As for your MIL, maybe insist on a full and frank exchange of opinions the next time she passive aggressively tries to piss on your chips. Have a proper discussion. She is asking for it Smile

SanitysSake · 23/02/2017 13:26

Why are women who have had children, so mean to/about women who have had children? It upsets me. She should be supporting your choices and the natural bodies pregnancy gave you/others, not tearing you down. I doubt she was looking like Cindy bloody Crawford when she was in the throws of being a milk machine.

I am neither patient or a diplomat. Any more of the 'under the thumb'/breastfeeding comments and I'd be stopping it dead with a cutting remark.

Try and keep calm, but if it happens again, you have my full permission to rip her a new one! Grin

missm0use · 23/02/2017 14:02

This could have been my MIL she seems to take exception to anything either I do or SIL does as a parent - whatever we do is wrong and we should be doing the opposite! Before I'd even given birth she was moaning about me breastfeeding!

Latest comment was at the weekend about my breasts being ruined and I'd been breastfeeding for too long and how I'll never get them back. That I also need to stop breastfeeding NOW! DD is 13 months old - I recently found out that I'm pregnant again! So am dreading telling her as I can only imagine what shit she'll come out with!

FlaviaAlbia · 23/02/2017 14:10

maddening perfect! Give her a copy of Wifework for Christmas OP Grin

Hadoop · 23/02/2017 14:12

Mine is also convinced there is zero nutritional benefit for the baby and I am pretty much now producing water 🙄

I had this exact same shite (and more besides) off my MIL as I was breastfeeding DS at 19 months. Without thinking I shot back "that's not what your son says"

That shut her right up!