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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want my dd to have a relationship with her grandmother?

58 replies

Nicegurl · 16/03/2017 23:27

My husband is practically no contract with his mother and has been since he was 15 and his mother left his father for a woman. They aren't completely no contact as they have seen each other at his siblings house where my dh will say hello and nothing more.

It's not my business to tell my husband to talk to his mother I understand that and he is still quite hurt and has felt like his mum 'abandoned' the family. It's just now we have three month old dd and dh has told me he doesn't want her to have anything to do with his mother.

She's a great hands on grandmother to her other grandchildren though and I know as my dd grows up she will see her cousins going to nannys and wonder why she can't too. I don't think it's fair for him to force his adult decision on our children so they miss out. Wibu to insist my dd has a relationship with her?

OP posts:
Nicegurl · 17/03/2017 18:01

I was quoting the person saying that. She's not abusive at all ffs.

OP posts:
ShoutOutToMyEx · 17/03/2017 18:03

Presumably he wants what's best for DD too though, and he's decided it's NC. I guess I don't understand why you want to override that, especially when it's concerning his mother and his lived experiences.

I don't mean to get at you, I do see where you're coming from WRT the more people who love DD in her life, the better. I'm just very aware that my sibling and some of my cousins would describe my emotionally abusive family member differently than I would, and if that family member were alive today I'm sure they would be outraged I'd keep my kids from him. But I would never risk for one second him doing to my kids what he did to me.

SootSprite · 17/03/2017 18:06

It's not your call, at all. Not even close.
Your dh has the right to say No and you, as his partner, should abide by his wishes on this.
I guarantee if you start against this he will never forgive you.
Is this romanticised view you have of your dd and her grandmother worth losing your dh over?

muhajaba · 17/03/2017 18:30

I dont understand why you're getting such a hard time over this OP. This situation isnt about all the adults, its about your DD missing out on a grandparent she doesnt have to miss out on, I get that.
Its a shame your FIL cant speak to your DH about it.

zwellers · 17/03/2017 18:42

His mother his choice your dd won't miss what she's never experienced. Does dd have a grandparent relationship with your parents.?

user1489261248 · 17/03/2017 18:58

He only gets to make the full decision for himself, this child has two parents who get to both make decisions for that child

But the decision for the daughter to have contact with the DH's mother lies with the DH, it is NOT up to the wife (the OP) to take it upon herself to take their child to his mother, when he has specifically said NO. (And that he does not want her in their lives.) It HAS to be a joint decision.

No matter how much the OP cries and moans, if her DH says he wants his mother to have nothing to do with his child(ren,) then his wife (the OP) must respect that.

But his mother isn't very abusive. If she was then I wouldn't even dream of having this conversation. It's not me I'm thinking about it's my daughter. Why are people finding that so difficult to understand?

Makes no odds that his mother is not abusive 'nicegurl.'. He wants nothing to do with her because of what she did in the past, and he wants his child(ren) to have nothing to do with her either. It's not your place to take the child to his mother's against his wishes.

Why are you being like this? Why are you not taking your husband's feelings and wishes into consideration? If my DH behaved like this, I would be re-evaluating our relationship. And if he did (to me) what you are planning to do, it would seriously put the marriage in jeopardy. If he has that little respect for me, he would not deserve to be married to me.

What people are finding hard to understand is why you are being so stubborn and pig-headed, and are refusing to listen to sensible and constructive advice! As I said, you go and do what you want then, and we will see you on MN in a few months when your DH has left you for being so horribly disrespectful, not listening to him, upsetting him, and causing him pain and hurt, because you just HAD to have your own way.

Out2pasture · 17/03/2017 21:47

Still agree with the OP, the child has a right to meet and enjoy the extended family.
DH does not need to be part of this.
If anything his father that most likely poisoned his mind about his mother is at fault.
Leaving under the circumstances would not have been easy no matter how she did it.

BarbarianMum · 17/03/2017 22:09

Children have no "right" to contact with adults they don't know except when their parents allow it. Parents are allowed to decide who has contact with their children.

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