Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my FIL's comments are inappropriate...

92 replies

TimtheEnchanter · 20/06/2017 22:30

My FIL always ALWAYS comments on my figure. I'm 38 weeks pregnant with second DC and this time, just like the first, he has given his opinion on my bump, its position, my weight etc everytime i see him. He does it when I am not pregnant aswell to the point that I make sure I am well covered up when he's coming cus it gets on my nerves. Its not done in an insulting way but I find it weird that he pays so much attention to it.
This weekend I was wearing a dress cus it's so hot, knee length and t shirt style so not revealing, and after looking at me intently for a few seconds he said, out of nowhere, 'have you got varicose veins?' I haven't by the way, which I think makes it an even stranger thing to ask.
Previous examples include, asking me, once again out of nowhere, 'Since you had DC1 have your hips spread?'
A week after my DC was born, he asked in a room full of DH's family 'have you made much milk?'
When we told him I was expecting he said 'and I've been thinking all day how thin you look'.
He also comments a lot on women's figures in general, for example if you say you like a singer, he will immediately comment on her figure.
Every time he comes round, I grit my teeth waiting for the inevitable comment on how my body looks, it irritates me. Is it as weird as I think or AIBU? Genuinely want to know.

OP posts:
Onynx · 21/06/2017 12:07

I would reply back each time with 'Did you mean to be so rude?' Or my friend's stock response 'Do you realise you said that out loud?'😊 Agree with PPs- he knows exactly what he is doing.

BeachyKeen · 21/06/2017 12:57

Just keep replying, "I don't actually like talking about my body. How about them (insert favourite sports team/any other topic)"
Hopefully by the third or fourth time of not getting an answer and hearing "actually I don't like talking about my body" it will sink in to stop asking. And even if it hasn't yet, he still isn't getting answers to your personal info!

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 21/06/2017 12:59

Oh god reading the OP has made my toes curl, I agree with PP comment on his figure back!

CupOfTeaAndAGoodBook · 21/06/2017 13:10

I really wouldn't get into trying to make him feel uncomfortable about it. If you start oversharing / asking him questions in return it's like upping the stakes and turning it into a game of who will get creeped out first. He will win that game. And it will be harder to explain to your DH, if you have to bring him in and say "Your FIL just said x to me" and your FIL replies and says "Well you said y so I didn't think you had a problem with it" then you've basically handed him an excuse ready made.

I would go for an incredulous "Sorry?" and then if he repeats it "That's a bit inappropriate, don't you think?!" If he persists beyond that then leave the room and tell your DH. Every time. Emphasise your discomfort, don't minimise it or allow your DH to.

MrsKoala · 21/06/2017 13:33

And what if he doesn't think it's inappropriate? I'm not really seeing the outrage here. Some might be slightly personal but things like the milk question are the types of things strangers in shops have asked me. Why is that embarrassing?

slug · 21/06/2017 13:35

"Inappropriate sexual behaviour is one of the early signs of demenita. Should we make an appointment to get you checked out?"

Madwoman5 · 21/06/2017 13:36

The long expressionless stare when he opens his mouth, for just longer than is polite followed by a direct smush (how, what, when, where type smalltalk question) to someone else in the room and he should get the message. Repeat as many times as needed.

MrsKoala · 21/06/2017 13:38

It's not sexual tho is it? 'Do you have varicose veins?' is hardly sexual. Personal and sexual are different. If it was an Aunt asking would everyone be saying it was creepy and sexual?

TenForward82 · 21/06/2017 13:40

He's making it clear her body is under his scrutiny. That's creepy.

DrJZoidberg · 21/06/2017 13:44

If it was a woman, it would still be creepy. And it does come across as sexual when he's being blatant that he is looking at and thinking about her body.

NoCapes · 21/06/2017 13:45

MrsKoala strangers in shops have asked you how much milk you're producing?? Really?!

NellieFiveBellies · 21/06/2017 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsKoala · 21/06/2017 13:51

Things like, are you breast feeding?, or when baby cries 'oh someone wants boob', when i was pregnant with dd people kept asking if she was engaged and could i feel her head between my legs as i was walking funny Grin .

Family members have asked in front of others if my nipples are sore, how my 3rd degree tear is, whether my anal fissures are bleeding etc. About wight gain and loss too.

I get some people are uncomfortable with this, but i don't think any of their intention was to be creepy or pervy.

Branleuse · 21/06/2017 14:01

can you say to him every single time "please can you stop commenting on my appearance" maybe adding in "its creeping me out"

MuffinMaiden · 21/06/2017 14:19

I wonder, did these comments star after you confronted him with your previous issue? I wonder if it's his way of getting back at you...

MuffinMaiden · 21/06/2017 14:19
  • start
Want2beme · 21/06/2017 14:27

I'd just ask him why he's always commenting on your appearance? And you want him to stop.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page