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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Weird daughter in law

300 replies

ericsmum1234 · 17/08/2017 11:46

I have three children in their '30's and a son of 11. My problem is with one of my son's DP. She's always been a bit difficult to get along with but after 7 years I'm at the end of my tether. My son and her moved about 2 hours drive away for work 3 years ago. All good, they love where they live and have got really good jobs and a good life and my ds is very happy with her BUT, she really seems to dislike me and makes no secret of it. My youngest and his brother are really close & I've driven him there numerous times that involves a 4 hour round trip, but when I get there she barely says hello and when ive asked for a cup of tea she says no, we've got stuff to do. It's a brew ffs! And I have to turn around and drive for another 2 hours to get home. They rock up every xmas and eat all the food and contribute nothing, I'm on my own with little money and struggle to provide every year ( my two other children contribute, we do it between the three of us).

What's tipped me this time is I took my son up & she wasn't there, my son said she was at work and I didn't think anything of it. Then when I spoke to my youngest in the phone he told me that she was in the bedroom and came out when I'd gone. Obviously avoiding me. I just wanted to scream at her and say "what's your problem with me?" But my son wouldn't back me up. I know that he'd take her side and just stop speaking to me because he won't ever admit he's in the wrong. I'm not the sort of MIL who interferes ( I get on really well with my other children's DP), but I'm not doing that trip again because a) I can't afford the petrol and b) I'm not having the piss taken out of me. My youngest doesn't want to go any more either because she's not that nice to him.
The question is that this situation is going to pop again soon, how do I handle it? My anxiety is through the roof just thinking about it Sad

OP posts:
EdmundCleverClogs · 17/08/2017 15:35

What happened in his teen years might actually be affecting him more now than back then. The moving away/less contact issue is very much what people who try and keep a distance from their past, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if DiL was 'helping' him keep it all at arm's length. The report to SS makes more sense now as well, I really wouldn't be surprised if it was both if them who made the decision to call based on the history. Sounds like you and him need to have a good talk, if he's willing.

ericsmum1234 · 17/08/2017 15:36

You're right dragonfly, I do understand that what happened colours her view of me, but it's like the elephant in the room. Like I say I can't change the past, I've tried to apologise to my son, I can do no more.

OP posts:
Neutrogena · 17/08/2017 15:36

I just wanted to scream at her and say "what's your problem with me?"

Please don't scream at her. It will give her the reason to say 'Because you are a screaming unhinged woman'
Some people have irrational dislikes of others. Nothing you can do. Fcuk her and stay close to the son.

ericsmum1234 · 17/08/2017 15:37

I'd love to have a heart to heart with him, but he's difficult to approach and if he doesn't want to talk he won't.

OP posts:
Dragonflycushion · 17/08/2017 15:41

Yy Edmund.
When you're a kid it is more normalised. When you get older and come into contact with people who respond to your stories with shock or sympathy, the penny drops.

Dragonflycushion · 17/08/2017 15:45

Ericsmum you'll need to wait for him perhaps - if that's the reason behind all this.
Keep the door open but don't stride in iyswim. Let him know you're open to a discussion on his terms. I think it's tempting to try to defend your previous actions or lack of them but let the discussion be about him. Try not to excuse or minimise.

LaContessaDiPlump · 17/08/2017 15:48

op I have a friend who got good results with counselling. Is there any way you could say to your son that you realise the past must have been hard to cope with and offer to pay for counselling for him? Say that you realise you relied on him more than was ideal, that you're sorry for it and were wondering if this was something he'd be interested in.

Even if he says no, it indicates awareness on your part and a desire to build bridges while not encroaching on him.

redthunder123 · 17/08/2017 15:51

I hate my MIL to be and ive never met her as shes a sh*t mum to my BF.

she always has been always will be. So I don't have any time of day for her

not offence but could your son have said some things about his childhood/ you?

Mittens1969 · 17/08/2017 15:53

There will be a back story here. I have also noticed that the OP won't say a word against her DS, but surely he shouldn't take some of the blame, particularly over the lack of tea offered. (That to my mind is plain rude of both of them, imo.)

I will admit that I have a difficult relationship with my MIL. She's a lovely grandma to our DDs and they love having her to stay so I do my best to get on with her, but it's a struggle to get on with her and I can't put my finger on exactly why, as has been said by a PP.

My DH was 37 when we married and he hadn't been married before. He was therefore very close to his DM and DF, who sadly died in a car crash the same year we got married.

My MIL has always been very full-on and gushing and very tactile, which is something I find very difficult to cope with. She wants so much communication by telephone and has always phoned a lot. When she's here for significant periods, I do disappear to do my own thing (but she's well entertained by my DH and DDs so I don't really think that's an issue).

It was also tricky because she really wanted me to call her 'mum', as she did her MIL, but I always refused. I think she was hoping for a closer relationship than I was prepared to have with her, and tried too hard. We've found our way, though, and now we communicate by email which suits me much better.

I'm seeing some similarities with what the OP is saying, though the lack of decent manners is surprising in two adults. But I do think the DIL has been made into the scapegoat when the DS should 'grow a pair' as it were.

As for SS, I won't comment as that seems complicated. I know of a situation where an elderly mother nearly called SS on her son and daughter-in-law, because of concerns her grandson was being neglected, but didn't so as not to end up NC with them. If there has been DV in the past, there's a lot of back story quite obviously.

PandorasXbox · 17/08/2017 15:56

The OP has said there's no back story.

IHeartDodo · 17/08/2017 15:56

Mittens1969 Surely if your partner's DM and DF died, that was your MIL?

Mesgegra · 17/08/2017 15:58

That's immature redthunder. Parenting is hard and although many many parents fail to be excellent, they usually try.

One can examine the impact of one's parenting on one's own self esteem and its legacy on your attachment style, but hatred of a woman you havent met is not helpful. You don't have to admire or respect her but if you can't distance yourself enough from the situation sufficiently to make small talk over a cup of tea then your reaction to somebody else's childhood and account of their childhood is too extreme. Have you dealt with your own childhood and your own parents' parenting.

ericsmum1234 · 17/08/2017 15:58

Redthunder

He probobly has said something to her. Sorry to dripfeed but When he was in his early teens he hated me because he thought I pushed his dad away when in actual fact his dad left me when he was a baby, so he never knew his dad living with us. I brought all the children up on my own, I'm not asking for a medal, but my ds blamed me for everything that ever went wrong for him. I thought we were past all that, now I wonder.

OP posts:
caffeinestream · 17/08/2017 15:59

The OP has said there's no back story.

The OP has just explained the back story!

PandorasXbox · 17/08/2017 16:08

That's not a backstory. Not enough for the DIL to treat her MIL the way she does that's for sure.

Donttouchthethings · 17/08/2017 16:09

Sorry to say this but I think you've got a son problem.

Iflyaway · 17/08/2017 16:11

Life is too short to put up with bitches.

Honestly, you sound lovely and deserve so much better.

Put your energy into the family members who appreciate you and be there for you!

Won't even make you a cuppa? WTF?!

Tells you all you need to know really. Why expend your energy?

caffeinestream · 17/08/2017 16:12

Really?

If my partner had been abused by a parent-figure, and the way his mum had handled it had caused him life-long problems in some respect, I don't think I would be trying too hard to get along with her.

I don't mean that in a nasty way towards the OP at all. But how OP's son has described the situation to her partner could be so different to how OP has portrayed it. Emotional abusive marriages can cause lifelong problems for the children caught up in them, and I'm sure it's impacted how OP's son has conducted his relationship with his partner.

RidingWindhorses · 17/08/2017 16:12

That makes sense OP.

The fact that he still comes to visit is a plus, at least he's in contact and making an effort.

I would take a step back and make less effort with them.

BoneyBackJefferson · 17/08/2017 16:17

The OP has said there's no back story.

The OP has just explained the back story!

Three sides to every story etc.

Interestingly though, the responses are opposite to the usual "Back your wife up she is your family now"

Seems that some blokes can't win.

ericsmum1234 · 17/08/2017 16:20

Thanks everyone, you are all making some really good points. That's why I posted really, just to get some perspective. I realise you've only got my side of things, but it helps to hear others experiences. And everyone's right, I do have a son problem!

OP posts:
Mittens1969 · 17/08/2017 16:20

@IHeartDodo, sorry, DH's DF died, not his DM. Understandably she needed us a lot for a few years but it was 13 years ago now, so she has come through that time.

HeebieJeebies456 · 17/08/2017 16:26

Sounds to me like he's been bitching/talking about the past and it's influenced her.
Even so, the past has nothing to do with her and she should not be judging/punishing you for perceived failures!!!

It's just so childish and immature the way she's behaving.
You haven't 'lost' your son......he's just too lazy to put the effort into your relationship.
He's also very self-centred, inconsiderate and rude.

Stop making excuses for him and stop 'giving' so much of yourself to people who don't appreciate it.
He's not too old for boundaries....you're allowed to be brutally frank with him.

IHeartDodo · 17/08/2017 16:27

Mittens1969 Ah makes sense... Sorry for your loss

ericsmum1234 · 17/08/2017 16:30

Heebie

You are absolutely right, I'm beginning to see that. I think I've pussy footed around him for too long because he would just stop speaking to me as he's done it before for a short while. But I've had enough now, he's old enough to start behaving as an adult and not a sulky teenager.

OP posts:
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