Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To stop MIL inviting herself here?

83 replies

smallmercys · 19/09/2017 11:42

MIL is now on her own and even though she has a house 2 hrs from us with guest room, MIL has decided she wants to make extended stays with different family members. She has no car and her DD, who lives near to us - DH's DS and my SIL, will have a newborn soon. SIL and her OH will have no guest room when LO arrives and ideally they don't want her staying at that time.

Ok we have space, and she thinks its more comfortable and convenient, but I think I will want to kill MIL if she stays here. MIL has a history of malicious gossip and snooping and she will try to get in here by only talking to DH - who will feel obliged because of his DS. DH and I have talked about it but did not really agree and left it undecided because I hate even talking about the subject. If this kind of visit happens even if we went away she would stay as long as she wanted and will search the house from top to bottom whenever we are out.

MIL would also get the house keys copied for herself which will mean changing three sets of locks yet again after she goes. We have stuff in the house which is confidential to our business, she will go through anything she likes given the chance on the pretext of 'cleaning'.
The risk of me thinking of murder comes from her total lack of respect or boundaries with anyone.

I'm always uncomfortable around her because I can't trust her and want to find a way to put her off trying to get herself in here. Even if she was in a B&B she would be round ours each morning before breakfast scrubbing the (fairly clean) skirting boards or something Confused

AIBU in trying to find some kind of an alternative?

OP posts:
user1497997754 · 19/09/2017 21:48

Master plan is NO

Appuskidu · 19/09/2017 21:56

MIL is now on her own and even though she has a house 2 hrs from us with guest room, MIL has decided she wants to make extended stays with different family members.

Is this just one visit to see the new baby or is this visits to lots of people on many differ occasions?

If she's such a nightmare-why is your DH not bothered??

Puzzledandpissedoff · 19/09/2017 23:20

I really need a masterplan, a foolproof drop dead way of nipping this shit in the bud

Simple - tell her it won't be possible for her to stay this time, then keep putting off the next visit until she gets the point. You can still visit her at her own place if you choose; in fact if it keeps your DH happy you could even call her and suggest a time for such a visit

CatsOclock · 20/09/2017 09:20

One of my regrets in life is that I didn't confront my mil at the beginning regarding her behaviour towards me. Instead, I was super-polite and friendly, like the best dil in the world! It didn't work. She had no respect for me - literally none! And she went on to ruin lots of special times and cause lots of upset.

I would therefore recommend gentle but firm honesty. Tell her exactly why you can't have her to stay and how sad you are about the situation as you'd love it to be different. Get it out in the open now or you'll be nursing these monsters-in-hiding for years to come.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 20/09/2017 10:02

I agree with Cats to be honest. Perhaps it might be possible to meet your MiL on neutral ground say a coffee shop half way between where you both live. Tell her how sorry you are that she can't stay and then tell her why.
Your DH feels obliged to have her to stay, then he looks after his mother and takes the necessary time off work to do that. If he can't do that, she can't stay. I also think that SiL is passing the buck. It is her and her DH that are having the new baby, so they should be the ones to accommodate the new grandparent, not you.
Love the idea of a glitter bomb which would show to your DH that she does go snooping. Or is there some sort of liquid that would show up under a UV light that she wouldn't know is on her skin but you could show your dh (or am I watching too many crime shows on TV now?)

Andrewofgg · 20/09/2017 10:23

Cora - you are a genius!

RhiannonOHara · 20/09/2017 11:42

Copying the keys would be a doddle for MIL if I am at work and leave her the keys so that she can come and go. Not sure how to avoid that happening?

I'll say it again, someone copying your keys is NOT acceptable! Just don't have her to stay. Tell her why. She'll just have to deal with it.

You don't need a masterplan. You just need to stand up for yourself.

Motoko · 20/09/2017 14:39

Or if you do have her to stay (as is likely to happen), pack her off to SIL's when you go off to work, after all, you'd hate the idea of her being in the house all alone (that makes it sound like you're worried about her getting lonely, rather than the fact you can't trust her).

But, I think you should just tell her it's not convenient, or the truth, and say she can't stay.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread