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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To HATE my BIL and want DP to do something about the situation

115 replies

thiskittenbarks · 06/10/2017 17:09

My BIL (well me and DP aren't actually married yet but engaged and have baby - been together 8 years) annoys me so much. He is very nearly 30 and has never had a job. He finished a very indulgent postgrad course a year ago and has done nothing since. He lives with his mum who does everything for him and waits on him.
Here are some examples of stuff he does (sorry this is long):
Invites himself to stay at our house (we have a baby and has done this fairly regularly since baby was born) He offers no help and expects to be waited on. E.g. If we have been to supermarket to buy food for his ridiculous dietary restrictions, he won't even offer to help bring stuff in from the car, he will just go straight in our house and start watching tv. He is not interested in his nephew but is incredibly close with my DP.
He has extreme (self inflicted) dietary requirements and expects us to accommodate this (ie me to cook a totally separate meal for him and buy the random crap he eats).
When he stays over, when DP goes to work he will hang around all day sitting in our living room playing the PlayStation. I am stuck with baby with nowhere to play as I don't particularly want baby to watch these games he plays on tv. he huffs if baby cries or if I stand in the way of the TV. He just doesn't get that he can't sit in another persons living room and dominate it. He doesn't get hints to leave. I usually have to make up an excuse that I need him to leave (last time I had guests coming over and we would need living room - he said he didn't mind people coming over and carried on playing PlayStation...well I'm glad he doesn't mind me having guests in my own F-ing home!!)
Oh and he doesn't like me breastfeeding as it is "gross", and made me feel so uncomfortable I went upstairs in my own home to BF (I don't anymore as I actually want to make him feel uncomfortable so he gets the feck out of my house).
He invites himself along to things and just expects us to pay for him. For example a few weeks ago we were taking baby to sealife centre and he decided that he would join us (uninvited). We later went for quite an expensive dinner (because he likes that restaurant) and he just expected us to pay for him (for the meal and for the sealife centre and for the dinner - that day we spent close to £100 on him). Oh and he doesn't hold back on what he orders. He orders stuff, tries it and then will say that it is "gross" and then will leave it (he did this with a £12 cocktail and a pudding on the sealife centre day) He NEVER says thank you. I always make a big show of thanking DP in from of him to try and hint that BIL should also say thanks. He does this every time we are with him. I know he has money as MIL and FIL have both told me they still give him pocket money..
He behaves like a child but he is less than 2 years younger than me.
I have asked if he has some form of autism- but DP and MIL both said this had been investigated numerous times and he doesn't. I was shocked about this as for years I have put his behaviour down to this in my head.
I have spoken to DP about it and he just says something like "that's just him". DP is quite protective over him as he was quite bullied at school - and I understand that but his behaviour in my mind is totally unacceptable and he needs to be told so. AIBU?
What can I do? I really worry about baby growing up seeing an adult behaving like this.

OP posts:
thiskittenbarks · 07/10/2017 04:02

KeepServing yes you're right there is. Even very obvious hints are not enough. But I have also seen on MANY occasions his mum directly tell him to do something, and he outright ignores her so she ends up doing it in the end.

WombOf I had previously said "My DP does most of the running around after him to be fair and it has always been DPs money that pays for BIL so it wasn't really a problem before (I would say I don't think you should pay for B but didn't feel I could tell him how to spend his own money as I'd be fuming if he did to me)..." but don't blame you for missing it in amongst all my woes! DP does indeed do a lot of the waiting on him, but this really annoys me too as everyone seems to pamper and pander to BIL like he is some sort of holy baby. We are a very equal household generally (although this has changed a little since I am on mat leave with baby but DP is still very good). In fact when BIL is here DP seems to go into overdrive trying to clear up after him before I notice the mess as he knows BIL leaves rubbish all over house and I lost it (with DP as BIL had thankfully just left and the last thing I wanted to do was speak to him again) after BIL left a perfect chocking hazard sized bottle cap on the living room floor when we had a crawling baby Angry. But I will mention it to DP that I don't want his misogynistic attitude be seen by DC, as this does add an extra layer of concern!
I do often cook when he is here actually, but that is more just so I can lock myself in the kitchen and avoid being around him.

OP posts:
thiskittenbarks · 07/10/2017 04:02

KeepServing yes you're right there is. Even very obvious hints are not enough. But I have also seen on MANY occasions his mum directly tell him to do something, and he outright ignores her so she ends up doing it in the end.

WombOf I had previously said "My DP does most of the running around after him to be fair and it has always been DPs money that pays for BIL so it wasn't really a problem before (I would say I don't think you should pay for B but didn't feel I could tell him how to spend his own money as I'd be fuming if he did to me)..." but don't blame you for missing it in amongst all my woes! DP does indeed do a lot of the waiting on him, but this really annoys me too as everyone seems to pamper and pander to BIL like he is some sort of holy baby. We are a very equal household generally (although this has changed a little since I am on mat leave with baby but DP is still very good). In fact when BIL is here DP seems to go into overdrive trying to clear up after him before I notice the mess as he knows BIL leaves rubbish all over house and I lost it (with DP as BIL had thankfully just left and the last thing I wanted to do was speak to him again) after BIL left a perfect chocking hazard sized bottle cap on the living room floor when we had a crawling baby Angry. But I will mention it to DP that I don't want his misogynistic attitude be seen by DC, as this does add an extra layer of concern!
I do often cook when he is here actually, but that is more just so I can lock myself in the kitchen and avoid being around him.

OP posts:
thiskittenbarks · 07/10/2017 04:05

Oops - app crashed and that posted twice for some reason!

OP posts:
londonrach · 07/10/2017 04:32

Just turn the game off and tell him not to play with it. Dh needs to sort this.

shakingmyhead1 · 07/10/2017 04:41

Right this instant, before you even finish reading this post go to the lounge and get that fucken playstation and disconnect it and hide it in the linen cupboard or under the stairs or somewhere!
As soon as he arrives next... TITS out both of them and start feeding if he says anything " theres the door BIL, this is my house and i will breastfeed in any bloody room i feel like :)"

He if arrives before a meal dont even say anything just dish up what you have made and when he bitches say " i dont make 10 meals to suit one person any more i cook one meal if you dont wish to eat it either supply your own meal or go eat somewhere else"
and if your husband says anything its the old MM standard " Not my circus not my monkey" " im over his shit and i wont be dealing with it any more its on you dear" and " when you go out, go to work, where ever it is you are going.... hes going with you as im not his babysitter any more and if you leave him ill be calling his parents to come collect him"

thiskittenbarks · 07/10/2017 04:56

ThatsWotSheSaid - just read definition of demand avoidance and it seems to fit him perfectly.
Although I think it also would have fit me perfectly when I was 13 and didn't feel like going to school or tidying my room or being a useful human of any kind.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 07/10/2017 06:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mummyoflittledragon · 07/10/2017 06:14

You asked how you deal with an uncle, who acts this way. You can tell him uncle x acts like this. We in our family are polite. We act differently. We do this. We do that. You don’t have to judge or berate his uncle, just make it clear the expectations in your nuclear family are different from how his uncle behaves.

My fil has many behaviours, which are not neurotypical. The family has always whispered about him being different but obviously being in his 80’s, he never had any kind of diagnosis. He is a kind and loving man. He drives me to distraction though. He works well with clear command. He sees nothing wrong with being told what to do.

He can also be a stubborn arse. Before I knew to just tell him, this is how it is, I have had two hour conversations with him. Such as to persuade him that he’s making a big mistake on redesigning his kitchen himself using the 1950’s style template, which was in existence and putting tall cupboards behind the back door, which he uses as his main entrance/exit, no work tops etc.

Fil also never learnt to say thank you. Dh didn’t learn either and I have also encouraged manners with him. Fil now says thank you to the person handing him the food. Not the person, who made him the food. He just can’t get it quite right, bless him (grrrr). It’s making me laugh inside to think it even though this royally pisses me off as I’m usually the cook. Dh usually hands out the plates. Fil also does not help out at all unless told, which I don’t tend to do as the stress and energy requirement of getting him to help and instruct him outweighs the benefit. So I think to he has baboon arms, which hang down very low to get a smile inside. Yes, he’s old. But until recently, he’s been in far far better health than me and I’d say even now he has more energy than me.

Dh was (and still) is massively protective of him until a few years ago when he finally HALLELUJAH admitted there is something different about him. Until then, it was always, that’s just how he is, his way, nothing to challenge, I’m making a problem out of it etc. The fights we had over him were fierce. Instead, we can now laugh about getting ourselves into a state about him together.

Dh now also accepts that much as I love my fil, since contracting ME/CFS, I find it incredibly difficult to be around him and do not to talk to him much. This may sound cruel, but it’s not intended to be. Fil is French and it’s a lot of effort for me to speak to him despite my being fluent. Fil isn’t very good at interpreting things and it’s very draining. He is a complete loner and has no conversation skills so talking to him involves a lot more than an idle chat.

What I’m trying to say is, please don’t oblige yourself to be the same with your bil as you are with people, who are definitely NT. I’m sure my fil doesn’t even notice my behaviour. Your bil is likely to accept what you are saying. So start making boundaries. One of mine was that on fils visits, he would stay 5 nights (as coming from France) and dh would be home. He has now decided the trip is too far for him so hasn’t been here this year. We have been to France though.

elfinpre · 07/10/2017 06:36

I'd make DP choose between having his brother to stay and continuing the relationship with you.

rudbeckia · 07/10/2017 07:14

I don't get 'DP's money pays for BiL.' You are a family, you're on mat leave with DP's child. It's family money BIL is taking from you all. You could be paying off a mortgage, saving for a holiday, saving for a pension etc. An able bodied, intelligent (you said he had a degree) 30 year old should be earning and paying his own way.

babba2014 · 07/10/2017 07:32

He shouldn't be there when your dp goes to work. He should visit only for a couple of hours or stay over when your dp has days off. I would make that clear to all of them.
I'd also hide the PlayStation. I realise he turns up without notice but just put it away when he goes out or is in the loo.
I don't understand, aren't you absolutely exhausted? You and your baby need free reign of the house. Don't resort to the kitchen. Grab hold of the remote or if you don't like the tv on around your baby then switch it all off and say you don't like the influence on baby. If you hide in the kitchen it won't achieve anything. This whole situation sounds awful, I feel for you.
You honestly need to lay ground rules now.

Makealist1 · 07/10/2017 08:22

Hi kitten
I woke up thinking about this.I'm glad to see that you're beginning to work things out. I like the term ' demand avoidance' !

I just wanted to add that this won't get better into the future, if not tackled now. Your baby will grow, become a toddler - child - teenager. They're going to become more active, noisy, fiddle with things, have friends round. What happens then ? Will he/she be expected to give up their programmes / be quiet /go to THEIR room to escape ? What a lovely misogynistic role model !

What is the future plan re BIL ? - whether autistic or not ? Will he, is he, surreptitiously moving in ? Are the visits escalating ? I know family stuff is hard. I used to be engaged to a person with a personality disorder [ undiagnosed but 99% sure]. As my small son got older, it became like having 2 children. Who's going to listen to their music on the car stereo, jealousy about ratio of attention/affection shown. My son was the better behaved ! No wedding occurred.

It's obviously bothering your DP, as he's frantically tidying up after BIL. So he does realise. If you start putting in your OWN boundaries re breast feeding, not shopping/cooking specially for someone you didn't even know was arriving, not hiding your unhappiness about being bullied by BIL in your own home ---- then I imagine it will come to a head in the not too distant future anyway.

What's he like with a lovely smelly nappy change in the living room ? Wink

shakingmyhead1 · 07/10/2017 08:28

and get a bit frantic with the cleaning! every time he is there start up the vacuum and dust the whole lounge, make him move lots to be out of your way, not out and out unwelcoming but you must stick to your routine with the cleaning you know! Dont make it easy, as hes used to, to just take over your house, take the power back!

ThatsWotSheSaid · 07/10/2017 11:13

Thiskittenbarks the big thing with demand avoidance is how much effort they put into avoiding things, its usually the main focus of most of what they do (even subtly) and the things they avoid you might reasonably expect them to want to do or they have enjoyed previously.

justilou1 · 07/10/2017 14:21

He sounds like my brother. Total nightmare. You have to deal with this now, because when his parents die, you become the next mother. He will move in with you and expect everything!!!

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