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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To refuse to visit the inlaws this Christmas?

82 replies

Grewia · 18/12/2017 15:54

My inlaws are lovely generous people, but illness has resulted in them living in an untidy and unclean home. When visiting I have cleaned a room to help out, encouraged their other children who live locally to help more with the cleaning and purchased and fitted a toilet seat. The first time I visited I left the next morning. Since then I've tried to accept it, but it's not a small issue. The floor is rotting in the bathroom, rotting food on the stairs, utterly filthy toilet, stuff everywhere on every surface. I saw a piano used once for icing a cake, the rack was placed on the keys as there was no other available surface. When I purchased a toilet seat one visit, there hadn't been one for years and they were very offended.
By far my biggest issue is the kitchen, in which the cooker is never cleaned and is encrusted, the floor is similarly so, and there is washing up piled on every surface. Food is often left out. When I visited once, there was no bin. There is frequently cat litter all over the floor, although shredded paper is often used in the litter tray. The fridge is never emptied and is refilled, leading to rotted food dripping onto food below and the sink is often inaccessible.
Each Christmas we have visited for a week, we don't live close enough to visit for a day. This year we have a newborn and I'm concerned about taking him into such an environment. I had asked to stay at home this year and have them visit. Question is, AIBU to refuse to go? Knowing it will upset my MIL to miss Christmas with the new baby.

OP posts:
KinkyAfro · 18/12/2017 15:59

What does your partner/husband/wife think of the situation?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/12/2017 16:01

No, you have a newborn. You get to choose.

If MIL wants to see baby, can they come to you?

FlexTimeCheekyFucker · 18/12/2017 16:03

Newbury or not, I wouldn't be staying there.

RemainOptimistic · 18/12/2017 16:04

YANBU and to be honest even thinking of bringing a newborn within a 5 mile radius is making me feel physically sick.

YABVVVVVU to even think of taking a newborn into that breeding den of disease.

MIL needs professional mental health intervention right now. Hoarding is a serious mental illness.

SpartonDregs · 18/12/2017 16:06

You wouldnt get me anywhere near that house.

Ropsleybunny · 18/12/2017 16:07

Dear God! From what you've posted they don't sound as if they're coping at all. They definitely need help. Your DH should speak to the GP and get an Adult Services Social Worker to do an assessment, urgently!!!!

As far as going to stay, you really don't even need to ask do you?

orenisthenewblack · 18/12/2017 16:11

I wouldn't go either. If I had to go, I'd book a travelodge, visit for an hour and then leave. I'd ask them to meet at the restaurant for lunch before heading back home.

There's no way I'd stay there or eat there. My DB and GF used to live in a hovel and couldn't understand why I wouldn't put crawling baby on the floor until I told him bluntly that the floor was disgusting. I am not the best housekeeper in the world but I have some standards.

LakieLady · 18/12/2017 16:11

Good grief, I'm positively slatternly but that made me feel quite ill!

YANBU. I don't think I'd visit at all, and definitely not with a baby.

Grewia · 18/12/2017 16:12

They realise it's an issue - the agreement had been that we would stay at home and family would visit us instead. He tried speaking to them and explaining that things needed to improve a little, and they agreed, and his sibling went to help. But no progress has been made on clearing up, and I can understand why, with the health issues it likely d feels like an insurmountable challenge. Long term we will need to have a conversation about getting some help in, but they don't see it as a problem and so are upset. Because they promised it would be fine, DH agreed to visit for a week and now feels as though it would be unreasonable to refuse to go.

OP posts:
Ropsleybunny · 18/12/2017 16:16

Your DH and the GP have a duty of care to your inlays. They clearly cannot help themselves. Your DH should do something.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 18/12/2017 16:16

Where is dh in all this? You are dnbu but he needs to be on board. Is it a mh issue or physical? I wouldn't want to take a baby into that mess either!

Iloveacurry · 18/12/2017 16:18

Seriously? Do not go! They can come to you. Tell them why you won’t be going. Or get your DH to tell them. If that was my ILs, would not go and would tell them why. How or why do they live like that?! If it’s ill health, they obviously need help. From family or outside paid help. And what is wrong with their children who live nearby? Do they not know how their parents are living?

Silverthorn · 18/12/2017 16:18

Absolutely not. Stay in a hotel or with siblings. Visit in a public place/ cafe. They definately need ss intervention even if it does offend them. They are offensive.
Remind dh the agreement to visit came with the condition of them cleaning up.
I personally would stay home.

Iloveacurry · 18/12/2017 16:20

Just seen your update about your DH agreeing to visit for a week. Tell him he can go by himself, and you’re not going.

girlingerrupting · 18/12/2017 16:21

Please don't go with a newborn. Please don't feel pushed into it. Have them to you and get industrial cleaners in whilst they are at yours.
That is not a healthy environment for anyone

Grewia · 18/12/2017 16:22

It's largely a MH issue but there are some physical aspects too. DH doesn't see it almost, because he lived there. But since visiting two weeks ago he's seen it from a parents perspective and that's why he had a conversation about starting to work on it. However, I think he fails to grasp that it's a serious MH issue and not just a case of doing a bit more cleaning. I suspect that it's physically impossible as it's too overwhelming a situation, yet they become frustrated when help is offered.

OP posts:
girlingerrupting · 18/12/2017 16:23

Why won't they come to you? I thought this would be normal in laws thread mine is super passive aggressive and I'm always resisting attending but this is very different.
They shouldn't be living like that and I can't imagine you would ever have to stay even without a baby.

rookiemere · 18/12/2017 16:23

This reminds me of my GPs house when they became elderly.
Relatives nearby were taking in carers allowance for them, but the place was disgusting as the relatives taking the carers allowance did nothing and my uncle who lived with them has poor eyesight and was not allowed to do much cleaning up.
I would not let a baby stay in such a place as you describe and remember it will get worse as your DC becomes able to crawl and then becomes a toddler.

This year it makes sense for them to come to you if they can.
Going forward, is there a cheap hotel you could stay at, as I'm not sure how you'd resolve this situation ?
This year I'm in seventh heaven as put my foot down and am staying in a Premier inn rather than sleeping on a mattress on the floor at SILs - we love seeing them and being with them, but I need my sleep !

fruitbrewhaha · 18/12/2017 16:25

Gosh no, and no wonder they have health issues! How could you get better living in a cesspit? I feel a bit just thinking of it.

I think your DH needs to organise some professional intervention.

Kittypillar · 18/12/2017 16:25

Eeeesh, that sounds bad. YANBU at all, I wouldn't want to go either! I'm guessing (may have missed something somewhere, sorry if so) the health issues that you've mentioned are the reason why them visiting you wouldn't be an easier option? Can the visit not be shorter, maybe a couple of days, and you find a hotel nearby to stay? You could just say it would be easier with a newborn to have the option of your own space a bit more?

TeeniefaeTroon · 18/12/2017 16:25

Not a hope in hell I would go, even if I didn't have a newborn. I'd stay in a hotel or get them to visit and let them know why.

Ropsleybunny · 18/12/2017 16:26

inlays Grin

fruitbrewhaha · 18/12/2017 16:26

*sick

BenLui · 18/12/2017 16:27

I would not eat nor stay in that house.

Invite PILs to yours, or visit and stay (and eat) in a hotel.

What will the newborn do if you end up with food poisoning?

diddl · 18/12/2017 16:28

Of course he can now say no.

It was ridiculous of your husband to think that it would be fixed quickly & permanently!

If he wants to go, then let him.

He shouldn't expect another adult to though, let alone agree to take a baby.