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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WIBU to tell MIL we don't want to go on Holiday with her?

58 replies

ImBlueDabaDeeDabaDa · 12/02/2018 15:35

My Partner and I have decided that we are going to TTC as soon as we're married in October.
My MIL2b has said that as a wedding present she is going to take us away on holiday to Florida in February. We were supposed to go years ago for my DH2b's 21st birthday but due to several reasons it was postponed.
We have not told MIL that we plan to TTC or indeed, when.
She has asked us if she is okay to book the holiday now or wait closer to the time to wait to see if I get pregnant. (Personally I think this is terribly presumptuous and possibly her way of asking when she's going to get grandchildren)

I'm a bit concerned to go for several reasons.
The first being Zika. We decided against honeymooning in the Maldives due to the virus. Although currently the virus is only in Miami, I still feel like we'd be taking an unnecessary risk. If I'm not pregnant by then, we will have to stop TTC for 6 months after visiting.
The second is the Theme Parks. I don't want to go to Florida and spend hundreds on park entrance fees if I'm not going to be able to go on the majority of the rides. Also, if I am pregnant, I might feel rather crappy with Morning Sickness and won't want to traipse around parks for 2 weeks.

I'm not entirely sure what to do. I don't want to tell her we will be TTC as I don't want to put pressure on ourselves. She's also likely to keep asking if I'm pregnant yet. To be honest, I don't see why we should have to as it's not really any of her business.

That being said, I don't want to seem ungrateful as she is offering to spend thousands on us!

Neither of us want to wait to TTC until the middle of next year.

WIBU to ask her to put off the holiday even further? What reason should we give her for not wanting to go?

Or AIBU to not want to go? Should I just suck it up and go possibly 4 months pregnant?

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 13/02/2018 10:40

I would just say you don't have enough annual leave or could your husband just go by himself?

RandomMess · 13/02/2018 11:40

I think you need to be far more direct "As a newly married couple we won't be considering going on holiday with any one else for years"

Her loneliness isn't your problem. A compromise could be a long weekend in Euro Disney perhaps?

alotalotalot · 13/02/2018 11:49

Just tell her that you want to use the next few years/months to have a few really good holidays as a couple because you know that once you have kids you won't get the opportunity again. Tell her you'd love to go to Florida when you have children.

FizzyGreenWater · 13/02/2018 11:50

This is much bigger than the holiday issue.

Your MIL is a manipulator, and if I were you I would nip it in the bud long before a baby comes on the scene. Yep, all the points you make about wanting to be in there, having a say - you're spot on.

She's been quite clever in making this your present because basically she wants to go on holiday with you. You not wanting to seem ungrateful is exactly what she's banking on. It'll be the same with coming to help you decorate/come to stay when the baby is born/buying stuff for your house... delete as appropriate.

You don't want to go. Get into the habit of being direct with her NOW - save yourself a lot of hassle and possible bad feeling.

'MIL to be honest we're not up for the Florida holiday any more. That was 5 years ago and our tastes have changed really and it would be a huge amount of money to waste, it's just not what we're interested in any more. Also, we're just married, if we were to do a big holiday we'd want it to be the two of us and we'll have only just been on the honeymoon. Is there something else you'd like to think of as a wedding present? We really don't want you to spend so much on something that's not really wanted, especially when we know you'd like it to be something special.'

Translation: we appreciate that it's a present and we don't want to offend or upset. But when it comes to how we spend our time, we're not going to be railroaded or guilted into anything.

floppity · 13/02/2018 12:09

Things with MIL might get really difficult when little one arrives so best to start nipping things in the bud now. Don't tell her you're ttc, that's unnecessary pressure for you. Can you say you've got some plans to go away towards the end of the year and need to save your holiday? Will she buy it?

It sounds really manipulative to me. We've got a similar issue in that MIL has taken SIL away on holiday countless times and has told DH to even it out she'd like to take us on our first family holiday with our DD. But I don't want to go on holiday with her, I can barely handle an hours visit! She thinks it's rude that we decline her offers and keep saying I want to go here but FIL now won't go unless you're all there. So annoying!

floppity · 13/02/2018 12:12

Plus you'll never know how you feel during pregnancy, my first was easy and I was rarely unwell, this time round I've had my head down a toilet 10 plus times a day since 4.5 weeks, I'm in my second trimester and it still hasn't gone away!

Jammycustard · 13/02/2018 13:32

What Fizzy said.

Branleuse · 13/02/2018 16:17

can you tell her that youre considering TTC so while a holiday would be a lovely gift, youd prefer something closer to home

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