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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want MIL living with us part time?

419 replies

powderbluegecko · 06/03/2018 18:03

Have name changed for this as DH knows my usual one and he might be annoyed about me posting this. Although if he reads this he'll know who it's about. Anyway..

I don't like my MIL at all, mainly because she is dishonest and manipulative with a massive victim complex. I had no contact with her for a few years after her and BIL1 stole from us but recently saw her at a family wedding. DH didn't go NC, he spoke to them occasionally on the phone. BIL has since found God and is apparently a reformed character. He's at least apologised and paid us back, she has never said anything. I don't want anymore trouble so agreed with DH to put it behind us. I thought this meant that if I saw her I would be polite, nothing more. We don't live near her and she has never shown any interest in our DD(4).

MIL lives with BIL1 in a rented flat, her and FIL separated 5 years ago. She owns a house that used to be rented out but has now been empty for several years and needs some work done to it.

Last night DH told me that BIL1 is getting married soon and decided he doesn't want her living with him anymore. He never really did but felt forced into it. They, along with BIL2 offered to pay for her house to be sorted so she can live there but she refused and said she wont live by herself. She wanted to get back with FIL, but he said no. She has now decided that she will live part time with each of her 3 sons, spending a week in each house. They agreed to this. BIL1 has not asked his fiance, BIL2 did not ask SIL (her and MIL detest each other) and DH did not ask me, he just told me that this is how it is, and it's not a big deal. He says I need to be the bigger person and that even if she's awful she's still his mum. He said she's old (she's actually 59) and she's ill (made up heart condition).

I've been completely blindsided by this, whenever there was problems in the past he was always on my side. She is the kind of person that could cause trouble in an empty room, she thrives on drama and has always played her sons off against each other. She tried to do it with me and SIL too. I cant cope with her mood swings, lies and attention seeking and don't want her around DD. She lived with us for a month before I went NC with her and it was probably the worst month of my life. DH says she'll be better now and I need to be positive. I just want to run away. I don't think this is fair at all and I'm horrified that he's just burying his head in the sand. He works very long hours and I'm a SAHM. It'll be me that's with her all the time, she barely goes out, and doesn't know anyone where we live to visit or anything. AIBU?

OP posts:
LakieLady · 06/03/2018 18:22

YANBU. Your DH is being massively U!

I wouldn't even invite someone to visit for an evening without discussing it with DP, and he wouldn't do it to me, either.

I also think it's outrageous that she's got a house standing empty when there families desperate for homes. She should get it sorted out and move back in. If she doesn't want to live alone, she can get a lodger.

Strawberry2017 · 06/03/2018 18:25

Hell no!
God if my husband did that to me I'd have filed for divorce!
You do not make a decision like that without talking to your partner.
She has her own place - she can live there. If she doesn't want to well that's her issue not her sons.
I can't imagine any of the partners are happy and I think this is a ridiculous idea.
Stay strong! Don't give in!

Rightsaidmabel · 06/03/2018 18:26

Wow! Shouldwestay...Judgement of Solomon!
Brilliant !

fuzzyfozzy · 06/03/2018 18:26

I agree with mil staying at her house and her sons taking it in turns to go stay with her. Won't last a month!

TopsyDidIt · 06/03/2018 18:29

BertrandR will be along in a minute to champion the MIL rights to do this. Grin

Speedy85 · 06/03/2018 18:30

YANBU. She’s only 59 and if she doesn’t want to live alone then she needs to find a new partner. It’s not up to her children and their partners to act as a substitute for her husband.

lorelairoryemily · 06/03/2018 18:33

Holy fuck! YADNBU!! I like my mil and there's no way in hell I'd agree to that, she moves in, you and dd move out

Fluffyears · 06/03/2018 18:33

Noooo! I agreed to live with dp not his bloody mother. Tell him if this goes ahead you are divervibg him for unreasonable behaviour and mean it!

Winosaurus · 06/03/2018 18:35

Shouldwestay that’s genius!!!

powderbluegecko · 06/03/2018 18:35

Wow, wasn't expecting so many replies, thank you! I have also suggested her house is sold, and she moves somewhere she likes better but apparently there is a dispute over a boundary wall that's been going on about 20 years or some bullshit and she doesnt want to anyway. Its a shame, was a lovely house that she inherited that will end up derelict.
shouldwest your suggestion is brilliant and I will hopefully use it to help make DH see how ludicrous this situation is.
I should say that he is not usually like this, normally communicates very well, always wants my input on things. I want to speak to SIL about this but she's on holiday with her sister at the moment. Don't know BIL1's fiance at all.

OP posts:
VimFuego101 · 06/03/2018 18:36

YANBU, if your husband wants to help her he should focus on getting her house in a suitable state to sell so she can find a new place to live.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 06/03/2018 18:37

No chance. Get DH on your side and try and talk sense to him. Sounds like he's being rail roaded in to this by MIL.
Not your problem.

expatinscotland · 06/03/2018 18:39

What shouldwest said. Or dealbreaker. And mean it. She'll destroy your marriage anyway.

FlippingFoal · 06/03/2018 18:39

I think the idea of her living in her own place and sons visiting is probably the least disrupting idea. But she won't like that as she will have to run her own house rather than having someone waiting on her hand and foot.

I'd get together with the SILs and create a united front. Explain that you have tried this before and it has absolutely not worked and you will not do it again.

God in her late 50s she could be living with you for another 30 years!

NataliaOsipova · 06/03/2018 18:40

YANBU, honestly I’d be tempted to say if she moves in you’ll move out.

So would I....

windchimesabotage · 06/03/2018 18:41

OMG YANBU say no! say no now!!!

YvonneGoolagongsDugongDoug · 06/03/2018 18:42

Fuck that shit! Seriously OP? I would run a mile.

Theresasmayshoes11 · 06/03/2018 18:42

Er 59 is not old how ridiculous of your dh all round.

Did I read that both your sils don’t know yet? Please phone them and all 3 of you say no no no no no no no

redshoeblueshoe · 06/03/2018 18:44

No just NO

SleepFreeZone · 06/03/2018 18:45

Well this will undoubtedly bring you and SIL together if nothing else!!! Nightmare situation OP.

FantasticButtocks · 06/03/2018 18:46

Just no. Absolutely not!

Your DH needs to hear words to this effect: you may want to live part time with your mother, but I do not. And I will not. If you want to, that's fine but it's not happening in our home. You will have to move to hers whenever it's your turn. I'm not going to change my mind in any way, so don't ask me to. And don't ever make a decision again which affects me without consulting with me. The end.

Not. Happening.

Be absolutely firm, clear and direct from the start.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 06/03/2018 18:46

Nope. Just no way.

Do you mind me asking what culture your MIL and DH come from that they would think for one nanosecond that this is going to happen?

Viviennemary · 06/03/2018 18:47

No you absolutely must not agree to this mad arrangement. I agree with get her own flat and three sons take it in turns to stay a week with her if she doesn't like being on her own. And see how long that lasts. I'd get divorced before I'd allow this.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 06/03/2018 18:47

Just adding my voice to the chorus of people agreeing that this is a very bad idea indeed.
I get on well with my mum, but we've both said that we'd end up hating eachother if we had to share a roof.
I also agree with the idea of contacting the other DILs. If you all disagree, then.the stupid idea will never get off the ground.

AdoraBell · 06/03/2018 18:48

What shouldwestay said.

Or he can move into her house with her, as suggested by pp. I wouldn’t be moving out, and disrupting DCs life, just because he doesn’t value the marriage. Which he doesn’t seem to.