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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:
Loungingbutnotforlong · 06/03/2018 20:35

Argh! Gutted for you OP- this would be a deal breaker for me, and my MIL is pretty nice. I never have house guests for more than 5 days tops- I would be utterly depressed and furious at the thought of a ‘rotating’ house guest, never mind one who steals and lies and has already driven a wedge into your marriage.

Time for the v tough conversation- if your DH has any decency, he will wake up and kill this idea off.

Gemini69 · 06/03/2018 20:36

Do not compromise on your own happiness OP.. no matter what your ethnicity .. stay strong and say NO Flowers

Theresasmayshoes11 · 06/03/2018 20:37

Mike is that your phone ringing Wink

Rosamund1 · 06/03/2018 20:38

you will end up playing musical chairs

Oh, can you do an extra two weeks, we’re on holiday!
Well, our dc have chickenpox starting I think.
Well, our kitchen’s being done so she can’t stay with us in April ...

Then the good idea will be put forward to split the year in three, as that will be ‘less confusing’. So you will have her for four month stretches.

Then one DIL will say she’s having a difficult pregnancy, then you have her for 6 months.

Eff that shit.

SilverySurfer · 06/03/2018 20:38

This is unbelievably outrageous of your DH and his brothers OP and I hope you manage to sort it out. I'm in my 70s, have no children but if I did no way would I even consider doing this for a second. Tell her to go to hell.

MikeAlphaMikeAlpha · 06/03/2018 20:38

🤣🤣🤣

MsChalloner · 06/03/2018 20:39

If she comes to live with you she will wreck your relationship. It is not sensible practically for her to be moving from house to house, especially if she has a heart condition...( I would use this argument with her). Doing up and selling her house and her going into sheltered accommodation (where if she is ill there is monitoring over and above the family) would be best for everyone. What a terrible situation for you both. Good luck!

Dipitydoda · 06/03/2018 20:40

Wtaf -no. My grandparents lived with us when I was a child. Ruined my childhood. Never let this happen. If you me DH doesn’t think it’s a big deal he can move in with his mum

Hillbillyhotel · 06/03/2018 20:40

Not at all unreasonable. I would be raging!

PotteryLady · 06/03/2018 20:40

No, no and NO!

Hillbillyhotel · 06/03/2018 20:41

I’d move into her empty house whilst she’s there.

StillMe1 · 06/03/2018 20:42

Oh dear. It is people like your MIL who get older folks a bad name.
I think that the sons taking week about in MIL's house is the best way out of this at the moment. In the future when she is really old and really ill this situation could really become a problem. I am not sure of your ethnicity but it could be that a male would not wish to do personal and intimate care for a mother (female) and at that time you and your SILs could be in the position of being expected to step up.
It is never fair if only one family member is expected to care for the elderly parent!

MistressDeeCee · 06/03/2018 20:43

I'd start any conversation from the premise that neither of her own sons want to look after their mother - ie BIL wants her out, your DH is at work all day and knows very well you'll be the one required to care for and entertain her - and therefore it's out of the question to expect you to do, what her own children won't do. You are not a career. She is 59 - she is not homeless - she can get a job.

Like fuck would I leave my own house over it. You land in my house and want to give me stress, I will give you so much stress that you'll fly back to your own house like a rocket.

If she can dish it out then she can take it. & then get lost.

Tbh this post made my jaw drop...in what universe is it ok not to consult your life partner about something like this? It's so ignorant

How 'Christian' of your BIL by the way🙄. Selective Christians are the worst

umizoomi · 06/03/2018 20:43

You have two major problems here. The first is that you can't stand your MIL and have been NC for a number of years.

The second and more important one really is that your DH decided unilaterally that she could live with one week in every three. In a way, it is somewhat irrelevant that it's her and you don't like her, it's more the fact he made such a decision without any kind of discussion. That's awful behaviour and would be a huge problem for me.

Riv · 06/03/2018 20:43

Apart from the obvious..
one week of full on hell.
one week recovering
one week building up to it happening again
No life for anyone.
Please put your foot firmly down . Your marriage may be important, but your health and sanity are even more important - you've got your DC's to consider. Hopefully your DH will see this and support you. Surely he has more respect for you than he's currently showing.

KochabRising · 06/03/2018 20:45

She won’t keep moving round though.

She will pick one lot to stay with mainly, then probably flounce every now and again...

Whoever gets lucky is in for a rough time.

Just no, op. A million times no, she’s 59! That’s young!

QueenArseClangers · 06/03/2018 20:46

So she’s as old as as Emma Thompson, Simon Cowell and Sean Bean then?

Fuck me, decrepit!

Inertia · 06/03/2018 20:46

shouldwestay is a genius.

I hope you are having some success- this is the sort of thing that ends marriages.

I hope your SILs are also mumsnetters...

justforthisthread101 · 06/03/2018 20:47

Absolutely bloody not.

Good grief.

Plenty of fabulous advice. Good luck getting it sorted

Gemini69 · 06/03/2018 20:47

She won’t keep moving round though

She will pick one lot to stay with mainly, then probably flounce every now and again..

Whoever gets lucky is in for a rough time

Just no, op. A million times no, she’s 59! That’s young!

agree with ALL of the ABOVE Flowers

seagreengirl · 06/03/2018 20:51

DH knows that I would leave him if he moved his mother in, even though I love him very much, and he knows I am not joking.

Stay strong OP

LoveProsecco · 06/03/2018 20:51

ShockShockShockShock your DH needs his head checked fit thinking this is acceptable! Is he always so disrespectful of you being a partnership?

AnaWinter · 06/03/2018 20:53

She doesn’t need to do up her house to sell it if it is priced right.

ohfourfoxache · 06/03/2018 20:54

I’d have a new patio within the first 24 hours

WTAF is he thinking?

doubtingmyself18 · 06/03/2018 20:56

FUCK NO
I'd rather shit in my hands and clap several times a day than live with my vile mother in law one week a year never mind a fucking month!
If your DH insists on this then he can live in her house with her so she won't be lonely!

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