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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:
TheCatsMother44 · 06/03/2018 20:57

OP, what are you going to do?

Rosieposy4 · 06/03/2018 20:58

Agree with everybody, let this happen over your dead body.
She is only 3 years older than me, i work full time with an hours plus commute ech way, I am still waiting for the youngest child to finish school and skip off to uni. Like fuck is she old and you will literally be doing this shit for ever.
Her house needs sorting out but literally do not allow this to happen ever, even on a short term basis.

sonjadog · 06/03/2018 21:02

She won’t move around. She’ll do it twice and then decide it is too much bother and that she is living with one couple full time.

nonfatnofoamlatte · 06/03/2018 21:02

YANBU!! I would bet the other SILs will put their collective feet down and say no which will leave MIL with you. Stand up for yourself and say Not a Chance is she staying with us! Definitely the idea of the sons staying with her is the better one.

Troels · 06/03/2018 21:02

She's 3 years older than me too, no way I'd live part time with my three kids. They have their own lives to lead it's a bat shit idea, and I have to go to work.
It would be the end of my marriage if my MIL moved in, mind you we are NC with her and don't even know where she lives or who her present husband is.

BewareOfDragons · 06/03/2018 21:03

No way, no how.

Your DH was completely out of order agreeing this with his brothers if he intends to keep on living with you. Completely.

She is not allowed in your home; he knows that; he can't renege on this because she is a manipulative cow and he can't say no like a grown up.

He can go stay with her in her flat every 3 weeks if he feels he must do this. Not your problem; not your responsibility; not worth your sanity and mental well being.

And 59 isn't old. She's taking the piss. This could go on for DECADES! No way.

Takingshape12 · 06/03/2018 21:05

I actually like my MIL however if my DP agreed to this our relationship would be over.

Theresasmayshoes11 · 06/03/2018 21:09

still.... older folks ffs she’s 59 that’s middle aged now not old.

Eggzandbacon · 06/03/2018 21:11

My MIL did the 'old' thing from when she was 50.
She pretended to be an old lady and incapable of doing anything for herself as she was 'so old.' This also included pretending to be incapable of walking quite often even though she was perfectly capable.

Thing is, it came a huge shock when she did actually get old and infirm. She'd spent so long prending she believed that's what it was like.

Regardless of the whole bullshit living arrangement thing your DH needs to put a stop to the whole old thing - I battled with DH and his siblings about it and no one did anything about it and it had a huge knock on effect to all of us.

Tistheseason17 · 06/03/2018 21:11

NOOOoooooo!

YANBU. if this was to happen with my hubby there would be a divorce. My MIL is lovely but I don't want to live with (wait on) her on any type of regular basis.

Friskyandhustley · 06/03/2018 21:12

Don't think I've ever seen a unanimous AIBU (unless I missed a lone dissenter?).

Your MIL sounds very manipulative and has clearly done a good job on your DH for him to agree to this without even discussing it with you. It's your home, family, marriage....he can't just decide something like this. It'd still be no for me if she were old, genuinely ill and nice. But she's none of the above is she?!

Theresasmayshoes11 · 06/03/2018 21:16

Fuck me in over 10 years as s mumsnetter I actually think this is the very first aibu where everyone is agreeing

Show your dh the thread op and tell him you will tell us your address if he carries on with this bollocks Smile

Claydermansgirl · 06/03/2018 21:17

Get him told. No "trying to sort it out". Its NOT happening. Either she does not live in your house because he respects your wishes or she doesnt live in your house because it will be sold and he wil only get half the proceeds. And I do believe you have an excellent example of "unreasonable behaviour".

In fact id be tempted if money isnt tight to book a solicitor appt and come home and lay the facts on the table for him about what you will be claiming. If that results in drastic backpedalling then I believe the correct sentence is "and this will NEVER come up for discussion ever again"

user1andonly · 06/03/2018 21:18

I'm another one who would leave if DH moved my mil in and she's a perfectly lovely woman!

At 59, although hardly elderly, she would be eligible to move into a retirement flat (most allow people over 55 to move in) so she'd have people around her if she's genuinely worried about living on her own.

Otherwise the suggestion of her sons taking it turns to live with her would be just about the only solutions I'd put up with (I actually wouldn't mind having the house to myself one week in three but that's another story!!)

If she does get her way, I'd bet my life savings she expects to be waited on hand and foot by the three dils as she will, in effect, be a guest in every house.

Crazy idea!

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 06/03/2018 21:22

NO.

OP
Call a family meeting. Invite BILS and SILS to your house or to a neutral venue When everyone's together announce that there seems to have been a big misunderstanding and that family decisions can't be made without consulting all the parties involved.

Further announce that you can't accommodate MIL. Sorry and all that but it's a definite No Go.

Watch your in laws faces and eagerness to say no too.

There will be a suitable plan for your MIL but it ain't moving around the houses. Just No.

PeppersTheCat · 06/03/2018 21:22

Update op? How did the conversation with DH go?

Skittlesandbeer · 06/03/2018 21:23

You need to get in touch with the other women and put on a united front. Guessing no one likes this plan, but MIL. Once the sons figure out the ‘unhappy wife, unhappy life’ scenario unfolding for themselves, they’ll go back to the drawing board.

If they’re so keen to live with her a week a month, let them be the ones to be inconvenienced. They could alternate visiting her at her house, staying a week each.

IAmMatty · 06/03/2018 21:23

Even if your husband agreed to live with her for 1 week in 3, why the fuck should you accept a part time partner, and father for your daughter?

I'm totally aghast at this. She could live for another 40 years for fucks sake!

PopGoesTheWeaz · 06/03/2018 21:24

MY FIL did this to my MIL but his mum was on deaths door and they moved into her house (had no where to live at the time).

It only lasted 6 months but 45 years later she is still cross about it.

(Not read the whole thread but she can live in her house and get lodgers if she wants.)

Theresasmayshoes11 · 06/03/2018 21:25

It’s ridiculous on every level

itsalldyingout · 06/03/2018 21:27

This sounds like my OH's mother.

There is NO way she'd be moving in with me.

There is DEFINITELY NO way I'd be moving out.

She has her own house, get him and his family to sort it and dump her in it - as others have mentioned, with them taking turns or get a lodger in.

Maybe you should see a solicitor to make sure you can't lose your own home if things get nasty. I had some nasty shit go on with my ex and was mightily relieved that I'd already talked my circumstances and choices with one before I was blindsided with his crap.

Good luck, OP.

Claydermansgirl · 06/03/2018 21:28

Yy to pp who said the 3 dils will be waiting hand on foot, dealing with extra washing, bed changing etc. You just know that it isnt going to be her DSs getting the shit end of it, no matter what the reassurances now

MammaTJ · 06/03/2018 21:30

She has her own house, well your DH can go live with her there for 'his' week with her, if he thinks a 59 year old needs the help that badly!

NorksAreMessy · 06/03/2018 21:30

Is she King Lear?

We all know how THAT ended

OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch · 06/03/2018 21:31

OMG No no no no no......
Nightmare stuff
Ive been NC with my MIL for 3 years and its been fab, if my OH suggested she come live with us he knows where the door is
Keep strong and in trues MN style "No is a complete sentence!"