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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

A decade with the in-laws and I think I am ready to explode......

118 replies

Flyddo · 01/05/2018 10:51

So, this year will have been a decade that I have lived with the in-law's. To be honest so much has happened in those 10 years, I married their first son, we have 2 children and another arrival imminent (well next week) and giving myself some credit, I do believe I deserve some recognition for keeping my sanity over the last decade!
I would be lying to say that I didn't appreciate my mother in law at times, yes live in baby-sitters has been nice although rarely to I abuse this as the aggro involved just isn't worth it. In fact I can count on one hand she has had the children over night in the last 8 years!! It is usually to look after them whilst I go shopping and they are ill or don't want to go or if I am working a late shift until my husband is home! Occasionally she may hang my washing out, but I mean as much as I am grateful the other things she does really do p me off.
So, this weekend (now it may be my pregancy hormones 38 weeks and counting..) I have exploded in rage. Never before has this happened as I usually just plod on and keep the peace. This time however, I do not know what happened!!
I feel myself rambling but any advice/support/anything grateful!
So my husband's brother and his fiancee are getting married this summer, both sets of parents have donated large sums of money for this (we didn't ask or expect anything when we got married), needless to say my future sister in law accepted and the expenses have gone up and up. Now it began with- "would you mind paying for your husband's suit as we can't afford to pay for everyone's"-Ok I accepted this, this has since become "Oh and the matching shoes so everyone looks the same, and can you pay for your son's too so he matches". I declined the later as feel a 3 year old shouldn't have to hire a suit for £120! My husband's will cost a grand total of £160 to hire!! On top of this we have to shell out 2 night accomodation at a cost of £200 because they are having the wedding so far away. Now the straw that broke the camel's back this weekend was when I was asked if my daughter would be a flowergirl, "no problem" was my response. "So she has to be measured for a bespoke handmade flowergirl dress to match the other flowergirl, I need an deposit of £100 for the dress this weekend and you can pay the other £100 when you collect the dress!". Sorry to say I snapped. I politely said I couldn't afford it. No problem she said.
Now the next thing I know, she is crying on the phone to my M-I-L, apparently I had ruined her day because the flower girls won't match. I am being totally unreasonable etc!
Now please, surely this wedding is about the bride and groom! Given the vast sums of money they have been given surely the suits and dresses should come under the budget if that is what they are requesting the people wear!?!?! - Please someone tell me I am wrong???
So, my M-I-L is siding with her new soon-to-be daughter in law, both have accused me of being totally selfish and unreasonable. Apparently this wedding isn't about me, I totally accept that and nor do I want it to be about me, in fact I don't even want to be going!!! But why should I be bullied and made to feel like s over a flowergirl dress that I can't even afford just to please her! I mean I am 38 weeks pregannt, hormones are raging and it seems to me it is m vx Bridezilla!
So now the atmosphere at the in-law's is horrific, no one will speak to me, my husband is furious as I have upset his precious mother and he doesn't see the problem in just paying for it (I think his mother may have influenced him somewhat!!!) just to keep the peace. So I have been relgated to sleeping on the sofa.
Not really sure where to go from here to be honest but any feedback, advice gratefully received!!!!
Sorry feel like I have rambled!!

OP posts:
Aprilmightbemynewname · 01/05/2018 10:54

Time for you to move out. Take dc and leave dh behind.
And you need a trophy for your patience.

SeriousChutzpah · 01/05/2018 10:55

Why on earth have you lived with your ILs for ten years?

AhoyDelBoy · 01/05/2018 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Manyfridays · 01/05/2018 10:56

Sleeping on the sofa at 38 weeks ? Leave - walk away

BarbarianMum · 01/05/2018 10:57

You are 38 weeks pregnant and relegated to sleeping on the sofa! Shock Id tell the fucker him that he's going to the wedding alone, sans children, and move all of his stuff into the spare room whilst he's gone.

Belleende · 01/05/2018 10:57

So so many questions, none of them about the wedding. Why are you there? Why are you with this man? Why has this taken so long? Are you happy? Why have you accepted sleeping on the sofa at 38 weeks pregnant? What the fuck are you doing woman?

MyotherUsernameisaPun · 01/05/2018 10:57

Move out!!

I have lovely in laws and even so I think I would explode if I lived with them for a decade. Yours sound like PITAs and the occasional night of baby sitting can't be worth it. Get your own place and you'll feel so much better and happier.

Mosaic123 · 01/05/2018 10:58

Sleeping on the sofa when you are pregnant! How awful of them.

MyotherUsernameisaPun · 01/05/2018 10:58

Also... why the fuck are you sleeping on the sofa? You and your DH are adults. It is perfectly possible to have had an argument and still share a bed! Especially as you're pregnant!

BarbarianMum · 01/05/2018 10:59

And if you mean "living with" in the sense of "putting up with" and you actuslly have ypur own home, maybe suggest he go stays with his parents for a bit.

MrsCatE · 01/05/2018 10:59

You are 38 weeks pregnant and he makes you sleep on the sofa?? Problem is spineless husband. He should be standing with you. Sounds like you do everything including being responsible for family finances whilst he will forever be mummy's little Prince.

OohMavis · 01/05/2018 11:01

Whaaaaaaaat?

Why have you lived with them for ten years?

Why are you sleeping on the sofa? Is he making you?

ShatnersBassoon · 01/05/2018 11:01

Why would you live with your in-laws for all those years?! Is the house yours or theirs?

ArialAnna · 01/05/2018 11:05

Erm you sound a bit entitled tbh complaining about your BIL and SIL getting money for their wedding, when you've been living with your PILs for 10 years at what I assume must be rent free or at a very minimal rent.

If I have got the wrong end of the stick and you pay full market rent, then what on earth are you doing??!!! Why didn't you get your own place 9 years ago?!!!

ohfourfoxache · 01/05/2018 11:05

Walk away now.

Any “man” who makes you sleep on the sofa - never mind at 38 weeks - is not worth bothering about. It’s actually abusive.

Can you and the dc get out?

Could you bunk in with the dc at all?

TrappedWind · 01/05/2018 11:07

Living with your in-laws is not healthy at all. Why are you doing this?

Juells · 01/05/2018 11:12

Why are you with the in-laws ten years on? They must hate the sight of you at this stage. Don't you feel a bit parasitic? If you're not paying rent, how come you're so broke? Do neither you nor your DH work?

Unable to visualise this situations at all.

Springnowplease · 01/05/2018 11:19

Plan your escape from this toxic family.

3stonedown · 01/05/2018 11:20

All of the questions above really. Why were you so keen on your DD being a flowergirl when (to me) it seemed obvious they were going ask you to pay for the dress?

firawla · 01/05/2018 11:20

I’m guessing this is an Asian family for all the people so confused it’s likely that ops dh is paying the household costs? I could be wrong but I can totally visualise this, I see loads of people living with inlaws for that length of time - although they probably deserve a medal!
Op what would your dh think of moving out? This wedding could be a good time to go - let the new couple move in there if they like!! You’ve done your time!
We lived with inlaws for 3 years, It was horrible and moving out was the best thing we did. Get your own space, assert your authority to run your own lives. It’ll probably go down like a lead balloon but eventually people get over it

diddl · 01/05/2018 11:23

My first thought was that I don't see why the fact that MIL hasn't had your kids overnight is relevant!

I don't think that bmaids should pay for their own stuff, so it would be a no to that- & if you can't afford to go to the wedding-then don't!

SendintheArdwolves · 01/05/2018 11:35

I do believe I deserve some recognition for keeping my sanity over the last decade!

I know you meant this to be lighthearted but I think it's very revealing - you DO think that putting up with this shoddy treatment means you deserve recognition/reward somehow.

This is a common bit of magical thinking in humans - it boils down to "If I put up with suffering now, I'll be due some great reward in the future when everyone realises what a saint I've been."

I'm afraid it doesn't work like that, OP. Your reward for putting up with your in-laws for ten years has been....a decade of your life that you'll never get back. The reward for putting up with another ten will be...you'll be ten years older and even more of your life will have been spent bending around people to keep the peace.

There is no cosmic reward for letting yourself be put-upon, for sucking up other people's bad behaviour, for being self-effacing and nice and accommodating and putting your own needs last. The people around you won't suddenly go "Oh hang on, isn't it time everyone let Flyddo have her turn, Only fair, etc." The only outcome is you get more of the same.

Flyddo · 01/05/2018 11:42

Thanks for the replies. I moved in with them when I was 18 after a falling out with my mother. My husband, well then boyfriend started an apprenticeship which paid next to.nothing for 5 years whilst I had our daughter so we couldn't afford to move out. When she turned 2 I went to university to train and become a nurse and in year 3 had our son. So we couldn't afford to move out and because they have a big house the council said there were no grounds for us needing a council property. We have saved for a deposit and recently bought our own house but it needed a refurbishment to get it to a liveable standard so we have that going on. So yes living with them we have managed to save for a deposit and get on the ladder but the hassle and stress I question whether it is worth it.
My mother in law is the family matriarch and everyone adores her, basically what I have learned is you never disagree or she gets the strops and let's you know about it. My husband knows no different, I just feel like I have put up with it because of our children. I couldn't afford to leave, especially with a baby on the way. This baby is a surprise, we were.planning to.emigrate when my medical showed up I was pregnant despite husband having the snip 2 years ago! Fate I thought but right now feels like torture.
My husband hates confrontation and will do his utmost to avoid it.
He says I should apologise and just get on with it and get the dress.
My response was er no, we need the money that the dress shoes and matching cardigan is going to.cost to spend on doing up OUR home!!!!! So he if being an are because I am not bowing to his mother to kiss her arse and apologise!

OP posts:
ikeepaforkinmypurse · 01/05/2018 11:43

Why on earth are you living with your IL? Is that a cultural thing to save money?

When you live with your DH parents, in their home, you cannot really expect to be treated like adults. Of course, you are not BU not to want to pay for the bridesmaid dress, but in this case, you will have to if you want to keep the peace.

Are you really paying market price rental or mortgage by living there? If so, you might as well move out in your own place.

Either you become an independent family, or you suck it up and pay. You shouldn't, but it will become so bad if you stick to what is right, you will be the one punished for it.

OfaFrenchmind2 · 01/05/2018 11:50

why oh why do you keep having children in this situation?

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