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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I realised something about ex MIL today

110 replies

Itsnotmelove · 26/08/2018 14:18

Separated for a year, and I’m now on good terms with ex. He was dropping the DC off today, he told me that ex MIL has been complaining to him about ex SILs new DH. How he’s this and that, he’s a loner, not social, always hiding in the bedroom when she comes round. And SILs DH refused to come to a family event because MIL was there (she doesn’t know this)

Now this woman has put me through hell for 7 years when I was with her son, I tried so hard to get on with her but she would always slag me off behind my back, give me silent treatment for days on end for no reason, told her son he deserved better and tried to set her son up with other women multiple times(when seeing an attractive women in public or tv, she’d always ask her son “don’t she look nice”, “she’s beautiful isn’t she?” right in front me out of spite) she’d always make me feel awkward, she’d never talk to me unless I spoke to her first etc. She loves to judge other people and their lives/parenting, even though she has no friends, no job, no social life and spends all her time at her daughters/sons house.

Towards the end of my marriage, I realised I’d never get on with her no matter how much I tried, so I distanced myself from her and whenever she came round, I’d go out or stay in the bedroom. I also used to think about how she would be with the new DIL, would she like her more than me etc. All those thoughts used to go through my mind, but today I realised something. She will never change, she will never be a better MIL to the new DIL.

I remember smiling as ex was telling me all this, not because I was happy about the situation. But relieved in a way, because I realised, it’s not me ITS HER!

Now that I’m out of her life, she set her teeth in BIL. Poor guy.

I know there are women on MN who are confused as to why their MIL doesn’t like them despite their efforts, or wondering if they will be nicer to the new DIL. Know that if your MIL doesn’t like you despite your efforts, it has nothing to do with you.

OP posts:
tillytoodles1 · 26/08/2018 14:34

My late MIL was the same, no matter how hard I tried we never got on. She used to talk about my H's siblings partners, saying nasty things about them even though I never had a problem with them. SIL brought a friend home from college, a lovely obviously gay bloke, and MIL thought he was wonderful, not like boyfriends she brought home. She just didn't like any of was her kids partners.

WorraLiberty · 26/08/2018 14:38

Know that if your MIL doesn’t like you despite your efforts, it has nothing to do with you.

That's not true for everyone though is it?

Some people (whether they're MILs or DILs) just can't see how poor their own behaviour is.

Obviously in this case it seems to be your ex MIL who's at fault but that doesn't mean all bad inlaw relationships are the same.

Bluelady · 26/08/2018 14:43

It's not always the case. My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all and there was a lot of secret relief when they separated. His new partner is absolutely lovely, we're so pleased he's found her.

redshoeblueshoe · 26/08/2018 15:00

My XMil was awful to me, but not to any of the other Bils or Sils. Unfortunately she preferred his previous partner.
When XH remarried she started off treating her badly, the new wife stood her ground, and Mil changed her behaviour. But XMil always treated my DC badly

Juells · 26/08/2018 15:15

My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all and there was a lot of secret relief when they separated.

😂

MinecraftHolmes · 26/08/2018 15:15

Hmm not always the case. DH's exw referred to MIL as her "monster in law", which is hilarious to me because I get on great with her. They just had a complete personality clash, so she thought MIL was awful, and DH's family weren't particularly keen on his ex. Not everyone is a good fit with each other.

UpstartCrow · 26/08/2018 15:16

Know that if your MIL doesn’t like you despite your efforts, it has nothing to do with you.

Excellent message. Its no use tying yourself in knots for other people. You wont like everyone you meet; same goes for others, not everyone will like you.
And some people are just dicks.

cobwebsinthebelfry · 26/08/2018 15:26

My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all

or vice versa?

Itsnotmelove · 26/08/2018 15:26

Its no use tying yourself in knots for other people. You wont like everyone you meet; same goes for others, not everyone will like you.
And some people are just dicks.

Exactly! Which is why in my next relationship I'm not gonna bend over backwards for MIL, if she doesn't like me then, tough love.

I just think it's funny how SILs DH is doing exactly what I was doing, " hiding in the bedroom". It's funny how MIL never thought about maybe he's doing it because he doesn't want to be around her, and not because he's a "loner".

OP posts:
Itsnotmelove · 26/08/2018 15:28

I know it's not always MIL, and there are some twatty DILs out there. But in this case, it's fucking twatty MIL!

OP posts:
Brambleboo · 26/08/2018 15:30

My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all and there was a lot of secret relief when they separated

Purely out of interest, why didn't she fit in?

GreenPimpernel · 26/08/2018 15:31

My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all and there was a lot of secret relief when they separated. His new partner is absolutely lovely, we're so pleased he's found her.

Maybe she just felt she was going out with an individual, not applying for approval to be assimilated to the Familial Borg Hive Mind? Hmm

AlphabetSoupcon · 26/08/2018 15:35

It's not always the case. My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all and there was a lot of secret relief when they separated. His new partner is absolutely lovely, we're so pleased he's found her.

You couldn’t make it up! 😂

ElsieMc · 26/08/2018 15:36

Oh yes, you are so right op. I did everything to try to get my MIL and SIL to like me - at one stage SIL was even taking my clothes off me that I had not even worn yet! Giving me her errands to run on my lunch hour whilst I worked full time. I cleaned their rental properties for them between tenants - they even complained I had used name brand products rather than cheaper ones although I took no payment for the work. I picked up early on SIL and her bitchy friends did not like me and I would never fit in.

Now SIL is getting divorced and her dh is now the baddy. My dh says that he actually felt sorry for him at one stage, having to live with mil and sil. The problem for them is that he is every bit as determined and stubborn as they are and the house is a cauldron of hostility with neither willing to leave.

Mil made a big deal of not seeing our dc's very often, yet has regularly passed up on opportunities over the years. Eg when they arrive, she tells them she's going out, never sends them a birthday card etc. All of which tells me I did the absolute right thing.

Sorry its taken you so long to realise op. It took me about four years to your seven and I regret I didn't naff them off sooner. Time to move on with your life and be happy.

nuttyknitter · 26/08/2018 15:46

Seems perfectly reasonable to me to say that someone just didn't fit in. We have a close extended family and my DB's ex never fitted in. His now DW is completely different. Fine not to want to be part of a close family, but then don't get involved with someone to whom this is clearly important.

WorraLiberty · 26/08/2018 15:58

I think what some people need to remember on MN is that we only get one side of the story.

So for all those DILs who post on here about their MIL from hell, there will be MILs out there who feel they have the DIL from hell.

And no-one here can ever know what/who they're really like.

It's interesting though that there's never the same level of angst over FILs and BILs....some yes, but nowhere near the amount of female inlaws who just don't/can't get along with each other.

I've always wondered why that is? Confused

UpstartCrow · 26/08/2018 16:10

I think women are more likely to be involved with their MIL in ways they aren't involved with their FIL.

Ghanagirl · 26/08/2018 16:16

@Bluelady
Say what now!!

workingit · 26/08/2018 16:20

I think what some people need to remember on MN is that we only get one side of the story.

Obviously, but unlike other more supportive boards, there are posters who instantly disbelieve the poster. They have an agenda as bad as the IL’s!

Someone could come on here and say they painted a room pink and MIL broke in and painted it blue, and you’ll get people on here accusing the OP of making things up and wathey bet the OP actually said she wanted the whole house blue and MIL was just trying to help out; or that pink was naff anyway so MIL is right; or that it’s blue now so stop being so sensitive; or that it’s a “reverse” 🙄 and the OP is a liar...

It goes on and on, posters making up scenario after scenario, saying anything that they think will hurt or make the situation worse, rather than just reading and moving on because they can’t think of anything nice to say or don’t want to help out.

peanutbutterandbanana · 26/08/2018 16:24

Google 'narcissistic personality disorder' and what you find there will be like reading a biography about your Mil. NPD is vile and the only way to deal with it is to keep well away - it is toxic and destrucive. You are well out of it.

Itsnotmelove · 26/08/2018 16:29

Google 'narcissistic personality disorder' and what you find there will be like reading a biography about your Mil.

😂😂

OP posts:
Silvercatowner · 26/08/2018 16:44

My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that. I feel rather desperately sorry for the poster's elder stepson's first partner, although I think they dodged a bullet there.

Marieamy96 · 26/08/2018 16:44

“My elder stepson's first partner didn't fit into our family at all and there was a lot of secret relief when they separated.”

🙄

So, how would one “fit in?”

keefthebeef · 26/08/2018 16:50

Bluelady - you're taking the piss right? Grin

Bluelady · 26/08/2018 16:53

Why would I be taking the piss? None of us liked her. It's not compulsory to like everyone, surely?

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