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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Think I’ve lost all respect for my husband

50 replies

IneedKirstieandPhil · 28/05/2019 08:57

Been together for nearly 15 years.
I’ve gone no contact with his mother after various unacceptable behaviour from her. Dh agreed and did once tell her after she shouted at me when I was expecting that she shouldn’t treat me like that.
Her behaviour continued so I went nc he still sees her and goes to family events as I no longer go the narrative is pretty much I am the bad guy from what I can make out. Dh I don’t feel has challenged this he’s not put people straight- like I would have if the situation was reversed.
Yesterday we were out with the kids and his mum came into the shopping centre at the same time and rather than risking us all bumping into each other he rushed us out.

OP posts:
araiwa · 28/05/2019 10:42

Having his wife and mother shouting at each other in the shops would have been much better

Lweji · 28/05/2019 10:50

Your DH did stick out for you when he told her that she shouldn't treat you like that.

Of course he should go to family events and you haven't given a good reason for him to go NC with her.

How do you know what your DH has said to other people in his family?

Finally, what did you want him to do in the shopping centre?

MumNeMum · 28/05/2019 10:53

I can empathise with your point of view.
She's a mother-in-law who feels very threatened now that there is another woman in her son's life, as she does not have complete control over him anymore, and he will be putting you above her in some situations.

Basically the apron strings have not been cut. He is still behaving like the child, answerable to his mother. She will have made it very difficult for him to disagree with her over anything - he will probably experience some kind of punishment if he tries, i.e. silent treatment, crying, spiteful comments, awkwardness, etc. So he has learned to keep the peace and do as he's told.

You can't change this situation. If I were you I would not have stopped going to family gatherings, because it gives her the opportunity to spread her own version of the story around. I would have killed her with kindness in front of others, but politely stood firm when she did things that I did not like. "No, we don't want to do that" and "I find that offensive", etc. Don't lose your temper, because it makes it look like you have the issue.

Your DH needs to get some balls and start breaking those apron strings. He can do it in small ways - "We prefer to do things this way".
He needs to ignore the punishment she deals him in return, which is not an easy thing for him to do, but can be done gradually.

BertrandRussell · 28/05/2019 10:56

@MumNeMum -blimey- are you hacking in to the OP’s emails or something? How on earth do you know all that?

Debfronut · 28/05/2019 11:35

I hated my MIL. But I never would have stopped DH visiting her its his mum. I encouraged him to go and after she died he was glad he did. They may be toxic to you but if he can keep it separate eg not blame you for the separation then respect his right to see the woman who loves him and brought him up.

QueenofmyPrinces · 28/05/2019 12:00

She already said this woman shouted at her??! Shouting at someone is abusive and I’d go NC with someone like that as well.

Good God - I think at some point I’ve had a shouty arguement with various members of my family and probably friends too.

I have also had blazing rows in the past with ex boyfriends and also with my husband.

I think everyone in the world would live very lonely lives if they went NC with everyone who ever shouted at them.....

Singlenotsingle · 28/05/2019 13:00

Agreed, BertrandRussell, just what I was thinking! Numnenum's guessing, dreaming, fantasising! We don't know any of that about DH's dm. And neither do we know anything about what the woman is supposed to have done, apart from shouting. A child, even an adult child, still has love and respect for its parents, and quite right too!

werideatdawn · 28/05/2019 13:08

Bottom line...you'd like him to go no contact with his mother so you no longer feel like the bad guy.

lboogy · 28/05/2019 13:13

I don't see what your DH has done wrong - Based on this one incident. He's tried to avoid a confrontation between you two. Did you expect him to see his mum and completely ignore her, thus sending the message that he cares more for you than her? If so, you're incredibly immature and need to grow up.

He should never be put in the position to choose between you two

HaveNoSocks · 28/05/2019 13:15

Yesterday we were out with the kids and his mum came into the shopping centre at the same time and rather than risking us all bumping into each other he rushed us out.

In this particular instance I don't see the issue - it was your choice to go NC with his mum so surely you wouldn't want to awkwardly bump into her?

IneedKirstieandPhil · 28/05/2019 15:55

Thanks all I suppose it’s the wider issue of dh not sticking up for me rather than yesterday itself as it wouldn’t have been me kicking off but his would have so it felt cowardly to have leave to avoid confrontation.
It would be too outing to go into full details but she’s been rude to me many many occasions, ruined Xmas a couple of times (that’s dh’s label not mine but I agree!), refuses to speak to me on my wedding date and labelled the wedding gift and card to dh only 🙄
Final straw did not ask about our ds when he was seriously ill in hospital she was out partying on Facebook while we were in isolation unit with ds trying to sort out childcare for eldest. Ds was in hospital for ten days and not once did she msg me or offer to help Dh he didn’t speak to her after the initial call that ds was ill.
After that day I said to dh no more I will hold my tongue with her I don’t want to see her so I haven’t.

OP posts:
Barbie222 · 28/05/2019 16:01

I think if you don't see them and have no intention of seeing them you can't have much interest in changing how they feel about you? I would give up on giving this any headspace. Let them think what they like, and don't try and influence how much your dh sees them.

MumNeMum · 28/05/2019 16:26

Singlenotsingle - I read back my message and I can see how it sounds, but to me it is very obvious from the post that the MIL feels threatened by her daughter-in-law. Especially now that OP mentions that her MIL did not even talk to her at the wedding and only addressed the card to her son.

There must also be some reason why he does not defend his wife when he is with his family and 'put people straight'. There must be some negative consequence for him if he does.

I am in a very similar situation with my MIL and DH and I thought OP might appreciate some possible insight. I thought that this was what these forums were for? Feedback??! LOL.

Fucksandflowers · 28/05/2019 16:40

Go easy on him.
Likelihood, in my personal opinion of course, is she probably ruled with an iron fist through childhood and he is quite afraid of her.

Lweji · 28/05/2019 16:43

I have to ask again.

How do you expect him to stick up for you?

IneedKirstieandPhil · 28/05/2019 16:46

If it was me then I would have said ‘show some respect to my husband don’t speak to him like that’ if my mum was being rude.
If it were me then I would have refused the gift and asked my mother not to ignore my dh on our wedding day etc etc

OP posts:
BumbleBeee69 · 28/05/2019 16:49

Your Husband is a DICK. He should have told him Mother long ago her behaviour toward you was appalling, instead of having family days out with her and the kids instead of you and the kids WTAF ?! Flowers

Lweji · 28/05/2019 16:55

Yes to all you said, but why now?

You've let time go by without challenging him. But you seem to have suddenly lost respect for him only now that he decided to leave the shopping centre rather than allow her to ignore you or treat you badly.

Considering all the background, he did choose the NC option when faced with his mother at the shops with you.
All considered, I do think that was the best option. No point in having a huge confrontation in public now.
Or would you rather have one?

Fucksandflowers · 28/05/2019 16:55

If it was me then I would have said ‘show some respect to my husband don’t speak to him like that’ if my mum was being rude.
If it were me then I would have refused the gift and asked my mother not to ignore my dh on our wedding day etc etc

It’s not that simple.
I used to get very upset with my DH (I have had a similarly turbulent time with my in-laws).

Like you, I would defend my DH immediately and it was really hurtful that he wouldn’t do the same for me.

I couldn’t understand it, my DH is a very big, intimidating looking man and believe me, he is no wuss.
He has no problem immediately shutting down anyone he thinks he out of order.
Yet he wouldn’t defend me despite constantly telling me how much he loved me and I thought how can you?

Years and years down the line I learnt some very unsettling things about his upbringing and it became clear that really, he is still to a degree frightened. And I strongly suspect it’s the same for your DH.

Ignore the rotten old bat, sympathise with your DH and get on with your life would be my advice.

WorraLiberty · 28/05/2019 17:02

Yesterday we were out with the kids and his mum came into the shopping centre at the same time and rather than risking us all bumping into each other he rushed us out.

I think as an adult you need to take some responsibility for this at least. He didn't 'rush you out'. You chose to leave the shopping centre.

IceCreamFace · 28/05/2019 17:04

She does awful OP. I can see why you're annoyed. I can definitely understand you feeling let down that DH doesn't stand up for you. Family dynamics can be incredibly strong is he cowed by them in general?

Likeamobvie · 28/05/2019 17:07

I think it's an impossible situation honestly. What was he supposed to do in that situation? Wait for her to see you and shout at her in front of you? You went no contact and he was respecting that as far as I can tell.

Hithere12 · 28/05/2019 17:10

Good God - I think at some point I’ve had a shouty arguement with various members of my family and probably friends too

I have also had blazing rows in the past with ex boyfriends and also with my husband

A husband and wife arguing is a completely different dynamic to a MIL/DIL relationship??? You think it would be acceptable to shout at your sons girlfriend? It’s not normal behaviour it’s completely toxic.

BertrandRussell · 28/05/2019 17:21

“ You think it would be acceptable to shout at your sons girlfriend?”

I suppose it depends what she had said or done......

LemonTT · 28/05/2019 17:33

But it’s not you OP, it is your husband. He has different boundaries and obviously a greater bond with her than you could possibly have. He is hurt more by her than you could ever be.

My MIL is as batshit as they come, her family and children know it. They dealt with it all their lives. But the bond is there and whilst DH doesn’t like her he loves her.

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