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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In laws booked holiday within less than 24 hours

103 replies

Amberlight003 · 16/07/2019 21:14

Just after a bit of advice as I’ve been made to think I’m going mad but a big part of me says I am not!

Ok so you may recall a previous post some months ago about my partner. We’ve tried and I’ve tried, very hard to make things work. Some weeks have been great, others not so great and things revert back to normal.

Anyway, on Saturday the in laws came over. Before mother in law took a seat, she said she had something to tell us...she said, were all going away next year (mil, fil, sil, bil, me and partner and our 2 kids) for fil’s birthday abroad to Portugal. You don’t have to pay we’re paying and you just have to turn up. She very quickly said after that, but of course you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. Straight away my partner said, yeah I’ll go definitely even if I (me) wants to stay and he said it with a face like a slapped arse, very arrogantly and dismissively and didn’t look at me once.

Basically in 10 years this will be the 6th holiday abroad, 5 of which have been with his parents and sister and her partner, 1 of which on our own. His parents have paid for some of these holidays, after of course telling us we are going on them and me getting no say whatsoever.

I wasn’t thrilled and my expression probably showed, however I did try to express some interest as i thought we don’t have to agree to anything there and then and maybe me and my partner could have a discussion. But later that afternoon Mil told partner I didn’t look happy about it. Apparently he again told her he will definitely be going.

We ended up arguing that night as I said I don’t particularly want to go. A long weekend away ok, I can deal, but another 10 days abroad I wasn’t feeling. He said I was an ungrateful bitch and it’s his family and the kids will love it, he didn’t speak to me for the rest of the night.

Bit of a back story, his sister quite literally bullied me silly, for years and years, the treatment was actually shocking and everyone stood by and said not a word. It took me to literally crack big time at her for my partner to finally take my side and he’s openly said to me and his parents numerous times since that his sister was an absolute cow to me for years and it should have been squashed long ago. There was never any reason except for jealousy over petty things and I actually resorted to being a mute around his family, I couldn’t come out of my shell because she was so vile. My partner always said he never knew what to do and totally accepts she was a bully to me for years. This was squashed 2 years ago and I’ve tried my best to put everything aside and forget everything. She hasn’t been that bad since then. But obviously we’re talking 11 years of disrespect against 2 years of just getting along as best we can.

The very next day after the in laws made their announcement, not even a full 24 hours later, they had been and booked the entire thing. Before they actually booked it they called my partner who told them we were having relationship problems at the moment, but he told them to book me a place and I can cancel. They went ahead and still booked the whole thing, less than 24 hours after announcing it. I can’t help but feel that was a bit selfish as they’ve made it clear they want to get all the grandkids abroad, never mind our relationship was in tatters.

Ever since my partner has called me ungrateful, a b*tch, mad, crazy for not wanting a free holiday.

I just feel he’s put their needs ahead of mine, yet again, like with all the other holidays I had no say in going on, while they all stood by and let his sister be vile to me - despite knowing she was being vile! 1 holiday I was told I couldn’t go on as sil didn’t want me there due to jealousy, her partner was allowed to go but I wasn’t. In the end I was allowed to go but I had to fly back after the first week on my own while they all stayed...all because of sister in law. This was many years ago, he says I shouldn’t hold onto it. But it’s this and other behaviour that makes me hold some resentment. Not to mention all of the other issues. He is refusing to talk to me now. We’ve barely spoken in days.

OP posts:
ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 16/07/2019 21:18

Your dh sounds fucking horrendous, never mind the rest of them. I'd be thinking I'd splitting and being rid of the lot of them, definitely don't go and don't pay any cancellation fee, you said you didn't want to go and it was you dh insisting you would.

Lockheart · 16/07/2019 21:18

Why would you stay with someone who is verbally abusive and calls you an ungrateful bitch?

It sounds like this relationship should have been over a long time ago, sorry OP.

Amberlight003 · 16/07/2019 21:28

He’s told me over and over and his parents, that if I cancel and don’t be go, he’s taking the kids. I know if we split I’d have to get used to this but it gives me such anxiety them being so young and being in a foreign country, so far away!

OP posts:
PinkCrayon · 16/07/2019 21:34

Its a free holiday and as you say it was squashed two years ago it does sound like you havent let go of your feelings towards sil. If something is squashed it really has to be just that. If you keep going back to it you will get nowhere and it will make you feel like crap keep going over it.

Lockheart · 16/07/2019 21:35

You would need to take proper legal advice OP, but I don't believe he can take the children out of the country without your permission.

www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

Beesandcheese · 16/07/2019 21:36

He seems very determined to be as offensive as possible to you so you dont go and get a free holiday with his parents. It's like he's already decided.

7yo7yo · 16/07/2019 21:39

I wouldn’t go and neither would my kids.
I would be as awkward as possible.
He’s fucking horrid as are his family.
Why the fuck are you with him??!

PutyourtoponTrevor · 16/07/2019 21:44

Did you actually read the OP, Pinkcrayon? Are you suggesting she just suck it up and go on holiday with verbally abusive people, one of which is her husband?

PinkCrayon · 16/07/2019 21:56

Yes I did read it obviously @PutyourtoponTrevor just because I have a different opinion to you?
Op said it was squashed two years ago.
If something is squashed between two people that is how you have to treat it. To keep replaying events will get you nowhere and you wont be able to move on.
So op either needs to say actually this hasnt been squashed and to sort out differences or go low/no contact with sil.
No where did it say the inlaws were abusive. Her dp called her an ungrateful bitch nowhere did op say he constantly verbally abuses her? Like you have never said anything when you have been frustrated in a moment.

Op doesnt have to go I cant see a problem with her dp going on holiday, it would be wrong to stop the kids from going on a holiday with their Dad and extended family.
Especially with grandparents that havent and arent horrible to OP.
Dont punish them they sound really kind paying for the holiday and openly saying to op you dont have to come after they invited them all.

NoSauce · 16/07/2019 22:01

Fuck that shit. OP you need to get out of that marriage and away from the rest of the family. They all sound horrible including your husband. You don’t have to go on the holiday, let him take the kids if he so wishes but you don’t have to be continuously controlled by these people.

Sorryisntgoodenough · 16/07/2019 22:02

They went ahead and still booked the whole thing, less than 24 hours after announcing it. I can’t help but feel that was a bit selfish as they’ve made it clear they want to get all the grandkids abroad, never mind our relationship was in tatters.

Which sounds awful of them because...

my partner who told them we were having relationship problems at the moment, but he told them to book me a place and I can cancel

He doesn’t sound like much of a PARTNER tbh. especially when you say
He’s told me over and over and his parents, that if I cancel and don’t be go, he’s taking the kids

Wow! He clearly doesn’t see you as a life partner tbh. His family sound shit. Do you actually love him?
I don’t know the legalities but if (you are able to) separate and you have parental responsibility is there something about needing parental permission about taking kids abroad?

theunrivalledjoysofparenting · 16/07/2019 22:06

He’s an absolute horrible bastard. Why didn’t you leave him, op? Why stay with someone who calls you horrible names? He sounds vile.

I’d tell him he can go abroad with his parents, then he can fucking well stay there. Pack his stuff up and bin the twat off.

Jemima232 · 16/07/2019 22:12

You must be feeling terrible about this, OP. What a difficult situation.

Your OH sounds like a nightmare. His sister sounds like a nightmare. You've been bullied by her and now he's bullying you and being rude in front of his parents. That's not on at all. I don't think MIL has necessarily crossed a line but your DH certainly has.

I would be seriously thinking of losing the bastard. Flowers

Jemima232 · 16/07/2019 22:16

@PinkCrayon

Her dp called her an ungrateful bitch nowhere did op say he constantly verbally abuses her? Like you have never said anything when you have been frustrated in a moment

They've been having relationship difficulties for ages and he was openly rude to her while his parents were there and has continued to be a bastard since they left. You seem to be dismissing her feelings entirely, especially when she's said what a dreadful time she had with the SIL bullying her for years.

But you're telling her to suck it up? Do me a favour.

Tavannach · 16/07/2019 22:23

it was squashed two years ago it does sound like you havent let go of your feelings towards sil. If something is squashed it really has to be just that. If you keep going back to it you will get nowhere and it will make you feel like crap keep going over it.

I agree. It's obviously a difficult situation but you have to let go of the burden of resentment. Go on the holiday and find an activity there to take up some of your time away from the group.

Fairenuff · 16/07/2019 22:23

my partner has called me ungrateful, a b*tch, mad, crazy

That's the only part of the whole OP that is relevant here.

Who cares about some holiday drama. You have an abusive partner.

PinkCrayon · 16/07/2019 22:25

Nope nowhere did I tell op to suck it up. @Jemima232

womaninthedark · 16/07/2019 22:27

Start planning your escape, OP. That's no way to live.

NSA2103 · 16/07/2019 22:27

Yes, I've been through similar with my STBXW. I was never pre-warned or asked, merely told (that we were going on holiday with her parents). It used to drive me nuts.They were all somewhat surprised when I gave my views, but thankfully I was not insulted for not wanting to holiday with them.

I'm slightly more chilled than other posters. Wider families should show some respect for son or daughter in laws, and personally I appreciate that our parents are our childrens' grandparents, and that their time together should be encouraged and cherished. But, the balance has to be right, and agreed by all.

Jemima232 · 16/07/2019 22:31

I agree. It's obviously a difficult situation but you have to let go of the burden of resentment. Go on the holiday and find an activity there to take up some of your time away from the group

Come off it, @Tavannach - the OP has had relationship difficulties for ages and her partner is being abusive.

fairislecable · 16/07/2019 22:32

This thread alone doesn’t seem too bad until you look back at the thread you started about him treating you like an object.

He is not worth being with whatever bribes his family come up with.

Don’t discuss the holiday that’s the least of your problems, start working on self esteem.

Make your own choices to drive your life forward, and where you are when the holiday starts, may not be where you are now.

rosedream · 16/07/2019 22:32

Your problem is not with your in-laws or SIL but with your H.

I don't believe despite his family's behaviour your relationship is good. I expect there's other issues as well.

Jellybeansincognito · 16/07/2019 22:33

Pack up your things, including your children’s passports.
Tell him you’re leaving, with your children and their passports and you won’t tolerate his abusive behaviour anymore.

Usingmyindoorvoice · 16/07/2019 22:35

Leave your husband, but don’t be a dick about letting him take his children away next year to celebrate their grandfather’s birthday.

Usingmyindoorvoice · 16/07/2019 22:36

I’m assuming they are his children as much as yours?