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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to not say thank you

60 replies

MrSsMrs · 22/07/2019 17:07

Ok so I know I'm BU but maybe with good reason? DBIL (we'll call him Richard) has sent DD2 a card with a small amount of cash for her birthday. Card has first names only, not from "Uncle Richard" as he normally would. No phonecall or text to wish her happy birthday.

Back story is Richard and wife have stopped all contact with PIL for whatever reason since last year. DP and Richard had words about it as PIL are lovely people who have done nothing but bail Richard out whenever he's needed it (financially and otherwise) but both sides calmed down and DP apologised for getting involved, so we thought things had been left civil enough but maybe a little strained. They live quite far from us so we didn't see them alot anyway, only at PIL house when visiting. Now they don't speak to PIL we don't see them or their children but we still sent them birthday and Christmas cards. Earlier this year our daughter was rushed to hospital by blue light ambulance due to a severe bowt of croup leaving her unable to breath and extremely high heart rate. They were aware of what had happened while we were in the hospital and not once did he text to see how she was. I understand after everything that happened, they might have still been angry at us but to know she couldn't breath and not at least ask if was ok seems pretty bloody mean to me! After that I told DH I was not interested in maintaining any form of relationship with them, after not giving a shit their niece could have died (it was that severe). DH had no problem with that as agreed it was out of order. We've not spoken to them since and TBH I didn't even expect them to send a card. So am I being completely U to not acknowledge someone who couldn't even be arsed to check that their niece was still alive in the first place?

OP posts:
MrSsMrs · 23/07/2019 14:55

@brassbrass I reallydon't mean to sound so judgemental it's just some of the things he said were pretty disgusting and to be fair I think you'd judge him too if you had to try and answer your nephews questions as to why they're not good enough now new sibling has come along. We do now leave PIL to get on with it and don't discuss it with them so I'm definitely not "piling in with my wooden spoon".

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brassbrass · 23/07/2019 15:01

answer your nephews questions as to why they're not good enough now new sibling has come along.

So the nephews came to YOU and asked why doesn't our dad see us anymore now new sibling has come along?! Really?!

I don't meddle in other people's business. Plus your MIL has no business slagging one son off to another. That would make her absolutely UnLovely and a shit stirrer and that's why families fracture.

MrSsMrs · 23/07/2019 15:15

We were at PIL and DNs were there and one of them asked the question in front of us, so although they didn't come to me directly that is how they feel. They are not young boys (youngest is 10) so are old enough to link the slow contact down to no contact since their sibling came along (although not impossible something has been said from their Mum as she and BIL do not get on at all). I believe that MIL trying to pull BIL up on his lack of contact/care for the boys is the reason for the rift but can't be 100%. I do agree with you though that MIL would have been best placed not to say anything to us at all, then DP wouldn't have got involved, although I don't think she intentionally meant to shit stir, she was just really upset and asking DP if she was as awful as BIL said she was.

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WhoTellsYourStory · 23/07/2019 18:52

To be honest the entire family just sounds really dramatic. You're unable to forgive your BIL not checking your niece was alive, your DP unable to avoid involving himself in the argument because your DD cried, your MIL asking everyone if she's as bad as BIL said, your SIL blocking you on social media and you considering not saying thank you because BIL didn't include the title "uncle". I'm not convinced anyone here is lovely!

Somersetlady · 23/07/2019 18:56

If you feel like this send a note with the card and money back explaining why.

Don't keep his money and gesture.

MrSsMrs · 23/07/2019 19:55

@WhoTellsYourStory when you put it like that it does all sound overly dramatic doesn't it?! I promise we aren't usually (well me and DP anyway!) I shall put my big girl pants in and get over it all 😁

@somersetlady I have accepted it on DD's behalf and sent a message saying thank you. After reading the replies from PP's I have accepted I am being completely U (even though I already new that) and don't want to cause any further unncessary drama. Hopefully one day PIL and BIL can heal the rift but who knows 🤷‍♀️

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MrSsMrs · 23/07/2019 19:56

I meant not usually dramatic. We are normally lovely 😁

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brassbrass · 23/07/2019 20:56

Hopefully one day PIL and BIL can heal the rift

For that to happen everyone has to remain neutral and behave like grown ups which sadly very few people know how to do. There needs to be enough neutral space to allow them to come together but if you're busy taking sides it will alienate one party and then the damage is done. It's not rocket science.

MrSsMrs · 23/07/2019 21:10

@Brassbrass nothing has been said by us since DH apologised and nothing further will be said about the matter. We will remain civil and polite in any future contact (as I have done by saying thank you for the card and money) and not get involved again. As I said we already don't discuss it with PIL. I know I've come across like a complete judgemental twat but I'm really not like that in real life, I just needed to get it out to unbiased people who could (quite rightly) tell me to get over it and stop being precious and petty over the whole thing. Points taken and lesson learned 😁

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WhoTellsYourStory · 23/07/2019 21:30

Lot of respect for your reaction to the criticism to be fair. Smile

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