Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anyone like their MIL?!

237 replies

cinnamoned · 22/08/2019 14:06

A bit lighthearted really, I get the impression that many people on here can’t stand their MILs and I was just thinking, if my DH thought those things about my mother, or didn’t want my mother to come for Christmas, I would be upset. So I suppose I always said I would be kind to my MIL from the get go.

AIBU to ask if anyone actually gets on with their MIL?

I do but then again, MIL, DHs Ex wife and I go on city breaks around Europe 2/3 times a year together so I’m quite odd Grin

OP posts:
ethelfleda · 22/08/2019 22:05

My MIL is amazing Smile

GiggleMcDimples · 22/08/2019 22:08

I like mine. She's a fantastic mother in law. Gets on my nerves every now and then demanding DH's attention, but DH is an only child so expected really. Other than that, she's been a good friend over the years, a very good MIL and and even better GM to my DSs.

LittleCandle · 22/08/2019 22:13

I did like my MIL, although she was as mad as a box of frogs. I frequently had to bite my tongue so that I didn't laugh at some of her ridiculous statements. However, I was always aware that if I were to leave her son, I would immediately become persona non grata. Luckily, by the time that happened she was far last in dementia and died a few months later. Her family were, of course, perfect.

ImogenTubbs · 22/08/2019 22:18

If I weren't married to DH I wouldn't choose my MIL as a friend as we disagree on a lot of points of view, but I love her dearly. She's kind, generous hearted, welcoming and forgiving and couldn't do enough for us or DD. She can be a bit of a handful sometimes, but I won't hear a word said against her!

Anxietyandwine · 22/08/2019 22:24

My mother in law goes above and beyond for us. Definitely does not fit the stereotype of the mean old MIL.

Eg: we’re going on holiday to Wales tomorrow with IL’s. They’re arriving earlier and filling our caravan fridge with bread/milk/wine etc so we don’t have to shop with LO’s after a long journey. (And actually they booked the holiday for us to spend time together after we missed the family holiday as we had a very new baby!)

InsertFunnyUsername · 22/08/2019 22:39

I do like it when I hear people talk about their MIL being kind, loving etc.

Unfortunately mine isn't, in turn it made me the DIL from hell. Thankfully I took a step back and i dont interact with her told her to fuck off I'm not sure what some MIL issues are, but I wasn't liked from the start.

Talkingfrog · 22/08/2019 23:17

I get on great with my mil. We speak several times a day (often phone each other for no reason) , and have similar tastes. She has come on holidays with us for a few years (my idea). She gets on well with my family and so this year my parents came on holiday with us too!

AngeloMysterioso · 22/08/2019 23:26

Both my MIL and FIL are so lovely and normal they’re almost boring unlike my own Mother who is batshit crazy. They’re kind, generous, thoughtful, able to grasp the concept of boundaries... I often wonder what kind of woman I’d have turned out to be if I’d had the normal, settled, crazy-free upbringing my DH had. I rather envy him.

Montyman · 22/08/2019 23:33

I love mine. She gets to me sometimes; is a bit overbearing but has our best interests at heart and would do most of what we ask of her. We do as much as we can for her too. My FIL is fab as well and they both adore our kids.

Thankgoodness1 · 22/08/2019 23:36

To be honest, mine are very bland...almost 2D...so yeah, nothing to love and nothing to hate.

Mumtotwo82 · 22/08/2019 23:41

I love mine. She is very funny and kind. My SIL a bit more hard work.. Hmm

Gooseygoosey12345 · 22/08/2019 23:54

I adore my MIL. We used to go horse riding together, we've been on theatre trips and spent many an afternoon in the garden drinking wine together. She even came over one evening with wine when DH and I were going through a rough patch a few years back and we had a good cry. She's like a really close friend. I would 100% stay friends with her if DH and I ever separated. I feel very lucky

FeeFee832 · 23/08/2019 00:11

LOVE my mil. She's awesome.

greeneyedlulu · 23/08/2019 08:49

Yes because she lives in Scotland and I'm in London and I see her once a year and don't have to stay at her house as there's no room for us! I thank my lucky stars that I do not have to put up with some of the horrors I read on here!

Sweetbabycheezits · 23/08/2019 08:52

My MIL drives me bonkers, but I love her. She is helpful without question when we need her, she adores her dgc and they love her to bits. Our personalities sometimes clash, but overall, we're pretty good friends.

Sayhellotothethings · 23/08/2019 09:00

I love my MIL to bits, she is very sweet and would go out of her way to help anyone.

My DH also loves my mother like his own family.

We are lucky!

Scorpiovenus · 23/08/2019 10:57

Nope as she only goes on about kids and who says what and its is monotonous drudgery at its finest. actively avoid for this reason :D

Fullyhuman · 23/08/2019 11:07

I love mine. I’d happily live with her.

SaffronFields · 23/08/2019 11:22

Honestly, I can’t stand her but DH loves his Mum so I smile and put up with her. I think it gets more difficult when you have a child and they start having opinions.

I think with your own Mum when they say/ do something you don’t like you would just be able to tell them to bugger off. The MIL relationship is more complicated!

goose1964 · 23/08/2019 11:35

I love my MiL, she's given unasked for support such as offering to take the kids out so DH and I could spend time together.

Unfortunately she's now suffering from dementia and is not in the best health so every time the phone rings I hope it's not bad news.

I lost my mum 25 years ago and although we knew she could never take her place she did her best

Daisy38 · 23/08/2019 11:47

I like mine but I am glad we live a few hours away from her. We also live a couple of hours from my parents so it’s not a case of seeing lots of one set of parents and not the other. We’ve always both been quite independent, moving away for university and then moving to other places afterwards so I think it would’ve felt odd to live near either set of parents once we settled down and had kids. Really enjoy catching up and spending time with both sets when we do see them and it’s a good balance of us travelling to them and vice versa. The kids have a good relationship with them all too.

JanewaysBun · 23/08/2019 11:50

Love mine! Often prefer her to DH Grin

Blueoasis · 23/08/2019 11:53

Mine is a lovely, kind and generous woman. Fil is the same, they are lovely people.

Lillyringlet · 23/08/2019 11:55

I do but my family is crazy... They are really nice people who would have to do a lot to pull off half the crazy my side.

They also live across the globe so don't see them often. We talk on Skye every week for them to see the kids though

Billythecat · 23/08/2019 12:01

My MIL is wonderful- kind, thoughtful, generous and very fun Smile . We get on very well and I love getting the chance to see them (we live a couple of hours away). In fact, I love all of my DH's family. Get on super well with his sisters and all of their partners, I think of them as the siblings I never had. Feel very lucky to have such amazing in laws! Smile My DH also gets on well with my parents.