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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not go to Mils on Christmas day?

236 replies

AllIWantForChristmasIsANewMil · 10/10/2019 10:43

NC incase it's outing. Have complained about inlaws before.
I used to have to spend Christmas eve, boxing day and new year at Mil's if I wanted to see my DH (we were not married at the time) at all during the holidays. Sure it was nice I was invited but mil basically monopolised the whole holidays and dh would never spend Christmas day or boxing day at my parents. This went on for about 6 Christmas's. Then my grandfather's funeral was a few days before Christmas so I spent Christmas day at my parents to comfort my mother. Dh came to the funeral and he said he could not stay for Christmas day or boxing day (of course it was his mother was calling him home). So the next year I put my foot down and said we were having Christmas day in our new house and inviting my parents (mil wouldn't come if invited and we would not have enough room for all Dh's family). The only reply Mil gave was "but it could be your grandmothers last Christmas" to dh. Fast forward a few more years and Mil has just been on the phone to dh saying she thinks it's very unfair we always have Christmas at home, and she doesn't get to see the dc on Christmas day and we should alternate years, and this year we should have Christmas day at her house. Saying how bil and his gf alternate each year. That wasn't an option before when she monopolised the entire Christmas holidays. We also go on boxing day but that isn't enough for mil, it should be Christmas day and boxing day this year.
AIBU to ignore mil and put my foot down again and have Christmas at home. Tempted to not even go to Mils on boxing day now.

OP posts:
fedup21 · 10/10/2019 16:54

Did she spend every year alternating and running round here and there or did she have all of you dh’s youth at home and now wants you to carry on even though she never did?

Yes-what did you DH’s christmasses look like when he was growing up?

AuchAyeTheNo · 10/10/2019 16:58

Normally I would agree with you and tell her where to go but is it possible to alternate years? Would you be able to see all your family on Boxing Day? I’m just thinking it saves you cooking and washing up 😆

AllIWantForChristmasIsANewMil · 10/10/2019 17:19

Dh had Christmas at home, mil never travelled anywhere.

AuchAyeTheNo prefer the cooking and cleaning to having Christmas with mil

OP posts:
fedup21 · 10/10/2019 17:30

Dh had Christmas at home, mil never travelled anywhere

Have you pointed that out?

onanothertrain · 10/10/2019 18:06

So you're still pissed off that your DH spent Christmas with his mum before you were married or had DC and now you are getting your own back by making him spend it with your family? Seems rather petty.

Drum2018 · 10/10/2019 18:07

Well, as your Dh had every Christmas in his own house then there's your get out of jail card. You are now bringing your child up with that wonderful tradition set by his parents. The more you write about her the more I think you would be perfectly entitled never to visit her again. She sounds awful.

Notonthestairs · 10/10/2019 18:08

I'm sure MIL isnt all that nice but she's also a red herring!

Your husband is the problem. He wouldn't support you when your grandparent died, insisted on going to his mothers every year, won't back you up when you want to lie in bed/have breakfast etc.

And rather than tackle all of this AT THE TIME you've stewed on it and stored it all up to insist you spend every Christmas with your family.

It's almost a perfect conclusion really - for you.

venusandmars · 10/10/2019 18:24

drip drip drip…

Every time you get asked a question you add in another 'fact' about how awful your MIL is - coming into your room to wake you up, apparently not being delighted when you were pregnant, being controlling about breakfast, 'screaming' at you....

But you have not answered anything about your dh and how he feels. You have not answered anything about the extent to which you would be willing to compromise.

Lots of people are trying to be constructive here. To help you, to offer alternative solutions. It's hard to do that if you don't give the full picture and it's pointless if you're not willing to listen or consider any of the options. You don't want to go - ever. Fine. You should have just stated that at the beginning then I wouldn't have wasted any time trying to help.

IrmaFayLear · 10/10/2019 18:40

People are bashing their heads against a brick wall here.

The OP is convinced her mil is a terrible person, and that's that. I just wonder what the mil would make of all this.

I expect the dh enjoys seeing his family and spending time with his siblings. A lot of people do! It does not mean he is spineless or tied to his dm's apron strings, or should "man up" etc. I should think he is badly caught between a persuasive dm and the thought of his traditional Christmas and an angry dw. If I were him I'd probably want to check into a Travelodge and be done with everybody.

PleasePassTheCoffeeThanks · 10/10/2019 19:38

I’m with you OP.
She wanted her Christmases (sp?) at home with her family every year, now she wants you to travel with your family.
I don’t understand how people believe they can act horribly to you and then at Christmas you owe them something.

RopeBrick · 10/10/2019 19:46

I think YABU. Have you tried liming your MIL?

midnightmisssuki · 10/10/2019 19:55

Your poor husband and kids. Stuck between two what sounds like bullying women who both won't back down. Sounds like a great christmas for them.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 10/10/2019 21:05

Have you even asked your husband what he wants to do op? Or if it only what you want that matters?

Your DH seems to have swapped one controlling woman for another!!

TequilaPilates · 11/10/2019 04:57

Surely the issue isn't op wanting every Christmas at home, but that she wants to spend every Christmas with her parents?

Stay at home but don't see either set of parents, or alternate. That's fair. Seeing your parents every year but never the in laws isn't fair.

Stephminx · 11/10/2019 05:35

I’ll start by saying I do not like my MIL, so I can understand your feelings towards her which you’ve made quite clear.

Ultimately, you and your DH need to decide your plans. Do what you both want. But there are things you should factor in when making your choice...

I think your anger is directed in the wrong place with respect to the 6 years DH had Xmas with his parents. He is an adult and made that choice. I can “demand” a million pounds from the bank... doesn’t mean I’ll get it ! Your DH chose his mum over you at Xmas for years, but that was his choice. He chose not to be there for you, particularly when you felt you needed him when grieving. It is pretty much universal on this thread that this is where the blame lies.

Sorry if I’ve missed this but what does your hubby want to do ? It’s unfair of you to demand Xmas with your family every year if he never gets to see his (assuming he wants to). You’ll run the risk of him resenting you/your parents in the way you resent his if you insist on ignoring his wishes.

Rather than alternate years between families, maybe you could pick one year and DH could pick the next ?

You could host his family for something less formal than a sit down dinner - maybe evening buffet type thing - and move out your table for more room. If this offer is declined, at least you’ve tried.

Also - just because MIL demands an extended stay doesn’t mean she gets it (see above point regarding my million quid). Why not offer to go to hers for one day - again this is quite reasonable and if she doesn’t accept then at least you’ve tried in your DH’s eyes.

You also keep saying your MIL never wanted you to have your kids. I can totally understand how awful that must have felt and how angry you were/are... but does she treat your kids well ? I suspect this may be a bit like contact with an ex - if she treats them well, is it not in the children’s interests to put your feelings aside and let them benefit from a relationship ?

And she is not the first person to make a mistake when hearing a pregnancy announcement - many fathers do this but people work their way through it and step up. Has MIL ? If so, you need to work on getting over it. If she and your children want a relationship do you really want them to know the details of why you are preventing it ? People make mistakes - if she’s sorry, and she sounds like she is if she wants to see the kids, then work on moving on.

It is difficult to say ultimately if/how unreasonable your being here but I think your anger is misdirected and that anger is colouring your judgement.

I’d say the key point is look at how this is affecting your little family unit, your DH and kids (once older) before deciding.

But then again, if she’s truely toxic perhaps your anger is justified but you’ve given the wrong impression by focussing comments on the 6 years.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 11/10/2019 06:25

That was a fantastic post VenusandMars. Nothing more needs to be said!

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 11/10/2019 06:35

Fuck her, fuck alternating. She's had her way all this time, and guarantee next year she'd still expect you to go.

Starlight2004 · 11/10/2019 06:39

You could alternate and have boxing day with your parents. I think that what many family's do. Absolutely wouldn't be having both days with her! That's a bit much for her to ask.

Beautiful3 · 11/10/2019 06:48

I think you're right to have it at home. Going there for boxing day is a nice compromise.

BagaChipZ · 11/10/2019 06:49

Enjoy Christmas your way

NoSauce · 11/10/2019 06:59

Fuck her, fuck alternating. She's had her way all this time, and guarantee next year she'd still expect you to go

She’s had it her way all this time? You mean the 6 years the OP was invited to her boyfriends parents that she decided to go to? Instead of spending Christmas with her own parents because she’d rather spend it with him?

That was the OPs choice. She wasn’t forced by anyone, she chose her boyfriend over her parents, which is telling.

I’d love to hear the MILs side of this story, I bet it’s nothing like the OPs.

ThinkWittyThoughts · 11/10/2019 07:24

The comments are quite eye opening.

OP don't go. You don't want to and that's enough. If your husband wants to go, fine - that's up to him.

As for the repeated cries on here about alternating being fair: what bollocks. You want to spend Christmas with people you like, who treat you well. You don't want to spend it with people you hate and treat you badly. WTF is "fair" about forcing yourself to have shit Christmas every other year?

Sod that.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 11/10/2019 08:00

OP don't go. You don't want to and that's enough. If your husband wants to go, fine - that's up to him.

So if op should stay home while her DH goes to his Mum’s, that means each parent spending every other Christmas apart from their young child.

Legalquestionhelp · 11/10/2019 08:02

Personally I would want to know before marriage and children that restrictions regarding my family were going to be put in place as soon as a child is born whilst different rules applied to their family. I would feel rather tricked.

MartineDubreuil · 11/10/2019 08:23

WTF is "fair" about forcing yourself to have shit Christmas every other year?
That's fine. But the husband gets a say where him and his kids spend Christmas too, so if he decides he wants to see his family on Christmas Day and he wants his family to see their kids she may have to be apart from her kids some Christmas days..
At the moment the parents and kids spend every single Christmas day with her side of the family.