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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mil always commenting on my clean house.

105 replies

Bumblebee1115 · 16/10/2019 11:06

Bit of an odd one.. I am pretty house proud. It’s by no means a show home. But the dishes are usually done and put away, it’s nearly always vacuumed (I have a cordless takes me no time at all), floor mopped, bathroom cleaned there’s no laundry lying around and it’s tidy as it can be with kids etc etc. I have ocd, anxiety and depression. I wish I could relax more around mess but I cannot and I would never judge anybody else’s home though.

I am fortunate enough to be a SAHM so I generally clean when DC are at school so the weekends with DC are for fun things as a family. I do plan to go back to work but both Dc have additional needs, DD only started school last month so I’m having some me time for now as I have raised them with very little support or help from family and Oh is always at work.

Anyway, every time mil comes over she comments on my clean home. Not in a well done, nice house house kind of way but a way she’s either jealous or making a dig because I have more time on my hands than her and I’m sick of it.

Things like ‘oh your house is so clean, but you have all the time in the world don’t you’ ‘my house is never clean because we both work’ ‘come clean my house because you have more time than me’ ‘you need to spend more time with the children rather than cleaning’ (again bullshit I clean when they are at school and don’t clean constantly) ‘must be so nice to have all the time in the world’. She says it all in such a bitchy way.

I just think you’re either house proud or your not. I’m aware if I worked I’d have less time but I would still want a clean house. I would never go over there and judge her house and truthfully it’s not be cleanest.

Every single time she comes over... But yet there’s been the odd time she’s turned up, usually unannounced and it’s been a mess and she’s judging me that way. I can’t bloody win!!

She’s also very intrusive. Looking through my stuff. Looking in a box (a parcel I had delivered yesterday), telling me how to re arrange my house. Telling me this and that, I should stop using my tumble dryer so much.

It’s just constant digs that I don’t work. Me and Oh agreed I’d have some time at home before finding a job. It’s hard. Both Dc have additional needs, we’ve had no family support raising them (literally didn’t have any time to myself before DC were both at school). I could be needed to pick them up at any time, school meetings, hospital appointments.

My life isn’t as easy as she thinks it is being a stay at home mum!

OH tells me to ignore her but he doesn’t stick up me for it all!!

Aibu to expect him to say something to her? I dread her visits! I feel like a failure most days as it is and she just tops it off!

OP posts:
ToftyAC · 17/10/2019 21:44

@FelicisNox
I applaud your thinking! Perfect 👌🏻

madisoncat · 17/10/2019 21:55

I get that you have anxiety and that isn't easy to deal with. You are already doing a great job of being a mum and getting through the day.

As for you/your OH saying anything to your MIL I'm not sure any words will make any difference.

Your MIL is clearly someone who wants to put you down and express her opinions.

I can't really offer any advice but I find it helps to remind myself that "Opinions are like Arseholes - we all have one but most of us don't want to have to have others peoples forced on us".

If you can keep in your mind that she has her opinions on your life BUT it is just that. Her opinions and it's your LIFE. You have the right to live it that way that works best for you not for her.

May be finding some messages that you can repeat to yourself when she's talking to help you over ride her toxic messages.

Never forget this is your life, your home and you have the right to live your life in your home in ways that work best for you.

Your MIL wants you to please her, that's not why you are on this earth. Keeping her happy is not your job - even though she'd like you to think it is.

If you feel up to it have a look on line at some "Assertiveness Techniques" 'The Bill of Human Rights" and some positive affirmations.

Sadly you can't stop your MIL speaking but may be you can find something that works for you so Your Voice in your head is LOUDER than her toxic words.

Good Luck

angelfacecuti75 · 18/10/2019 01:36

Say "yes , but we have to sacrifice a lot e.g. a wage and lots of nice things for me to be at home". That may shut her up. Or "mmm yes ,do you want a cup of tea? (Repeatedly change the subject or kust don't respond and she may get the hint:). Or not. Don't worry so much about her. Everyone's different. Just nod and smile.

Notajogger · 18/10/2019 08:36

Agree with pps - it sounds like it's because she's annoyed her son is out working long hours and you're not working, rather than jealousy.

Also agree that he should handle these snarky comments from her when she says them!

It might be tricky but if you don't feel you can say anything back, you could try just letting there be a tumbleweed silence for a few moments, till it starts to get ever so slightly awkward, then say something entirely unrelated - offer tea or ask how FIL is or something. Perhaps the awkwardness will put her off, or at least flag to DH so he might be able to jump in.

Maz54 · 18/10/2019 12:23

I had a MiL like this. Basically she was very messy in her own house, hoovered monthly I think and definitely no dusting going on there. I was like you, not overly houseproud but just liked things to be tidy and clean. She used to comment all the time. My DH, same as yours, I think it's a man thing but not very helpful when you're taking a beating from her. I just held it all in until she was gone. I knew she had no grounds because I came from a much better background than her and was used to living in a big house from childhood. When we afforded a fairly large house this all turned to absolute jealousy, I cannot think what else it could have been. I could never please her, but you know what, I didn't want to. I would never have had anything to do with a person like her given the choice, just put up with her to keep the peace. She's gone now and life if cool. Don't let her get to you, please, it's not worth it. Remember it's her that has the problem not you, and keep telling yourself that, I found it helped.

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