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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to give up visiting PILs ever again?

54 replies

ginghamstarfish · 29/11/2019 12:41

Sorry this is long!

FIL had an injury which means he could not drive for a while, and as it's 4 hour round trip, DH has been taking a lot of time off to stay there, do the gardening and other chores, drive them around etc as MIL has not driven for a few years and now refuses to. He always offers to take her for driving practice but she won't. They have even been known to ask him to drive the 2 hours each way just to pick them up and drive them 30 minutes to a routine hospital appointment, check up, optician appointment etc. They are very wealthy, and when relatives visit them, they have no problem ordering taxis to pick them up at the airport 45 miles away. Funny though that they can't use taxis themselves, not even for the 1 mile to town, relying on neighbours instead. As they know, their request to DH is taken as a command and will NEVER be refused. I gave them details of their local hospital transport service (the type I use myself as I am disabled and DH has limited holiday allowance), but that was ignored.

In addition he or we have always visited at least once a month, Skyping and calling once or twice a week.

DH has a sister who lives abroad and visits once a year, paid for by PILs. Last week she came to visit, FIL paying as usual. Her new partner also came, (no doubt also paid for), and FIL wanted us to be there too and go out for dinner together. We had stayed there one night and were due to stay a second night. PILs asked us to leave and find a hotel as SIL and partner would be needing the guest room. When we visited the house next day, SIL and partner were in t shirts and the house was even warmer than usual. I appreciate they live in a hot country but FFS, have some common sense! I was wearing light clothes as PILS house is always very hot, and I can't stand being too hot, as they well know. Went to bathroom, cold water on face etc to cool me. Back to sitting room and the gas fire was now blasting away too. I expressed surprise and MIL said 'they were cold' meaning SIL/partner. I sat fanning myself, pouring with sweat. Even DH was sweating and uncomfortable. PILs looked at me as if I was from another planet. After a few minutes I said I'd have to go outside to cool down as I could not bear the heat. I went out to thunderous silence, and sat in the car reading a book. I stayed there about 20 minutes until DH came out to inform me that they had now turned the gas fire off again as SIL was now 'warm enough' Hmm, still in t shirt btw.

So, if you have read that, thanks, and my question is - am I wasting my time by going there ever again? It's been 20 years, and I have tried to be a dutiful and considerate DIL. Is it time to give up the pretence? I don't get it, that after 20 years I merit no consideration, and am made to feel like a weirdo who makes things awkward. Do they want me to sit there and pass out? God forbid they have to put on a jumper and compromise on heating levels for an hour or two (as we do when they visit us ). I feel for DH who does most of the routine visiting and helping out, but that is seen as expected, but when SIL goes once a year, it's like royalty is visiting.

I am mightily pissed off as it's so unfair to DH really, and then when I go too it's as if I'm some random person they don't know . I feel like never bothering again, but rather let them all get on with it, DH too and more fool him.

I also don't understand why it is seen as incomprehensible if a person is too hot, but perfectly normal and to be sympathised with if too cold? Easier to put another layer on, but there's a limit to what you take off and remain decent.

OP posts:
EKGEMS · 29/11/2019 18:15

The OP says she is disabled for all we know heat might make her condition worse some of these comments are like a shark feeding frenzy

ginghamstarfish · 29/11/2019 18:40

Those saying I am overreacting - as I stated I ALWAYS wear summer type clothes to visit them as I know it will be much hotter than I am comfortable with - vest top, loose wide pants etc, hair up, anything to keep cool. They know this and have made snidey comments on it a million times. PILs and SIL plus partner are all coming to us on Sunday for lunch, as SIL will drive them. So do you think it's ok for me to have MY house at 18 degrees which is our usual comfort zone? (theirs is 25 degrees). No of course not, I wouldn't dream of it as it would be rude and inhospitable. As usual, we will turn it up higher, to make them more comfortable. Yes it will be uncomfortable for me in particular as I will be cooking too, but I was brought up to consider others, and to compromise. Yes, it does piss me off that they don't do the same.

Re DH, well he will not turn down any request for help, particularly from his parents, no matter how unreasonable. He has no holiday allowance left now as most of it was used earlier in the year when I had major surgery and he had to be in the hospital and then look after me for a couple of weeks (no the PILs did not visit!). He was saving a few days for trips out, but none left now.

I am not talking about going NC with the PILs, that's not what I said, but after 20 years I have realised that it's as if I'm invisible when I'm there, so if they're not bothered and I'm miserable, it's time to just stop. DH can please himself (or should I say them).

OP posts:
CluelessNewMama · 29/11/2019 18:45

My PILs also blast the heating and fire all year round, it makes me feel sick; but it isn’t a reason not to see them. It sounds like you just don’t like your PILs and that’s why this annoys you so much.
Your DP may want to spend lots of time with them and do things for them even though they could do it themselves; they are his parents, he probably wants to look after them in their old age.
Maybe if you limit your visits to just go occasionally you will find it easier to get along with them and bite your tongue. I think NC is a bit dramatic and could be very upsetting to your DH.

CluelessNewMama · 29/11/2019 18:48

Just read your update - it is a bit unfair on you if DH is using up all his holiday/ free time for them and has no time left to spend with you. This would upset me too. He could do with compromising too so you also get to spend time with him.

grafittiartist · 29/11/2019 18:55

I think a bit of tolerance of in-laws is important, to be a supportive partner.
No one is perfect.

flouncyfanny · 29/11/2019 19:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Armadillostoes · 29/11/2019 19:11

Your whingeing about the heating and stropping out like a moody teenager made me lose sympathy somewhat. I think that might be a red herring though, as you seem to feel that there are wider issues about favouritism here.

Side note, if you really are at risk of fainting in 25 degree heat, have you seen your GP?

flouncyfanny · 29/11/2019 19:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ginghamstarfish · 29/11/2019 19:31

Sorry to see there are others like me who don't like heat - makes me wonder why someone like this is treated as a freak, but if you're always cold that's different? It really is shit being too hot, my face goes red, I get a headache, and that's apart from sweating, feeling you must be getting stinky. I don't get why this is hard to comprehend, if I said I was too cold there there would be much more sympathy!

OP posts:
ginghamstarfish · 29/11/2019 19:33

Also for the third time I have not said anything about going NC! I am happy to talk on the phone/skype when my DH calls them, exchange emails etc as we have been doing.

OP posts:
TowelNumber42 · 29/11/2019 19:37

I think you are moaning about the wrong thing. Your DH avoiding spending time with you is the bigger problem.

recklessruby · 29/11/2019 19:38

ginghamstarfish completely get you. I m made to feel like a freak for opening the windows at work as I cant function with 25c heating, I get migraines.
However if I was cold I d get all the sympathy

MulticolourMophead · 29/11/2019 19:51

Ignore the heating issue (and I'm with you there, I'm the same, and no, there's nothing wrong with me, the GP said so).

The real issue is that your DH is not spending time with you all as a family, instead he's used up all his leave pandering to his parents.

He needs to start being unavailable for the smaller stuff, they can get a taxi or the hospital transport for appointments.

Teaandcrisps · 29/11/2019 20:03

Is your OH not able to look after you properly OP if he is constantly at the beck and call of his parents? His priority should be you especially considering you have had major surgery. And in turn, his parents should understand that in light of what has happened they should back off and let him get on with that.

What I read is that they couldn't give a flying fuck about you, want thier health needs to be a priority over yours. Your relationship doesn't exist in thier eyes just thier son.

I dont get why you've bothered all these years, just leave them to it. Oh and do me a favour do not move the heating dial - let your OH do it.

flouncyfanny · 29/11/2019 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tighnabruaich · 30/11/2019 11:45

Can you reply to the posters (including me) who said you were focussing on the heating and not saying much about being turfed out of the guest bedroom and told to find a hotel so that SIL could use it? I would have gone straight home if that had happened.

ginghamstarfish · 02/12/2019 10:47

@Tighnabruaich I've put up with the heating situation for 20 years, it's not new and I go prepared. I think I've already explained all this! This time it was like the final straw - it was PILs 'normal' 25 degrees or thereabouts, I was already very uncomfortable but I knew to expect it. It was that the SIL and partner were laying around in short sleeve T shirts, (yes, the uninvited partner turning up did cause us to be turfed out)both said they were cold, so MIL got up at the speed of light and turned on the gas fire so the poor dears wouldn't have to get off their arses and put some appropriate clothing on.

OP posts:
ginghamstarfish · 02/12/2019 10:51

The hotel thing was secondary I guess, annoying to have it sprung on us, and as if we were clearly inferior to SIL and partner, but actually was more comfortable there than boiling to death at PILs house.

OP posts:
RhinoskinhaveI · 02/12/2019 10:53

My mother-in-law was rather rude to me about 10 years ago, I have not set eyes on her since, job done everyone's happy 😊

RhinoskinhaveI · 02/12/2019 10:55

And as said this is all about your in-laws positioning themselves as the most important people, they are trying to arrange things so that their son feels obliged to look after them and will always put their needs first.
I would suggest that you follow their example, be monumentally selfish and put your own needs front and centre ahead of everyone else's😎

HouseworkAvoider10 · 02/12/2019 10:56

nah, don't bother anymore.
they sound like toolbags.

Tighnabruaich · 02/12/2019 11:47

I think the heating is a symptom of their complete disregard for you and your comfort when visiting.
The hotel (though it turned out to be more comfortable) thing is what I find totally outrageous.
So inhospitable and downright rude to you.
I cut my MIL out of my life three years ago after 20 years of rudeness, snide remarks and it feels great. OH still visits her and she never even asks why I'm not with him.

ginghamstarfish · 02/12/2019 12:41

@Tighnabruaich yes, I think it's time to give up. The heating thing is just one part of it ... last year SIL's partner 'wrote' a book, well it's a book of quotations about a particular topic, self published via Amazon. PILs were absolutely thrilled, even though they hadn't even met him then, and it's not a topic they are remotely interested in. They bought everyone print copies for Christmas (at £20 each), and still talk about 'having an author in the family'. DH gamely tried to read his copy but gave up as it's so boring. The thing is, about 3 years before, I published my first book, also non fiction, a language teaching book, which sells reasonably well and has good reviews. DH proudly told them while I was there, and they said 'oh very nice' then changed the subject .... it's never been mentioned since. Twats.

OP posts:
Talkingmouse · 02/12/2019 12:54

You were wrong to go off and sit in the car but that was one mistake and a red herring to the wider issues.

They clearly have major personality issues. Avoid them. But your main problem is with your dh. He should be putting you and your kids as his top priority. Driving 4 hours to help them with a short drive? F that. He should be saying a flat no to anything batshit like that, and you should be focussing on addressing this and similar actions by your dh.

Purpleartichoke · 02/12/2019 13:24

I get it. I get sick so quickly in the heat. I’ve had to spend holidays standing outside in the cold because I couldn’t step foot in the house without getting sick again. I now know better and just decline those particular invites.

It’s perfectly reasonable to limit your visits. I would start by never staying with them. Get a hotel where you can control the temp. Then try to get as much visiting to happen out of the house as possible.

It’s ok to stand up for yourself. You don’t have to go no/contact, just take back some control. That may mean more infrequent contact, but clearly they don’t care anyway.

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