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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have told my SIL to fuck off?

283 replies

Ablemaybel · 24/04/2020 16:10

A little background.
There was a major falling out between myself, DH with his parents and two sisters some years back. It happened after our DD was involved in a road accident. We are still in touch with DHs brother and his uncle on mums side.
After several months DH resumed contact with them, and visited regularly taking both of our 2 DC.
I was never invited back, (both SI live with their parents, one being divorced, the other never moving out) which has never really bothered me. They both said some really nasty things to me, and about me at the time.

Fast forward years and I'm still answering our land line to hear either one of my SILs say is DH there? I have repeatedly asked DH to ask them to call him on his mobile, and after what seemed forever he told me he had told them. We've had no contact for years, there was never any apology, and I was just fed up being their switch board.
A few days later they called the home phone again, before handing him the phone, I asked him again if from now on could they please call his mobile.
A few days later I pick up to, is DH there?
I was really fed up and without much thought answered oh fuck off, and hung up.

DH thinks I behaved unreasonably, and I think most of you may also think that. I'm just interested to see what people unrelated to this think.

OP posts:
Newkitchen123 · 24/04/2020 19:21

How many other people ring your landline?
Just don't answer
Do 1471 if it's some one else then call them back
If it's them don't

CallmeAngelina · 24/04/2020 19:24

I remember once, one of dh's squash league guys phoning the landline one evening. He clearly forgot himself and thought he was in the office and that I was some sort of minion, as he barked, "Joe Bloggs, please," at me.
I left a deliberate pause, and replied, "Excuse me?" in a possibly snotty tone (as in, are you talking to me?). He double-took, collected himself, and then said, "I'm so sorry, is Joe there? May I speak to him."
I think your sil was rude, to ignore the fact that you are answering the phone in your own house, so fair play to you for finally calling her out on it.

Faulksonline · 24/04/2020 19:29

Ha! Bravo, OP. Cheered me right up reading that. Wish I had your balls

TwistyHair · 24/04/2020 19:40

Why do you answer the phone? I couldn’t get annoyed about answering a phone. And if it was bugging me that much I just wouldn’t answer it or would block their number.

Crickets · 24/04/2020 19:40

Before the fuck off, did YOU tell your sils to ring their DBs mobile rather than the family landline? You assume your DH passed the message on and he should deal with it.

You dealt with this aggressively, maybe with good reason. An assertive way to deal with this would be to say 'ring X's mobile rather than the landline in future or I will block this number'. Then fuck off.

HedgehogHotel · 24/04/2020 19:41

Shame your DH is prioritising the feelings of people who have been vile to you and not apologised for any of it. What's his excuse for his not having your back?

Eddielzzard · 24/04/2020 19:41

keep doing it. Well done.

RebelWhoWashesFor19Seconds · 24/04/2020 19:49

I have REPEATEDLY asked SIL and MIL not to phone the house phone. It's behind the settee behind a lamp and covered in dust (no where else to really keep it). It's for emergencies only. Calls to mobiles are no longer something daft like £1 a min like in the early days so there's just no good reason for it except bloody stubbornness.

So, a few times a week I find myself scrambling over a settee wondering what unfortunate event has warranted a call to the emergency line, only to find I'm a bloody switch board.

So no, YWNBU to say fuck off. I am tempted to unplug my house phone completely and let them think we're not home as it will just ring out for them.

Sherlockia · 24/04/2020 19:58

I guess I'm in the minority but I think if your husband is still in contact with them, and your children see them then he has every right to receive phone calls in his own house from his family. I would get caller i.d so you don't have to answer them.

HighNetGirth · 24/04/2020 20:02

Your husband is a drip. Didn’t sort anything out, fails to answer the landline.

He is not in a position to complain.

Honeyroar · 24/04/2020 20:03

I think it’s a bit OTT personally. Why can’t they call your husband on his landline?

Aridane · 24/04/2020 20:04

they are his family and he has every right to speak to them

And he can do that...on his mobile.

Bloody hell - who died and made OP the PHone Police

It’s his bloody landline too

To have told my SIL to fuck off?
MrsJBaptiste · 24/04/2020 20:14

Sorry to digress but you get calls on your landline?

Get an answerphone, don't answer it and call anyone important back.

Cherrysoup · 24/04/2020 20:15

Jesus, who uses landlines? Like, my mother, who’s in her 80s, that’s who!

WhereYouLeftIt · 24/04/2020 20:23

I use a landline. What's your problem?

Tjsmumma · 24/04/2020 20:26

Sounds as though its a torment to you, keeo telling them to fuck off, if you don't see them then they'll soon get the gist! Well done for sticking uo for yourself OP ❤️

Sushiroller · 24/04/2020 20:28

Stop answering the landline. Make him answer it. Every. Time.

He is clearly home...

TJM123 · 24/04/2020 20:39

I think swearing is not helpful - next time I would politely explain ‘I have repeatedly asked that you only ring on the mobile, please respect that. I’m hanging up now, goodbye.’ They will soon get fed up if you do this each time. DH should have your back whatever you said though.

Thirtyysomething · 24/04/2020 20:42

Before you even said it, I was going to say just hang up on when they ask for him.

Fluffybutter · 24/04/2020 20:43

@Cherrysoup I always forget we have one and then panic when it rings as no one ever calls it😂

5zeds · 24/04/2020 20:47

You don’t have to be reasonable though do you? The rest of them get to act how they like. Dh chats to his sisters while they blank his wife. The sisters call the landline despite being asked to call the mobile. EVERYONE gets to be unreasonable except OP??? I think fucking not! Do. It.every.time......and enjoy it. Rude miserable fuckers, they are.

FabbyChix · 24/04/2020 20:47

Why can’t you just be the. Giver person answer the phone and pass it over? Are you really that full of hatred which is an emotion that’s really not worth every letting someone make you feel

LadyLightning · 24/04/2020 20:50

What is your husband doing to let this go on so long? This is really unacceptable, he needs to have your back. And what is up with two grown women who live with their parents? The earlier poster is right - they want to get a reaction from you. just put the phone down quietly, or better yet, put the receiver down on a surface and wander off.

5zeds · 24/04/2020 20:51

“Be the bigger person” sounds like code for “be polite and good whatever shit is doled out“. Get thee to the feminist board and come back when you have learnt to unfetter yourself from that crap.

user2323232323 · 24/04/2020 20:55

Does the landline only belong to you?