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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not continue to buy my exH's family presents?

254 replies

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/05/2020 20:06

ExH and I have been split up for nearly a year. We’re leading separate lives in separate cities whilst trying to co-parent our 7yo and 3yo.

When we were together I did ALL the “life admin”, even in regard to his family - bought all presents, RSVPd to weddings and organised hotels, outfits etc, sorted us going to family parties, everything. I did it begrudgingly because I always loved (most of) his family and otherwise nothing would get done.

The kids came back from a week at his on Sunday, the same day as their cousin’s (exSIL’s son) 7th birthday. I commented on her Facebook post saying happy birthday Harry, but I didn’t check if the kids had spoken to him as, by then time they got home at 5.30pm, it had gone from my mind. May or may not be relevant - “Harry” is very spoilt and indulged, to a ridiculous degree, Ex and I used to refer to him between ourselves as Little Lord Fauntleroy. There would be an expectation from everyone to make a big deal about his birthday.

Yesterday I got a text from exSIL saying that Harry is very upset as he feels his cousins forgot his birthday - they didn’t get a call, a card or a present, and she “expected better of me” Hmm. She knows they came home in the evening and Harry was expecting a call when they got back. Now since Ex and I split up, I’ve maintained a good relationship with his family - mainly because I always got on with them, especially his mum and dad, and there really was no need for any animosity. But his siblings were always hard work and I wasn’t sorry to see the back of them. So I simply replied “speak to your brother” and thanked my lucky stars I didn’t have to please her any more.

Anyway today I got a text fro exMIL - who BTW I adore and she’s been amazingly supportive since the split. She said exSIL is obviously upset because Harry’s birthday was a bit naff in isolation and that was compounded by no contact from his favourite cousins - which she acknowledges is exH’s fault entirely. However she’s basically gone on to ask if I could carry on getting presents for their family members - on behalf on the DC and/or me rather than from ex - as she feels that otherwise there’s gonna be no presents at all and a lot of upset.

My first thought was “no fucking way”. Aside from the fact that I don’t want to continue to facilitate exH’s goal of being the biggest manchild in existence, I’m a single mum now and this could cost a fortune! His family is huge and even if I spent just £10 each on cousins, aunties, uncles and grandparents, for Xmas and birthdays that would be £400 a year!

However, she’s right about one thing - if I said no, there’d be no presents for them ever again. ExH has the unfortunate affliction of being lazy, selfish and tight fisted all at the same time. He’s not hapless or forgetful - but buying presents means taking more than 4 seconds to do something for someone else, whilst parting with his money, and he won’t do it. And he wouldn’t be ashamed about it either (you can see why he’s an Ex). His mum and dad especially deserve better than that. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ll be amazed if DD gets anything from him for her birthday in a couple of weeks. So if I do say no, then my in laws will get nothing and my DC will be in the horrible position of being the only grandkids not to buy granny, grandad etc presents at Christmas - something they scarcely notice now but will do before long.

Good people of MN - what should I do?!

OP posts:
HaveAtEm · 06/05/2020 15:26

@1forsorrow do you ever apologise for being wrong? Because not only were you wrong here, you were rude to me, twice, about ME being wrong...when I wasn’t...then tried to deflect by changing the subject and telling me to have a go at other people about something totally different 😱 Unbelievable 😂😱😂 Fuck me 😂😂

ShagMeRiggins · 06/05/2020 16:00

I wouldn't feel sorry for the mil. He turned out a selfish shit because of her parenting.

No. This is bullshit. Think it through. If it were true then all siblings brought up by the same parents would behave the same. They don’t.

starfishmummy · 06/05/2020 16:08

It isnt anyone's responsibility. If you dont want to buy presents for your kids cousins, or for yiur kids tongive them a token gift then that's fine too. However your stbx is also entitled to make the same decision.

CrazyTimesAreOccurring · 06/05/2020 16:12

@ShagMeRiggins good point. And also - blaming just the mother not the father is typical. Yes I know it is her that has sent the text, but they both brought the lazy git up. you cant blame the parents once we become adults. His choice to be what he is

WeAllHaveWings · 07/05/2020 15:26

I agree with PPs you shouldn't have to do this. But they are the DCs' family even if not yours.

They are also his dc's AND his family. Children don't principally buy presents, their parents do that for them. It is not fair on the op to continue the burden and financial cost of keeping his family present happy. It needs to be nipped in the bud now before resentment of something she has been forced into festers.

GlummyMcGlummerson · 07/05/2020 16:35

Evening all.

So I replied to exMIL, and said happy to buy for her and FIL and always will but it's simply not fair to ask me to do it for other people - Ex needs to buck up his ideas and it's not my responsibility. It wasn't in my marriage and it certainly isn't now. She replied to say fair enough and she apologised for asking but reading between the lines think she's trying to placate exSILs temper tantrum

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 07/05/2020 17:27

I'm sure she is, OP, but that's her problem (well, really it's your ex's problem) but not yours. I'm glad she seems reasonable, though.

CrazyTimesAreOccurring · 07/05/2020 17:40

Good to hear the result @GlummyMcGlummerson, sounds like she is very embarrassed with it all

frazzledasarock · 07/05/2020 18:13

I think both your EXMIL & ExSIL are cheeky. They know their own brother/son will give them a load of abuse so they’re trying to bully you the one they see as the pushover to keep the equilibrium they want.

Sod that.

Do only up to what you can and want to.

gingerbeerandlemonade · 07/05/2020 18:26

Ask ex for the money first.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 07/05/2020 20:27

Good update!

GlummyMcGlummerson · 07/05/2020 22:00

WELL! I have had a text tonight from exSIL. I think you'll all be very proud of me (I may be slightly pissed BTW I've been checking the Prosecco in the fridge for poison).

ExMIL obviously told her the gen. ExSIL has messages to say that, seeing as Little Lord Fauntleroy won't be getting presents from my kids any more, as ex wont buy him any, she thinks it's only fair that they don't buy for my 2 either and we put a mutual end to present giving.

You'd be proud of me MN.
What I wanted to say was
"That's fine, arseface. I mean I was with your brother for 12 years and in all those years I bought your 2 DDs presents including £100 cash when they turned 18. But yeah you're right, getting a colouring book for my 2 would be the real injustice in all this."

What I actually said (Dutch courage permitting) was "That's fine but again you need to contact your brother to tell him. It's no longer my responsibility to buy Little Lord Fauntleroy presents or accept any from you for DS and DD."

OP posts:
Itwasntme1 · 07/05/2020 22:04

Well done😊.

What a dreadful, sexist, petty woman. Your ex MIL really raised a pair didn’t she😂😂

TinRoofRusty · 07/05/2020 22:04

BRAVO, Glummy! Just don't go there.

cstaff · 07/05/2020 22:23

She really is a piece of work OP. I presume that you are not wrong about Little Lord Fauntleroy either. What will that kid grow up to be like. A materialistic little fucker would be my guess.

I love the way they take this out on you. Easily known her brother is a useless piece of work.

Well played OP.

GigiLamour · 07/05/2020 22:25

Wow, you have won a massive victory by getting that sexist tightwad out of your life! The ILs are really showing their true colours.

Go Glummy Star

Windyatthebeach · 07/05/2020 22:27

I would bow down to you op if you had really referred to him as Littlel Lord F!!
Grin

GlummyMcGlummerson · 07/05/2020 22:30

Sadly I didn't windy, I think she'd drive the 2 hours to actually kill me Grin

OP posts:
Windyatthebeach · 07/05/2020 22:37

Ha ha. I remember my sil telling me she wasn't buying for mine anymore when I announced my 3rd pregnancy..fair enough.
She announced hers soon after.
She was spitting mad when mil said we would have to share the £100 she would have given as we were both pregnant at the same time!!
Grin

timeisnotaline · 08/05/2020 00:19

Oh dear. Well I’d say those guys are no loss, huge win to rid you and the kids (it’s not like entitled tightwad will keep up the relationship) of them!

cstaff · 08/05/2020 01:28

Just to be clear OP that was your sil I was referring to. Your mil sounds lovely and was just put in an awkward position by her own daughter. She really was caught in the middle and was trying to keep her dd happy.

Eddielzzard · 08/05/2020 07:05

Well done. Very dignified. Absolutely no loss to you is she?

Keitepeheakoe · 08/05/2020 10:32

Your Sil sounds a right mare

JudyGemstone · 08/05/2020 13:42

Well done OP

One of the best things about divorcing exh W was not having to buy presents for his family anymore, and I love them - there's just hundreds of them and it was never ending!

I think he does it now, unless he's delegated it to his new partner!

Jux · 08/05/2020 13:43

Goodness, BOTH her kids are awful! No wonder MIL wants to keep in touch with you, she must have been delighted to welcome a normal, nice person into her otherwise appalling family!

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