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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

SIL and admin/wife work

110 replies

LavenderBear · 30/07/2020 19:42

This is one of those things that has become really important (almost like a hill to die on), but very aware you may all pile on and say it's just petty and we need to get on with it. So looking for honest views please.

When lockdown started easing a bit, we started talking (on DH's side of the family) about planning a get-together as the children/cousins hadn't seen each other in so long. Usually we see each other a fair bit as we all live reasonably locally. This would be MIL, her two sons (DH and BIL), me and SIL, and five children (mixture of ages under 6). We all get along well.

We all said it would be a good idea and a local park seemed to be bandied around as the destination, probably with a picnic. All fine. No one really made any effort to sort a date though. Over the next few weeks I mentioned to DH every now and then that maybe he should organise something (he had to talk to his brother about something unrelated, so seemed like it would be efficient). DH agreed and never did anything.

Fast forward a few weeks and me and SIL are talking about things over text and she mentions that we're trying to sort this meet-up. After thinking about my reply for a minute or so, I respond that yes and I'm very keen, but that I don't really want to organise it myself as I do literally everything else. I hold my breath a bit, thinking she might be hurt, offended, or pissed off, but then she replies saying exactly the same. We agree to leave it to DH and BIL to try and send a basic text to each other. All fine and me and SIL feel nicely bonded a bit.

To the crux of the story, sorry, MIL now really wants to arrange this (understandably). There's a family chat group and me and SIL mentioned that it's being sorted out by the two men. MiL is pleased and very happy. But nothing is happening. They're not bothering. And now MIL has asked me and SIL if we can just share dates and do it ourselves.

What do you think?

YABU - it's a tiny bit of admin and will make MIL happy, plus the kids get to hang out and they're the real ones missing out here.
YANBU - why on Earth can't the men text each other if it's such a small deal, and women are always left to sort things like this.

Background - me and SIL do everything. My nieces and nephews only gets birthday and Christmas presents because I sort it, and vice versa. I do SiL's birthday because DH wouldn't bother (actually, what would happen is MIL would mention it and he'd say he hadn't sorted anything so she'd give SIL money and say it's from all of us and DH would be fine with that; I don't want this, so I sort something), and I know she does mine. I don't mind this, but I refuse to do BIL because it's DH's own brother. So BIL rarely gets a birthday card or present.

OP posts:
SpeedofaSloth · 30/07/2020 19:44

YANBU. I has to stop my own MIL assuming I would do wife work for DH, too.

UgaBaluga82 · 30/07/2020 19:47

Tell your DH that he is really upsetting his mum, his wife and his sister buly not having a 5 minute conversation with his brother to sort out this meet up.

He'll either be apologetic and get it sorted; win.

Or he'll do nothing and you'll realised you're married to someone who expects you to be his personal secretary.

Update us to let us know which side of the fence he falls!

Leaannb · 30/07/2020 19:47

YANBU....Ask your husband why doesn't he want to see his mom

BoredHoolet · 30/07/2020 19:48

YANBU

PinkiOcelot · 30/07/2020 19:49

I think some things are a pain and it shouldn’t be a given. However, I don’t see the problem with just picking a date and agreeing to it. What is the big deal? I’m guessing the principle? If you want to meet up though, I’d just pick a date.

NerrSnerr · 30/07/2020 19:51

YANBU we have this issue with my husband's best friend. His wife will periodically message me to ask when we can all get together. I don't fucking know, I have my own friends to try and arrange stuff with and he can do it himself. Luckily I just forward the messages on to my husband and he deals with it. I reply every time telling her this and he sorts it but the messages still come to me first.

SebandAlice · 30/07/2020 19:51

Yanbu. He doesn’t care enough to organise it.

bookmum08 · 30/07/2020 19:53

How much 'admin' does this involve? "Is Saturday good for you?" "Yeah meet at the park about 11" "ok see you then".

Soontobe60 · 30/07/2020 19:53

I'm not sure what exactly there needs to be arranged? If you have a family whatsapp group, just message that you're free on XYZ dates, what about everyone else? Meet at AB or C park.

Brefugee · 30/07/2020 19:54

Y(and SIL)ANBU. Tell the sons they are upsetting their mum leaving her in the lurch like that. And don't budge

Soontobe60 · 30/07/2020 19:54

@NerrSnerr

YANBU we have this issue with my husband's best friend. His wife will periodically message me to ask when we can all get together. I don't fucking know, I have my own friends to try and arrange stuff with and he can do it himself. Luckily I just forward the messages on to my husband and he deals with it. I reply every time telling her this and he sorts it but the messages still come to me first.
Perhaps she's just trying to be your friend?
LemonyFace · 30/07/2020 19:54

YANBU
I'd send a message to the family WhatsApp saying "DH and BIL when are you organising this meet up so we can all see each other?" name and shame them!
Lazy ass men!

CourtneyLurve · 30/07/2020 19:54

Don't do it. Every time MIL asks about it, turn to DH and say, "MIL is asking about the meet-up. Can you ring her?"

Stompythedinosaur · 30/07/2020 19:54

I would die on that hill - dp has to make arrangements for his family.

Fedup21 · 30/07/2020 19:54

We have a family WhatsApp group for stuff like this so things get organised well by people chipping in and discussing dates. I’d set one up and let your MIL organise and chivvy her useless sons. Do they not want to see her?

GrumpyHoonMain · 30/07/2020 19:54

I think you guys should arrange something without the men. Just yourselves.

Parker231 · 30/07/2020 19:55

We split it down the middle. Present buying for his side of the family and organising visits (this involves flights),DH sorts out. It’s DNeph 21st birthday on Sunday, DH has arranged presents and card to be delivered (to Colorado).

I do for my side of the family- we went to see my parents last weekend. I sorted the Eurotunnel tickets etc.

Brefugee · 30/07/2020 19:55

How much 'admin' does this involve? "Is Saturday good for you?" "Yeah meet at the park about 11" "ok see you then".

yep. It is a few minutes work. Totally easy. SO THE SONS CAN TAKE CARE OF IT FOR THEIR MUM TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN

Kettlingur · 30/07/2020 19:56

@NerrSnerr

YANBU we have this issue with my husband's best friend. His wife will periodically message me to ask when we can all get together. I don't fucking know, I have my own friends to try and arrange stuff with and he can do it himself. Luckily I just forward the messages on to my husband and he deals with it. I reply every time telling her this and he sorts it but the messages still come to me first.
It feels a bit like arranging playdates for the husbands, doesn't it? I refuse to do it, but my friend always contacts her husband's friends' spouses to set up meetings, and the wives aren't even friends with each other! She says "He'd never meet any friends if I didn't do it" but eh... maybe he's just not bothered?
ScrapThatThen · 30/07/2020 19:59

I say meet sil for a beer in a nice beer garden and leave the kids with the dh's.

NerrSnerr · 30/07/2020 20:04

@Soontobe60 that's not why she's doing it. I have known her years and we have never had contact for 'chit chat'. It's exactly like @Kettlingur says, it's arranging play dates for husbands.

Boringnamechanging · 30/07/2020 20:06

@ScrapThatThen

I say meet sil for a beer in a nice beer garden and leave the kids with the dh's.
I agree with scrap
Couchbettato · 30/07/2020 20:07

My husband and his family can't organise a piss up in a brewery either OP and I have refused to get involved.

For example, SIL asked if we wanted to go to a restaurant on X date. We said yes. No organising of time until the day comes when SIL says it's got to be before 4 because she's fasting at 8 for 16 hours, and has work at 5am. We were already on 1pm, and I'd assumed it wasn't happening because no one bothered to communicate, so it ended up not even happening.

I could have stepped in and sorted a date and time for every one but I'm not their personal bloody assistant and neither are you OP

MrsHarveySpecterV · 30/07/2020 20:07

YANBU. We don't see as much of DHs family though since I started leaving him to arrange meeting up with them. This doesn't bother me but if it did I'd have carried on making the arrangements.

BlueJava · 30/07/2020 20:10

YANBU personally I'd just leave it. MIL can talk to her son if she wants.

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