Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want my in-laws to enjoy my kids.

136 replies

Pancakebreakiii · 16/08/2020 09:51

I know I’m being spiteful and petty and I feel like telling my kids how they really are - but I won’t as they are young and I wouldn’t mess with their heads like that.

But I’m just so fucked off now as I feel like they have ‘won’ especially mil.

When I joined the family Sil was just divorcing Bil. Mil and Sil didn’t speak, Sil accused mil of bullying her. At that point mil was very nice to me although I was always aware that she could turn quite quickly. Every one has to dance to her tune and if not there would be actual slamming doors, shouting ( in my house) tears ect..

Mil actually paid the divorce settlement for bil - she brought the cheque to my house to show me. It was quite hefty but she said it was the price she paid for two grandkids. I’ve been there when she has asked her other grandkids ‘who do you live most, your mum or dad’ which made them really uncomfortable. She’s fucking rotten.

When I was pregnant she really bullied me, to the point I was going to leave dh. She was really unpleasant. Eg. She would let herself in to my house early in the morning whilst I was still in bed, come in to my bedroom and demand ( it was demand because the way she spoke to me was so hostile) to know where dh, Demanding to be at the birth as she was at her other grandkids, dh was so fucking flimsy about it and only stuck up for me when I actually packed a bag to leave. She went apocalyptic and left the country for a month when I was due. She sent me horrible text messages when she got drunk saying i was a ‘fucking cunt‘ I was ‘bullshit’ on the last one I told her to fuck off and never come to my house again. This caused bil to get on the phone and have a go at dh. Dh pretended he didn’t have a clue what was going - even though he was lay beside me when I started getting the messages.

From then we was excluded from family gatherings even though I’d done nothing to the wider family and was always nice and helpful. If dh was invited by himself - he went . I once bumped in to aunty once and whilst having a nice chat she said ‘your the black sheep of the family like me’ . I’d not actually said or done anything to these people for them to view me like this. Dh was quite low contact at this time. Although on occasion he would take the kids to see Mil and Bill and they showered them with gifts and the kids loved it.

Tbh it started to rot our relationship, other stuff happened unrelated and after ten years It called it a day. Since dh has become very close to his family. Seeing them most weekends and taking the kids. Kids talk about them all the time and I feel like I’m on the out side of my own family.

Mil posted a picture last night that my friend sent to me of my two kids sat on her knee with mil smiling smug and it’s give me the rage. Her other grandkids were stood round her too. She’s seen both her Dils off, had her boys back and is now enjoying our kids.

I don’t want them near her but now I feel like the unreasonable one Sad

OP posts:
QuestionMarkNow · 16/08/2020 11:41

My own experience @Pancakebreakiii,
As a child I had grand parents who were awful but were showering me with presents. I KNEW. Even if I liked the presents and it was nice. I knew.

As for your dcs, I’d start by stopping the every weekend stop at MIL. Spend time with your own at at least every other weekend. And forget about what they do when they are at their dad’s. If they are come back all smiles, just smile and nod and change the subject.

Bluntness100 · 16/08/2020 11:42

Op you’re coming across as proper obsessed and bitter, that’s not healthy even if it is understandable. She is not your mil. She is your ex mil. He is not your partner, he is your ex. They are not your family. On,y the kids are. The legalities Of divorce don’t change that. And why are you following her on social media?

Stop following her and try to stop reliving it and obsessing about it. Try to accept the relationship is over, refer to them as your ex’ S and your ex’s family in your own head. Because this level of bitterness, anger and obsession is only going to damage you and possibly your kids.

We’ve all met that woman who twenty thirty years on is still obsessed angry and bitter and can’t be in the same room as her ex, and has never made a go of it with someone else because she can’t get over it. Don’t be that woman.

Savingshoes · 16/08/2020 11:42

Depends on the age of your children. If they are young and grandmother is not talking about you in a negative light I would just learn from the fact that you were used as a womb and nothing more.
If they're older, it would be helpful for them to learn from you so they avoid being hurt/used as pawns by her in the future. Make sure the explanation is age appropriate and remember this is still their grandmother.

CelestialSpanking · 16/08/2020 11:43

I feel for you I really do- I have toxic ex in-laws too. You’ve understandably called it a day with your spineless husband so block all contact with his horrible mother and focus on the lovely times you can and will have with your children as a smaller family. Days out, lots of their friends round to play and have fun together. His mother is not your problem anymore. But also keep your feelers out for anything your children tell you about their granny that might be toxic or damaging towards them.

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 16/08/2020 11:45

Last time I saw ex-MIL (just after I left ExH) she threatened to punch me. It sickens me that my DC spend time with them, but I can't deny them a relationship with their grandparents. Unfortunately you have to be the bigger person and suck it up. It's a horrible feeling though, I know.

Palavah · 16/08/2020 11:47

You said you feel like she's "won". Actually she's only won if you continue to let her love rent-free inside your head.

Focus on you and your new life.

This is good advice:
*
Whilst you obviously know that you shouldn't involve your kids by burdoning them with adult issues, I don't think this has to go as far as "never saying a bad word". I think it's fine to be honest in an age appropriate, vague way if the topic comes up. For example, if 10 year old DC says "don't you think Granny is so lovely?" I think it's fine to say "well actually, sweetheart, she wasn't very kind to me when I was married to your dad. But I'm very glad that she makes you feel happy and that's the important thing".*

Member869894 · 16/08/2020 11:48

as you say, it would be spiteful and petty to stop your dcs seeing the nasty old bat if they are happy to and she loves them.

I think its perfectly natural to have those thoughts though - just don't act on them.

adulthumanwoman · 16/08/2020 11:52

Change your attitude. She is awful, yes, your DC will see this in time, so relax. If DC ask for anything you don't want bat it to her
"Mum can we go and stay at Bultins?"
"Ooo I bet grabby would love that, ask her"
"Mum can I have an ipad"
"YOu know granny loves treating you"

Give no fucks. Laugh at her absurdity.

Heffalooomia · 16/08/2020 11:53

The woman is toxic and dysfunctional in the extreme
you absolutely should insulate yourself from her as much as possible, do not engage, freeze her out of your life

ZooKeeper19 · 16/08/2020 11:53

@Pancakebreakiii this, what pp said Just hold tight op and wait til the children have grown up a bit. They will come to see the bigger picture. totally. I was that child. The kids will get it. Just be open with them when they ask. If they ask, tell them that your EX was unsupportive mummy's boy that could not stand up to her and that you love them and that is all they need to know.

Heffalooomia · 16/08/2020 11:54

I can't deny them of the relationship with their grandparents
I don't understand why you want your children to have a relationship with toxic dysfunctional violent people?

sodalite · 16/08/2020 11:56

unless you decide to move far away and enrol your children in school the other side of the country,

Not unreasonable, this is the action I took, although they were only toddlers at the time.
Mil was a toxic narcissist too and micro managed our lives until we moved away and changed numbers but we are still together and I often wonder if dh would get back in touch if we split but I'd make sure it went to court first.
She emotionally abused her own dc and turned them into minions and manipulated them and treated them like dirt while demanding respect back and she's NOT doing it to my dc.

Of course she's got her own story of events where I came along and stole her son from her and he stopped competing with his siblings to be in her good books because I was cold and didn't care about her game and her brainwashed family are all on her side.

Your dc will not work out for themselves what she's like, she will use mind games and manipulation to condition them and it'll be her way or the highway so they'll tow the line to keep the peace.
They'll spend the rest of their lives trying to make her happy, an impossible goal to reach as the bar keeps moving but she's enjoy them all trying harder everyday.

Alwaysinpain · 16/08/2020 11:57

KEEP THOSE CHILDREN AWAY FROM HER!!!! Supervised access for DH until you can trust him to keep her away from them.

OP, she is emotionally abusive! Please don't let her abuse your kids too!

Alwaysinpain · 16/08/2020 11:59

Oh and PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE too?!

Why would you allow these people to be around your children?

Supervised access only

Disabrie22 · 16/08/2020 12:00

OP - I really feel for you - she sounds horrendous. I would safeguard your children by just reminding them from time to time that granny was horrible to you - my own mum did this with us about her own toxic mother in law - it didn’t traumatise us. Remind them that if granny says mean things about you it’s because granny has mental health issues - she clear does!
Make sure the kids know to take anything she says with a pinch of salt. If you hear they are being toxic against you - you are fully within your rights to not allow them to see them.

Alwaysinpain · 16/08/2020 12:00

@Member869894

as you say, it would be spiteful and petty to stop your dcs seeing the nasty old bat if they are happy to and she loves them.

I think its perfectly natural to have those thoughts though - just don't act on them.

Are you having a laugh?!?! She's physically & emotionally abusive.....

If she was male, you'd be calling the OP all sorts for allowing her children to be around such a person Hmm

Disabrie22 · 16/08/2020 12:01

I see lots of people saying why would you allow your children to see their grandparents? You don’t get much choice when a partner has children in his custody - not unless you her social services to intervene. And that’s a can of worms.

Heffalooomia · 16/08/2020 12:04

If I had a mother-in-law who threatened to punch me it would be a 'make my day punk' moment,
then again I presume she wouldn't make the threat unless she was a bit handy with her fists?

GrolliffetheDragon · 16/08/2020 12:11

I think rather than focus on it being MIL "winning", think of it as your children winning the chance to be a part of their dad's family.

By the sounds of it that's not much of a plus.

And I speak as someone who was pushed to maintain contact with a close family member who was, arguably, emotionally abusive, on similar grounds. It's damaging.

daisyjgrey · 16/08/2020 12:15

Your children will realise she's a horrible person and make their own decisions when they're old enough. I did.

In the mean time, block the entire family on social media (why on earth are you still friends/following them on there) and pay no attention to their madness. Some families are just bat shit mad, you have to rise above it.

sodalite · 16/08/2020 12:21

My dh often wonders why his dad stood back while he was emotionally abused by his toxic mum, obviously because he was trained to always back her and didn't dare say anything but don't be that person who allowed them to go through emotional abuse.
You can see it they are too young to and soon will be too conditioned to so please protect them and stop contact.

Hodge00079 · 16/08/2020 12:27

Not easy but she gets a kick out of it when you are bothered. Can you ignore her? Block her and asked friends not to show you pictures etc?

Unless she is doing something wrong I think it would be hard not to let her have contact. It is difficult to ask children without it sounding like loaded questions. If you could casually slip it into conversation to see what they think.

I would have a chat with ex that as the children’s mother you would not like to think MIL is bad mouthing you

damnthatanxiety · 16/08/2020 12:30

Have either of her sons got new relationships? What do they feel about having their marriages ruined by their mother? Do they genuinely love her or are they just mentally beaten into accepting her?

Oldbagface · 16/08/2020 12:34

Don't really have any ideas. I'm guessing your SiL feels the same as you. Are you able to give eachother mutual support?

Your ex MiL sounds like a fucking nasty old snatch

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 16/08/2020 12:35

@Heffalooomia when she made the threat I was so shocked I couldn't do or say anything. I wish I had but the moment has long passed.

Unfortunately the DCs love her and that's why they continue to have a relationship with her. ExH was the golden child growing up and will not hear a word against her. And though she's a complete bitch to me, she treats the DCs well. DC1 is no fool and will figure out what she's really like before too long.

Swipe left for the next trending thread