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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be worried this will change our relationship

492 replies

topandtailem · 26/08/2020 08:45

Good relationship with parents in law. See them regularly, they dote on our 3YO and help with childcare (at their request, we’ve always been clear we’re happy to put her in nursery more often). I’ve always been aware that MIL doesn’t necessarily agree with everything we do or parenting choices we make but that’s up to her and we’ve always rubbed along okay.

They recently promised us money to help with buying a bigger house in a better area. Now, after we’ve sold our house, had an offer accepted, paid for a survey and paid for mortgage arrangement fee, they’ve withdrawn the offer.

That’s fine, they’re within their rights and although I’m gutted, this is one of the reasons you have to be careful accepting money from others. I get it. I can move on.

But the reasons they’ve given basically boil down to them thinking that it isn’t the right house for our daughter and she won’t be happy there and they can’t condone our decision.

This is what I keep dwelling on. We have chosen that house purely based on it being the perfect house for our family. Great area, great schools, lovely garden. Do my parents in law think I’m a bad parent? That they need to intervene to stop us from making a selfish decision that will hurt our child?

So putting the house and the money aside, how do I get past this? I want a good relationship with them but when we spoke on the phone last night she just refused to be moved and said she wasn’t making the decision lightly and she hadn’t slept in days. She just wants what is best for her grand daughter. Which to me is reiterating that point that we can’t be trusted to make that choice ourselves. I’m not sure I can easily forgive her for this.

If it matters, we’re early thirties, gainfully employed, daughter is thriving.

OP posts:
Mrsbrownsgargoyle · 19/02/2021 09:11

Exactly what CuriousaboutSamphire said.

Ginfordinner · 19/02/2021 09:12

Good luck with the move today.
My favourite expression is "don't try and guilt trip me". I have never actually used it, but I would if I had to.

Chickychickydodah · 19/02/2021 09:38

Sorry you have been treated like this but I would not talk about money again and keep them out of your financial affairs. It’s not about what’s best for your child, it’s about control.
Good luck

iwishiwasatcentralperk · 19/02/2021 09:48

OP, I just read all your posts and I am glad that you have still got the house and are moving in.

You have clearly shown PIL's that you will not be beholden to them just so they can get their way.

It is bound to change the relationship forever but that will not be down to you. They clearly have issues.

MzHz · 19/02/2021 09:53

Huge congratulations to you all

Your comment about your h older brother was telling, and you’ve seen the side of his parents that the elder brother may have already seen

I’m glad you’ve given the mil distance and I’m sad but not surprised that MIL is still trying to play the victim in this.

She tried a master manipulator move and you and your lovely DH dodged it with expertise and skill.

The thing about her apparently still not sleeping (probably a load of bollocks) would I’m afraid provoke me to say “mmm, I’d not sleep again if I’d tried that move either”

I’d not be overly quick in inviting them over either.

Beforethetakingoftoastandtea · 19/02/2021 09:55

We are moving in the next couple of weeks. We are moving about 15 minutes away from where we are now, which is currently 10 minutes away from my parents. My mum is furious.
And not wven oretenting to gife it. She thinks im selfish as it means my dd not go to the high school On the same Road as them. My mum unapologetically says im taking that away from them. She even had a nightmare, shouting in her sleep according to my dad, this week about us moving. Because she is selfish. I just ignore her or wind her up now.

Best just to involve your inlaws Far less in future.

Beforethetakingoftoastandtea · 19/02/2021 09:56

And not wven oretenting to gife it.
That should have said, and not even pretending to hide it.

SPRINGTIMEBLUEBELLS · 19/02/2021 09:59

@topandtailem

I don’t know if anyone remembers my thread or cares about the outcome 😂 but I thought I’d pop back and update that we’re due to complete on this house tomorrow, without help from the in laws.

As I worried, our relationship is unfortunately very different now. We keep them at arms length and I know MIL in particular feels very anxious about the house and isn’t sleeping. I feel bad about that but ultimately I feel that whatever house we chose would have had a similar result, unless she had chosen it herself.

Putting that aside though, we’re so excited about the better house for DD and feel glad that we stood up for ourselves and drew a line in the sand.

Over the last few months I’ve revisited this thread on and off and the advice was just so wise and helpful. Thank you so much to those who took the time to respond and understood where I was coming from.

Good luck in your new home. Brilliant outcome. I feel she would have forever tried to control you if she helped buy a home.
Fluffycloudland77 · 19/02/2021 09:59

They still see you as children don’t they?. I couldn’t be doing with that either.

4Mongrels · 19/02/2021 10:04

Congratulations!

Oldraver · 19/02/2021 10:06

Good luck with your move OP

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 19/02/2021 10:06
Flowers
GU24Mum · 19/02/2021 10:09

Another one glad to hear the update. Good luck with completion and the move - busy but exciting times.

As for the MIL, if she's only happy when she can dictate to you (however well-intentioned (misplaced) and nicely said) then that simply won't work. Don't tiptoe round eggshells near her - she'll either get over it or she won't but that's her decision and you can't change her.

MacDuffsMuff · 19/02/2021 10:10

OP I'm so glad to read this update, I was so pissed off on your behalf when you originally posted it. Really pleased for you and your family. Hopefully things will settle down again when you're in and settled.

Honeyroar · 19/02/2021 10:10

Congratulations I hope you’ll be very happy.

Crosstrainer · 19/02/2021 10:12

I remember your original thread too - thanks for coming back to update us! So pleased that you have your house; I’m sure you’ll all be very happy there. As others have said, your MIL’s anxiety is not your problem - neither your fault nor your responsibility. Abs if the relationship has changed, that’s as a direct consequence of their actions. Please don’t lose any sleep over it yourself....

MrsBrunch · 19/02/2021 10:12

Congrats OP, when are you moving in, today?

Do you think MIL will feel better once you fill the pond in?

BrowncoatWaffles · 19/02/2021 10:17

Happy move day @topandtailem! I remember your thread - funnily enough we had an offer accepted on a house around the same time and are only just in too. Moving at the moment is bonkers!

Well done on finally getting into your new home, I hope you, DH and DD are very happy there.

Hopefully too your MIL will calm down the batshittery once you're in and settled but I can understand you keeping her at arm's length for now while you see if this was a (six month?!) blip or a sign of the mask finally fully slipping.

Cam77 · 19/02/2021 10:19

What they (or rather your MiL) did was pretty mental, I'm afraid. More like emotional/financial blackmail than a kind gesture. Using an offer of cash to dictate your life decisions. Still, I'd try to move past it - we all have our flaws. Defintely dodged a massive bullet tho.

Wagamas · 19/02/2021 10:21

How exciting op glad you stood your grounds on what you thought was best for your family.

Sounds like your mil just wants you at arms reach exactly like her older son. The further you move away the better! Keep head strong about your future decisions and goodluck on the move

tara66 · 19/02/2021 10:32

Very best wishes! A cautionary tale - one must try never to rely on anyone.

2020nymph · 19/02/2021 10:32

@TokyoSushi

Well you are an excellent Mumsnetter OP! A full sensible story with all the details, and an update almost 6 months later, gold star for you!

It sounds like you did exactly the right thing, I hope that you're very happy in your new home.

👆🏻 this. Congratulations on your new home!

Rainbowandscarlett · 19/02/2021 10:35

We are very lucky that my in laws bought our whole house for us (we pay a token rent)
They wanted to see us settled before they shuffled off this earth and figured we’d be better having a house now than pay silly rent and buy a house once they’d gone
Their only ‘rules’ where no new builds and they wanted to see what we’d chosen to make sure it was worth the money
We looked at about 50 online-chose two-invited them to view with us and chose the first my partner saw
If they’d started paying silly buggers trying to make choices for us I’d have called a halt to the whole idea
It was very very generous of them (don’t get me wrong-I couldn’t be any more grateful) but I couldn’t have had them have the whole say of where we live-it’s us that has to live here
As it is they are happy that we have a lovely house that we’ve done up and we love living here

AryaStarkWolf · 19/02/2021 10:36

@topandtailem

I don’t know if anyone remembers my thread or cares about the outcome 😂 but I thought I’d pop back and update that we’re due to complete on this house tomorrow, without help from the in laws.

As I worried, our relationship is unfortunately very different now. We keep them at arms length and I know MIL in particular feels very anxious about the house and isn’t sleeping. I feel bad about that but ultimately I feel that whatever house we chose would have had a similar result, unless she had chosen it herself.

Putting that aside though, we’re so excited about the better house for DD and feel glad that we stood up for ourselves and drew a line in the sand.

Over the last few months I’ve revisited this thread on and off and the advice was just so wise and helpful. Thank you so much to those who took the time to respond and understood where I was coming from.

Ah that's great news OP, such oddly intrusive behaviour from the inlaws. I think it's better that you have been able to do this on your own so you don't feel in their debt anyway, especially if that's how they behave
MrsBobDylan · 19/02/2021 10:39

Brilliant op! Fwiw your PIL sound like proper nightmares whereas you and dh are awesome.

We accepted help with a deposit from my late Father and holy Hell did we regret it! It nearly ruin my relationship with my sisters and we ended up in a house that financially nearly ruined us.

We sold up and moved on to a house that was right us.

You have done the right thing. Leave MIL to her 'anxiety' - classic narcissistic behaviour imo.