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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think SIL is being awkward about this?

412 replies

emptybaskets · 27/11/2020 16:20

Generally we have always got on fine but I have found her to be awkward/unreasonable if things don’t go her way or if we don’t/can’t fit in with her schedule.

It was my nieces birthday on Tuesday and I’ve been trying to drop off her presents since with no luck. The reason being is because I work full time (very long hours and a 3hr commute all round). I don’t normally get home until around 7:30. On Tuesday they were understandably busy, Wednesday they were going out for a meal and leaving the house at 6pm, Thursday my eldest niece had dance activities and they wouldn’t be home until after 9pm, which would mean I’d have to come back out of the house and drive to them.

I suggested tonight as I knew they didn’t have any plans and asked if I could call in on my way home from work for 10 mins at around 7:30 to drop off presents and see niece open them. SIL said no because she goes to bed at 8 and asked if I could come tomorrow or Sunday instead. I’m on a training course all day tomorrow and Sunday I have plans with my own family. I’ve ended up sending a message saying “will drop presents off @ 7:30 and leave them by the door”, she responded with “okay thanks I’ll video niece opening them and send it to you”

AIBU to think she’s being extremely awkward, unreasonable, ungrateful and just a bit nasty actually? If she is going to let her open them tonight when I’ve dropped them off (30 mins before bedtime so plenty of time and can tell her she can play with them in the morning, she’s generally a good girl so will understand), then why can’t she let me come in for 10 minutes and watch her open them? I can’t imagine doing this myself if someone had gone to the effort to buy my children presents and drop them off, I would at least invite them in for a quick chat.

(Side note - I leave the house most days at 6:30 so can’t go there on my way to work just incase someone suggests). I do think because she only works part time she doesn't always understand that I can't just drop everything to work around her schedule.

OP posts:
emptybaskets · 27/11/2020 17:31

@HaggieMaggie there is no safe place unfortunately, she lives in a block of flats so I have to leave them right outside her front door. That's why I said I would text her when I'd dropped them off just so that they don't get pinched.

OP posts:
Piffle11 · 27/11/2020 17:31

YABU. You wanted to do X, she said it didn’t work for them and suggested Y, which didn’t work for you, so you said you’d do Z. She has agreed to this and offered to video DN opening gifts. I don’t know you, but with my ILs, if I said a certain time wasn’t suitable, they’d say ‘we’ll only stay 10 mins’ ... and then they’d stay for over an hour. Asking someone to leave after 10 mins can go either way: you could have someone say, ‘oh yes, of course’, or they could get pissed off. I think SIL has done the right thing for her family.

ittakes2 · 27/11/2020 17:31

If you don’t have children you might not understand that opening her presents 30min before her bed time will make her excited and unable to sleep. It’s likely her mum is going to video her opening them in the morning.

PaperTowels · 27/11/2020 17:32

How do you know she's going to let your niece open them on the same day you drop them round?

emptybaskets · 27/11/2020 17:32

I do have children @ittakes2, it's mentioned somewhere in my op.

OP posts:
unmarkedbythat · 27/11/2020 17:32

You sound like hard work, op, tbh.

emptybaskets · 27/11/2020 17:33

@Santaisironingwrappingpaper I did think that. Baby niece was out until after 9 that night.

OP posts:
LoveSummerNotIcecream · 27/11/2020 17:33

You should have posted the presents.

My in-laws used to do this, turn up just before bedtime and excite my DS so he went to bed late, took ages to get to sleep and there was the consequent bad behaviour due to tiredness the next day.They also insisted on us doing things that were convenient for them and not us.

Then SIL had a baby and they couldn’t have been more flexible and accommodating.

I told my husband to grow a pair and stand up to them. With DS2 it’s so different. I’m very polite, but if they try to turn up at bedtime they would get a similar text to the one your sister in law sent you.

YABU. But I realise it comes from a good place. You love your niece, but someone’s got to be flexible and I’m not sure if should be her.

BBCONEANDTWO · 27/11/2020 17:36

Even before covid what difference does it make unless you're there on the person's actual birthday (maybe attending a birthday party) does it make to see them opening it.

They're kids - it's like Christmas morning my MIL used to wait to come round on Christmas Day to make sure my kids knew exactly who bought the present - it was blooming awkward as Santa had already delivered.

MaMaD1990 · 27/11/2020 17:36

She may not let her open them until the next day and maybe thats why she said she'd send a video?

Nottherealslimshady · 27/11/2020 17:37

I dont understand why you've waited until after her birthday? Surely you could have done this 2 weeks ago, then there would be no rush and she'd have them on her birthday.

2021optimist · 27/11/2020 17:37

I don't think you SIL is being unreasonable at all, sorry.

emptybaskets · 27/11/2020 17:40

I've not been able to drop the presents off when they've been out as there is no safe place to store things (block of flats). That's why I've had to try and work around her schedule and drop them off when she's actually home. I've tried to drop the presents off all week but they've been out every single night since Monday.

OP posts:
sadie9 · 27/11/2020 17:41

If you absolutely need to see her opening them, then is a lot of this is about you and your needs.

Post your niece a parcel.
Every kid is absolutely delighted with getting a parcel in the post.
So exciting for them, and it's great to get something after when all the other birthday stuff is forgotten.

Sunmoonstars77 · 27/11/2020 17:46

I don't see the big deal with having to watch her open them. Just drop the present off and that's that !!! Why make things more complicated!

GlowingOrb · 27/11/2020 17:46

If you work late hours, then dropping on a day you don’t work is the solution. That didn’t suit you. I think Sil is being very reasonable.

MojoJojo71 · 27/11/2020 17:46

I’m with you OP. I can’t imagine a scenario where someone leaves a gift on the doorstep when I am actually in the house without coming out and thanking them! Surely the bairn can go to bed a little bit later tonight after seeing her auntie for a few minutes?

AnneLovesGilbert · 27/11/2020 17:52

She doesn’t say she’s opening them tonight. You’re obviously very busy, she and the kids are busy. She didn’t have to suggest the video and she’s making an effort by doing so.

If you find her awkward generally that may be clouding your judgement.

Gazelda · 27/11/2020 17:52

I get your frustration. But I don't think SIL has been unreasonable. It's just unfortunate that each of your commitments haven't enabled a convenient time for you to drop in. No one's fault. No reason to take it personally.

AnneLovesGilbert · 27/11/2020 17:53

@MojoJojo71

I’m with you OP. I can’t imagine a scenario where someone leaves a gift on the doorstep when I am actually in the house without coming out and thanking them! Surely the bairn can go to bed a little bit later tonight after seeing her auntie for a few minutes?
It wouldn’t be ten minutes though. It never is.
WhySoSensitive · 27/11/2020 17:53

She said she would film it hit didn’t say it would be that night? She may do it over the weekend instead.
I wouldn’t want someone in my house that close to bedtime with presents, it massively disrupts things.

On another note Do you get on otherwise? I don’t like my MIL and this is how I would behave for her. As in I would tell her we had plans etc and I wouldn’t let her in to see DS half an hour before bedtime.

FestiveChristmasLights · 27/11/2020 17:53

I don’t think she was being unreasonable at all and wouldn’t even if we weren’t in a pandemic.

Charmatt · 27/11/2020 17:53

It's a Friday night FGS, surely her niece can stay up a few minutes longer!

OP, SIL seems like hard work to me!

emptybaskets · 27/11/2020 17:56

I gave her a choice of 5 evenings which she has said no to, she's given me 1 day (my only day off) so I personally don't see that as a compromise.

Thanks @MojoJojo71, that was my point but I guess the other posters don't agree which is fair enough. They will literally be sat in the living room when I walk up to the door. I just can't imagine not letting someone come in for 10 minutes, and honestly that is how long I'd be there for as I'm shattered and need to get home to my own family. As I said, maybe "watch" was the wrong word to use. I'm really not that precious. It would just have been nice to see her since I haven't been able to all week.

I think it's best if I just put some money in a card next year and pop it through the letter box. Just saves any hassle or disappointment.

OP posts:
Beeth0ven · 27/11/2020 17:56

I AM WITH YOU OP

I think something in your OP must have triggered the most uptight subset of the mumsnet community.

She sounds very ungrateful and a bit of a dick. NO WAY would I let a relative drop off prezzies & refuse them to come in, even if it did affect bedtime.

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