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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU MIL?

74 replies

lostandlonely20 · 09/07/2021 13:13

I live abroad and am pregnant. Its been over a year since we saw our families and now there is the possibility that people can come and visit.

Last year after I had a stillbirth my parents came to visit but booked a hotel nearby and came to visit but gave me space when I needed it. My husband's parents came over later but wanted to stay in our apartment - we only have a 1 bed apartment and so they would've been sleeping in our living room. I said no, mainly because I was grieving and I'm quite private and wanted to have my own space to cry and not interact with anyone if needed. The flat is small and I didn't want to feel like I was hosting anyone because I just couldn't emotionally at that time and felt we'd be on top of each other.

My MIL kicked up a stink the whole trip, bringing up the fact that they had to pay to stay somewhere else, and why wouldn't we let them stay. They are not poor, have no mortgage but don't like spending money. I got so angry about it because I felt that she should've just respected my feelings during such a difficult time for me, but I'm not very confrontational and was also really struggling post stillbirth so was very passive aggressive about it and didn't say much. My husband struggles as my MIL can be very overbearing, I know he doesn't stand up to her just for an easy life most of the time plus he finds it hard to think of what to say on the spot. She also kept saying 'Oh but we've travelled all this way to see you' when sometimes I just needed to be alone (I mean it was literally a couple of weeks after giving birth and we hadn't buried the baby yet). I felt frustrated because it seemed to be all about her, when my husband and I had been through something so terrible.

Now they want to visit again and stay in our apartment - and I still don't want them to, this time because they will be flying in from the UK, where the covid numbers are going up and I'm not vaccinated at all (it's not recommended here for pregnant people yet) and I've read it spreads quickly indoors. Having lost the previous baby I am being super protective and cautious - we are only meeting a few friends about once a month but only outside and they get tests every time. No-one comes to our apartment apart from my midwife who wears a mask the whole time.

So I would like to ask if they can find somewhere else to stay and also to not see them for the first couple of days and for them to take pcr tests before we meet up. When I say to my husband that to me, this baby is the most important thing he obviously agrees but for some reason he can't just say this to his parents and just the thought of having the conversation with them feels like a huge effort because I'm expecting her to react the same way (I mean if she's happy to be like that just after I lost a baby, then I doubt she'll be more understanding now). I feel frustrated that my DH can't just talk to his parents about it, because we both know it will become and issue and he can't stand up to my MIL. AIBU?

OP posts:
FaceyRomford · 10/07/2021 00:15

When I say to my husband that to me, this baby is the most important thing he obviously agrees but for some reason he can't just say this to his parents

Tell him to grow a fucking pair. He's a married man with responsibilities and he needs to act like one.

billy1966 · 10/07/2021 01:52

OP,
As if you haven't enough going on.

Unfortunately when you marry a weak man who is scared of upsetting his mother, this is what you get.

MN is full of stories where the men don't care how inconvenienced their wife or children are, as long as their mother isn't upset.

Sexually, it would completely kill any desire for intimacy for a lot of women to have their husbands be so spineless.

Committing to a life of it is not easy.

Unfortunately your husband has taken the decision it appears to put his mother ahead of you.
Silly man.
You can't change that, but you CAN put yourself and your baby first.

You need to do what is best for you and your baby.

You are lucky that you have a loving family who will support you.

I think it would do you good to visit them on your own.
Be with people who understand and care deeply for you.
Flowers

Xmassprout · 10/07/2021 02:00

YANBU

If you're husband doesn't speak to them, then tell him they won't be visiting at all. If they don't agree to what you ask, they don't visit at all

Justilou1 · 10/07/2021 04:12

@lostandlonely20 - I have been married for nearly 20 years. I have three kids in their late teens. My DH romanticizes his childhood and his relationships with his parents (both divorced and remarried) who are quite frankly, self-absorbed, manipulative, nasty fuckers. Despite witnessing evidence of abusive behaviour towards our children (from his mum) with his very own eyes, he very quickly minimised the story so that he didn’t have to confront her, then rewrote it completely to make it bearable to him, and I became the scapegoat. It seems to be the safer option to him for some reason. (Perhaps he thinks I won’t ever go away/just keep tolerating that shit forever…. Boy has he learned a thing or two in the last few years!!!) Anyhow, a few years ago, once my kids started articulating to both of us exactly how THEY felt about their grandparents, I simply call it when I see it. I no longer pretend to tolerate these people to keep the peace. His mother in particular will never be welcome in my house. (Just in case anyone is wondering, mine were just as bad, but I didn’t whitewash it. He didn’t try and change the narrative though. Mine are dead now, so not an issue. We didn’t do great with grandparents.)

QueenBee52 · 10/07/2021 04:42

OP you live in a ONE BED FLAT FFS... that all the excuse you need.

so it's always going to be a NO. Flowers

Coyoacan · 10/07/2021 04:55

I'm so sorry for your loss, OP.

But I do think you should never, ever return to live in the UK with that husband.

DifferentHair · 10/07/2021 06:27

I think we all do things to 'keep the peace' in an extended family to some extent.

But OP, please ask yourself whose peace you are keeping.

You're keeping your husbands peace by enabling him in placating his unreasonable parents. You're keeping your MILs peace by considering giving in to her unreasonable demands.

Who in this story is lifting a finger for your peace? Was it peaceful for you when they threw a tantrum while you were grieving your baby? Is this current conundrum peaceful for you? Or are they yet again causing stress for you while your attention should be on your own health?

Fuck their peace at this point. Make some noise.

Shame on your husband. Mine was the same until I put my foot down. He's a lot better now but it took time. If I hadn't stood up for myself he would have kept his head in the sand forever.

faithfulbird20 · 10/07/2021 13:43

Lie to your husband and say midwife or doctor said no visitors as it's putting baby at risk. Then tell in-laws too and apologise.

Hankunamatata · 10/07/2021 13:48

Iv a full house so Iv paid for my parents to stay somewhere else as cannot cope with us all on top of each other

updownroundandround · 10/07/2021 14:21

@lostandlonely20

I really think you are going to have to get tough, both with your H and with his parents.

Tell your husband that he is about to become a Father, and he must be prepared to safeguard his child's safety/health REGARDLESS of what his bloody Mother says or what she wants ! Ask him if he thought his Mother would have put his safety above her relatives 'hurt feelings' ?? (I'm quite sure she would not !! Hmm)

It's time for some grown up talk with the in-laws about your home, your child and your bloody feelings, NOT theirs !

If she becomes overly 'pushy' or disregards your concerns, then you'll have to be rude, and say it clearly for her.

''MIL, I don't want to be rude, but we've decided that we are NOT comfortable having any visitors. We have already told my parents, and now we're telling you. No-one will be coming to visit at all, even if they stay in a hotel. We understand that you may be hurt by this, and that is not our intention, but we know that you will understand that we cannot take any risks with this most precious baby.

If she gets all upset and emotional, just say ''sorry, but we need to go now, but we'll talk again next week''

Whenever she brings it up again (and she probably will try to), just keep asking ''don't you care about the baby's safety ??'' and act as if what she's saying is beyond horrifying ! then simply repeat as often as necessary. Eventually she'll have to concede defeat.

Enjoy your little one. In time, the world will heal, and so will your relationship with your MIL. x

LookItsMeAgain · 10/07/2021 17:32

Quick and easy solution to this is to send your DH home to his parents so that he can visit them, and when he returns he can quarantine in a hotel local to you (as your in-laws would have been doing) and when he's done his time with quarantining, he can come home to you again. You can still meet him for out door meals and in the park or whatever is close by.
As you kiss him goodbye for his trip home, remind him to find his spine/balls for when it comes to speaking with his parents and backing you up or this trip might not be his last one home - his last one will be when you kick him out because he doesn't see you as his equal partner and he definitely doesn't see you as more important than his mother.

Natty13 · 10/07/2021 17:33

Tell him he can either have an unhappy mother or an unhappy wife...which one does he live with and expect to go to bed with every night?

alexdgr8 · 10/07/2021 18:14

ask your husband if he is a betting man.
when he says, why; ask him how long he gives the marriage.
at this rate, it won't last.
save yourself and baby a lot of stress and tell him now; shape up or ship out.
don't waste your energy and emotions arguing with or about MIL.
tell it like it is.
no. means no. end of.
live your life.
don't argue. step away.

HalzTangz · 10/07/2021 18:21

Your DH seems scared of his mother, could he not explain the situation to his dad, and let his dad deal with the mother's tantrum.

But as others have said, they do need to be told either by him or by you. If they don't like it, then tell them not to come

HalzTangz · 10/07/2021 18:24

@lostandlonely20

Thanks for your responses everyone. I've been thinking about it more today and I decided I don't feel comfortable with people visiting from the UK at all, which is maybe being overcautious but I've been through a lot and I just want everything to be ok with the baby. That means more to me than anything else.

We spoke to my MIL and as usual I felt I had to explain myself but my husband hardly said anything the whole time and then kept saying 'we'll think about it' or 'we'll talk about it more' at the end of the call, and we just had a row about it because I'm so pissed off that he can't back me up about this. I mean I've also said to my own parents that I feel it's best to wait, which is really hard for me as I haven't seen them for equally as long but they were completely understanding and respected the decision. I'm so frustrated, my husband says he feels guilty because it was his call to move abroad and he hasn't his parents for so long, and now I feel like that is more important to him than me and our unborn baby.

I feel like I constantly have to defend decisions which I think are perfectly reasonable but maybe I am being unreasonable now? I don't know. Sorry for the rant but I am feeling really sad and lonely.

Tell your husband to pop over to the UK and visit them then
PurpleMustang · 10/07/2021 18:44

If he is that desperate to see them then buy his ticket, pack his bag and wave him off. Whats the difference between him going there and them coming to you if the aim is to see them. And have an amazing relaxing time while he is gone. Then he can quarantine in a hotel when he gets back as it's so important to see them over protecting you and the baby.

Lemonmelonsun · 10/07/2021 18:47

Your dh can go and visit and quarantine on return with pcr tests.

I have no sympathy how for people who pressure about to me and new mothers.. I really don't esp those who have fine through it themselves.

Lemonmelonsun · 10/07/2021 18:48

Unfortunately op you will also have to make it clear about the line in the sand.

You have to be firm and make it crystal clear.. They are not coming no if or but, they are not coming m

lostandlonely20 · 10/07/2021 19:20

Thanks everyone, I have been clear and just said no visitors from the UK at the moment! It's up to my DH if he wants to go and visit them (but I've also said if he goes then he has to quarantine when he gets back not in our flat). Got really angry with my DH about it yesterday and also brought up how my poor SIL has to deal with this kind of thing all the time and is totally brow beaten - she even had to fight for my MIL to put her DD in a car seat, rather than just holding her on her lap when she was little.

I got really pissed off yesterday because my MIL started talking about another family member who is pregnant and what she is doing and whether she is still going and meeting people- she is in the UK, this is her 3rd pregnancy and she has never lost a baby. I said it's up to her what she does, her situation is totally different to mine.

And today I realised I'm exhausted by this whole situation and I shouldn't waste my energy trying to defend my decision - it's my decision and I've made it! Thanks for all your support!

OP posts:
Feedingthebirds1 · 10/07/2021 19:30

my husband says he feels guilty because it was his call to move abroad and he hasn't his parents for so long

And presumably you moved with him because him and your marriage are important to you, even though it meant you would see no more of your parents than he does of his. But he still tries the guilt trip.

NeonDreams · 10/07/2021 22:53

You have a DH problem. You either need to make your husband fear your wrath MORE than he fears his mothers' wrath. Or leave him.

Otherwise your ENTIRE MARRIED LIFE will be like this. He really does not seem like suitable husband material for you if you cannot get him to see he should be worried about not upsetting you, as you are his WIFE and the mother of his child. Then leave unless you want to live as second best. He should be more afraid of upsetting you, his wife and life partner and mother of his child, than his mother. If he can't see that, LTB. Do you really want to live like this for decades?

Justilou1 · 11/07/2021 09:07

Your DH is trying to make YOU feel guilty for making HIM feel guilty. That’s not how partnership really works, is it?

faithfulbird20 · 11/07/2021 10:31

@lostandlonely20 shes doing it on purpose so she can't visit. Tell her so many couples are not letting anyone stay with them due to fear and safety of their baby. One couples parent actually refused to come because she was so concerned at the welfare of the baby. You're right you don't need the stress. They're childish...

billy1966 · 11/07/2021 12:21

Well this is life with a weak wuus off a man.

Never being able to say no.

So only one adult in your relationship.

I would expect her to be one of those grandparent that knows better than you and will do exactly what she pleases with your child, even if you have specifically asked her not to.

You have a long miserable life with his family and him.

All you can do is forget liking them and keep sayin No to everything they suggest.

And don't live near them.

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