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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu to ask for help on clearing the air with the SIL?

77 replies

Thatsveryniceofyou · 11/07/2021 18:20

Not much of a background, but we have generally got on OK, we are very different people, mums etc and naturally have different opinions on a lot of things so will never be friends but have generally always been civil. My DH never used to get on with her at all, but these days they seem OK with each other.

So this week we've had a big fallout cumilating today at my PILs home. During the week we had to cancel the gathering at my in laws this weekend as one bil tested covid positive and he and his family are now isolating and another BIL also self isolating due to being a close contact. As the arrangement was cancelled, they suggested other dates. We were on holiday this week but said we couldn't do the preferred date. We were asked if we could move it, and I said no as it was my planned birthday celebrations with my family and friends. She asked if I could re arrange with my family, said sorry but due to family holidays etc no. I said we would check other dates when we get home, never got a response but assumed that meant it was OK and they would wait to hear from us on other dates. Yesterday she messaged my DH asking again if we would move my birthday celebrations as it was so unfair my PILs would have to wait so long for all the family being able to get together. My DH messaged no and said we would cross check some other dates and let them know. This message really annoyed me and my DH and I had a big argument because I felt it was very rude etc.

Today we turned up at my PIL house to see them give presents etc. Expected it to be just us but found out SIL and her husband and children were all their (her husband is currently in self isolation, day 8 out of 10) so my husband and I said we would stay outside (as I'm CEV and know I haven't got antibodies from the vaccines, I didn't want to go inside near someone who is meant to be self isolating) anyway my SIL came to say hello, she asked how I was, I said fine thank you and you. She then asked what I was doing for my birthday and whether I had considered splitting the celebration and seeing some family another day for my birthday as it had really upset my MIL that I was preventing the whole family getting together. I overreacted and said you've asked too many times and no I will not change my birthday celebrations for her. I'm fed up of her asking. Yes I l was rude in my response. She stormed into my IL slammed the kitchen door and my MIL came out saying she didn't want me to be around if I was going to sit outside and upset SIL. I admit I overreacted but hubby drove me home and then returned with the kids. now I feel awful about upsetting my MIL and have messaged her and my FIL to apologise but they say I have to make it up to SIL as well but I will be honest I don't know how to as I still feel she was unreasonable to ask again about me changing my plans. Therefore how do I be the bigger person and try to clear the air with her? Just no idea how to approach it

OP posts:
Lalliella · 11/07/2021 19:28

*put not out

LobotomisedIceSkatingFan · 11/07/2021 19:29

What we you do, don't entertain haffdonga's apology 🙄

You've said umpteen times you're not moving it.
Her husband was there and shouldn't have been.
Your MIL behaved badly.
Your husband scuttled back after dropping you back home so you could sit in your bedroom and think about what you'd done.

I'd be sacking the lot of them off, honestly.

LobotomisedIceSkatingFan · 11/07/2021 19:30

FFS! Whatever you do not 'what we you do'

Mumoftwoinprimary · 11/07/2021 19:34

Hang on! Your BIL is supposed to be isolating and instead broke the law to go to your in laws.

You are CEV and have no immunity and rather than kick up a big fuss about your criminal BIL putting your life at risk you just stayed outside.

Then your MIL tried to guilt you into go in and putting your life at risk.

Then your husband blamed you.

And you think you should be apologising???

WeatheringStorms22 · 11/07/2021 19:41

Your dh is the problem here.

If MIL asked me to leave her house when I wasn't at fault, then dh would certainly be driving me home...but that would probably be the last she saw of him until she apologised to me (at his insistence).

I can't believe how passively you accepted being kicked out but allowing your dc to stay there!

30degreesandmeltinghere · 11/07/2021 19:55

I voted yabu.
Yabu to give any fucks about a load of entitled twats. Your dh included.
I would be reconsidering my future...

FeministKilljoyOlympicWinner · 11/07/2021 19:57

Absolutely you should NOT apologise to SIL!

Also, why the fuck is your DH going to socialise with them when they should be self isolating and you're CEV?! This would upset me more than the SIL argument, his lack of care and concern for you.

Hoppinggreen · 11/07/2021 20:10

They are a bunch of Dicks and your DH should have your back.
Don’t you dare apologise

OnSilverStars · 11/07/2021 20:12

"Your birthday celebrations" are you turning 8?

I get if they were being dicks but it's always strange to me when people make a big deal out of their 34th birthday or whatever

Holly60 · 11/07/2021 20:21

Well, I’m just wondering WHY you couldn’t change your birthday celebrations?? Would it really have been a big deal?

JoyOrbison · 11/07/2021 20:23

Because it involved others who would in turn nerd to rearrange and coordinate dates to appease others for a date not yet finalised?

JoyOrbison · 11/07/2021 20:24

Said people also bring relatives of your husband who at the monent is being a dick?

gamerchick · 11/07/2021 20:27

@Sportysporty

Tell them to fuck off to be honest and tell your husband to get a bloody backbone
This
Ideasplease322 · 11/07/2021 20:30

Why did it mean so much to your mother in law? I really don’t understand what they got themselves so worked up about your birthday party. They don’t seem to particularly like you (hey sound awful so no loss).

Ozanj · 11/07/2021 20:36

Honestly it sounds like sil might be planning a surprise bdy celebration for you.

Fountaining · 11/07/2021 20:37

Gosh, I begin to realise why no one ever hassles me repeatedly to do something I’ve already explained why I can’t do, far less suggests I was an impediment to their family’s get-together, or has my husband meekly taking me away from an occasion, only to trot back — because I make it very clear I would bite the head off anyone who did.

You need to lose your temper more rather than less, OP. What is it about the way in which you relate to your ILs that has allowed them to treat you as an unimportant and gullible individual to whom no rudeness is too much?

tony68 · 11/07/2021 20:37

Word for word what did you say to sil? Would you have tolerated being spoken to the way you spoke to sil?

Thatsveryniceofyou · 11/07/2021 20:38

Hi all so today would have been the in laws wedding anniversary hence why it was such a big day to my MIL.

My hubby and I have had a tough 18 months with this pandemic, I have shielded for most of it and for a long while my hubby lived separately as he was a key worker and we didn't want to put me at risk.

That's partly why my birthday celebrations are important to me this year, because of sheilding I haven't seen most of my family and friends and was looking forward to having them all around. I also didn't want to rearrange as have cousins travelling a 160 miles to come etc.

My DH and I do need to clear the air and we probably will in a few days. He is home and the children are in bed but he gone in a seperate room to watch the football. I know it's been hard being apart, having trouble at work, which in turn caused issues for my health and treatment etc. We just have a lot on our plates and I know he was looking forward to seeing his parents

I have had a call with MIL and we are going to have coffee tomorrow. I have sent a message to SIL, she hasn't replied but think she will have seen it as sending messages in the family WhatsApp group

OP posts:
LobotomisedIceSkatingFan · 11/07/2021 20:45

I really think you're doing much too much to mollify a big pile of dicks.

Fountaining · 11/07/2021 20:46

By agreeing to have coffee, and sending conciliatory texts, all you are proving is that you are someone unimportant who can be hassled and sent away from family events with impunity, and still come back looking apologetic.

WhoDidAndWhy · 11/07/2021 20:55

@LobotomisedIceSkatingFan

I really think you're doing much too much to mollify a big pile of dicks.
This. They don’t respect you or your health. I’d be furious at the lot of them.
30degreesandmeltinghere · 11/07/2021 20:56

Why shouldn't op's own birthday be more important to her than mil's wedding anniversary? Was op even at her wedding??

ChaToilLeam · 11/07/2021 21:02

Like fuck should you apologise. You have your own arrangements which are important to you and which others have made their own plans around!

Your DH is an arse too, he should be backing you up on this. SIL and MIL need to learn to accept that you are a person in your own right and not to be badgered into falling into line.

Bluntness100 · 11/07/2021 21:09

Responses on here are always so harsh, it’s like some posters want to be big and hard behind their key boards.

In reality she should apologise for asking again, but your crime of shouting at her is worse. So yes you should apologise

LobotomisedIceSkatingFan · 11/07/2021 21:14

Oh, tommyrot! She raised her voice after being hectored, and was driven home like a naughty child. And was already outside because of the non-isolating BiL (closest thing to a crime in the situation). Raising your voice isn't a crime. Literally or figuratively.

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