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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I feel really awkward and uncomfortable.

299 replies

MissingTheMountain · 31/08/2021 12:27

DH's parents have decided in the last few months that if they disagree with something, they'll do it anyway and then say they didn't have a choice as we might have said no.

So far, the most annoying one has been turning up while we're working and sitting a foot away from us looking fed up. They aren't the type to entertain themselves. I have no idea why they're doing it unless it's to prove a point that they won't listen to us.

MIL is desperate to have a sort of baby shower for her friends. I'm not invited and don't mind her having one... but she wants to post about it on Facebook. We haven't announced on Facebook, for a multitude of reasons that she knows about. Family & friends know, but Facebook doesn't. They call weekly to complain about it. This morning they've called to say we are ruining their fun, and they'll announce it on Facebook for us if we haven't done it by Wednesday.

My big worry right now is that they disagree with everything we want to do. They don't want me to breastfeed, us to use slings, us to go to parenting groups. They did all of those things, but they feel that "with reflection" it would stop them from being able to have a good relationship with the baby. They keep talking about visiting daily and taking the baby out to lunch.

Usually, DH gets annoyed eventually, spells it out to them, they back off and it heals. But they're ignoring him this time, and just making veiled comments about how they don't know if he's going to be "mean" so they just don't ask him.

FIL also said on the phone this morning that he's got high blood pressure again, and it's worried DH that they are getting old, and he doesn't want to upset them. He's also concerned that his Dad has two other children that he cut off for some reason decades ago, and has never met their children. He talks often about how they shouldn't be told when he dies, and they're not in his will, etc.

I don't want to put DH in the middle, but the more they push, the less I feel comfortable around them. They did the same batshit stuff around our wedding. In the end, FIL told us not to tell them any details until a few days before to stop MIL from getting so upset and phoning up to change things...

I don't have family, I've very pleased our baby will have, and we used to get along really well. I feel like I go out of my way to make them feel involved, update them after every appointment, usually two phone calls and at least one meeting a week. I see them more than I see my friends. I've tried really hard to include them... But honestly, I feel like an incubator right now, I've started to dread the baby coming and them going mad. I quite like the idea of not telling them right now, but that'd be a horrendous position for DH to be in...

He says we're a team and he'll talk to them, but they seem to "forget" the next day now, and I'm worried about my mental health and my marriage if they keep this up.

OP posts:
SukonthaM · 31/08/2021 12:47

Why tf are you letting them get away with this op??

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 31/08/2021 12:47

This is ducking insane
Can you move?? 100s of miles away???

FangsForTheMemory · 31/08/2021 12:52

Are you sure your DH didn’t tell them where your co working space is?

MissingTheMountain · 31/08/2021 12:53

Why tf are you letting them get away with this op??

Erm.. I guess I read a lot on here about how in-laws are always pushed out, and I didn't want them to feel like that... and I swear, before we were engaged, they seemed pretty normal and nice, and we got on well! I didn't want to be the DIL from hell. So I've been telling myself that it comes from the right place, but honestly, I want to take the baby and my husband and RUN.

We were due to move away last year, but they got upset at the end and we decided not to go. I kick myself for that decision daily.

Okay, this is reassured me that it's not me being a complete cow. I'll have a chat to DH after work tonight.

The watching-me-work thing drives me insane. It feels so awkward, I want to fall into a hole in the floor. I'll have a chat to Reception, I hadn't thought of that (stupid as that sounds... can I blame baby brain?! Blush)

OP posts:
meganorks · 31/08/2021 12:53

They do sound insane and controlling. I would spell it out to them now that if they keep ignoring your wishes and trying to tell you how to do things then you aren't going to be able to trust them with the baby anyway. Stop turning up uninvited, no announcing things on Facebook and you will decide what is best for your baby re feeding and everything else.
Unlike the others, I don't really find the baby shower without you that weird - I wouldn't want to sit around in a room full off my MILs friends! I'm guessing it is not really a baby shower, more a 'congratulations on becoming a grandma' type thing. But there is absolutely no reason it needs to be announced on Facebook - your MIL can invite her friends and family personally

CookPassBabtridge · 31/08/2021 12:56

I feel suffocated and infuriated just reading your post. This is NOT normal OP, stand up for yourself!

Angliski · 31/08/2021 12:57

This is not normal. Poor OP, I’m not surprised you feel like running off! No one, no one, has the right to tell you what to decide is best for your child. No one.

I would tell them straight off that they are frightening you. That their behaviour is not acceptable and that they need to back off.

Lou573 · 31/08/2021 12:57

OP, if you don’t set boundaries now they will ruin those precious few first weeks with your newborn. You don’t get that time back and it is fleeting. Trust me, I know from experience and my mil wasn’t even this crazy, just a bit over keen.

CoasterCoaster · 31/08/2021 12:58

OP how are you responding when they say stuff like you can't breastfeed or use a sling? Because I would be saying (probably nicely the first time but less nicely with each new incident) 'er, this is our baby and well do as we please!' I don't understand why it's any more complicated than that, their suggestions are clearly batshit crazy so why are you or DH even entertaining them?

YourHandInMyHand · 31/08/2021 12:59

They sound bat shit crazy. Make it clear that however you chose to feed, whether you use a sling or not, etc baby will be staying at home with you bonding with mum and dad. Grandparents do not get automatic rights to alone time with newborn grandchildren!!

Turning up while you work and just sitting there?!

Guilting you into not moving?
Dropping in ablut blood pressure to manipulate and guilt trip you?

Is there still a possibility to move?! Because I'd be doing so.

Whether you move or not you need to be crystal clear. Announce my pregnancy against my wishes, no contact. Turn up when I'm working, no entry. Put some strong boundaries up QUICK and stick to them. And don't wait for dh to do it, yes be on the same page but you don't have to passively wait for him to sort it while they act like this.

loopylindi · 31/08/2021 12:59

on what planet does she think it's OK for HER to announce YOUR pregnancy to other people - and to give you an ultimatum!

dancemom · 31/08/2021 13:01

Draw your boundaries now!

Tell her if she announces on Facebook she won't be seeing your child at all.

Turn her away from your workplace and tell her never to do it again. Lock your doors if you're WFH

She's behaving ridiculously, call her out on it now.

ChargingBuck · 31/08/2021 13:02

My big worry right now is that they disagree with everything we want to do. They don't want me to breastfeed, us to use slings, us to go to parenting groups. They did all of those things, but they feel that "with reflection" it would stop them from being able to have a good relationship with the baby. They keep talking about visiting daily and taking the baby out to lunch.

Please stop worrying & start objecting.
Loudly. Forcefully, As rudely as you need to to get the message across.

"You may as well stop talking about how the baby is going to be fed, because it is not your decision. & I am not going to discuss it with you."

"You are not going to be visiting daily, get used to it."

"Babies don't go out to lunch, they have milk with their mum or dad."

I don't have family, I'm very pleased our baby will have
Why are you pleased?
YOU don't want this interfering & intrusive couple in your life, why be "pleased" that they are in your baby's life?
You are allowed to dislike them, & disengage OP.

I also can't believe you have got to the point of them turning up while you are WFH & sitting there staring at you. Why did you let them in, when you are working? Having let them over the threshold, why are you not simply kicking them back out again?
"I am working, you need to go home" ought to do it.

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 31/08/2021 13:04

This is not normal OP.

You are going to have to go nuclear if your DH can’t sort it out immediately.

Sometimes - just sometimes - it isn’t a DIL from hell situation.

Sometimes it is the PIL that are the problem.

This can hopefully be managed to suit all but boundaries are super important.

ChargingBuck · 31/08/2021 13:05

I don't want to put DH in the middle

DH shouldn't be in the middle.
His place is firmly on the side of his pregnant wife.

If he sides with his manipulative dad "because blood pressure", he is siding with the man who has no boundaries & has already pissed off his other children beyond redemption.
Why would he do that?
& why isn't he telling them to fuck off with their notions of how you ought to raise your baby?

PickAChew · 31/08/2021 13:06

How you haven't lost your shit with them already, I have no idea. They are so manipulative.

DoTheNextRightThing · 31/08/2021 13:07

Jeeezo. There's overbearing grandparents and then there is this. They sound awful! No wonder FIL's kids don’t see him...

Powerof4 · 31/08/2021 13:08

Still not too late to move… Seriously, you are going to need a plan of how you are going to get any space with your baby if they will even crash a co-working space.

MeanyJoany · 31/08/2021 13:11

I would say "Put in on social media if you like, call when we are working and you know we can't talk if you like but DO NOT sit around and wonder and pretend to upset when you get no photos of our baby, you aren't allowed to take photos of our baby, we don't answer the door to you, invite you to things, allow you time alone with our baby or give you any information - because that is what is going to happen from now on, so the choice is yours, do it your way if you like, but I doubt you will like the consequences." And stick to it all. Stop opening the door!

NotYourCupOfTea · 31/08/2021 13:11

This is absolutely not normal

I know this gets thrown around a lot but honestly I’d be going nc or dh can see then by himself but not at your house

They sound batshit and honestly they are going to drive you crazy.

Tell reception you don’t want any visitors at all ever. Don’t answer the door, don’t engage

Easier said than done I appreciate

Sonofabiscuit · 31/08/2021 13:12

Tell them if post anything on Facebook they will be blocked and will never see your child.
As for the baby shower ...no that's werid .
Stand your ground and tell dh to as well

phishy · 31/08/2021 13:12

Tell them if they announce the baby on Facebook, they won’t see baby at all.

Fight fire with fire.

And tell them it’s none of their business that you’ll be breastfeeding, using a sling and going to baby groups.

And finally, the baby shower is going to be weird. What will they do with all the presents they get, keep them at their house? That’s fucked up. Tell them no they can’t have a baby shower.

Diditreallylookawful · 31/08/2021 13:14

I was lost by the time you said she wanted a baby shower WITHOUT YOU and was going to announce your pregnancy to the world and his wife because you're ruining their fun. Seriously?

I don't think I've ever written WTF before, but there you are.

This is mad, completely mad. They need to back off hugely. And your DH needs to tell them NOW. No ifs, no buts. If he doesn't then once your baby is here it will get worse. It might be a difficult conversation to have, but if you can come up with some absolutely unmoveable goalposts as to what you will and won't accept, then things will hopefully be better in the future.

Noshowlomo · 31/08/2021 13:14

THIS-
Please stop worrying & start objecting.
Loudly. Forcefully, As rudely as you need to to get the message across.

What @ChargingBuck said.. She is CRAZY. She will announce if you haven't? who does she think she is????

Spanglemum · 31/08/2021 13:15

I agree with what everyone else has said. You need to stand up to them now. No more visiting you at work, no more telling you how to your baby is going to be looked after. This is not normal. They are very emotionally manipulative. You've already given in to them once with the not moving. It stops now. You may not have any family to judge by but this is way out of order. It MIL wants to throw a party for herself she can crack on. You're not being a bad DIL. They are very very unreasonable.