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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I over reacting - controlling SIL

452 replies

bagpuss90 · 19/09/2021 23:25

We have a family holiday booked -eight of us going . I’d rather be going away with just DP but his mum died last year ,and he wants a holiday with his family which I’ve reluctantly agreed to. My sister in law - who has rubbed me up the wrong way several times over the years has surpassed herself. She’s announced that she “wants to be organised “ and has asked that we all hand our passports over to her for safe keeping and she will hold onto them for the duration of the holiday. I’ve point blank refused-I’m old enough and ugly enough to look after my own passport thank you. It’s the principle -plus can you imagine if she lost the lot of then. It’s made me dread the holiday- I think she’ll want to run the show - DP thinks I’m over reacting . She’s said I’m a control freak-wtf ?? Having serious thoughts about not going, but under the circumstances it’s not that easy to bail out now

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 20/09/2021 08:56

Just no. I wouldn’t even hand mine over to DH if travelling. No way I’d be handing it to anyone.

Bananarama21 · 20/09/2021 08:57

This holiday is a receipe for disaster op.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 20/09/2021 09:03

I hope you're going somewhere reasonably busy and not a remote villa. Check out what there is to do in the area and if you find her too much just take yourself off for the day. Send a message to the holiday WhatsApp group (I'm sure she will set one up) after you've left saying you're giving them some family time together. If she's being really annoying some of the other spouses might join you. Grin

godmum56 · 20/09/2021 09:03

@pictish

I disagree. I think that so long as the OP remains neutral and polite with her sil, she can’t be held to account for any wrongdoing. Not just regarding the passports but the whole trip away. Being open to compromise but cheerfully firm over autonomous decisions is the way to go. That’s not to say that sil won’t create; she might, but no one can implicate you. Make it your business to have a nice time.
yup, this. You are the relaxed, calm, confident grown up. I also think that what your partner does with his passport is not a hill to die on....because of course YOU are not the person who HAS to have everthing your own way are you? You are the nice one who treats grown ups as grown ups.
ArrrMeHearties · 20/09/2021 09:05

Wtf does she want all the passports for? Thats just bonkers. Your an adult and are more than capable of looking after your own as are all the other adults in the party

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 20/09/2021 09:05

Always pack a photocopy of your passport in a separate place to the passport, just in case. It makes it easier to prove who you are at the embassy/consulate after yours has mysteriously disappeared.

Yummymummy2020 · 20/09/2021 09:06

It’s definitely not normal to ask for peoples passports for safekeeping bar children’s of course 😂😂😂 she would not be getting mine and I wouldn’t be quiet about thinking it was a strange request either 😂🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

samwitwicky · 20/09/2021 09:11

Stand your ground. Both with the passport and while on holiday.

She may be grieving, but so are the rest of you. And she doesn't get to dictate how you spend or enjoy your holiday.

The holiday is as much yours as hers (and everyone else's).

MsSquiz · 20/09/2021 09:12

This reminds me of the last holiday we went on with the in laws (and it was an accident, not a control freak situation)

As we arrived hone, coming through passport control, 4 adults, 3 kids we all handed our passports over and the woman gave them all back to BIL. Forgot to get them off him. 3 months later DH and I are going away and can't find our passports, look everywhere - nothing. Ask BIL & SIL - they've "looked" and don't have them. We order new ones, go on holiday. 2 months later BIL finds them with their passports! Hmm I said we should've charged him for our replacements!
But even based on that, I wouldn't let another adult take my passport when it's not necessary!

Knittedfairies · 20/09/2021 09:18

Absolutely not; you might need them to hire a car to get away from the rest/some of the family group...

GitsandShigggles · 20/09/2021 09:18

Can you share where you're going and when, and which airport you're flying from? Just want to make sure there's no chance of an overlap. Sounds like a nightmare!

BoredZelda · 20/09/2021 09:23

It's not normal behaviour at all. It's illegal.

No it isn’t. You can only be challenged when carrying someone else’s passport, if that person is not travelling with you. Otherwise, teachers on seniors’ school trips who generally gather all the passports for safe keeping would be in a whole load of trouble. It isn’t unusual for one of a group to be in charge of tickets and passports, it certainly isn’t “batshit” or “controlling”. I wouldn’t hand my passport over, nor would I want to be in charge of passports, but people seem to be exaggerating this just a little.

C8H10N4O2 · 20/09/2021 09:26

I hope that the country you are visiting does a good line in cheap wine - you will need it Grin

Is this stage 1 of SiL's reign as new family matriarch?

Brollywasntneededafterall · 20/09/2021 09:30

Have you got an old passport? Give her that and watch her panic when she sees it is out of date!!

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 20/09/2021 09:30

@Porcupineintherough

I wouldnt give her my passport but neither would I work it up into some huge, personal affront. It's clear you dont like her and resent going on this holiday. Are you going to pounce on everything that isnt how youd want it and create drama?
Resentful or not she's still going on the holiday, though, isn't she? I'd say that was magnanimous of her given the circumstances. And that's the thing with controlling personalities: when you don't go along with what they want, they create the 'drama'.

I'd personally be letting them create it in an empty room. The last thing people like this need is to be surrounded by enablers: makes them worse than ever.

OP, stick to your guns as far as the passport issue is concerned and I'd be working out some clear plans with your DH as to time/meals/trips you want to spend by yourselves as a couple, as well as coming together with the group when civility/major plans require it. I would not want every single moment of every day of my holiday regimented, and that's what I suspect you'll come up against if you don't firmly circumvent it from the start.

Speaking of your DP, you wrote:

I think she’ll want to run the show - DP thinks I’m over reacting.

Does that mean he intends meekly to hand over his passport like a good, compliant enabler? I'd be asking him that question. I'd also not do any beating about the bush about what a turn-off I'd find it if the answer was 'yes'.

Good luck!

bagpuss90 · 20/09/2021 09:33

Brollywasntneededafterall 😂😂😂😂😂

OP posts:
grlwhowrites · 20/09/2021 09:33

Absolutely not being unreasonable, a passport is an incredibly important and personal document that nobody has the right to demand to keep hold of! You're not a child, if you lose it then it's nothing to do with her. As a PP said, make sure you keep an eye on it so she can't hide it and potentially tell you, "I told you so".

Having said that, I think if you don't go on the holiday, she'll be able to paint you as being unreasonable and people may side with her. It could be they all feel they need this holiday together bc they're grieving and you could look uncaring or unsympathetic by refusing to go - not saying you are at all, but SIL may be able to spin the narrative that way and use it against you. Her bizarre behaviour won't rule the whole holiday but if you're not there, she could say all sorts about how "hurt" she is you chose to "abandon" them all during their time of grief. IMO, I think you should suck it up and go but have a chat with your DP before you do and make it clear you won't be taking any of her shit. There's ways to be respectful of someone's grief without sacrificing your own boundaries.

pictish · 20/09/2021 09:33

I agree with whoever said not to trouble yourself with what dh decides to do with his passport. He can hand it over or hang on to it. The point is, you will be keeping yours and others may do as they please.

billy1966 · 20/09/2021 09:33

Kindly OP,

You are out of your mind going on this holiday and your partner sounds like he's gaslighting you about her.

She sounds like a PITA and there is no way I'd entertain her.

Your partner doesn't sound that great either.

Flowers
MarieIVanArkleStinks · 20/09/2021 09:34

@BoredZelda

It's not normal behaviour at all. It's illegal.

No it isn’t. You can only be challenged when carrying someone else’s passport, if that person is not travelling with you. Otherwise, teachers on seniors’ school trips who generally gather all the passports for safe keeping would be in a whole load of trouble. It isn’t unusual for one of a group to be in charge of tickets and passports, it certainly isn’t “batshit” or “controlling”. I wouldn’t hand my passport over, nor would I want to be in charge of passports, but people seem to be exaggerating this just a little.

Holding someone's passport is only illegal if an attempt is made to use it fraudulently. If you hand it over to someone else for 'safekeeping', you're no longer in control of what happens to it. I'm not suggesting any criminal intent on the part of this SiL; nonetheless, that is the reality.

In my world, handing over all passports and tickets to the Alpha of the party is unusual. Admittedly I'm not in the practice of running school trips. But this isn't a school trip.

EL8888 · 20/09/2021 09:34

She sounds like a nightmare. You can’t just be a controlling, micro managing selfish idiot because you’re grieving. No way give her any passports. Good on you for standing firm with her about the camping stuff

billy1966 · 20/09/2021 09:36

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar

Always pack a photocopy of your passport in a separate place to the passport, just in case. It makes it easier to prove who you are at the embassy/consulate after yours has mysteriously disappeared.
Inter railing 101 from 35 years ago.😁

Several copies of passport at home and in my luggage.

godmum56 · 20/09/2021 09:36

@BoredZelda

It's not normal behaviour at all. It's illegal.

No it isn’t. You can only be challenged when carrying someone else’s passport, if that person is not travelling with you. Otherwise, teachers on seniors’ school trips who generally gather all the passports for safe keeping would be in a whole load of trouble. It isn’t unusual for one of a group to be in charge of tickets and passports, it certainly isn’t “batshit” or “controlling”. I wouldn’t hand my passport over, nor would I want to be in charge of passports, but people seem to be exaggerating this just a little.

it certainly is controlling to insist and expect compliance if its a party of adults. I'd be cutting DH slack on this occasion though because of the loss of his Mum and his wish to do this.
GammyLeg · 20/09/2021 09:41

How very strange. Unfortunately you are right, this is a red flag for the holiday and you should be very, very afraid.

godmum56 · 20/09/2021 09:42

@GammyLeg

How very strange. Unfortunately you are right, this is a red flag for the holiday and you should be very, very afraid.
afraid? why?
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