Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mil won’t listen

17 replies

Bluebearxx · 25/09/2021 16:43

I can’t stand my mil anymore I’ve recently had a baby and she just doesn’t listen.
Last time I saw her she was asked to leave the baby alone while she was sleeping…she didn’t

Later on she had been cuddling the baby for awhile and we asked for her back and she grinned and moved the baby away and acted shocked as to why…she still didn’t give her back.
She is also difficult to have a conversation with as she makes everything seem like a competition or knows better…like telling my eldest that he doesn’t have adhd while he’s under assessment for it. My partner makes excuses for her and so It feels like she’s allowed to do and say as she pleases without any concern for others.
I’ve told my partner that I don’t want to be around her anymore nor do I want the children around her either.
Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
BlueSussex · 25/09/2021 16:47

You have a DP problem if he is making excuses for her.

I wouldn't have anything to do with her.

RedHelenB · 25/09/2021 16:50

The baby is your dps child too, so if course develop want his mum to see her. Your choice as to whether it not you do though.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 25/09/2021 16:52
Gin
SpindleWorld · 25/09/2021 16:55

Is this happening in your home?

If so, I'd make it really bloody awkward for her and your DP.

Dinoroaraus · 25/09/2021 16:57

YANBU. I'd call her out on it and make her squirm.

pinkyredrose · 25/09/2021 17:04

It's not your Mil it's your partner.

Dinoroaraus · 25/09/2021 17:05

@pinkyredrose

It's not your Mil it's your partner.
It's both of them. If someone asks for your baby back you damn well give it back.
Bluebearxx · 25/09/2021 17:09

@SpindleWorld

Is this happening in your home?

If so, I'd make it really bloody awkward for her and your DP.

no it’s at her house x
OP posts:
Auroreforet · 25/09/2021 17:12

@RedHelenB

The baby is your dps child too, so if course develop want his mum to see her. Your choice as to whether it not you do though.
A young baby needs their mum first and foremost. If the OP wants to keep her baby close she should absolutely be supported to do this. Waking a sleeping baby would be enough for me to ban mil from the house.
SpindleWorld · 25/09/2021 17:12

@Bluebearxx, you don't have to go there. At least give yourself a break for a while. Your DP can visit on his own.

I'd keep the new baby with me, too. Possibly your older child.

Your DP needs to step up.

Antinerak · 25/09/2021 17:17

Don't take the baby to her house, she can visit you and respect the boundaries that you'll tell her before she even gets in the door. If your DP is going to make excuses for her, you'll have to stand up to her instead. Protect your kids, especially the one with ADHD who she's being so rude to.

ChargingBuck · 25/09/2021 17:22

Last time I saw her she was asked to leave the baby alone while she was sleeping…she didn’t

Later on she had been cuddling the baby for awhile and we asked for her back and she grinned and moved the baby away and acted shocked as to why…she still didn’t give her back.

YANBU to find this annoying & disconcerting OP.
But you are allowing her to do it, so complaining & feeling upset are getting you nowhere. You have to use your words, & the sooner you do it, the less engrained her habit of undermining you will become.

"MiL, I asked you to leave the baby alone while sleeping. If you are unable to do that, I'll have to treat you like a child who can't be trusted. Do you want that, or do you want to listen to me the first time I ask?"

"MiL, I asked you to hand the baby back. I know you're not deaf, so what are you playing at? Keep this nonsense up & I'll be asking you to leave."

You need her to understand that this is your baby & you call ALL of the shots. You need to make sure you fully believe it yourself though ... which can't be easy when your own DP doesn't have your back.

The first time is the hardest, & MiL will kick off.
When she does, make sure you have a useful phrase to trot out on repeat (Broken Record technique) until she shuts up or goes away - something like -
"I've said what needs saying, this isn't about you, it's about what I say is best for baby."

I see it's at her house.
All the above still applies - you just pick yourself & baby up & leave - every time she pulls this shit.
The refusing to hand back your baby & smirking at you while she does it is a classic dominance display btw. Cut that shit dead by removing yourself & your baby when she pulls stunts like that - again, along the lines of -

"You are refusing to hear me, this is my baby & my decision, we're leaving now"

Do it, & schedule a BIG chat with DH about why he is enabling his mother to undermine his wife.

PinniGig · 25/09/2021 17:28

My MIL was similar especially when it came to my son's sudden magical ability to do all these things he couldn't do, was noted and already being assessed for help with but no matter what it was we said he had been struggling with, never happened when he was at hers. He had the coordination of a pissed up newborn giraffe on skates and even at 10yrs old during last formal OT assessment, his handwriting was illegible and he wrote an average of six words per minute. Has had to use laptops for all his work and exams but at her house he had the sudden graceful movement of a swan and wrote beautifully like a calligrapher.

Sometimes I think she meant well by it at least initially and maybe was trying to give us some reassurance but she had a naturally awkward, argumentative nature and if the weatherman forecast a bright clear day of sunshine she'd tell him it's pissing buckets.
I did lose my temper with her a few times just because of the way she started to make and create problems. When the kids were little we always had a rule that when they had been at their Grandma's or wherever, they had to tidy away whatever toys and stuff they had got out and put it tidily back in the box before we left.

Son was train mad and MIL's house would end up covered in tracks and whatnot but when I picked them up and said “OK tidy up time kids let's get all this put away before we go home” she would chip in and tell me they didn't need to tidy up.

Even though we'd been through the same nonsense and I'd explained beforehand to her “They tidy up their toys before we leave that's just what we do – let them crack on it'll take 2 mins”

“Well it'll only take me 2 mins as well... I don't mind putting it away after they're fine they don't have to tidy it all up” Angry

My son maybe 3 or 4 clocked it and decided to try his luck with “I don't wanna tidy away all this I'm too tired” and I gave him a bollocking for even trying. MIL got all tearful “I'm sorry that's my fault...” it” and I snapped at her that yeah it was her fault.

She just got him in trouble, was setting him up to get in trouble again because rather than respect a simple, basic rule she had to be awkward and argue and if he's got the brass to do it again she's the reason I'll ban him getting out the train set at all.

I did at least have my husband's support and to be honest I think yours is the one that needs a firm word most. She sounds almost like a child defying you in front of her son knowing he won't have your back and say anything.

If you ask her to hand the baby over and she doesn't or behaves like that again I'd make a point of upping the tone and volume a notch – not shouting or yelling just “HEY - I SAID CAN YOU HAND HER BACK PLEASE?” and make it clear you aren't letting that slide.

After I'd refuse to go round or have her over and repeat any of that bollocks and nonsense unless she behaves or your husband has your back and checks her.

takealettermsjones · 25/09/2021 17:33

I had this but with FIL. A few occasions I had to physically take baby back from him. You just have to get them told. I know it's hard. Flowers

2pinkginsplease · 25/09/2021 17:35

In our house I would ask DH to sort it if he doesn’t then I would. I’m like a bull in a China shop so he normally sorts it out as I’m not as pleasant as him.

She is bang out of order, I personally would reduce how much you see her.

Bluebearxx · 25/09/2021 18:07

Thanks everyone, I’m going to speak to him later about it and see if we can find some solution to this x

OP posts:
Pbbananabagel · 25/09/2021 18:41

Yeah my MIL does that too and she actually is nice, just very used to being the matriarch

New posts on this thread. Refresh page