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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want my in laws visiting every month

472 replies

bravelittlepenguin · 01/11/2021 14:33

In laws don't live near us- it's about a 3.5 hours drive. We aren't close to them and we've had a few "run ins" over the years which means it can feel slightly awkward for me when they are around.

We've got two little children, one 20 months and the other a newborn.

They've been to visit the newborn last month. They stayed for three nights but not at our house but we saw them each day. They have now organised to come at the start of December (we couldn't find a November date that worked for us all) and will be staying with us for two nights. I told DH I was assuming this would be their Xmas visit too as we are hosting 12 people for Xmas day and have other family members and friends staying (including Brother in law) before and over Xmas. MIL has now just messages saying "can we also come and stay for a couple of nights perhaps 20th/21st December". I really don't want them to stay or visit twice in a month particularly so close to Xmas and with so many other things going on and two small children.

AIBU?

OP posts:
soberfabulous · 02/11/2021 15:49

Not in laws but my parents...I live overseas and mine come to stay for A MONTH at a time....TWICE a year.

It is a huge adjustment to have people staying in your home and that's before you layer over familial relationships and quirks.

You really have my sympathy OP.

Larryyourwaiter · 02/11/2021 15:49

I couldn’t see this being asked. What’s the plan when you go back to work?
Having visitors once a month when you are in work sounds even worse. I take it they come on week days now?

I think 6-8 weeks to visit sounds much more reasonable to me.

I wonder if all the people having a go at you have their own parents in law to stay every single month.

IntermittentParps · 02/11/2021 17:25

To be fair to him he would do the cooking and making up of beds etc if I make it clear that's his responsibility.
I get so sick of reading this sort of thing on here.
Who is making it clear when things are your responsibility, OP? And (more general question) WHY do so many women take on all the mental load of things like this?
He wants them to stay, he can bloody well step up. If he can't take holiday then he needs to say to HIS parents that he won't be around to entertain them and so no, they can't stay.
Is he doing anything at Christmas or is it you?

Mummabear89 · 02/11/2021 17:29

Tell them honestly that you are already hosting for 12?

Mere1 · 02/11/2021 17:32

I think you are being unreasonable.

Loulablake · 02/11/2021 17:36

Wow. How you feel if that was your parents or years to come one of your children with your grandchildren. I think yabu I get families are hard but this is your children’s grandparents…..think of their relationship

Middmary · 02/11/2021 17:38

Ofc its tiring! I feel you! I am the same as you as I cannot handle being around people all the time, in-laws and otherwise, I need alone time to de-stress, I have always been tht way. So I do it in pieces. If I was you, I would not arrange activities specifically. Just do your normal thing and if it something they want to do then ofc they are welcome to come. Like if your going for a meal, they can come. If you are going to the supermarket, then ofc they can still come but doubt they would want to. I would keep it natural. Like they are regular members of the family. You spend some time with them whilst they are here but not all of it. Your kids can be with them without you, take it as an opportunity to go out on your own and have a nice break. It is what I do when I visit my own parents and I do the same with my in-laws. I visit them but I only spend some of the time with them. I use the rest of the time to have some alone time or see other family members and build those relationships. Would not get date night ever if my in-laws didnt come over once in a while and take my son. Cooking dinner for so many people is hard! So I would probably do a nice dinner the first night and possibly the last but otherwise they get what we eat. They will also probably want to go off and do their own thing as it is a break for them also, so just let them know. They might fee like they cant go out as they are there to see the kids but just let them know if they is anyhting they want to go out and do they can.

I think a change of mindset is needed here. Dont think of it as hosting them. Give them free reign around the house and it will feel less like hosting and more like family pottering about.

People are not around forever so make what time you can for them whilst you are able.

I think people forget, for your children, these relationships are so very important. And as the mother, the way you are with their grandparents will be noticed by them. Kids are clever. Regardless of what you feel, it is important for your children to have a good bond with their fathers parents. Your husband is their son! Imagine your son not wanting you in his home.

Imo it teaches your children so much about community and family and grounds them into becoming family-oriented and loving. It makes me so sad the way people take family so lightly and for granted and forget all the things that make us human come from being part of a family/community. It makes us loving, committed, empathetic, it gives us a place in society. So many benefits and sadly we live in a world where the meaning of family has been forgotten. Everyone just working all day long, majority of the year with no time for relationships/family. Also I get family are not perfect, but they are family and that means something!

chlorineirene · 02/11/2021 17:42

Just book a pub lunch and arrange to do stuff out of the house so there's less 'hosting' to do

dcthatsme · 02/11/2021 17:42

If DH pitches in I think it is reasonable for them to come twice. They are his family and your children's family after all. People want to see their children and grandchildren over Christmas. They are now your family too. You don't have to cancel your plans do you? You can go out and leave them can't you? Perhaps they can do a bit of babysitting while they're there too? They are different from your own family and it takes time to grow close to ILs. If they have a close relationship with their grandchildren this will enrich your childrens' lives and your lives as parents. It's hard getting used to other people's ways but it will be worth it in the end.

DanceItOut · 02/11/2021 17:43

Just say to them sorry there’s lots of other people that also want to visit at Christmas so you can do X weekend or Y weekend but not both, which would they like?

Maybe alternate between one month they visit and stay with you, the next month you meet in the middle for a day out, the next month you go to them, etc. So you still see them every month but not always several days in your house.

Lovelyricepudding · 02/11/2021 17:45

Of course it is discriminatory - they quite clearly state they are discriminating against prams. The question is not whether they are discriminating but is it illegal discrimination: sometimes it is reasonable to discriminate (eg not children at 18 films), sometimes it is unreasonable but still legal (eg no one without a hat).

Lovelyricepudding · 02/11/2021 17:47

Oops. Wrong thread

GlowGirlGlow · 02/11/2021 17:49

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all - It depends a lot on what your history is like ofc but it can be too much if they’re the type you have a strained relationship with etc. I can understand they might want to see the kids and especially at Christmas but I have been in this position (albeit with a real problem set of in laws!!) and would get out of it whenever I could, but I wouldn’t have a problem with it if they were like my own parents are, with whom I have a great relationship. I think it all depends on context and what you feel you can handle. Good luck, family logistics can be a nightmare!

Hellsbells35 · 02/11/2021 17:52

I would expect to see you closer to Christmas too. I imagine this is just a December anomaly and then it won’t be so frequent.

Imagine if it was you visiting your kids in the future.

Peanut3 · 02/11/2021 17:53

I haven’t read any of the other comments yet, so apologies if I’m repeating anything…

Can totally relate to this, I absolutely dread visits from the in-laws..

Remember three things though..

Firstly, hopefully you’ll be an in-law too one day, and hopefully you’ll be welcome to visit your grandchildren whenever you want.. 12 times a year probably won’t feel like very much.

Secondly, your babies will be toddlers before you can blink and monthly visits from the in-laws can come in very handy.. coordinate your nights out around them as free baby sitters.

Lastly… they won’t be around forever..

Janemain · 02/11/2021 17:54

I think you are being unreasonable. Children benefit from growing up in as big a circle of people who love and care for them as possible. Put what's best for them first. You never know how long they'll be around for.

Bubbleballoon · 02/11/2021 17:57

You are being unreasonable. It’s not every month. It’s to meet your newborn a couple of times and then Christmas is Christmas, it’s just fallen that it’s twice in December. I’m sure they aren’t planning to visit every month and stay after new year but surely they are entitled to see their son and grandchildren. If you don’t want to see them then let your husband see them with the children on some of the days instead.

Juststopamoment · 02/11/2021 17:57

I’m with you. Once a month is too much. What happened to ILS just visiting a few times a year! That is much more palatable and makes you less resentful and maybe you would even be happy to see them.

sarahonss1 · 02/11/2021 17:57

What does your other half think? I would grin and bare it then into next year go forward as you want to

wentworthinmate · 02/11/2021 17:59

I hate feeling obligated to see people I don't like and frankly as I've got older I don't. Life is too short to make small talk. Just tell them no to the second visit and that you'll get back to them when you know what is going on with the 12 that are already coming (it helps reiterate to them that you are already super busy), then just accidentally on purpose forget to make a new date.

PrincessNutella · 02/11/2021 18:00

I get it--I think it would be reasonable to have the december21 visit because it's Christmas, but then I would say how about putting off the earlier one.

keeptheaspidistra · 02/11/2021 18:00

Mumsnet seems to be full of women who dislike, pick fault with and want to alienate their partner's parents. As a mother of all boys, i really hope they don't settle with partner's who behave like this.

Yespresh · 02/11/2021 18:06

Not read all 13 pages but could you suggest meeting half way and let them have the children on their own for a bit? You could have a quiet lunch the two of you and let them be grandparents and get to know their grandchildren. My children are grown up but I would have been so pleased if my inlaws had shown and interest in our children. They did the other grandchildren which was obvious and hurtful.

SockFluffInTheBath · 02/11/2021 18:08

Why do they have to stay with you? I’d let them visit on the proviso they stay elsewhere as you’re frantic prepping for the descending 12 snd you don’t need the cleaning/washing/bedroom turnaround to deal with at the last minute.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/11/2021 18:10

Yabu.

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