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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can you ever really come back from having huge fights with in laws ?

143 replies

nubbie · 03/11/2021 11:36

To cut a long story short, I think there's a big personality clash between my in laws and I.

I don't think they're bad people. I don't think they generally mean harm. But it's just a bad fit.

We've had various big fights over the years.

I think eventually both sides will just give up and we will stop seeing each other socially. I would never stop them from seeing the grand children. But I just wouldn't spend time socially with them.

I think the narratives between us are so deeply engrained on each side, that there's always going to be friction.

It's always the same, they say something upsetting. I either let it go or I tell them please not to say or do whatever it is. They say I'm sensitive and shouldn't be upset and that they only ever mean good.

I understand it takes two sides to have a fight. But they never take any blame at all and basically attack my character. Saying I have a chip on my shoulder, a horrible mind and that I twist what they do.

They don't apologise for upsetting me. I end up apologising to them for making them aware of having upset me. Because I genuinely am sorry about it, because they just don't understand it. It's a character clash.

Anyway, it's just not healthy for anyone. Has anyone ever come back from a situation like this ?

And before everyone tells me that I'm the issue, I do think about this a lot and I analyse myself and I really really try to let as much stuff as possible go. But sometimes it just gets too much and I have to say something to stand up for myself.

As I said, it's not black and white. I understand sometimes I need to let things go/ not take things to heart and just brush stuff off. I try to do it as much as possible. But I acknowledge this to them as well and I apologise.

They don't seem to see any error in their ways and always put the blame on me having a strange personality and I just can't accept that's the only reason there's a problem.

It's a clash, which I'm happy to acknowledge, but they do not. They say it's me only.

Any advice ?

OP posts:
blubberball · 03/11/2021 11:42

Sounds like hard work. If it was me, I'd limit my contact with them to protect my own mental wellbeing. What does your partner say?

DroopyClematis · 03/11/2021 11:44

It does rather depend on what the issues are that are causing this friction.

nubbie · 03/11/2021 11:45

@blubberball he thinks it's totally unfair that the narrative is always me being the issue and that they can't see they genuinely upset me a lot.

I think it's pretty toxic for my health to be honest.

But if he stands up for me they tell him he's a traitor to his family. It's just a mess. And I feel for him because it really can't be easy.

It's not easy for in laws either. I also feel for them. But I just can't take it anymore and I think my life would be easier if I limited contact. Like I said, I want them in my children's lives. But do I really need to have dinners and christmases with them. I don't know, it's tough when there's such a clash.

OP posts:
Lavender24 · 03/11/2021 11:47

If I was you I would stop seeing them at all. life is too short to spend your precious free time with people who make you miserable. We haven't spoken to my MIL since 2018 after we had a big fight over her narcissistic behaviour and I don't regret it at all.

FlickerBeat · 03/11/2021 11:49

I have. Funnily enough, having a huge fight finally made them see the error of their ways and change.

To be honest, I wasn't sure we'd ever move past it (a lot of shouting and pulling up faults) but we actually get on much better than we ever did before. I really think it made them open their eyes and see where they'd gone totally wrong.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 03/11/2021 11:50

Can you give examples of some of the upsetting things they say and how youd normally respond and people might be able to give more detail around how to react without it escalating?

It does say from what you've said it's with them, if they are saying you have a horrible mind, a chip on your shoulder, and your husband is a 'traitor' if he stands up for you

I'm assuming that the things they are saying are too upsetting for you to ignore. In which case why do you want your kids around them?

WakeUpLockie · 03/11/2021 11:53

Absolutely the exact situation here. FIL is a covert narc, pillar of the community type so would absolutely die if people found out how rotten his core is. I don’t see him any more but DH will reluctantly take the kids round every so often (‘luckily’?? they moved 20 minutes from us when previously they were 4 hours away…: ‘oh we didn’t realise we’d be so close to you!!’ 🙄). I’m pregnant so that will be awkward as obviously the baby won’t go off without me but I can’t really not let him meet his grandchild. But the thought makes my skin crawl.

Cheerbear23 · 03/11/2021 11:54

They don't apologise for upsetting me. I end up apologising to them for making them aware of having upset me. Because I genuinely am sorry about it, because they just don't understand it.

Just stop seeing them, they’re never going to get it, and you should never have to apologise for making someone aware of upsetting you. They are either thick skinned, stupid or in complete denial.

Chasingaftermidnight · 03/11/2021 11:56

What are the issues causing friction? My DH has had big arguments with my parents over issues they don’t see eye to eye on, like climate change and Brexit. They’ve been able to come back from that. But this sounds like it might be more personal?

WakeUpLockie · 03/11/2021 11:56

And no we won’t spend Xmas with them ever. So absolutely mind numbing boring even without the toxic personality of FIL.

VampireVicki · 03/11/2021 11:59

Can you give examples of behaviour/actions?

If you don't want to see them then don't.

nubbie · 03/11/2021 12:00

It's really varied issues.

Like insisting I do things certain ways with my child and me saying nicely several times that I like to do it X way and the reasons for why. Then MIL getting offended when I eventually ask her to stop insisting please.

Or they say nasty things/ are rude about my family and then deny it and can't see what they did wrong at all.

There are many more examples, but that's not what the post is really about. We just clearly don't see eye to eye.

OP posts:
VampireVicki · 03/11/2021 12:06

The reason I asked is that it's entirely possible they are toxic arseholes and you have been brainwashed/bullied into thinking you are the problem.

In which case, they shouldn't be anywhere near your DC either.

Suddenlyfamily5 · 03/11/2021 12:09

Every case is different but I think if the parties genuinely want to reconcile, then it might be possible.

In my own case my MIL started resenting me the moment I had DC as she saw it as an assault on her “role” as matriarch. She felt the need to assert herself aggressively and rudely at every opportunity, and is either unaware or in denial that she does this.

I was at a vulnerable stage and the trauma she put me through has caused a visceral reaction when I see her. I loath her.

We are both much happier when we are apart, and although I would grit my teeth for the sake of DC and take them to see her, she cares more about denouncing me and wailing about not seeing them, to actually spending time with them.

StolenAwayOn55thand3rd · 03/11/2021 12:11

They sound pretty awful, and I agree with others that you shouldn’t really be seeing them. Are they unkind about your family in front of your DC? Because if so I don’t know if I’d want the DC seeing them either.

My in laws are genuinely, objectively lovely. The reason I clicked on your thread is that I have quite a big personality clash with MIL (not FIL) and we had a falling out a couple of years ago from which we haven’t really recovered. I really don’t want to get in the way of my DC (or DH) seeing them but I’ve realised that for my own mental health I need to limit my time with them substantially. I’m okay with that and so is DH. And they are, as I said, really very nice people. So in your situation I just wouldn’t be seeing the ILs again, or very, very seldom.

Coronawireless · 03/11/2021 12:13

On another thread today I posted that I thought there were two sides to the story.
But on this thread I do think it sounds as if it’s them not you. Sometimes people are just unpleasant. Detach, detach, detach.

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 03/11/2021 12:14

Step away op.

Regardless of faults on sides etc it's clearly toxic and that doesn't need to be in your life.

It will cause constant issues and grind you down and your dh eventually.

We dont do get togethers with my in laws because quite frankly fil is narcissistic and controlling and a horrible piece of shit and I have no respect or tolerance for his behaviour.
Mil I take in small doses because she always has and continues to enable his behaviour

I stepped away and my dh has tolerated far too much but it came to a head recently so we are now lc. Mil sees youngest dc and takes him out for a few hours but fil obviously isn't fussed.

It's not heathy to have that in your life.

If any issues do arise like last week with mil spreading her flying monkey shit to dh I txt her and told her to cut it out. No qualms with telling them and you shouldn't either op.

You don't have to like them

nubbie · 03/11/2021 12:15

@VampireVicki

The reason I asked is that it's entirely possible they are toxic arseholes and you have been brainwashed/bullied into thinking you are the problem.

In which case, they shouldn't be anywhere near your DC either.

I think it's hard to say. Sometimes I'm convinced they're super mean but I want to be more balanced about it. It's all subjective isn't it.

I in no way claim to be perfect myself. I was upset my MIL kept telling me my bum was big when I was pregnant for example. She really didn't mean it in a bad way though and I do believe that.

However, I took issue with the fact that when I asked her not to say that as it makes me feel bad ( after she'd said it 3 times ), she then turned it around and said I am too sensitive. Maybe I was. But surely she could just say. ' oh no, I'm sorry that upsets you. I actually mean it as a compliment. But I understand that it may upset you. '

Instead I got: ' what is your problem? I can't say anything to you! You always do this. People told me all the time I was getting bigger when I was pregnant and I loved it. You have an evil mind and a chip on your shoulder '.

It seems silly, but I just needed her to acknowledge that she can understand how it could upset me, but that she didn't mean it. Which again, I really believe she didn't mean it.

OP posts:
sillysmiles · 03/11/2021 12:16

Is it just his parents or is it his siblings too?

nubbie · 03/11/2021 12:17

@sillysmiles

Is it just his parents or is it his siblings too?
One sibling has started. They all side with each other against me.
OP posts:
Coronawireless · 03/11/2021 12:18

Hey, you know your MIL is awful. Accept it. Laugh about it (in time). Just don’t spend any time with her. Let your DH go whenever he wants of course and you turn up dutifully for major events but stick to chat about the weather and go to bed early.
I suspect you had hoped for a warm relationship with your in-laws and you are sad because you are beginning to accept it may not be possible. You sound like a nice person and they do not.

nubbie · 03/11/2021 12:21

@Coronawireless

Hey, you know your MIL is awful. Accept it. Laugh about it (in time). Just don’t spend any time with her. Let your DH go whenever he wants of course and you turn up dutifully for major events but stick to chat about the weather and go to bed early. I suspect you had hoped for a warm relationship with your in-laws and you are sad because you are beginning to accept it may not be possible. You sound like a nice person and they do not.
It's tough because I just don't believe that anyone is ever 100 percent terrible. And I do think there's always two parties at play in any argument.

I end up blaming myself, if only I could let it go and not react etc. Just smile through it. Who cares, life is too short.

It's tough when it's been drilled in that you're the problem for so long I guess.

OP posts:
industryofficegrey · 03/11/2021 12:25

Is there a cultural difference? My mother's family are not from the UK and they'll talk about things like child-rearing, money, and how you're looking much more bluntly than they do here. I just let it wash over me because they wouldn't understand why I found their questions or their insistence that their way is best offensive.

BreakfastClub80 · 03/11/2021 12:26

Well, I think they sound toxic and I don’t blame you for wanting to avoid them. Life’s too short. And no, I don’t think you can change the narrative unless both sides really want to.

I’d be careful of letting them near your children too, if they start this with them.

TheWernethWife · 03/11/2021 12:27

But if he stands up for me they tell him he's a traitor to his family.

You and your DC are HIS family now OP, time he realised this and put you first.