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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aggressive MIL still wants me to facilitate contact with my 6 month old

337 replies

DonnyBurrito · 15/02/2022 17:17

Sorry this is a long post, I didn't want to drip feed through comments.

My MIL has recently threatened me via a WhatsApp voice note sent to DP, calling me all the abusive names under the sun and saying how I need to be careful or she'd 'be paying me a visit'. This was due to an argument over WhatsApp I had with SIL, which was in no way aggressive on either of our parts, we just don't see eye to eye on things relating to my DS who is 6 months old. It was a disagreement that got heated, we were both a bit shitty to one another, and we agreed to not speak again for the forseeable. She then immediately ran off to her mummy to tell her we'd fallen out. MIL then proceeded to rant and rave at my DP all morning about how awful I am and how he needed to 'grow some balls' and 'make a decision', and then aggressively threatened me. I have her number blocked on my phone as I've found her way too stressful and demanding to deal with since having DS, otherwise I'm sure she would have contacted me directly.

I'd just like to say at this point that I don't have these kind of disagreements or fallings out with ANYONE else other than this particular family! They are all pretty unpleasant, and MIL has made many enemies over the years. I digress...

This isn't the first time she's sent abusive voice notes to DP. Just before Christmas she sent him 3 horrible voice notes, emotionally abusing him, calling him abusive names and threatening to smack him in the mouth. Not out of character for her, she's been awful to him since he was a child. She even admitted she thought he was a PITA as a baby. After Christmas she told DP that she doesn't give a shit about him, she just wants to see DS.

The constant breakdowns in our relationship with her always come down to her demanding that we bring our DS to see her, regardless of how inconvenient it is for us all, including the baby. She refuses to visit him at our house. We say no, we can't visit you today. She gets angry, DP gets angry, and I get stressed and wish I'd found a man with a nicer mum.

She has now said I'm not welcome at her house, which is obviously fine by me as I don't like it at her house anyway, but she still wants me to bring DS round to hers so she can see him. I'm the only one who drives at the moment, so I would have to drop him and DP off and then go hang around somewhere nearby and wait until I get a call off DP to come and feed him/pick them up. He still breastfeeds on demand for both milk and comfort - DS that is, not DP 😁

MIL will be supervised by DP obviously, but it feels very unnatural to leave my baby with a women who has threatened me and my DP and shown us nothing but disrespect since DS was born. I don't want to do her any favours by running my son around for her, and then disappearing off so she doesn't have to deal with me.

Also, her small house (1 bed bungalow) is always very chaotic and loud, with lots of people scrunched into the tiny front room, TV blaring and her older grandchildren running around screeching and not listening to any adults. The two times in the past I have taken DS round and left him there without me he's got very distressed, verging on inconsolable (he is never like this anywhere else), but MIL disagrees that it's because it's too loud with too many strangers, and that it's because I have babied him too much and he just needs to get used to the chaos.

DS spends 90% of his time with me, and sees his dad a few hours a day before he goes to work and then at weekend. He isn't as attached to his dad, so I don't want to leave him somewhere he has previously gotten very distressed, without being allowed in to comfort him myself.

So... AIBU?

YANBU - to insist on staying with DS if MIL wants to see him.

YABU - DP can look after DS fine for an hour or two on his own.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 15/02/2022 17:19

Why would you do any of that?

doadeer · 15/02/2022 17:20

I don't understand why you would even contemplate allowing her to see your son? She sounds awful. She has no control or rights over your child!

YoComoManzanas · 15/02/2022 17:20

Um, grandparents have no rights to see their grandchildren. Does your dh actually want to do this or is he just in the mindset that you are meant to spend time with family even if they are abusive?
Perhaps some therapy for your dh to free him of this manipulative behavior.
Ps stop sending your baby off to this madness.

TurquoiseDragon · 15/02/2022 17:21

I'm not going to vote either way.

I vote for option C, cutting contact with MIL.

She makes threats to you and your DP, why on earth would you want your DS to have a relationship with her? She can demand you visit all she likes, but you don't have to go, and neither does your DS.

In fact, keep all the threats in case you need a restraining order.

Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 15/02/2022 17:22

Your mil has absolutely no rights to see your ds whatsoever...

Mummytobe93 · 15/02/2022 17:22

So she’s been abusive to you & your husband yet you want to continue the relationship between her and your child? Why?

ComDummings · 15/02/2022 17:22

Why would you or your partner entertain either of those options? Cut contact, she’s an abusive prick and toxic for your child to be around.

KindredKeely · 15/02/2022 17:24

why the fuck would you even entertain her?

never mind drop off the most precious thing in the world to you for her care.

step back, silence her on his phone, just back off.

i wouldn't even entertain a discussion on this - you don't want toxic unstable people near you if you can help it, nvm your DC.

CeleriacOfTheNight · 15/02/2022 17:25

Yeah, fuck all that for a game of soldiers.

KindredKeely · 15/02/2022 17:25

In fact, keep all the threats in case you need a restraining order.

and this.

Holly60 · 15/02/2022 17:25

If your DS was getting something out of seeing his grandmother then I would say it would be in his best interests for you to facilitate this relationship, even if you didn’t get on with her yourself. However it sounds like he is gaining nothing and not enjoying quality time with her anyway.

I think you can legitimately refuse to take him over to hers and invite her to visit him at your house.

SmolCat · 15/02/2022 17:25

Neither of those options!

If your DP wants to continue a relationship with her then then she comes to your house.

If he doesn’t then stop contact.

RoisinD · 15/02/2022 17:25

option C cut contact

southlondoner02 · 15/02/2022 17:25

Don't let her near your child - why would you want him exposed to this behaviour? I would also consider either reporting to police and/ or taking out an injunction based on the threats she has made to both of you.

What does your partner think? If he's experienced this all his life he may need some counselling to deal with it

DysmalRadius · 15/02/2022 17:26

Don't drop them off and don't allow her to see him at all! She's unpleasant and aggressive, treats both his parents terribly and is still complaining about your husband as a baby decades later, so absolutely cannot be trusted around your baby now.

PonyPatter44 · 15/02/2022 17:27

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Goldi321 · 15/02/2022 17:27

Yeah, no thanks MIL. You reap what you sow. I wouldn’t be letting my DS see her at all.

LaurieFairyCake · 15/02/2022 17:28

Obviously 🙄 never

JustWonderingIfYou · 15/02/2022 17:28

Yabu to even consider sending your child to that awful woman!

SamphiretheStickerist · 15/02/2022 17:28

I'm another not voting because your choices are madness.

What does your DP say about this? What does he say he wants to happen?

Because what she wants is of no consequence at all to you. But might become more of an issue if he clings to her and leaves you in the lurch.

Though, as your ds is breast fed and you are the only one driving you do hold all the Fuck Off cards in your hand! Try using one!

IWentAwayIStayedAway · 15/02/2022 17:29

Or plan c you dont facilitate anything

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 15/02/2022 17:30

Option C: neither you nor ds see your MIL. Dp gets counselling. In the meantime if he really wants to continue to see her he can go by himself by public transport.

Keep all the evidence of her threats.

BeepBoopBop · 15/02/2022 17:30

She would be getting a big "Fuck Off" from me. Why would you let your child sit on the knee of such an abusive person in a chaotic, disorganised household? WTAF?

Mumoblue · 15/02/2022 17:31

Option C- document all instances of harassment and then cut contact.

Ionlydomassiveones · 15/02/2022 17:32

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