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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner parents

87 replies

emzylou76 · 16/05/2022 23:55

So when I met my partner 5 years ago he was not in contact with his parents he lived without his uncle who lived a few Streets away. I got with him and asked him why he didn't see them. Things like they didn't tell him his nan was dying and it was too late. At he funeral his mum shouted " oh look it's my disappointment of a son " his dad ignored him in the corner shop. They didn't like his ex wife ( she was nasty I was told ) he had always been put down never had a photo of there only son in house on wall only pictures of their dogs. My partner was nearly adopted he is an only child. The mother and father were young when they had him but it was all stopped by the mother's mum. The father's side wanted there son not to he tied down. I decided to get my partner speaking to his mum and dad again. I met them and they seemed unhappy he sat in lounge with feet up while she sat in kitchen all she did was slate the family to me, trying to get me to side with her. I fell pregnant and she turned nasty at a party telling me I was fat my partner defends me and then she makes out she didn't say it. I had our baby and she visited me the day after I didn't want her too as I was tired and said to my other half do t leave me with her. She moaned and moaned about all the family slagging everyone off moaning about this and that. Showed no Interest in baby. She continued to put me down make snide comments when my partner wasn't around. The father then offered to buy a run down house and rent it to us for 800 pounds a month !! And they expected us to live in a building site my partner work all day and then come home and work on the house well I said no I didn't want the offer of them being landlords too us I wanted to keep my council property and wait for an exchange it new move, this angered them I think I wasn't feeling a good sense of this it felt like control. Eventually we got a new house 3 beds and it was perfect but they didn't seem happy for us. The mother asked if I would do a 1st birthday party for our daughter so I arrange a nice place and buffet and I ordered a professional to make a cake which they knew I was doing, it would also be a time for them to meet my family. They arrived early and then my parents turned up my dad automatically sits with my partners dad to try and hold a conversation but he just gave him one word answers and totally snubbed my dad. The mother just kept making jibes at me all day they showed no interest in being friendly. I wanted to it end it was so awful the atmosphere. My parents tried to cover it up. At the end of the party the candle wet lit on my cake I ordered and then obviously I started to cut it for people to take home. The mother suddenly brings out this shop bought giant chocolate cake and starts pushing it onto people. Mainly my son who felt awkward I could see he didn't want any, I snapped at her and told her "he doesn't want any " I made a quick exit and in the car my partner apologized for his parents. I decided I never wanted to be in there company again my anxiety was through the roof and I suffer with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and I was poorly for days after. I haven't seen them since. My partner take our daughter to see them occasionally but he doesn't stay long. He won't talk about the situation ever he never want to address problems we have ever. Our daughter will ask why I do t see them and I do not want to lie to her. The mother has never acknowledged she has been nasty to me and I doubt ever will. But my partner won't either. What would you do ?

OP posts:
theemmadilemma · 17/05/2022 20:59

Karma. He told you what they were like. You didn't listen. 🤷‍♀️

girlmom21 · 17/05/2022 21:44

@emzylou76 you didn't push and push? So he told you they were abusive, you said "I think you should speak to them" and he said "ok"?

Either way you still convinced him he was wrong and have now realised he was right

Chilesstanton · 17/05/2022 23:49

Keep your oar out next time

WildCoasts · 18/05/2022 00:36

You told him it was important to have them in his life, he went along with it. He continues to go along with it and will find it hard to step back again now.

My husband hasn't spoken to his parents for a very, very long time. I know I could go to my DH right now and tell him I'm going to contact his parents and see if we can work things out. I wouldn't expect any opposition even though he feels very strongly about them. The reason behind this response is to do with how he responds to anything to do with his family, even now, and reflects why it is important that I not bring them back for him. I also don't want to have to put him through having to disentangle again.

I don't like the situation between my husband and his parents but it's not mine to sort out. My husband knows I will support him with whatever he feels he needs to do with them, for better or worse outcome, but I won't decide what that should be for him.

MintJulia · 18/05/2022 01:21

Your partner was right in the beginning. He knows his parents are unpleasant and had cut them out of his life. Accept that he knows his parents best. Stop interfering.

Block them, don't involve them in anything, leave HIM to decide what contact should be with HIS parents. Don't get involved.
They aren't your problem.

Cosmos123 · 18/05/2022 06:25

Sorry it was your fault for getting him to see parents again.

Now you need to see how their relationship with son ends up.
They may part company again, they may not.

But don't interfere.

Motnight · 18/05/2022 06:29

Your poor husband. It takes strength to go NC with your abusive family and you have ensured that he is more enmeshed than ever.

10HailMarys · 18/05/2022 10:18

I decided to get my partner speaking to his mum and dad again.

Why? They're awful. He was better off without them and you shouldn't have decided to 'get him speaking to them' again.

justamushypea · 18/05/2022 10:36

Why do you need his validation on this?
You know they are nasty and you've decided not to see them.
You can't make him side with you now that he is back in touch with them.
This is now his shit to deal with all over again and you should support him.
You might not have forced him to see them again but because of your suggestion he did and now he's stuck in that toxic cycle again.
He will get out of it again but in his own time and he will need you to be there for him.
It won't be easy.
Nobody goes NC with their parents without a bloody good reason and now you know why your partner did.
Stop making it about you and help him through this.

billy1966 · 18/05/2022 13:01

Flippermeflopits · 17/05/2022 20:14

What should you do? Make sure your partner has a good friend to support him. He clearly doesn't get it from you or his family.

Excellent suggestion.

It is so hard to go NC and to be actively undermined by your partner is just awful.

You have brought such unnecessary drama back into his life.

I would not be surprised if he feels very differently about you as a result.

He is owed a huge apology and a promise to butt out of stuff you clearly know nothing about.

I think behaviour like yours is very disloyal.

Disloyalty is a real deal breaker in relationships IMO.

justamushypea · 18/05/2022 13:20

@billy1966 Totally agree with this.
I went nc with a family member but it wasn't an easy decision.
If anyone talked me into going back there and then didn't support me with the fallout I'd be devastated.

WalkWithDignityAndPride · 18/05/2022 14:44

I love the way you've decided that toxic, abusive parents must have contact with your own child.

He should leave and take the child with him.

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