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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Think MIL caught me adding gin to my drink ! Help !!!

217 replies

Whywhywhypinky · 07/06/2022 23:50

We had guests over. No one was drinking . I ‘secretly’ poured myself a large gin in my lemonade . After , I Realised that my MIL was now sat in a seat where she could have seen through from the lounge into the kitchen . ( if she had of turned her head backwards !!!!)

I feel sick . I rarely drink . I poured the drink to calm my social anxiety! Now I feel sick as a dog that I might look like an alcoholic!!!!!!! My husband would be mortified if he found out .

MIL seemed quiet when I tried to talk to her after but then she has a history of being quiet and abit moody ? I feel so paranoid and angry at myself . Did she see ? I am not sure if she would ever bring it up if she did ? I’m totally freaking out . Why did I do this ???

I’m 35 with DS 10 months . MIL is 78
and very anti drinking ! We had a few
of my husbands nephews over .

I don’t know what an Earth I was playing at . I shouldn’t have done it !! I am feeling sick with worry . I even went and put my phone at the window seat and recorded myself pouring the drink ! High chance she could have seen me if she had turned my way !!!!!

OP posts:
PutinSmellsPassItOn · 08/06/2022 08:13

Good grief are you always so dramatic?? You must be permanently exhausted😬

NrlySp · 08/06/2022 08:16

For the anxiety i would suggest you also have some blood tests - iron, B12 etc. Anything that can affect mood. If your levels are low - and you had a baby so that makes it more likely then it can contribute to anxiety.

Whywhywhypinky · 08/06/2022 08:24

EightisEnough · 08/06/2022 03:36

Op, I hope you feel better about this after a nights sleep. You haven’t done anything wrong and it’s awful you felt you had to hide having a drink in the first place. I hope your Drs appt happens soon and that everything else improves for you as well.

Morning ! I hadn’t thought how much Gin smells and maybe now I panicked ! But it is done now!

Truth is , I still am annoyed it happened but I had massive issues or anxiety so I wouldn’t be the type to just think ‘ oh well what can I do !’

I told my husband. He was sad I felt this anxious that I wanted the drink . He agreed I need to be specific at DRs and tell them social anxiety is ruining my life . He said he doubts MiL saw but worst case she did I would explain to her what I have explained on here !!!!

i feel better having told husband . He was just sad for me and wants me to access help to feel better .

OP posts:
Skinnermarink · 08/06/2022 08:24

Mangogogogo · 08/06/2022 07:35

I’m confused by this because everyone there would have been able to smell you’d been drinking gin anyway?

One gin doesn’t make you stink like Old Gin Sally, you loon.

HailAdrian · 08/06/2022 08:27

Why did you record yourself pouring a gin...?

SmiledWtherisingsun · 08/06/2022 08:28

Your MIL should not have so much influence over your life op.

RustyShackleford3 · 08/06/2022 08:32

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 08/06/2022 08:13

Good grief are you always so dramatic?? You must be permanently exhausted😬

Given that OP's anxiety had been mentioned so prolifically throughout this thread, I don't think it's possible that you missed it, so I think we'd have to conclude that you have made this comment purely to be very nasty.

Wolfiefan · 08/06/2022 08:33

You need to make this the push you need to seek professional advice for the anxiety. There is help available. You don’t need to suffer like this. Call today.

Fraaahnces · 08/06/2022 08:40

Maybe she’s jealous because because you didn’t offer her any.

Crazykatie · 08/06/2022 08:44

.” I even went and put my phone at the window seat and recorded myself pouring the drink ! High chance she could have seen me if she had turned my way !!!!!”

Seriously, nobody videos themselves pouring a drink in secret, this has got to be a wind up.

diddl · 08/06/2022 08:47

You don't have to explain anything to your MIL.

You fancied a drink & you had one!

Although with all the fuss & anxiety it might have been better not to bother!

Whywhywhypinky · 08/06/2022 08:47

@Glitterblue thank you for your reply! Clearly we both don’t relax around MIL! I am aware other people would stick to fingers up to her views but I’m just not like that ! I feel I’m always just sp
worried around her abs FIL.

OP posts:
Whywhywhypinky · 08/06/2022 08:48

To see if she would have been able to see what I was doing in the cupboard from the window . I realised this is bonkers 😛 but I was hoping I’d be able to prove to myself she couldn’t have seen .

OP posts:
TheHumanSatsuma · 08/06/2022 08:50

This, exactly

TooMuchBoozeTooManyBoos · 08/06/2022 08:50

Your husband sounds very sensible. What other people think shouldn't be such a huge deal for you and - as you've seen - the judgement you anticipated doesn't actually manifest. You thought your husband would be mortified and instead he is concerned.

I may be off here, but I'd also think about how much power you are giving alchohol - in this instance, at least, it seems like a souce of reassurance and worry for you. I'd be wary of that because I think it is elevating it to a bigger deal than it is.

I hope your Dr is able to help.

(ps ignore my username - just a bad coincidence!)

Aghh · 08/06/2022 08:52

There’s only 1 way to fix this OP

Have her back over, offer her a drink, then pour yourself a massive one, drink it in front of her, then cackle the afternoon away.

If you can’t do this, then there’s something wrong with you.

Whywhywhypinky · 08/06/2022 08:52

speakout · 08/06/2022 06:59

OP I understand.
My mother is ike this with alcohol, I have stopped even having wine at the christmas table because she is so anti- alcohol.
She would cold shoulder me for weeks if she saw me drinking.
It is horrible feeling so judged.

It is so sad . I’m sorry to read this . i understand how hard it is. You have to go along with someone else’s rules !!!

Thankfully my own parents have no issue with alcohol . So if I fancied a glass of wine I would bloody have one .

issue is we live far away from my family and close to in-laws.

To all the people who say they would do as they please I am almost in utter shock they have the confidence - wish I did !

OP posts:
KylieCharlene · 08/06/2022 08:53

As someone who no longer drinks alcohol I can honestly smell just one gin from meters away.
She will have smelt it.
But really, it's none of her business.

senua · 08/06/2022 08:56

He said he doubts MiL saw but worst case she did I would explain to her what I have explained on here !!!!
No. you don't need to "explain" anything to MIL. Having a drink in one's own house is not a thing that needs explaining. Stop giving her that power.

Thinkingblonde · 08/06/2022 08:58

Brieandcamembert · 08/06/2022 07:46

Your mother in law doesn't drink but you do. So just pour yourself a drink.

If she questioned it you say "I fancied a gin, you don't like alcohol so I was not making a big deal of it"

Get some help for your anxiety so it doesn't rub off on the baby.

Excellent advice. “I fancied a gin, you don’t like alcohol so I was not making a big deal of it” I’d add “and you don’t have to either”
or Change it to “let’s not make a big deal of it, What’s for dessert? “

senua · 08/06/2022 08:59

To all the people who say they would do as they please I am almost in utter shock they have the confidence - wish I did !
You develop balls of steel when you have DC to look after. Everybody comes second to them.

sparklefarts · 08/06/2022 09:00

This is so fucked up

IDidntKnowItWasAParty · 08/06/2022 09:02

Why do you care if mil saw an adult woman having a drink in her own home? You are allowed to drink if you want, who cares if she doesnt like drinking? You need to grow a backbone OP.

Whywhywhypinky · 08/06/2022 09:05

IDidntKnowItWasAParty · 08/06/2022 09:02

Why do you care if mil saw an adult woman having a drink in her own home? You are allowed to drink if you want, who cares if she doesnt like drinking? You need to grow a backbone OP.

It’s that I was hiding in the cupboard! Sneaking around . That’s the issue I think . I know I need to grow a back bone. How do I do that ?
I wish I could go on a course


  • be who you truly are

  • grow a backbone

  • stop being paranoid

  • face your fear !

OP posts:
Whywhywhypinky · 08/06/2022 09:07

I know. I feel awful that I’ve allowed this to happen . I am desperate for her to like me . I agonise over her approval .
I hate myself for it .

OP posts: