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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

We always get de-prioritised!

149 replies

Ohmeohmy1 · 16/07/2022 10:26

Suffering through silent treatment with OH (cause I'm fuming) and need help to either get over myself or see if the way I feel has some merit.

This may be long so please bear with me.

OH has 3 siblings. They were all in serious relationships when we met, had houses, got married and started families very close together.

S1 (sibling 1) lives abroad, 2 kids, aged 9 and 11.

S2 lives in UK, 2 kids, aged 8 and 10.

S3 lives in UK, 3 kids, aged between 4 and 10

S4 (my OH) lives in UK, we lived in rented for 5 years then bought a house and got married 3 years after latest sibling did (by this point all but one niece/nephew were born. Started trying right away, got lucky but unfortunately I MCed at 9w. Then followed a hard infertility struggle for 3 years, but eventually we managed to complete our family. Got 2 beautiful DC now, aged 6 months and 3 years, which I'm thankful for every single day!

Now to the problem:

As my OH is the youngest, is considered a "screw-up" by the others who would always plan stuff between themselves and tell us to come at a set date and time. This has always bugged me as I'm incredibly organised (eldest in my family) and want to have some input, we got lives too! After the children came along this doubled as whatever we were doing wasn't considered "important" and all had to be according to feeding, sleeping and whatever times and we should be flexible as we didn't have children.

The sibling that lives abroad visits UK every year (Covid excluded) and does the rounds to see and stay with family and friends. In the first few years of our relationship they would stay with the others as we didn't have a house (so was apparently complicated) and we would have to travel to meet up with them for a few hours.

Once we bought our house they would come and stay for a night, then go to S2 for a couple of nights or so then to S3 for a bit longer as their mother lives around that way too so could spend time with both. The excuse that was given was to spend time with their new nephews/nieces. Again this has been bugging me as felt less worth cause we didn't have children.

They have only met our eldest once and that was when we went abroad to see them.

Fast forward to this year and plan was we and S2 get a couple of nights then MiL gets one night and S3 gets 3 nights. Happy days!

Last night I find out MiL can't host as is getting some work done and has recently been abroad to see them plus can catch up with them easily while they're seeing S3 so S2 gets the extra day and night.

So new plan: we get 2 nights, and S2 and S3 get 3 nights each. Don't know if they plan to come late first night and leave early last morning, probably as has been the case every other time so we get barely longer than a day.

Excuse now is the others have children similar ages while ours are fairly young and will struggle to find things to do for the extra day. I'm LIVID!

Hence the heated discussion last night, I feel we are always getting short end of the stick and it's brought up my early loss as if that had worked out that one would be 6 soon, would that have changed things? Feels like we are always being pushed away for not being further on in life than others, but aren't we worth spending as much time with?

OH tells me it's what the reality is, it isnt a competition and it's about the kids and they'd be happier with others same age and when our DC are older we can go see them bla bla bla. But that isn't the bloody point!

For the record we all get along great when together but AIBU to feel this way. It's not a competition or anything but if it was me I would see ALL my siblings equally no matter where in life they are as that doesn't matter and would split the extra day instead!

Sorry for the rant, would welcome some outside perspective.

OP posts:
parenthood1989 · 16/07/2022 10:32

I didn't read your post after the suffering silent treatment. Whatever the issue is find a way to communicate.

greenleave5 · 16/07/2022 10:34

Maybe they get on better with the other siblings than with you? Either way it's their time to spend how they choose. I would struggle to get worked up about this and would probably prefer to have less hosting duties. Maybe they don't want to put additional pressure on you with a young family.

Just let it go and enjoy the time you get to spend together. If you're more relaxed they'll probably want to spend more time with you in future.

magaluf1999 · 16/07/2022 10:41

I'm sorry but you do seem to be over thinking and over personalising this.

Im sure there is indeed an irritating family dynamic. But it seems a bit mad to be arguing about getting an equal share of time with people that it doesn't sound like you like very much.

Let it go. Focus on the people you love and who you have uncomplicated relationships with. If they come they come if they don't they don't.

Let DH worry about his own relationship with his own siblings and you worry about yours. If he isn't bothered am not sure you would be.

GaspingGekko · 16/07/2022 10:45

I'm not sure why this is getting to you so much. This is your DHs relationship with his siblings. Step back and let him deal with it or allow him to accept it - it is quite possible that he is hurt by the way they are with him but tries not to be and you are not helping him to cope.

For what it's worth I'm the sibling who lives away. It sounds to me like they are giving priority to what they actually want to do and what will be easier with their kids over petty adding up of days and nights etc. It's narural when there is a lot of family to visit, it can be stressful doing that kind of a holiday, moving every few days, especially with children.

You also sound like you had issues with his family before this, maybe they have picked up on this and don't enjoy staying with you as much?

Schooldil3ma · 16/07/2022 10:47

They aren't your siblings, why do you care so much?
If they invite you to something that doesn't work for you just say no.
I'm really struggling to understand why you're giving this so much headspace.

luxxlisbon · 16/07/2022 10:51

This sounds like it could be just blown out of proportion and into something it doesn’t need to be. Your husband is younger and in quite a different life stage. Not all siblings will get on equally. Fussing over who gets exactly how many nights when another sibling is visiting is weird imo and then wanting to spend more time with the siblings who have similar aged kids is totally normal. The kids will entertain each other and it will therefore be easier for the adults.

It doesn’t sound like they are being particularly rude to you, they just maybe don’t like you that much.

cheninblanc · 16/07/2022 10:51

I don't understand the upset, your dividing up hours and getting upset as you feel you don't have the same? All seems a bit intense to me, maybe that's why they stay with others longer

SilverDragonfly1 · 16/07/2022 10:51

They sound like twats. Why on earth do you want them to stay for longer? I'd be suggesting they just go straight to S2.

NoSquirrels · 16/07/2022 10:53

OH tells me it's what the reality is, it isnt a competition and it's about the kids and they'd be happier with others same age and when our DC are older we can go see them bla bla bla. But that isn't the bloody point!

It’s his siblings. He’s OK with it.

You’re projecting your previous feelings of infertility into this.

He’s the youngest sibling and for a long time had no children to factor into plans. It made sense you travelled to see them etc. One sibling lives abroad and tries to see everyone- that’s stressful.

I understand you feel slighted and that’s OK - it’s hard to be the ones with the youngest family when the other are older and have their own cousin relationships etc.

Stop being controlling. Try to chill out about it. Forge your own relationship independently- like your DH says, travelling to the others.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 16/07/2022 10:54

Just let it go and enjoy the time you get to spend together. If you're more relaxed they'll probably want to spend more time with you in future.

I agree with this. The reality is that at 9 and 11 they won't be as interested in little children as they are children their own age. In a couple of years though they may enjoy posing more for pictures with their little cousins. The cousins have their own relationships too. I would say even the gap between a 6yr old and a 9yr old would feel harder at this point.

I would also feel bad imposing on someone with a 6 month old baby however much they said it was fine, it is not as easy as chucking the cousins all out in a tent for the night while the parents relax with a glass of wine which s1&2 can. Also there may be existing dynamics between the siblings which are nothing to do with you and current situation. I would try to relax and enjoy the time that you do have.

NoSquirrels · 16/07/2022 10:56

Do you have siblings, OP?

I’m wondering if actually the family dynamics of how things get ‘shared’ in a larger family of 4 children - and therefore much bigger extended family - aren’t familiar to you. And if you don’t have your own siblings his family is more important to you to feel equally included?

(Fwiw, I suspect my own SIL feels similarly to you but I’d say there are 2 sides to all stories etc)

SpaceJamtart · 16/07/2022 10:57

Are the sibling quite different ages?
People are quite often closer to the siblings they grew up with and if your husband is significantly younger it is understandable.
It might not even be about you, it does make sense for the cousins who know each other and will have things in common to spend more time together, it might be what the children want.

Do the other siblings have more space, making it more comfortable to stay there?
Do you live in a less convenient location?

Do you go and visit them?

user1471457751 · 16/07/2022 10:58

I really don't see your issue with this. They are still coming to stay, just one night less than with other siblings (but at the other siblings they can see their mum as well so it makes sense to be there longer). And as for only seeing your 3 year old once so far have you forgotten the 2 years of travel restrictions we have just gone through?

Endofdaysarehere · 16/07/2022 10:58

They just don’t like you as much as they like their other family.

Why would you be arguing for some people to stay in your house when they are making it very clear they don’t want to?

BlancmanegeBunny · 16/07/2022 10:59

You need to step back and relax a bit!

Winter2020 · 16/07/2022 10:59

They can stay with people as long as they like as long as the hosts are happy to have them.

For the sibling travelling between 3 homes with a night here, two nights there it sounds exhausting and I wouldn't blame them if they just wanted to stay with one family and tell everyine else to come visit them if they want to.

Chill out.

Booked · 16/07/2022 11:00

Sounds exhausting. They're good to travel to 4 different places visiting everyone in such a short trip. Imagine doing that then trying to calculate everyone's allocated time so it was equal Confused

They want their kids to have someone to play with and to get to know their cousins. Your baby doesn't even know what day it is or who they are. Not very entertaining for an 11 year old. They're still spending 2 nights with you despite that.

Hotenoughtoburnasausage · 16/07/2022 11:00

Why fill your life up with juggling other people so much? Just enjoy your dh and dc...

girlmom21 · 16/07/2022 11:03

They're right. If I could choose between spending 3 nights with my sibling with children the same age as mine or sibling with a young baby I'd choose the one with similar aged children. Life's just easier that way.

Ithinkwemightgetaholiday · 16/07/2022 11:03

I've recently taken a massive step back from trying to facilitate relationships with DHs side, and it's liberating! DH doesn't care, so why should I. We have the opposite with my side. Just back off from it all.

birdsinthegarden · 16/07/2022 11:04

Are you giving your OH the silent treatment over this or is he giving you the silent treatment? Either way, that's not cool...punishing someone with silence is crazy and immature.

It sounds as though you are a very structured and organised person and perhaps don't adapt well to last minute changes to your routine? Maybe that's what's irking you so much? Afraid that's how it goes with big families - it's often a chaotic mess with lots of chopping and changing and it can't all be done on a spreadsheet with everyone's routines factored in.

Take a deep breath. It's honestly not the big deal that your head is telling you it is.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 16/07/2022 11:06

Sorry OP I think you're overthinking this.

There are 8 nights and three siblings so one is going to get two nights. It would be a slight if they weren't staying with you or had gone with 4 3 and seeing you 1 night...but they are still staying 2 nights with you. That's long enough for in laws visits for most people! Its true that their kids will have a better time with kids of a similar age, they will have appropriate toys for them to play with etc but either way they are still making the effort to stay with you for 2 nights.

It sounds like because of past dynamics you are going over the top on this.

Runnerduck34 · 16/07/2022 11:07

They are still staying with you for the originally planned two days? So haven't changed that. Although I understand if they arrive late/ leave early it may feel more like one day.
Ultimately you can't make them.spend more time with you, you can make suggestions, ask what they'd like to do ,say you are all really looking forward to seeing them etc but that's all you can do.
I get that you feel you like your family unit is less important to them.
Maybe DH secretly agrees and is hurt by your pointing it out to him.
Ultimately its out of your control, you say you get on great with them so enjoy their company and be a good host but don't jump through any hoops they wouldn't jump through for you.

ThreeLittleDots · 16/07/2022 11:07

Inferiority complex and the silent treatment? This is all too much. None of this truly matters really, does it?

Ohmeohmy1 · 16/07/2022 11:08

To answer some questions:

I don't have siblings, cousins or uncles and aunts and yes was very excited to finally be part of a big family. As mentioned we all get along swimmingly when together. Also want my children to develop relationships with their relatives.

If I didn't like them then this wouldn't be a problem, just feel punished for whatever my lot in life is.

Re ages S3 and S4 are close together age wise as are S1 and S2. There are 5 years I'm between.

OP posts: