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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:
NoSquirrels · 16/07/2022 11:08

My SIL is also an eldest child married to a youngest child. Unfortunately for her, my DB is extremely laid back and sounds like your DH. I’m sure it bugs her no end! But there’s no deliberate exclusion of my DB and his family, it’s just hard to make arrangements that suit multiple families perfectly. Compromise is always required. I’d say my SIL is less adept at compromising, so…

MrsWooster · 16/07/2022 11:09

This would be over intense if they were YOUR siblings, let alone your DH’s.
It feels very like you’re using the family dynamic in his family to play out some pre-existing stuff of your own about feeling slighted…
as PPs have said, find people that you actually like to make your network with.

MiriMollyMartha · 16/07/2022 11:10

I think you're being WAY oversensitive and a bit clingy? So some siblings are a bit closer or want to spend more time with each other as their kids are similar ages. That's normal! It's not the end of the world. Maybe your miscarriage is clouding your judgement as you're understandably hurt about that and maybe projecting those feelings onto this situation? It's not really any of your business whether your husbands siblings want to spend one day extra with another of their siblings? They're coming to see you so they clearly like you and it's not really for you to get livid about if your husband is fine about it. Its a bit jealous and weird for an adult to feel le this about something so minor imo (sorry)

Mellowyellow222 · 16/07/2022 11:11

These people must be amazing if you are livid that you are only getting two nights with them!

honestly they aren’t even your siblings - why are you keeping score and getting so worked up?

I think your reaction to call this might hint at the reason you aren’t as close?

Chdjdn · 16/07/2022 11:11

I think you’re making something about you that isn’t really massively about you; you’ve touched on how the loss you experienced might impact how you feel and I think that might be part of it.
If your DP is ok with it and it’s his siblings then I think you need to be ok with it and being angry at him for something his siblings have done isn’t really fair. They are his siblings and irs his dynamic to manage. I’d try and step back from it and let it flow over you

girlmom21 · 16/07/2022 11:11

I'm really confused by this:

I don't have siblings, cousins or uncles and aunts and yes was very excited to finally be part of a big family.

As in your OP you said:

This has always bugged me as I'm incredibly organised (eldest in my family)

I think you're just trying to be controlling of the whole situation and ultimately your in-laws want to spend time with the people they get along with best. Unfortunately that doesn't fit your big family ideology. Big families really aren't fun.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/07/2022 11:12

Stop getting angry about nothing, stop looking for offence where none is intended, and above all stop making trouble between your DH and his siblings. Just stop.

RiojaRose · 16/07/2022 11:12

I don’t really understand the problem, but then I don’t really enjoy having house guests so maybe that’s why. However, I don’t think I’d expect a strictly equal division of time in this situation.

I also think it makes sense for the kids to spend a bit more time with their similarly-aged cousins at this stage. When yours are a little older it won’t seem like such a big gap.

And it would be much better if you could have a reasonable discussion with your OH, in which you both talk about how your feel without getting angry. If your OH simply won’t discuss it, there’s something bigger going on and you won’t be able to resolve this house guest situation anyway.

luxxlisbon · 16/07/2022 11:13

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

You are assigning a whole lot of intent to perfectly normal things and that is your issue not theirs.
There isn’t anything wrong with them making plans and just inviting you, if if doesn’t work don’t attend. If you want to plan something because you are “incredibly organised” then plan something yourself.

It is really over the top for you to be livid at this, you’re going to drive a wedge between your husband and his siblings if you allow this attitude to keep taking over.

NoSquirrels · 16/07/2022 11:13

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.

You’re not being punished.

Your DC are really young yet, and Covid got in the way of a lot of meet and greets, especially if it involved travel from abroad. It will all be lovely in time.

If, as you say, you all get along well when together, and extended family is important to you, please please don’t ruin it by making problems where none exist over perceived slights.

Make your own plans to meet up with them in different family groups, forge your own individual relationships. Don’t dwell on this. Have fun!

ThreeLittleDots · 16/07/2022 11:14

just feel punished for whatever my lot in life is

Recommend counselling as your reaction isn't usual x

frazzledasarock · 16/07/2022 11:14

Why does it bother you so much?

it means you have less to do, less entertaining and can concentrate on your very young children.

I would be relieved in your shoes, smile enjoy the evening they’re around and get on with your life priorities.

are you sure your not conflating this in your head with the historical perception of your husband being the ‘screw up’ compounded with the grief of the loss of your child. And this issue is bringing up all those feelings?

speak to your husband I really don’t think this is anything to get worked up over.

luxxlisbon · 16/07/2022 11:15

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!

To add your husband sounds very reasonable and you sound incredibly rude.

ClocksGoingBackwards · 16/07/2022 11:18

You are massively overreacting at a non event.

it makes sense for the sibling from abroad to stay with the sibling who has children closest in age to their own because that will probably be more fun for them.

I honestly can’t see why you’re taking it so personally and creating an issue when the sibling from abroad is still staying with you for two nights.

ImustLearn2Cook · 16/07/2022 11:20

I really don’t think you are getting the short end of the stick at all. They are staying with you for two days and originally were going to stay at each family members houses for two days. It’s only changed because of MIL unable to accommodate them. Out of the remaining 3 they’ve divided the two extra nights between two households. They can’t divide two extra nights equally into 3 so one household will remain as the original two nights.

It makes perfect sense that they chose the two households with the older children who are closer in age to their children. It is not about short changing you at all. It’s not about treating you unfairly.

Life is far less stressful if you don’t make mountains out of molehills.

newtb · 16/07/2022 11:26

You will have a difficulty reconciling your différent dynamics. You are the eldest, DH the youngest. You're in charge, he's used to being bossed.

You need to work on your communication and the fact that while each of you thinks your family is normal, that's only because it's where you each grew up.

The vast majority of families aren't normal, but are, in various ways, and to various degrees, dysfunctional.

Ohmeohmy1 · 16/07/2022 11:27

girlmom21 · 16/07/2022 11:11

I'm really confused by this:

I don't have siblings, cousins or uncles and aunts and yes was very excited to finally be part of a big family.

As in your OP you said:

This has always bugged me as I'm incredibly organised (eldest in my family)

I think you're just trying to be controlling of the whole situation and ultimately your in-laws want to spend time with the people they get along with best. Unfortunately that doesn't fit your big family ideology. Big families really aren't fun.

I'm eldest as in as got a younger step sister when one of my parents remarried who I never saw much of anyway. Don't have any blood siblings.

OP posts:
TiaraBoo · 16/07/2022 11:29

This is a different type of thread isn’t it! Normally it’s about trying to get people not to stay!
If your DH isn’t bothered, then it’s all fine.
I can see why they’re used to staying with the older siblings more, it’s not unfair, it’s just ‘life’. If you really want to be part of this big family, accept you can’t control DHs family and just make them welcome when you do see them.

girlmom21 · 16/07/2022 11:29

I think it's really important to separate the reality of his family from your ideology of a big family. I understand why you're disappointed but could you suggest everyone gets together for one of the days?

Sittingonabench · 16/07/2022 11:31

i do think you are being a little sensitive on this. The sibling from abroad is making a significant effort to see all family members which is a lovely thing to do and hardly the easiest of holidays having to decamp with kids in tow every two days. Complaining you don’t get as much time as the others for the sake of it seems childish. And if it were me I would choose to spend more time nearer my mother who I wasn’t staying with.
This is maybe one of the things that you get used to with big families - who has most space, is easier company, ease of entertaining children are all factors too.

Thatswhyimacat · 16/07/2022 11:32

My DH has an almost identical family setup. We don't have kids and as soon as the nieces and nephews were born we basically ceased to exist - expected to trek to see them with gifts whenever their kids have a party but it will be getting up at 5am to get the train so the day can revolve around kids naptime. Christmas etc we might as well not be there as plans are made only to suit the children and we have a rubbish time expected to pitch in and look after the kids. They never come to visit us or meet up without the kids and frankly I'm fed up of the endless meetups to basically buy them unreciprocated gifts and act as unpaid childcare. Childless couples in big families have to get used to the idea that noone really thinks you matter.

junebirthdaygirl · 16/07/2022 11:34

I have a dB abroad. When they visit it becomes about them as they have the expense of flying, renting a car etc. We fit in with what they want and it does make it more enjoyable for the adults if the dc are happy and occupied with cousins. So they do spend extra time with same ag dc . Otherwise the dc will not want to come as there will be no excitement for them. If we want individual time with them we fly to them and that works out brilliantly as they get to know our dc etc. You are ruining this for your dh.
Step back and enjoy the days they are there. Make them very welcome then wave them off.

GoldenSpiral · 16/07/2022 11:35

You're taking this way too personally. Your DH is right.

Mangledrake · 16/07/2022 11:36

A largish family tends to mean people are laid back about dividing visits, hosting etc evenly. Otherwise everyone would have gone mad long ago. If you want to see more of them, visit them or organise an event. But I really wouldn't take this personally.

Sometimes when people say they are structured and organised, they mean they only see one way of doing things and view everyone else as doing it wrong. Could that be happening to you on this issue.

There are lots of enjoyable ways of building good relations with family, if you want that. Griping over a "fair" share of visits is the opposite. Put your energy into something else if you can.

Odile13 · 16/07/2022 11:37

I think you should let your DH take the lead when it comes to the relationships with his siblings and family. It’s easier that way. From an outsiders perspective I think you should enjoy the time you do have with them. Things are never going to be exactly equal. I can think of quite a few things in my own family where certain things haven’t been ‘equal’ and you just kind of have to get on with it unless you want petty arguments.

Also - I can’t stand the silent treatment, I think it’s really out of order and solves nothing. So I hope whoever is doing that stops soon.

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