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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have cancelled MIL's Christmas visit

179 replies

Worstdilhesaid · 30/11/2022 22:33

Well actually I didn't, I noticed that due to rail strikes etc she wouldn't actually be able to get a train home after Christmas. She lives on the other side of the country so would have to take the train. She could get a train to us on Christmas Eve but there are no return trains. I pointed this out to DH, he didn't seem bothered and said that was fine (!).

Long story short, DH isn't close to her and has been LC for years. Recently though he's had a sudden enthusiasm to introduce her to our DC so she came for a weekend a couple of weeks ago. He made no effort to host her so I was left sitting on the sofa with her awkwardly. She's a socially awkward and strange person, DH doesn't enjoy spending time with her and I get anxious having to host her on my own.

I was getting my head around hosting her for 3-5 days over Christmas, but I will definitely not get my head around having her here for an indefinite period. DH wouldn't do anything to inform her about the trains, didn't want to upset her, so I had to message her.

As much as I wasn't looking forward to hosting her over Christmas, I also didn't want to leave to find out that she couldn't visit only days before Christmas. At least now she has time to make alternative plans. No FIL in the picture, but we haven't actually spent Christmas with her for about 7-8 years I think, so she has friends and family that she usually spends time with.

So I told MIL that trains were an issue due to strikes etc and it would be better if we saw her after Christmas, she sent a message back to say that she agreed but now DH is fuming and refusing to speak to me. He says I'm controlling and won't allow his family to visit...

OP posts:
KettrickenSmiled · 06/12/2022 10:31

MillicentMold · 04/12/2022 20:42

Neither you or your DP come across as doing all you can to forge a positive relationship between your dc and their GM.

It makes no difference to me, whatsoever, whether your dc have a relationship with their GM. I couldn’t care less tbh. You and their DF have parental responsibility.

Your dc will be the ones to judge their upbringing.

Your posts seem to be all about what your MIL does wrong. Now she hasn’t face timed her GC. Have you or DH face timed her for your dc to speak to her?

MIL wanted to visit her GC over Christmas. You told her the trains were cancelled so she wouldn’t be able to return home.
Your DH didn’t want to spend the time to take her home
because he doesn’t want to travel that far
or was it because you couldn’t fit everyone in the car? 🧐
Or is it because he’s working?

Nobody is saying you have to relish hosting MIL but stop making excuses and at least have the guts to let her know where she stands. From your posts it appears MIL is the only one making any effort here. Allow her the opportunity to walk away from people who couldn’t give a crap about her

@MillicentMold you are being so ridiculously illogical I have to wonder if you are unconsciously projecting about some situation from your own life, because this unwarranted, persistent attack on OP isn't very ... balanced.

Neither you or your DP come across as doing all you can to forge a positive relationship between your dc and their GM.
So?
GM isn't very nice. Why would OP want to foist her on their DC?
If GM gave a shit about forging HER OWN positive relationship with her GC, she might have made an effort to do so. She's had a few years to do just that, but hasn't bothered.

It makes no difference to me, whatsoever, whether your dc have a relationship with their GM. I couldn’t care less tbh. You and their DF have parental responsibility.
But you clearly care a great deal, as you can't stop banging on about it.

Your dc will be the ones to judge their upbringing.
😂
Don't worry, they won't need to - you've done that for them.
All based on spurious assumptions & a few complete inventions, but I'm sure OP will be happy to whip this thread out when they turn 18, so they can get their gavels out & denounce her.

Your posts seem to be all about what your MIL does wrong. Now she hasn’t face timed her GC. Have you or DH face timed her for your dc to speak to her?
You haven't RTFT, have you?
MiL doesn't encourage contact.
It's not just us, SIL sees her maybe once a year for lunch. None of her actual children have a close relationship with her.
& on DH -
so if a grown man wants to be LC with his mother it's the wife's fault? Not the fault of the mother who has mistreated him in the past and who generally makes very little effort with her adult DC?

MIL wanted to visit her GC over Christmas. You told her the trains were cancelled so she wouldn’t be able to return home.
Again - RTFT.
Also - the trans aren't necessarily cancelled, many of them are fully booked. Which you'd know if you'd bothered to comprehend OP's actual position, instead of inventing crimes you think she's committed.
MIL messaged me and asked if she could visit us at the end of January, which is totally fine. She doesn't actually celebrate Christmas, we have spent a couple of Christmases with her where we have organised everything, but if someone didn't organise things for her she might just go to work (hospitality) or plan something with other family and friends.

Your DH didn’t want to spend the time to take her home because he doesn’t want to travel that far
or was it because you couldn’t fit everyone in the car? 🧐
Or is it because he’s working?
OP's already answered these Q's, but why do you think it's her responsibility to organise her DH? She's not his keeper. He doesn't answer to her, & OP doesn't answer to you.
That little interrogation is worryingly ... obsessive.
Are you getting grief from your own DiL by any chance? If so - I am really sorry & hope you will be able to resolve your issue with that or whatever it is that's actually bugging you here. But carping at the OP in your weird accusatory style isn't going to fix your problems or make you feel any happier.

Nobody is saying you have to relish hosting MIL but stop making excuses and at least have the guts to let her know where she stands.
She did. Days ago. RTFT.
Also - no excuses, Only facts. Try RTFT?

From your posts it appears MIL is the only one making any effort here.
No it's not. She's not bothered. You are making a drama where none exists.
MiL doesn't give a hoot about xmas. Why are you so invested in her?
btw the only one who HAS made any effort here is OP - who has tried to make the xmas visit happen, has been thwarted by train availability & the refusal of her DH to do a single thing about communicating with his mother, let alone facilitating her travel, & she's now arranged for MiL to visit in January.

Allow her the opportunity to walk away from people who couldn’t give a crap about her
She's not OP's mother - she's DH's. It's not up to OP to dictate what relationship he wants with his mother. He is Low Contact - that's his choice, & it's not down to OP to persuade him otherwise. I really can't see what you're scolding her for - she's not 'guilty' of any of your trumped up charges.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 06/12/2022 10:43

She's not OP's mother - she's DH's. It's not up to OP to dictate what relationship he wants with his mother. He is Low Contact - that's his choice, & it's not down to OP to persuade him otherwise. I really can't see what you're scolding her for - she's not 'guilty' of any of your trumped up charges.

This is also my observation.

It's really wearisome that so often the blame is fully laid at the woman's door for any problems - no matter what they are - between her husband and his family of origin.

Men hold down the majority of the CEO posts in this country; they've managed to weigh the 'gender pay gap' firmly in their favour; they are over-represented in parliament; they have the majority of the financial power.

The idea that they have no autonomy or decision-making capacity of their own strikes me as distinctly comical.

ShinyBeans · 06/12/2022 16:25

DollyDoofer · 06/12/2022 10:07

New dates are for West Midlands only. That doesn’t affect us. As long as my family can get here before Christmas Day and arrive home by New Year’s Day for work it makes no difference what day/s the strikes are.
If they planned to go home on 28th and there’s a rail strike that day they’ll wait until the 29th or book a coach instead.

There are no rail strikes planned for their Christmas journey routes.
If there is a sudden strike on a certain day it makes no difference as long as they have arrived here. They are welcome to stay as long as they need to. Myself and DH will drive them if alternative transport cannot be booked, if needed.

It’s the travel to get here I was concerned about. Once they’re here the return journey isn’t a problem.

Sorry, I wasn't replying to your post. It's great that YOUR family aren't impacted, but clearly that isn't the case for OP and others.

DollyDoofer · 07/12/2022 18:00

ShinyBeans · 06/12/2022 16:25

Sorry, I wasn't replying to your post. It's great that YOUR family aren't impacted, but clearly that isn't the case for OP and others.

No. I was panicked when OP said train travel was cancelled for Christmas. I panicked because I haven’t seen my family for 3 years due to covid restrictions. Just hoping everyone who is travelling by train doesn’t think their train journey has been cancelled.

Its sad that OP’s MIL can’t get to spend Christmas with her grandchildren but hopefully they can can all get together to celebrate the New Year 🎉

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