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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I can't cope with MILs abuse

35 replies

blondein · 15/01/2023 20:56

I'll try to be brief.

NC but I've posted before.

Recently moved in with OH. Don't get me wrong, our relationship needs work at times. But it's pretty normal on the whole.

MIL has love bombed me from day one. Right up until I said I wasn't moving to where she lives (for many good reasons!). It would be several hours drive away, easier to fly! As soon as that was said, she changed

She is incredibly manipulative and devious and irs the type of abuse that's hidden. She would phone me every time she spoke to OH and start blaming me for our issues and having a go at me. OH had gone to her for private advice and it got to the point where after 2 years I told OH to stop talking to her about our relationship because she's phone me to go at me. She even ignored me saying I'm at work and would demand to speak to me!

I've fallen pregnant and sadly miscarried. MIL told OH until she sees proof I was pregnant and miscarried, she won't support me as she thinks I've lied about being pregnant. This is baring in mind OH went to the first scan with me! She also told OH to get a DNA test as the dates didn't add up and we were at the time in a LDR. Meanwhile she tells me she will be there at the birth and that me and my kids need to move to where she lives because IN HER OWN WORDS she's very controlling and I won't be able to do anything right.

Over the time we have been together she has constantly belittled me in subtle ways. Constantly referring to me as his girlfriend deliberately (when she knows we're engaged). Making comments about my age and do I really want a baby at my age (I'm 35!), talking to me about OH's exes and how heartbroken he was (and is?!) about them etc...

I am no contact with her. I have never been nasty or done anything wrong.

She is spiteful - sends OH Xmas gifts but nothing for my kids, which is fine, except she keeps telling the world how much she loves them and is their gran etc! Nobody sees the truth!

She is clearly a narcissist (and yes I'm qualified to say this!) and even resorts to posting memes and statuses on Facebook that are directed at me/OH. We have both unfriended her so she now posts them as public (and believe me the only public posts are those ones, can't see anything else on her profile!) so we blocked her, and now she just texts comments to him!

She will say things like "I'm not texting you anymore because I don't know who I'm texting with, so if you want to talk you'll have to call" (implying I'm texting her from his phone pretending to be him)

She asks if he is limited on what times he can text or how much he can text (implying I control him)

She tells him I'm crazy and he can find crazy in his home town so he should leave me. She tells him to leave, tells him he can find someone else (implying I'm nothing special)

Im on the verge of losing my shit with her. There's so many more examples but I'd be here forever naming them.

And the root cause? He moved away from her and she wanted me to uproot my kids and move there instead. (It's a flight away, not drivable really).

OH never bothered that much with her before he moved here. Saw her maybe once a month, quick phone calls here and there. He says she's controlling and awful.

She now opens his post and does whatever she can to involve herself into every aspect of his life.

He's begged her to stop and she wont.

She says I'm a narcissist and I've pushed him away from his family (meaning her and his sister). OH says I'm the reason he saw her as often as he did!! (Id always tell him to visit because he's lazy and wouldn't otherwise). He has the same contact with his dad if not more, but she hates it, says stuff like "why do you only have time for your precious daddy" then adds him and his dad to a group chat to slag his dad off, and they've been divorced 20 years!

She's nearly 60!!

Any advice?

OP posts:
Poppyblush · 16/01/2023 12:10

Your problem is your dh. I’d leave him. He’s lying to you as how else could she be so abusive. Leave.

Thoughtful2355 · 16/01/2023 12:10

Not sure what your problem is? Your NC. Block her everywhere and tell your partner u want to never hear of her again. From now on she doesn't exist. He can do as he pleases but he doesn't bring her into your life or your kids.

You won't even be able to see what she posts on FB if she's blocked but I reckon you won't do all of that because you want the drama most likely.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 16/01/2023 12:11

This is so similar to my mil. Dh always protected me from it though and I didnt have to engage with her much.

Nicanabanana · 16/01/2023 12:15

You need to let go. If your DH doesn’t do some serious work on himself you will need to let go of him too. Both mine and DHs family are dysfunctional nightmares, we gave them every chance to grow the fuck up but eventually we had to walk away from the worst most damaging offenders and honestly it has made our lives so much easier. It was mine and my DH’s willingness to walk away from the dysfunction that has meant we haven’t carried forward the damage to our own children.

DowntonCrabby · 16/01/2023 12:18

10% MIL problem, 90% DP problem

Eastereggsboxedupready · 16/01/2023 12:22

Simply put you agree with dh her name isn't to be mentioned in your home. You block her in all ways. You tell your dh you don't want to know anything about his relationship with her at all. If he wants one at all is up to him obviously.
And you move on.
We are nc with my ils.
Been 8 years of bliss.

sianiboo · 16/01/2023 12:57

I've been no contact with my 'in laws' (not married, together 13 years) for about 8 years now. FIL was the main problem in my case, he's a narcissistic, sexist, racist, homophobic, Brexit voting control freak who didn't like that I didn't bow down to his innate superiority and obey him. I was 41 when I met my partner, I'm 55 this year and my partner is 53. What sane adult thinks they can boss another adult around purely because they are their partner's parent?

For me, no contact means exactly that...absolutely no contact. My partner still sees his parents, and during covid he spent Christmas with them as he couldn't come to see me. I don't care if he sees them, they are his parents and I don't tell him what to do. He tried to get me to speak to his mother on the phone, I refused. She's a two faced liar who says one things to your face and then does the opposite behind your back. My partner has caught her out in so many lies (some minor, some major) over the years....I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her.

Like others have said, you need to cut your MIL out, completely.

tattygrl · 16/01/2023 13:10

Like other PPs, my suspicions have been raised regarding how MIL is having this much effect on your life when you're "no contact". This makes me worry that your DP is relaying info between you and MIL. How are you so aware of things she is saying and doing?

I agree with PPs that for your relationship to have a future, you need to have clear and agreed boundaries with your partner regarding MIL and how present she is in your lives. You obviously can't (and wouldn't want to) control his relationship with his mother, but I don't think I could be with someone who stayed friendly with his mother after she accused me of faking a pregnancy and miscarriage, along with all the other stuff. What is his position on this?

pocketvenuss · 16/01/2023 13:17

Your OH needs to step up. Sort his shit out so none of his post goes to her. Why is this still happening?
He can correct her EVERY TIME.
He can block her.
HE CAN FIX THIS so you don't suffer.

Suzi89 · 16/01/2023 13:46

I feel so bad for you OP. I’d have probably left the relationship if I had to deal with that. He really should go NC but if he won’t then make sure he keeps his relationship with her away from you.

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