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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU? Putting my foot down with my in-laws about them visiting immediately after our first born is due.

170 replies

lurkingintheshadows89 · 23/04/2023 11:57

AIBU? Putting my foot down with my in-laws about them visiting immediately after our first born is due.

I honestly feel like I have the in-laws from hell and they are the main source of arguements between my husband and I. For a bit of background, they live in Sri Lanka and have been against my husband and I from the very start. They had plans for an arranged marriage, something my husband says he would never have agreed to and never wanted.

From the very start, they have tried to break us up. Frequent arguements with my husband about our relationship, trying to get us to change the wedding date as it ‘didn’t work for them’, threats from his dad with physical violence at our wedding. Insults frequently made towards myself and my family.

The first words from her mother to myself after we told them we were pregnant were “I’m glad as I thought you would have problems getting pregnant as you’re so old”. Im 33. No congratulations.

Unfortunately my husband, every single time, defends his parents actions and refuses to disagree with them. He has never defended me when they are making these comments, however afterwards will say that they are out of line, but will never say that to them. He justifies their comments by saying “they aren’t thinking” and seems unwilling to accept how they have treated me is unacceptable.

In contrast, we are both really close to my parents and lived with them for a few months whilst we were waiting for our house to complete. They are currently decorating our nursery for us as we are both working long hours including weekends before the baby comes to save up money. They also live about 10 minutes away so we will rely on them during those first couple of weeks.

We are expecting our first child in August. As they live abroad, my husband and I agreed they wouldn’t visit for at least 4-6 weeks as we need to find our feet and get into some type of routine. The last thing I want immediately after giving birth is his parents who are openly rude towards me in my house. DH had agreed to this and said this was a sensible plan.

He spoke to his parents this weekend and it turns out they have booked flights to the UK without even mentioning or discussing dates withus, arriving 2 days after my due date. When DH said the timing wasn’t great, they disregarded his comment and said they would pop by for a bit, essentially, that they are planning to come whether we want them or not.

I put my foot down and said under no circumstances are they visiting us with a newborn, potentially a couple of days old. Especially when all they have done for the past few years is be disrespectful and rude towards me. DH however fails to understand that they are completely out of line booking flights without even speaking to us and actually started trying to convince me that it was ok for them to visit.

This cumulated in an argument where I essentially said he chooses to out the baby and me before his parents or our relationship is over. So, AIBU?

OP posts:
Daisybuttercup12345 · 24/04/2023 20:53

Your husband is a man child who is afraid of his parents.
I would be going to stay with my parents and let him entertain them by himself.

Gigglemous · 24/04/2023 21:00

I'd put money on your DH already knowing they were going to book those dates.

Sorry OP but you chose to marry someone who has, in your own words, never had your back.
Made your bed there...

Queenoftheworld · 24/04/2023 21:18

magneticmoon · 23/04/2023 13:08

Just plan to stay at your own parents house for their entire trip and stick to it. But don't tell any of them this beforehand. You can then relax for the next few months knowing it won't affect you. If the in laws want to meet baby they can do it at your parents house where it will be much harder for them to insult and treat you like poo, as your parents will have your back.

If you don't do this, you are going to experience things like mother in law taking your baby away from you, doing what she wants, your husband won't support you and you will feel powerless. It will ruin your first days with baby which you can never replace.

Right now you have a choice, so be empowered.

This

Elly46 · 24/04/2023 22:09

magneticmoon · 23/04/2023 13:08

Just plan to stay at your own parents house for their entire trip and stick to it. But don't tell any of them this beforehand. You can then relax for the next few months knowing it won't affect you. If the in laws want to meet baby they can do it at your parents house where it will be much harder for them to insult and treat you like poo, as your parents will have your back.

If you don't do this, you are going to experience things like mother in law taking your baby away from you, doing what she wants, your husband won't support you and you will feel powerless. It will ruin your first days with baby which you can never replace.

Right now you have a choice, so be empowered.

I agree with this!

Olinguita · 24/04/2023 22:24

@restingbitchface30 I am genuinely inspired by your comment!! (Also white British married to an Indian with an extremely difficult MIL).
This probably merits a separate thread but do you have any tips on standing up for yourself?

Jack80 · 24/04/2023 22:34

I would say well he could stay in a hotel with them or can you go your parents the first week save them visiting you.

restingbitchface30 · 24/04/2023 23:26

@Olinguita i do a lot of killing with kindness! And I’ve recently had a breakthrough in my own mind with the whole culture difference. She is from a different generation and culture. Plus she can be just as brutal with her own children. So that makes me think it’s not me she has it in for! But mainly I keep her at arms length. I will see her at family dos and when I do I am so friendly and nice. But it’s around 5/6 times a year. Just let things go over your head a little more and you’ll be tons happier!

Matchymatchylemonscratchy · 24/04/2023 23:40

So you married a weak man and then knowingly got pregnant to him. Good work.

If they are being arseholes go stay with your parents. Don’t communicate this to your husband in advance and don’t lift a finger to prepare for their visit.

Domt get pregnant again for gods sake. Sort out your finances and leave the dickhead.

threatmatrix · 25/04/2023 00:55

This is typical of their nationality I’m afraid. Your husbands gets it but you don’t. It’s just cultures at odds with each other.

Abacusporttaco · 25/04/2023 05:50

So you married a weak man and then knowingly got pregnant to him. Good work

Why the fuck do posters still insist on writing shit like this?

Merryoldgoat · 25/04/2023 08:07

Abacusporttaco · 25/04/2023 05:50

So you married a weak man and then knowingly got pregnant to him. Good work

Why the fuck do posters still insist on writing shit like this?

Because it’s true.

This isn’t a man and in-laws who have changed.

He has refused to stand up for her from day one. She’s been mistreated from day one. But instead of advocating for herself she married someone who will never put her first and now she’s paying the consequences.

Abacusporttaco · 25/04/2023 08:11

Merryoldgoat · 25/04/2023 08:07

Because it’s true.

This isn’t a man and in-laws who have changed.

He has refused to stand up for her from day one. She’s been mistreated from day one. But instead of advocating for herself she married someone who will never put her first and now she’s paying the consequences.

But what is the point in laying into a women when she’s already five months pregnant?

Unless your end goal is to feel superior for you own life choices and making a pregnant woman feel shit? If so, reassess your life choices.

JaneFondue · 25/04/2023 08:42

Yeah, it's not as black and white as some posters make out. PP who advised "arms length" relationships is right, and that can be done given they live in Sri Lanka.

However, OP hasn't returned so no idea if asking in-laws to stay in a hotel has worked.

billy1966 · 25/04/2023 08:59

Elly46 · 24/04/2023 22:09

I agree with this!

I think this is solid advice.

I can understand that some of the posts can appear harsh, but they are not wrong.

To marry into a family where there were threats of violence from the grooms parents on your wedding day, to a weak man that doesn't have your back and never has, to then get pregnant and be surprised that yours is not an opinion anyone gives a damn about is hardly a surprise.🤷🏻‍♀️

Yet on MN we have thread after thread of young women trying to deal with this and being surprised.🤷🏻‍♀️

People who treat you like shit BEFORE you get married are hardly likely to change afterwards.🤷🏻‍♀️

They only know that your self respect and boundaries are non existent and they can really let fly.

I don't understand the surprise.🤷🏻‍♀️

Hopefully lurkers will gain from threads like this and make better choices and save themselves 20+ years of grief.

In the interim, the OP should go home after the birth, keep her family and friends close, stay working full-time and try and protect herself as best she can from her waster husband and his awful family.

I realise the bar is lamentably low for many on MN, but the grooms family threatening violence on her wedding day indicates they are indeed the dregs of society.

Normal decent society do not behave like this.

When you marry into a family like that, you really shouldn't be surprised with what the future brings.🤷🏻‍♀️

There isn't a man on this earth that would be worth being involved with such people IMO.

Figgygal · 25/04/2023 09:30

threatmatrix · 25/04/2023 00:55

This is typical of their nationality I’m afraid. Your husbands gets it but you don’t. It’s just cultures at odds with each other.

Jesus generalise much?

Pumpkinspice13 · 25/04/2023 10:06

If they are going to be staying in your house, I’d think about going and staying with your parents. I honestly would not be able to deal with hosting other people after giving birth and it sounds like his parents are really hard work. It was very unfair of them to book flights without talking to you first. Your husband needs to put his foot down, if he doesn’t nothing will change. Good luck!!

threatmatrix · 25/04/2023 12:12

Figgygal · 25/04/2023 09:30

Jesus generalise much?

Does he? Or did you mean to use a comma?
i’m in the same situation if that’s ok with you, so I know what it’s like, I love someone of a different culture so I knew ( as I looked into it) that there would be differences, I just suck it up and after a couple of years it’s now all good.
is that ok? Or have I triggered you again.

Amabitnewhere · 25/04/2023 12:37

SuperSange · 23/04/2023 12:07

There's too many words there, but you don't have an in law problem, you have a husband problem. Why on earth you had a child with someone who doesn't have your back is beyond me.

THIS!

AmberMcAmber · 25/04/2023 17:03

Make sure they have a hotel booked… under no circumstances are they staying with you - if you have spare rooms, fill them now with storage stuff

speak to your husband and midwife - they might be able to repeat back to him and when it’s said indirectly, men tend to actually hear how ridic it is & listen

if/when they turn up - give them some time (provided they are healthy) but then…. Go upstairs to feed/lie down etc with the baby

whilst you do have a husband problem, you 100000% have an IL problem too… but you don’t need to be stressed in those first few weeks… if things get bad and they think they are moving in for a month, just go to your parents - no warnings

Stewball01 · 01/05/2023 19:06

@TheSnowyOwl
How very rude you are.

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