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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mother in law strain since moving in with her

128 replies

Shannon9955 · 31/05/2023 21:37

Me and my partner moved in with his mum and her husband late last year. We have a 13 month old.

I'm from up north, my partner is from down south and he was desperate to move home. We lived together in the north for 5 years. My mum passed away 3 years ago and she was all my family there. So during my maternity leave my partner said let's move back to where I'm from and save to buy by moving in with my parents. Me being hormonal, emotional, all of that fun first time mum mood. I said yes, I transferred my job, moved my whole life. My in laws live away 6 months of the year so I thought that can't be bad. Now 5 months down the line it's honestly the worse choice I've made. I'm starting to resent my partner. I had a lovely relationship with my mother in law prior to this move. I now can't stand her and her husband. Her husband is just horrid. The way he speaks to her, the way he is, everything.

We can't run a hot tap for to long, we can't do more than 2 washes a day. My MIL takes over shopping, plans meals, won't let us cook. At first that was amazing. But she's now planning dinners, not telling us and if we dare buy our own we get a lecture how she's wasted food. On Sunday I said I'll do the shop this time, you have a rest I'll cook for the week. She walks in the next day with a whole shop and said she just done it because she was passing. Gave me our bill and it's £47 for stuff we didn't even want or pick.

Our little girl has only just started sleeping through the night and she's in our room, in her own cot. It's now a huge debate everyday why aren't we moving her in the spare room. What I feed her it's wrong, what I don't feed her it's wrong. I'm dressing her to hot or to cold. I'm not allowing her rough and tumble because I wouldn't let her crawl in the garden where the dogs wee. My MIL had her out there crawling on hard stone and I got her in and said "no, dirty out there" she's letting her go where the dogs wee. I'm trying to be polite about it.

The husband is just awful. To name one Incident, we had nappy bin bag collection day and it was the night before. Our daughter was teething terrible, wouldn't settle on me or my partner we were taking it in turns to settle her. We then remember the bins and I said let's just do it first thing as bins don't come till 9am. At midnight the husband burst in our room while we were asleep and shouted "you've forgot the fucking bins" while our child was sleeping. He was going mad downstairs while I jumped out of bed to sort the bin bags half asleep. All they had to do was put them over the gate which we were doing in the morning. I had to bite my tongue the whole time as I didn't want to wake my daughter. The next day nothing was mentioned. I had my daughters jabs so that was my main focus that day. But since nothing mentioned.

Everything is getting on top of me. I feel like a shit mum like I can't do anything right or it's being judged. I in myself just feel a shell of who I was. I'm so close to losing it but I'm keeping it together for my partner, the environment my daughter lives in and the fact we have to live here. I want out and to rent, a mortgage means nothing to me but happiness does. Again my partner won't do it. So what do I do, break up my family for them?

OP posts:
PerryMenno · 31/05/2023 23:41

It sounds like money is one of their issues. Are you contributing enough?

I'd try to stick it ouf if they're about to leave for 6 months.

MaraScottie · 31/05/2023 23:44

I'd do whatever you need mentally to hang on the next 3 weeks - but i'd be CRYSTAL clear with my husband that you'll both be out before the 6 months is up - it sounds utterly miserable and my heart goes out to you. I have an overbearing MIL too and it's no fun at all.

Shannon9955 · 01/06/2023 00:15

Mischance · 31/05/2023 22:42

Were you renting up north? Can you do that again? Maybe you can use the time when PILs are away to sort out a plan of action for moving out to start just before they return.

You need to be very firm with your OH and say that under no circumstances are you willing to remain in PIL's home when they return.

Am I right in thinking that you are out at work each day? Are PIL looking after your child?

No, I've gone back to work on Fridays and a I work either a Saturday or Sunday. So for example this week I'm working Friday and Sunday. My partner is off on those days so I do the weeks childcare and then it's my partners turn for the 2 days he's off I'm in

OP posts:
Shannon9955 · 01/06/2023 00:20

PerryMenno · 31/05/2023 23:41

It sounds like money is one of their issues. Are you contributing enough?

I'd try to stick it ouf if they're about to leave for 6 months.

The first deal of us moving in with them was to save to buy, so they told us £200 contribution a month and save save save. Then the new year hits and they've told us we now need to pay half of everything and when they are away we have to pay all their bills apart from council tax. So we now pay them half of the bills, which is fine. But again, wasn't the deal for us to move in. So that's my other issue with my partner, are we even better off? Maybe by like £200 odd

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 01/06/2023 00:24

TBF they maybe didn't anticipate the cost of living increases or how much extra power and extra 3 people use, washing machine, cooking, hot water.

But it's definitely not worth staying there for £200 a month saving. You'd be better renting or even better buying a property.

Shannon9955 · 01/06/2023 00:26

Sugarfree23 · 01/06/2023 00:24

TBF they maybe didn't anticipate the cost of living increases or how much extra power and extra 3 people use, washing machine, cooking, hot water.

But it's definitely not worth staying there for £200 a month saving. You'd be better renting or even better buying a property.

That was our intention of moving down here and in there, to not rent up north and save to buy. So we are currently saving to buy

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 01/06/2023 00:34

Put up with 3 weeks and save as much as possible over the next 6 months.

Are you sure about staying in the area? How much support is mil really going to be if she's gone 6 mths a year?

user1492757084 · 01/06/2023 01:45

Make the most of the three weeks.
You can do it.

Save up to put a deposit on whatever you can afford by the time they come back so that you will have something to look forward to..

Be thankful and polite as they probably had no idea how difficult sharing their home was either until they were in the thick of it.

All four of you give each other a medal for surviving each other once you move.

Codlingmoths · 01/06/2023 02:27

Survive 3 weeks. Then you’re on your own. Do the numbers and make sure you are saving whilst paying all the bills, if not I’d be househunting. Your relationship isn’t that great, you need a long talk with your partner about you will think twice about agreeing wiht any of his plans again.

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/06/2023 05:10

Codlingmoths · 01/06/2023 02:27

Survive 3 weeks. Then you’re on your own. Do the numbers and make sure you are saving whilst paying all the bills, if not I’d be househunting. Your relationship isn’t that great, you need a long talk with your partner about you will think twice about agreeing wiht any of his plans again.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

Guavafish1 · 01/06/2023 05:19

3 weeks ... maybe stay in an Airbnb during that time? Have a break from your partner and his family

I would put up with it for 3 weeks but then after the 6 months leave.

Everydayimhuffling · 01/06/2023 07:27

If you can manage the three weeks, even by being out as much as possible or staying somewhere else for a short time, it'll buy you some time. I would absolutely plan to be gone by the time they come back. If necessary without your partner, but hopefully that'll give you time to get out with him.

Hercules12 · 01/06/2023 07:36

It sounds like it’s costing them more than they anticipated having you all there- more than 2 washes a day for example would be pricey. It seems very fair that you pay the bills when they’re gone- surely that’s sensible as it will get whatever water, gas, electricity the 3 of you solely use.
All that being said I couldn’t have done this when having a small child or now as an older adult- even with my own mother who I get on well with. It must be horrendous for you all.
I agree with others - either stick with it these 3 weeks or find an air bnb.

InsomniacVampire · 01/06/2023 07:55

It's very controlling what they do with shopping, I wonder why?
There is no rhyme nor reason to forcing someone to eat what they dislike. ANd you have to act grateful to MIL for doing shopping.
Hope the three weeks will pass by quickly!

RampantIvy · 01/06/2023 08:00

Why are you doing more than 2 washes a day? That seems rather excessive.

jeaux90 · 01/06/2023 08:07

Do the maths. How much are you actually saving? (Them being there and not)

Is that saving enough for you to tolerate it.

Shannon9955 · 01/06/2023 08:09

RampantIvy · 01/06/2023 08:00

Why are you doing more than 2 washes a day? That seems rather excessive.

I'm not doing more than 2 washes a day. It's just an example of rules that have been set. Sometimes when you have a small child and working washing does build up, so doing 2 washes a day isn't unheard of

OP posts:
Xrays · 01/06/2023 08:09

I think you need to just stick it out for the next 3 weeks as others have said.

It sounds like they’re struggling with having you there as much as you’re struggling with being there. I’m not saying the fil was right to shout at you about the bins but I’m a bit like him about stuff like that - quite often they do empty the bins earlier than they normally do and they do ask you to put them out the night before incase of this. Who wants a stinking bin full of nappies sitting around for another 2 weeks if they miss the collection?? I think you really have to be on top of this stuff if you’ve living there. But I appreciate that’s a small thing amongst everything else.

Summerslimtime · 01/06/2023 08:18

How much money have you saved up over 5 months?

Justalittlebitduckling · 01/06/2023 08:40

At midnight the husband burst in our room while we were asleep and shouted "you've forgot the fucking bins" while our child was sleeping. He was going mad downstairs while I jumped out of bed to sort the bin bags half asleep. All they had to do was put them over the gate which we were doing in the morning. I had to bite my tongue the whole time as I didn't want to wake my daughter. The next day nothing was mentioned.

I think it’s incumbent upon your DH to mention it the next day and say… hey, there was no need to burst into our room swearing at us while we were asleep. We were planning to take the bins out in the morning. If your living in fear of MILs husband’s and his moods, and your DH doesn’t even feel able to say anything then you need to get the hell out of there.

AlfietheSchnauzer · 01/06/2023 08:47

cestlavielife · 31/05/2023 21:40

You choose to live there
It is a choice
Live with it or move out

Wow how bloody nasty. Who slapped you this morning?!

Shannon9955 · 01/06/2023 08:50

Justalittlebitduckling · 01/06/2023 08:40

At midnight the husband burst in our room while we were asleep and shouted "you've forgot the fucking bins" while our child was sleeping. He was going mad downstairs while I jumped out of bed to sort the bin bags half asleep. All they had to do was put them over the gate which we were doing in the morning. I had to bite my tongue the whole time as I didn't want to wake my daughter. The next day nothing was mentioned.

I think it’s incumbent upon your DH to mention it the next day and say… hey, there was no need to burst into our room swearing at us while we were asleep. We were planning to take the bins out in the morning. If your living in fear of MILs husband’s and his moods, and your DH doesn’t even feel able to say anything then you need to get the hell out of there.

I have said this to him multiple times. Just begging at this point to help me. He works Monday to Friday, Friday being at home. But those 4 days he's out the house from 8am and doesn't come back till nearly 7pm, so I'm with them majority of the time really. I've had a rant to him how they never mention about putting the baby in her own room to him, or say anything parenting wise to him. It's just on me all the time. I feel like an easy target

OP posts:
MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 01/06/2023 08:55

Stuck up for 3 weeks then move out before they return.
You must not be saving much paying half the bills & then all the bills when they aren't there. It seems rather pointless.

AlfietheSchnauzer · 01/06/2023 09:03

Ultimatum time for your DH re: his parent's' behaviour over the next 3 weeks. He needs to have a frank talk with his parents and bloody defend his wife!!

Shannon9955 · 01/06/2023 09:07

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 01/06/2023 08:55

Stuck up for 3 weeks then move out before they return.
You must not be saving much paying half the bills & then all the bills when they aren't there. It seems rather pointless.

These are my points exactly. We were nothing saving a grand a month. My partner still is as he works the hours more than me. But I can't afford a grand now, along with day to day life expenses

OP posts:
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