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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DOES THIS SOUND OK TO YOU? (IN LAWS)

35 replies

justhadenoughx · 21/09/2023 14:57

some background story, i live with my in laws due to cultural reasons and its what’s expected. my first child is my in laws first grandchild however when she born i was breastfeeding. in laws kept telling me to stop and give bottle because she was crying all the time. they said it wasn’t enough for her and i’m basically starving my baby when really she had loads of trapped wind. guests used to come over which obviously they can, it’s their house but MIL used to come up to me and say so and so is here and they want to see the baby, im taking her down. bearing in mind she is sleeping but she didn’t care and other times when im breastfeeding she would take her off and go and show people who have turned up at the house. yes it’s their house but that’s my baby which has nothing to do with these guests that i have never seen before in my life so why do they want to see my baby and hold her! my point to all this is that they are very very overbearing. when it came to feeding her they would wade in and try her with anything. they wouldn’t ask me- her mother, they would do as they please. id be holding her and spending time with her and SIL would come in and take her off me. every single time i finished breastfeeding her and went downstairs so she could play. every. single. time. my SIL would grab her as soon as i set foot in the door like what the fuck. that’s my daughter not yours. so fast forward to now. i’ve recently given birth to my second child. still in same living situation because of cultural reasons but now had firm word with husband that we need our own place even if others are not happy about it! when i was pregnant with second my MIL used to say when second one is here then i’ll take your first and look after her. SIL said she can sleep with me. i always said no and left it as that. now second baby is here my MIL has taken over and literally taken my first daughter. it’s been 4 weeks and i swear to you i haven’t spent any time with her. whenever i’m in one room they are in the other. i can hear her laughing and playing with everyone but me. MIL feeds her and is basically doing what i should be doing and she is constantly with her that she always wants to be picked up by her. when she comes to me and i look after her for two minutes i hear them all come in too even thought they’ve spent the whole day with her. i cant even have two minutes with my daughter without anyone trying to take her. i feel like an awful mum because i did everything for her before second baby was here and i wanted to now too but MIL and SIL keep taking her. if im holding her and MIL walks in she cries to go to her. that’s how much she’s spending time with her that she would rather go there. my postnatal depression is not helping the situation as i feel worse than i already did by letting this happen and not have my daughter to myself. she’s probably wondering why her mum isn’t there like before. it honesty breaks me and i’m in tears everyday wondering how i’m coping. FIL keeps telling me to rest and let us look after my first daughter which i don’t understand. my in laws have been doing the most and obsessing over her, taking her away from me that i literally don’t see her yet FIL is still saying i need to let them look after my daughter more? do they literally not want me to see her at all?? because i’ve got a second baby?? mums look after two kids all the time so that’s no excuse.

OP posts:
crumblingschools · 21/09/2023 14:59

What is your DH doing about this?

OrigamiOwl · 21/09/2023 15:17

You need to move our and get your own place. Also what is your DH doing about this?

shrubgreen · 21/09/2023 15:22

No, this doesn't sound okay and I'm very sorry it's happening to you. Having cultural expectations to live in an extended family is one thing, but there has to be mutual respect for everyone involved for it to work - it doesn't seem like you're getting any of that.

What is your husband doing to help?

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound as though a conversation with your in laws will help change their behaviour. The only thing you can do is change your living situation. Move out, even if it's back to your parents for a while. Taking a sleeping, nursing baby off their mother is disgusting. And trying to stop you from breastfeeding is a classic control thing to try and diminish your role or importance in your baby's life.

Not to put too fine a point on it: your in laws can fuck off and your husband should have your back.

Good luck OP.

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 21/09/2023 15:26

Who are the 11% who think you’re being unreasonable. You really are not!

QueenPB · 21/09/2023 15:30

Move out. Or just say no! I’m probably from the same cultural background and brought up to respect your elders always. But, if the elder is being an a@@hole you need to build up your courage and call it out! Good luck

Oooooooooooo1 · 21/09/2023 15:30

Move out ASAP

Gazelda · 21/09/2023 15:34

Move out. Your DH should leave with you. But you and the two DC need to go whether he joins you or not.

Tell your ILs that you realise they want to help, but that you will be being a different mother to your children than they are allowing you to be. They are interfering and damaging bonds.

Don't have a discussion about it. Just tell them as you leave.

Can you stay with your own parents? Do you have funds to rent somewhere yourself?

BansheeofInisherin · 21/09/2023 15:38

I bet I am from the same culture as you- S Asian yes?- and I would never consent to live with my inlaws. DH would never want it either. This will not change until you have your own space and stand on your own feet.

Threemangoes · 21/09/2023 15:38

If you can't move out then you have to voice your opinions and learn to say no.
What you can do is you can take both kids out most of the day to a park cafe soft play etc.. And then come home to enjoy your rest with the baby.
Look for solutions until you can move.
Tell them firmly don't come in my room until so and so time.

Put a lock in your room!

Don't let your in laws get to your head to the point you become insane because they love that shit.

I'd love to know what culture this is as I've been through this.

cocksstrideintheevening · 21/09/2023 15:39

You need to move out. It won't stop.

BansheeofInisherin · 21/09/2023 15:44

Having said that, I think your MIL is trying to be helpful. It's annoying for you, but the other side is all the posts on here saying MILs refuse to mind DC even for a couple of hours.

Still, she can be helpful while living elsewhere.

coconutpie · 21/09/2023 15:52

To be blunt - fuck cultural reasons. Move out.

tattygrl · 21/09/2023 16:16

I agree with PPs. Get out ASAP. This sounds horrible, truly.

CliantheLang · 21/09/2023 16:33

Who are the 11% who think you’re being unreasonable. You really are not!

I didn't vote but I think the OP is BU for not having learned to say no long before this.

I read this little bit of feminist wisdom by Jo Freeman when I was a teen. It's why I never get bullied.

The BITCH Manfesto

The BITCH Manifesto by Joreen

https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/bitch.htm

WallaceinAnderland · 21/09/2023 17:58

If it's cultural this would be the normal. If it's not normal, then it's not cultural. Is this your culture or your DH's and what does he have to say about it.

pickledandpuzzled · 21/09/2023 17:58

In some communities Childrens re raised communally, rather than in separate units like the west. It isn't necessarily wrong. It isn't what you want however, so you need to speak to your husband and make a plan.

If he doesn't support you then you'll have to do it alone.

I'd suggest making sure you are fully recovered from the recent baby, and have got through the tricky first months, then taking your DD back- go for walks with them in the pram, out for the day with your husband, just make it harder for them to monopolise her.

Zanina · 21/09/2023 23:07

Are you bengali? If so do you get to go nayyor/ go back to stay with your parents? If so, I'd take the kids home then tell your husband you're not going back until he sorts a separate place / rental.

It does sound like they are overbearing but trying to help. But otherwise I'd get a lock on your door and basically start implementing boundaries. And kick up a fuss when its needed. Doesn't need to be nasty, just to the point.

Tinkerbyebye · 21/09/2023 23:50

Can you go and stay with friends or your family? I would be leaving now, taking the kids and telling dh he either finds somewhere for you to live away from parents or you will be leaving permanently

cultural behaviours aside it’s upsetting you, they are your children

jolaylasofia · 22/09/2023 10:05

OrigamiOwl · 21/09/2023 15:17

You need to move our and get your own place. Also what is your DH doing about this?

i should imagine nothing because it's considered very normal within the culture. the whole family raise the kids not just parents. I live in same culture but as my husband is middle child we have our own house thank god.
My mother in law is pretty amazing though and has my baby when i'm at work 3 days a week.

Tourmalines · 22/09/2023 10:12

Wow , I can’t believe this happens . It sounds like kidnapping . But honestly, you need to get out.

BansheeofInisherin · 22/09/2023 10:32

It's not kidnapping. My mum came to stay with me for 3 months after I had my second, and I was very glad of the help with my first. I like communal child rearing up to a point.

But if you are unhappy, move out. Then you can make your own rules.

Freezingcoldinseptember · 22/09/2023 10:34

Find some local baby groups. Get out of the house every day and take both dc with you. Dh needs to back you on this.

AlwaysFoldingWashing · 22/09/2023 10:41

You need to leave now before the damage is irreversible. The fact your eldest is favouring MIL over you would be really concerning if I was in your situation. It's one thing for them to be supportive but they are taking over your family and you won't get this time back. It also sets the tone for years to come that you will just go along with whatever they say. You honestly sound like a prisoner, I'd be gone as soon as possible. Good luck

Tourmalines · 22/09/2023 11:23

BansheeofInisherin · 22/09/2023 10:32

It's not kidnapping. My mum came to stay with me for 3 months after I had my second, and I was very glad of the help with my first. I like communal child rearing up to a point.

But if you are unhappy, move out. Then you can make your own rules.

I know it not literally kidnapping but your situation with your mother and this situation is completely different.

BansheeofInisherin · 22/09/2023 11:44

Yes, it is different. Because I live on my own. That way I can set my own rules about communal child rearing. So I gladly accepted my mum's offer to visit and take over my first. I might not have accepted my MIL's offer to do the same!

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