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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To pull back from MIL as much as possible

135 replies

evb83 · 15/02/2024 16:25

It's a long post but need to give the background!
DH and I have been married 10 years this year, we have two DC ages 8 and 6. We met and lived in London until I fell pregnant and decided to move to either near my family, or near my in-laws. We chose my in-laws because it's a nicer area and DH was keen to come back here. Both sets of parents are approx 150 miles from London but in different directions, so it means I'm not close to my own family at all.
MIL has always been nice enough to my face but we've never been best friends, we wouldn't ever do anything just the two of us. She's never said anything until recently but I could always tell she thought I wasn't good enough for her son - that no-one would be. She's just one of those types!
She said to me when first DC was born that she's not the maternal type, she isn't a hands-on grandmother. Fine by me, I'm not the sort to want others around all the time anyway, although appreciate that children benefit from a grandparent relationship.
I was a SAHM for 7 years until both DC were at school so didn't need regular childcare; MIL would babysit every so often when DH and I went out but she always had to be asked, she would never offer. DC didn't like going there, they basically sat on tablets/phones the whole time with the occasional trip to the park. MIL wouldn't even think about taking them for a day out to the zoo or anything like that.
Then a year ago I got a term time job, 3 days a week, and we asked if she would do school pick up for 2 of those days each week and bring them home and stay with them until I'm home from work, so about 1.5 hours each day. She was happy to do it - great, it could improve their relationship, I thought!
Fast forward to just before last Christmas. MIL was upset about something trivial, she is a bit of a drama queen and gets upset like a toddler does. She said some things to DH about me, who in turn told me, and I said we need to all have a conversation the next day and get it all out in the open. I'm not a confrontational person at all, I hate it, but things needed to be said. So the next day comes and the three of us have a 45 minute long frank discussion - calmly, no raised voices - where she tells me that no one is good enough for her son, or her daughter (her daughter has been married for longer than us and has three children, the oldest being 8 years older than our eldest. She has always looked after them a lot but it's always the same with them in that they go to her house, she'll never take them out anywhere or do anything fun with them), she finds me unapproachable, we have nothing in common, and that I took her son away from her when we got married. (Bear in mind that he lived 150 miles away from her before we married, and now we live 3 miles away because we chose to come back here to start our family!! So as far as I'm concerned I actually brought him back to her.)
But what bothered me the most was when she said she doesn't care about anything or anyone in her life except DH and his sister...she doesn't care about her husband (not DH's dad), her elderly mum who is ill, her brother. Then she said "I love all my grandchildren but I wouldn't care if I never see any of them again."
Well. That's it. I didn't even really react at the time because I was dumbfounded! DH told her to stop talking then because she is burning bridges. She left.
DH apologised for his mum, he knows she's useless and has had many an argument with her over the years about how little she sees us and the kids. He said if I ever want to have it out with her and have a bitchy screaming match he will totally be on my side (not my style though!)
But ever since then you wouldn't even know she'd said all that, she's completely normal around me, texts me when she needs to and uses blowing kiss emojis etc, she's perfectly nice to my face. As far as I'm concerned I don't want her around us anymore, unfortunately unless we put DC in the after school club three days a week which is quite expensive, we need her. So I am civil to her, but I don't ask how she is and what she's been up to, like I used to. I won't go round to hers if I can possibly help it, DH can go and take the kids if he likes but I won't go. I don't want the whole thing brushed under the carpet because she said hurtful things (I don't really care what she thinks of me, it's the comment about my DC I don't like) but I don't know how to act around her. AIBU in not letting go in this way or should I just forget it and move on?

OP posts:
Supersimkin2 · 15/02/2024 22:22

DGM is no good for your DC. Pay the childcare bill and tell DH why. He already knows.

hot2trotter · 16/02/2024 14:21

I'm sorry but I just wouldn't put up with her. She would not be anywhere near my children who she thinks so little of. The relationship won't blossom, she won't change, so stop hanging onto that hope and ditch her free child "care". In fact I'd move back to be with my own family. No idea why you wouldn't go for that option in the first place, knowing what you already knew about her. Sounds like your mummy's boy husband nears to grow a pair as well.

Serenitymummy · 16/02/2024 14:38

I think in this instance I'd pay for the after school club, even if it's temporary until you find another solution. I suspect a large part of the way she spoke when you had it out was because emotions run high and we can all word things in a bad way. But, that being said, it was extremely specific the way she she Saif that she wouldn't care if she never saw your kids again. That to me is enough of a warning sign that I wouldn't want her taking care of them. I couldn't trust her to be properly looking after them? Esp if she's doing school pickup etc. Put the kids into childcare, that should essentially reduce how much you see her to zero, right? Then it's on dh to go/take the kids as as when he sees fit.

mammaCh · 16/02/2024 14:46

Not trying to sound dramatic, but I wouldn't trust my MiL with my babies after she had said that about them. No way would I be asking her to look after them ever again.
Yes, childcare is expensive....but her having them is no longer an option if she doesn't care about them.

LookItsMeAgain · 16/02/2024 14:56

user1984778379202 · 15/02/2024 19:16

I'd be telling DH I wanted to move back closer to my parents and I'd be off like a shot! MIL has had her turn and she's blown it. Your parents have presumably missed out on a lot since you moved away, so let them have a turn.

This is what I’d do.

WhereYouLeftIt · 16/02/2024 14:58

"She is the DC's only nearby grandparent as well, my mum comes down as regularly as she can but being so far away that's difficult. I would love them to have a family member they can choose to go and see when they want to, which I guess is another reason I'm reluctant to cut contact completely, but maybe she just won't ever be that person!"
There's no 'maybe' about it - she absolutely will not EVER be that person. Accepting that will tale a lot of the stress out of dealing with her.

"DH has just started a senior job somewhere new ..."
Presumably with an increase in salary? Earmark it for childcare. Frankly, it's better for your children. When she occasionally babysat "DC didn't like going there, they basically sat on tablets/phones the whole time with the occasional trip to the park." I can't imagine there's much interaction when she picks them up from school either. It's not exactly modelling good behaviour to them, is it? They'd have more fun in the after-school club.

DiscoBelle · 16/02/2024 15:05

I’d offer for her to apologise and explain why she said those awful things.
If she won’t, I’d be paying for after school club and I wouldn’t let the children anywhere near her.
She sounds absolutely vile.

Manthide · 16/02/2024 15:25

evb83 · 15/02/2024 20:08

Sorry but how am I acting immaturely? I've already said I'm being civil to her. Yes she is free childcare but it's for a total of 3 hours a week (you make it sound like two full days) and we thought it would help a relationship blossom. My problem is her comment about she wouldn't care if she never saw them again.
Acting immaturely would surely be to go and tell her darling daughter about all of it and that the comment she made was about ALL her grandchildren, which means her daughters 3 kids too. But I wouldn't do that, because I'm not nasty or immature.

She was also very uncomplimentary about her poor mum, husband and brother! Maybe she was having a difficult day and feeling unappreciated. I love my 4dc, my 2 son in laws are fine though it wouldn't bother me if I only saw my dds and gc. If other than that your dc are happy enough going to her house then I'd probably just assume she was having a bit of a hiss fit.

TheDogAteMyDinner · 16/02/2024 15:41

Your MIL sounds exactly like my MIL in every way - the way she views her adult DC as everything, in-laws as nothing and not good enough and my MIL said the exact same thing to me about my only child (at the time), she didn’t care if she ever saw her again. She burnt her bridge and we have seen her a handful of times since, and that was 10 years ago she made the comments.

When you see someone’s true colours, you can’t unsee them. Now you know how she really feels about you and your DC there isn’t any going back. I would advise pulling away, as that’s what I did. Pay for the after school club, they won’t be that age forever. I wouldn’t use your MIL for childcare because she could end up saying something equally vicious to them one day when she’s looking after them.

FictionalCharacter · 16/02/2024 15:45

fancyfrogs · 15/02/2024 16:40

I'm afraid I'd have to pay for after school club. There's absolutely no way I'd want any contact with her or have her around my children when she's literally said to your face she doesn't care for them. Yes relationships with grandparents can be great, but it's quite clear that this grandparent does not want that for whatever miserable reason

Absolutely this.

LinaLouLa · 16/02/2024 16:06

I'd be paying that after school club fee in a flash! And moving the 300 or so miles to be closer to my family!

She sounds bloody awful and I'd be having nothing to do with her!

OrdinaryGirl · 16/02/2024 18:15

There’s something behind all of this. My immediate thought was that between the lines it sounds like your MIL is depressed. Struggling with loss and grieving… something. It doesn’t make her behaviour any less hurtful, I’m just saying there seems to me to be a lot below the surface.
Also it’s a fairly odd thing to say, that she wouldn’t care if she never saw her grandchildren again. Even if someone thought that, it’s not typical / socially acceptable to say it. Could there be some early dementia there causing personality changes? NHS website has this about fronto-temporal dementia.

Ultimately whatever the reason behind her behaviour, you need to make decisions that work for you. I’m afraid I’m with all those saying pay for childcare. I certainly wouldn’t want my children subconsciously picking up on the sense that they weren’t truly loved or wanted by their grandmother, as I think it would have slow-burn damaging consequences.

Sorry you are having to deal with this, OP. It’s not nice and that conversation must have felt awful. I do hope a sensible, workable solution presents itself 💐

To pull back from MIL as much as possible
JCLV · 16/02/2024 20:01

OrdinaryGirl · 16/02/2024 18:15

There’s something behind all of this. My immediate thought was that between the lines it sounds like your MIL is depressed. Struggling with loss and grieving… something. It doesn’t make her behaviour any less hurtful, I’m just saying there seems to me to be a lot below the surface.
Also it’s a fairly odd thing to say, that she wouldn’t care if she never saw her grandchildren again. Even if someone thought that, it’s not typical / socially acceptable to say it. Could there be some early dementia there causing personality changes? NHS website has this about fronto-temporal dementia.

Ultimately whatever the reason behind her behaviour, you need to make decisions that work for you. I’m afraid I’m with all those saying pay for childcare. I certainly wouldn’t want my children subconsciously picking up on the sense that they weren’t truly loved or wanted by their grandmother, as I think it would have slow-burn damaging consequences.

Sorry you are having to deal with this, OP. It’s not nice and that conversation must have felt awful. I do hope a sensible, workable solution presents itself 💐

I have to say that I wondered whether she was suffering from some sort of depression but I agree that it could be dementia. Her reaction seemed so extreme. To not care about her mother or her grandchildren. I would be more concerned than angry.

Katiekoo101 · 17/02/2024 07:52

This is a v hard situation, sorry you’re in it.
everyone has said all the things I would so far, and I think either way, whether you use her for wrap around care or pay, it’ll be the right choice.
But I would just add, that I think your MIL is displaying some signs of bi-polar or a personality disorder. I’m not saying this to be judgemental, as I would have zero judgement to someone in this situation, but I’m saying this as I think it might go some way to helping understand / resolve the issues that she is creating.
This behaviour, although not totally uncommon, isn’t fully within the range of normal IMO and if there’s anyway you or husband can explore this it would be fascinating.
for example. If she has narcissistic personality disorder, she’ll never go for counselling or any help, but your DH would massively benefit from this, as I’m almost sure he’ll have some epic examples of bizarre things she’s done throughout his life.
good luck with it all. You seem like you’re keeping a very level head.

stayathomer · 17/02/2024 07:56

MIL was upset about something trivial, she is a bit of a drama queen and gets upset like a toddler does.

I'm not a confrontational person at all, I hate it, but things needed to be said.

These two phrases remind me that ‘Theres a third side to every story’-op

XFiler · 17/02/2024 08:21

my dm started saying stuff like this, eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, have you noticed any other changes in her? You need to consider that she’s not safe to leave your children with.

navigatingmy20s · 17/02/2024 08:21

WOW!!

I can not believe she said those things about her grandchildren.

I would pack up and move near your family. Your parents won’t be around forever and I wouldn’t waste anymore time being around that despicable selfish human being.

Your children deserve grandparents that actually want to be in their lives and providing your parents are loving grandparents, I would be racing to get back near them.

If that isn’t feasible then just pay the extra money for the after school care and keep your babies away from her at all costs.

She clearly doesn’t give a rats ass about them so she can f**k off!

Im so sorry OP, your poor children 🙁

navigatingmy20s · 17/02/2024 08:23

LinaLouLa · 16/02/2024 16:06

I'd be paying that after school club fee in a flash! And moving the 300 or so miles to be closer to my family!

She sounds bloody awful and I'd be having nothing to do with her!

Same!! 👏🏼

navigatingmy20s · 17/02/2024 08:27

Atethehalloweenchocs · 15/02/2024 19:44

Are you for real? She is your free childcare two days a week despite telling you she did not want to be hands on! You have the cheek to complain she does not put on a varied program of events for your children. You asked her questions - she answered - you dont like what she said so are now acting very immaturely. Grow up and act civilly towards her.

Wow!! how are you defending what this awful woman said!

Pottedpalm · 17/02/2024 08:27

THisbackwithavengeance · 15/02/2024 16:56

Well I doubt she meant what she said, it all sounds very faux- tragic and silly.

I would say to her, "shall we put everything that was said last week behind us and carry on as normal?"

But in MN, you'll be advised to block/go no contact and generally create more drama because that's how people like to live their lives.

I agree, she was probably fed up and tired from minding children. Let it go.

BlastedPimples · 17/02/2024 08:31

What a very strange woman she is. And casually cruel too. This isn't a useless person. This is a damaged person or someone who has something very wrong with them. Who says things like that?

I hope you said something back!!

I wouldn't have my dcs around her. I wouldn't want to spend any time with her myself.

I would wonder why my dh wants to spend time with her after she'd said all that.

Can you move again? Back to nearer your own parents, op?

Thisisnotarehearsal · 17/02/2024 08:41

I don't think she meant what she said about your grandchildren OP.

She wouldn't still be coming to look after them if she really did mean that. And she clearly loves people other than her two kids. It's sounds like she has got herself all het up and said daft things.

Sounds like she is trying to smooth things over. It's easy for people to say cut her off. At the end of the day, she's a human and we all make mistakes.

Itsabouttimeformetogetonthefloor · 17/02/2024 09:04

Is having your children round this nut job really worth the few quid you’ll save on 3 days a week childcare? Jesus.

charabang · 17/02/2024 09:10

You pushed for this conversation with your MIL and she said things you didn't want to hear that would otherwise have been unsaid. As regards your children, she has previously said she's not maternal, not hands on and not wanting to do childcare yet here she is doing it week in, week out. She has, until you pushed it out in the open kept her opinion of you to herself and remained polite and is still doing so now. Even if you got your apology would you feel differently?

Baba197 · 17/02/2024 09:29

Can you afford to pay for the after school care? If you can then do. I wouldn’t want my kids around her unsupervised as she could be saying anything. Them being on tablets/not going on trips out is irrelevant, If shes providing free childcare then you can’t really dictate what she should be doing and as long as they are safe it’s not going to do them any harm for a couple of hrs! I’d be civil as well and just avoid her as much as can- go to your parents at Xmas or stay at home as a family and let dh pop in with the kids to see her. How old is she? Menopause can affect people badly, she could have underlying depression etc. My friends mum was like this, she would say awful cutting things then be totally normal again but no apology, I was very close to her but after she was very nasty to me I distanced myself