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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Me vs SiL - the most underwhelming of battles.

306 replies

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 08:39

Backstory & buckle up, it's a long one!
More wwyd than aibu but I'm confused af with this. Anyhow.

Bil is pretty awesome and so are his gorgeous wee boys. Bil and I have always had a close friendship. He not only is a terrific uncle to his birth related nephews but also adores my oldest dc. Also a lad.
When he met sil I was so happy, she was everything he wanted, she adores him, he adores her, they went on to have 2 perfect wee boys. Our boys all adore one another.
But after her last lad (they only want 2 kids, they were blessed) she was upset she'd never have "her girl" and wasn't exactly quietly hurt about it, instead more outwardly furious. She went from being very sweet to disappointed with most things and with that became passive aggression with everything. We were close, neither of us talk to MiL due to her being a deranged lunatic towards us, so we had some solidarity. We also babysat as often as they wanted, from newborn age until toddler age before sils parents moved closer to be on hand, so we see the boys less now but her parents are lovely and involved and its nice for them all. Now, last year I had my final baby and all the way through she kept saying I'd have another boy, I agreed, having had 3 already I just presumed that also. But I didn't, I had a girl.
She hasn't spoken to me, blocked dp from fb and when bil came to see his niece and sent a selfie she went apeshit at him, saying he was rubbing in her face the one thing she'd never had.
I said to him when she comes round she's a niece who will adore her and she can hopefully have some relationship with when she's ready. I left it at that.
I'm possibly being insensitive but I've struggled with baby loss and awful pregnancies etc, she had 2 wonderful pregnancies, no issues with conceiving, both pregnancies first month off pill, I think she's had it pretty good so I'm not begging her to accept my daughter, she can do one, my wee girl has all the love in the world, sil isn't hugely relevant to my 8 month old.

Now, here is where a problem has risen, I'm a sen mum with 2 (likely 3 but 2 diagnosed asd kiddos) and her youngest is showing neurospicy signs.
Not only am I sen mum, but I've worked with sen so I'm a good person to give support and a handhold whilst going through the process of getting a diagnosis and also little suggestions to help with things, so she's asked bil can i talk to her and go through things with her from visual aids and prompts, how to use social stories and fill out paperwork for her dc. All of which I'm happy to do, i have tons of books and other things here that would be useful to her. Plus, I'm not mad at seeing her, like I say - we were quite close.
But here is the thing, it's on the provision I don't even mention my daughter as she couldn't cope with it.
I'm not to even say her name, if my phone screen has her picture I'm to change it before going over to help her.

Because this is to help DN, I'll probably do it. Plus sen mum is a scary water to navigate alone at first, I feel I should comply to her rules and not upset her, but also, I feel like I'm shunning my own DD.
Like I say, it's not like she's lost a baby or is trying with no luck for another, she just didn't get the "daughter she envisaged".

Wise ones of mumsnet, wwyd?

OP posts:
DisforDarkChocolate · 03/04/2024 08:43

I'm firmly of the option you don't feed crazy.

EIIaM · 03/04/2024 08:44

Absolutely not. I would only do it on the condition that she seeks counselling and accepts she has a DN. Otherwise, not a chance.

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 08:46

Really?! Wow I was prepared to be told I was being a heartless fucker tbh.

OK, thank you! I appreciate that. I really thought I was going to be flamed.

OP posts:
TeaKitten · 03/04/2024 08:46

Given that your BIL is also the kids parent - give the help to him directly.

Biffbaff · 03/04/2024 08:46

No way - she is being cheeky AF to ask for your help after how she has treated you, and then to place such an outrageous condition on it!

She sounds like she needs some serious therapy and possibly even a diagnosis herself. Her gender disappointment is her own issue to work through, not yours to accommodate by pretending your daughter doesn't exist!

I would not be helping her until she acknowledges how unreasonable she is being towards her own niece and SIL.

Springisroundthecorner · 03/04/2024 08:47

She needs professional help to acknowledge and overcome her jealousy of your DD. Only then should you help her.

Zanatdy · 03/04/2024 08:48

I’d send a long email with the info she needs. She’s being completely unreasonable around you having a daughter, I wouldn’t want anything to do with her.

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 03/04/2024 08:48

I wouldn’t want to do it but I just couldn’t not help my nephew. I would do it and take that opportunity to have a f-f conversation with her about her niece. She is BU totally but I would give her one last chance.

notsorighteousthesedays · 03/04/2024 08:50

Wow, you have a bit of a challenge there!

What about reframing it in your mind - perhaps she is ND herself? It is certainly a bit unusual to be so caught up in something you can't let it go and it takes over the rest of your life..... it is pretty obviously having a disabling affect on her and her family life and probably also making her extremely unhappy.

If you can find compassion for her state of mind - box it off completely - you will be able to return to being the amazing supportive person you clearly are for her and her child too. Best of luck.

Love51 · 03/04/2024 08:51

"When she is ready to see me I'd be delighted to help. But if she insisting on monitoring my behaviour to the point I can't acknowledge my youngest child then it is best if we wait a while" Could you offer your SEN support direct to BIL?
Also I'd refer to your daughter as a baby / toddler /child to try get her to understand that your daughter is a person just like all the boys in the family are, not a strange exotic pet.

Zzzzzzzzzz107 · 03/04/2024 08:51

Sounds like SIL is really struggling from rigid thinking and emotional dysregulation. I’d offer to help but you need to decide what your boundaries, then it’s the in-laws choice of whether they’re willing to bend for free support. This is a chance to overcome your issues and have your daughter accepted by SIL. I doubt she’ll change her attitude unless she’s forced to

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 08:53

TeaKitten · 03/04/2024 08:46

Given that your BIL is also the kids parent - give the help to him directly.

Not an intentional drip feed I just forgot to mention, but I suggested he come over and went through it with us but she said she doesn't want him around DD yet.
So she wants me to go over, my DP is far less tolerant of her than I am, so he's flat out said he goes to discuss it with them he will be talking about dd and not a chance will he change his screen picture which is dd.
Tbh I thought he was being harsh but reading these replies I'm a bloody wet wipe!

OP posts:
CwmYoy · 03/04/2024 08:53

Nope. Don't allow her madness to dominate you.

Miloandfreddy · 03/04/2024 08:53

My aunt had 7 girls and longed for a boy so much that when my mum had her first child and it was a boy she no longer spoke to her. I remember my mum telling me how hurtful it was, and couldn't believe that she could be like that over something my poor mum had no control over. What's stopping your SIL from trying again for a baby girl if she wants one that badly? Honestly? This is not your problem it's hers and I'd be placing my boundaries where she is concerned. Your poor daughter will grow up being ignored by her crazy aunt through no fault of her own- not a bad thing actually! And unless she accepts your daughter there would be no help from me SEN or otherwise.

PurpleWhirple · 03/04/2024 08:53

DisforDarkChocolate · 03/04/2024 08:43

I'm firmly of the option you don't feed crazy.

First reply nailed it. What an entitled, deluded, self-unaware bitch. I would not be helping beyond an email as suggested by a PP, which would include what I thought of a request for help under those ridiculous conditions.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 03/04/2024 08:53

I'd decline on the basis that when you have an 8 month old you spend all day with them, they are sla significant part of your daily life - it will be almost impossible to speak without directly or indirectly referencing your daughter.

I'd offer to go through everything with your BiL or send her an email with the key info instead

It's not OK to ask for help but put a load of difficult conditions around it

TeaKitten · 03/04/2024 08:55

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 08:53

Not an intentional drip feed I just forgot to mention, but I suggested he come over and went through it with us but she said she doesn't want him around DD yet.
So she wants me to go over, my DP is far less tolerant of her than I am, so he's flat out said he goes to discuss it with them he will be talking about dd and not a chance will he change his screen picture which is dd.
Tbh I thought he was being harsh but reading these replies I'm a bloody wet wipe!

Yep, I’m with your DH! And your BIL sounds like a wet wipe too. Sack them both off, she’s a cheeky fucker. Do not ever let your daughter be silenced or deleted because she’s female OP.

Couldyounot · 03/04/2024 08:55

She does not get to treat you like that and then expect help from you, sorry.

StormingNorman · 03/04/2024 08:56

The is jealousy in the extreme! I could understand better if she was grieving the loss/inability to conceive a daughter but she could try again.

I would be inclined to tell BIL this charade of pretending your DD doesn’t exist needs to be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later. Feeding into it will create problems down the line…birthday parties, family days out with the kids, Christmas.

MzHz · 03/04/2024 08:57

Don’t you dare erase your daughter or deny her because your SIL is frankly bonkers

tell your sil/BIL that your dd exists and you’re not going to censor yourself/change your Lock Screen or whatever, she either wants the help or she doesn’t.

the max I would do would be to help BIL.

takealettermsjones · 03/04/2024 08:58

She's cutting off her nose to spite her face; it sounds like you all had a great relationship and she could have enjoyed being Auntie to a niece. Absolutely don't agree to this stupid condition. She needs to grow up. I'm with your DP!

Meadowfinch · 03/04/2024 08:58

No. She has a problem and she needs to deal with it. It's been 8 months, she should be so in love with her dcs that it shouldn't matter a jot what anyone else has. And no way would I pretend my own DD doesn't exist.

She's behaving like a petulant brat.

Help your BIL but do not give in to her self indulgence. She is supposed to be a grown up!

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 03/04/2024 08:58

She can't keep controlling everybody like this and making everyone dance to her tune.

She needs a very serious talking to, no more pussyfooting

mfbx5sf3 · 03/04/2024 09:00

WTF no you absolutely do not pretend your daughter doesn’t exist to appease this women whilst you simultaneously do her a massive favour.

Knitgoodwoman · 03/04/2024 09:01

Don’t feed this, how will she treat your daughter as she grows up if you allow, and endorse, this behaviour to happen?

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