Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Effitall · 03/04/2024 12:10

I could never go along with pretending any of my children exist, it would make me feel awful, guilty and would be tempting fate.

Your SILs desire to ignore the existence of your daughter is bigger than her desire to help her son, or she wouldn’t be putting all of these restrictions around it.

That’s how much she wants your child to have not been born.

MorningSunshineSparkles · 03/04/2024 12:16

I’d not be giving her any help at all, and that’s as both a SEN mum and an autistic person. Sorry but she doesn’t get to just make your daughter disappear and act like she isn’t a person in existence, and nor does she get to ban your daughter’s uncle from being in her life. What a vile woman, you owe her nothing.

MorningSunshineSparkles · 03/04/2024 12:20

@NaiceUser we can use Scottish words if we like, you don’t get to tell anyone their language is cringe Hmm go speak the queens English if that’s what you like but we’ll keep calling our autistic kids our wee spicy kiddos thanks.

godmum56 · 03/04/2024 12:29

Sad sad circs but when I read that she has banned your bil from being around your daughter, I went over to the don't feed crazy side....next thing is she will be hiding her own child away. I think if you agree, then you will be supporting her attitude in a way that will benefit nobody, not her and not the child. Yes she needs gentle handling but I don't think you should go along with it....not just for the sake of you and your child, although that's important of course but for the sake of her and her child too.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 03/04/2024 12:31

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 10:04

Thank you all!

I'm calming down a bit now.
Dp is going to take books and information to them next week when he's off again and take our lads with him.
But he said he's going to tell her next time they meet up the boys are meeting their cousin and if she can't cope with that then she's ruining our boys lovely relationship. But we aren't having dd cast outside.

Which is much calmer than the "stop being a selfish plank, sil" text he is itching to send 😂

I really do thank you for words of advice and support. And I'm going to have a latte now and process what a bloody wet lettuce I've been. Lesson learned.

And to the poster who asked was I ND, yes, I'm highly likely adhd with dyslexia and a few other wee bits chucked in, and sil is very particular, possibly a wee bit neurospicy, but almost definitely ocd with her home. (It's glorious and smells a posh hotel) so I'm giving some wiggle room there.

Again though, I do appreciate all of your help and MN really does give us missing insight. 💐

Good. Family meets ups where your DD is excluded / not allowed to attend are absolutely unacceptable.

your DH and you need to be a united front and make it clear to SIL and the entire family that you won’t accept it. It’s either all the children or none of them!

good luck!

LakeTiticaca · 03/04/2024 12:33

This must surely be a wind up
I hope you told her where to get off, OP

Aphotoaday · 03/04/2024 12:36

Does she have any siblings of her own who have DD’s and how does she treat them? What about her friends?

Springcat · 03/04/2024 12:38

Sil autistic?
Huge reaction out of proportion
I'm autistic too ,
As to what I do
Some one up thread nailed it saying,don't feed crazy

lovemycbf · 03/04/2024 12:40

There is no way I'd put up with with her childish demands.
You're daughter is a baby now but will sister in law ignore her permanently? No way would she get my help ,sympathy or time
I'd block and move on and do what right by your daughter

sl0th · 03/04/2024 12:40

Absolutely not! How dare she ask you to act as if your daughter doesn't exist. Tell her to fuck off and grow up! Some of us would given anything to be able to have just one child, regardless of sex!

pavedwithgoodintentions · 03/04/2024 12:40

I'm glad you're going to put your foot down and refuse any further accommodations that exclude your daughter.

DIL needs to stop being a complete and utter ass, frankly. Imagine excluding a small child for being a girl ... because she wanted one. She sounds like a stroppy, spoilt toddler!

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 12:41

Aphotoaday · 03/04/2024 12:36

Does she have any siblings of her own who have DD’s and how does she treat them? What about her friends?

Her good friend has an older dd and they're very close. I've met the wee girl and she's adorable so that might even be a reason why she wanted her own dd? She has nephews but I wonder if she would behave this way if she had a niece related by blood?

OP posts:
Browniesandcustard · 03/04/2024 12:43

Please don’t engage with your SIL. I had to have a termination for medical reasons over 20 years ago. My cousin’s child was born on the same date a few years ago. It’s been very hard at times but there is no way that I would ever not have had a relationship with his child because of what I’d had to do. Please, please, don’t deny your daughter her existence because you have a batshit SIL x

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 12:44

@LakeTiticaca sadly not a wind up! Wish it was 😂

I really expected to be roasted for being insensitive but I feel much more confident now to move forward and not let this spiral.

OP posts:
ChinnyChin2 · 03/04/2024 12:44

"Neurospicy"?? When did that word become a thing? How daft. And utterly patronising, like the autism" is a superpower" eejits. Bloody isnt if you have it or are caring for someone with it. How can we hope to accept the differences in each other when this terms are used - it makes people feel special or different when they are not, they are just "them".

Well, I have learned yet another new thing on MN today, along with the poster who said she will reprogram her peacock not to wake her early 😂

crockofshite · 03/04/2024 12:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Iwasafool · 03/04/2024 12:45

I feel sorry for that family. Two lovely little boys who aren't good enough, a husband tiptoeing round her and at the heart of it a deeply unhappy woman. She is to be pitied in my book but I have no idea how it can all move on but for her sake I hope it can.

Penguinfeet24 · 03/04/2024 12:46

She's unhinged. Not a chance in hell would I pander to that.

Gingernurt88 · 03/04/2024 12:47

She definitely needs some therapy, she is kind of hating on an eight month old girl just because of her genitalia. Gender disappointment definitely exists I know I felt it after my eldest was announced as a girl. However like most people you get over it and I loved her from the minute she came out. Then when my son came along it honestly didn't matter what he was.

In regards to the SEN stuff i'd be tempted to give it to her in your professional capacity rather than as a mum with sen children. If she wants the mum version then she needs to be accepting of your family situation. Your daughter is part of the picture in your family and how your family dynamics work with your Sen children. You can't really mention your experiences and leave put a child.

Polishedshoesalways · 03/04/2024 12:51

Nope absolutely not. It’s understandable she might be privately upset but it is totally unreasonable to freeze out your baby in this way.

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 12:52

Sorry someone asked up thread her dcs ages, 5 & 3 and also why no more babies for them and I've never asked, they said 2, got 2.

I have been arsey about sil here because I'm pissed off with her but prior to us finding out dd was a girl we did have a nice friendship as well as being sils.
We irritated one another at times for sure, but we got over it and we moved on quickly enough.

I'm hoping dp can sort this, he is a softie but takes no prisoners, so I don't think he'd have zero sympathy for her feelings, but he won't pander the way bil and I have.

I suggested when this started a necklace or keyring or something "to my Aunt love dn" and sending her something nice but I worried it was infantlizing sil or was just a bit twattish of me, so I just didn't bother and now I wish I'd have made more of an effort, because I could have nipped this in the bud earlier.

Families really are so complicated aren't they? Either way, I'll let you know what's said/any outcome! Thanks everyone ☺

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 03/04/2024 12:53

My SIL has refused to acknowledge the existence of our DD for an even more stupid reason.

She has not asked us to do her any favours and I don't think she would dare to, but if she did I would say, "Why would I help someone who has treated our family like this?"

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 03/04/2024 12:56

I can't believe not only are you helping but you arr letting your boys be around this deranged type of thinking. Personally I would cut her off and if BIL wants to come over he can, but I wouldn't be pandering to her temper tantrums anymore. It's a shame for the cousins but I would never let one of my children be an outsider.

AmeliaS1980 · 03/04/2024 12:57

You are not responsible for how she feels. Your daughter is not responsible for how she feels. She is projecting her sense of loss? entitlement? and those are her issues to deal with.

Demanding that you change your behaviour to make her feel better is unacceptable. You are offering to be a kind and supportive SIL, which again, is not a god given responsibility for you to take on.

She is so lucky to have you offer help and assistance.

Tip-toeing around her won't help anyone in the long-term, someone (BIL?) must encourage her to seek professional help so this attitude of hers can be rectified.

Codlingmoths · 03/04/2024 12:57

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 10:07

Thanks for that but I'm not changing the way I speak for you or anyone else.

Great response, now take that attitude to sil. ‘I’d love to help but I can’t come around with your rules as I don’t pretend my daughter doesn’t exist for you or anyone else’

she needs to grow the fuck op, get help if she can’t manage it on her own, there’s no shame in needing help. And if she can’t, there are many many other sen experts. She doesn’t get to insist on you.