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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:
Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 12:58

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 😂

Oh no, I'll take my neurospicy badge off my rucksack then because you don't like it.

Jesus wept.

I have 3 neuroadverse conditions, I don't owe people my diagnosis and I've almost 100% got adhd which frankly has crippled me my entire life.
2 of my children are diagnosed with asd and learning disabilities.
Life is overwhelmingly hard at times and if I don't want to talk about myself or children like I'm writing a fucking report for their sencos and just talk to people how i speak in person, then I will. You don't have to engage, there's been many other very kind people who have. Your input isn't required, just to tell me you dislike how I talk.

Maybe yourself and the "naice" poster can start your own thread for slagging off how people talk when it isn't to your standard and go be pedantic there?

OP posts:
BathroomReDesign · 03/04/2024 12:59

I’d ask BIL if her son’s parents friends were subject to the same rules, if their parents had to pretend their sisters didn’t exist? Are girls from the class allowed to be invited to child’s birthday parties?
if she wants a girl, she goes to Cyprus and has cheap ivf there.

littlebox · 03/04/2024 13:00

I know you want to help your nephew, but in the longer term, they are going to pick up on their mum's disappointment about being a boy, that's a huge thing for them to have to deal with. You'll be helping far more if you point out to her that she has to get some help for this and that her demands are completely unreasonable.

MzHz · 03/04/2024 13:00

What baffles me is that (a) she says this shit out loud, (b) nobody calls her out on it there and then and worse (c) actually delivers her ridiculous message to the intended recipient

no dw, that’s not reasonable, you can’t make such ridiculous demands from anyone to pretend their own child doesn’t exist and NO, I’m not telling her anything about not saying her child’s name or changing her Lock Screen. YOU dw need to manage this and stop being so unspeakably rude to our family members. ESPECIALLY if you’re asking for their help ffs.

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 13:03

MzHz · 03/04/2024 13:00

What baffles me is that (a) she says this shit out loud, (b) nobody calls her out on it there and then and worse (c) actually delivers her ridiculous message to the intended recipient

no dw, that’s not reasonable, you can’t make such ridiculous demands from anyone to pretend their own child doesn’t exist and NO, I’m not telling her anything about not saying her child’s name or changing her Lock Screen. YOU dw need to manage this and stop being so unspeakably rude to our family members. ESPECIALLY if you’re asking for their help ffs.

Dp did say if he was changing his screen it would be to a custom design saying "grow the fuck up sil" 🙈

OP posts:
Reeceseggaddict · 03/04/2024 13:09

Does she refuse to have dealings with anyone who has a daughter? I feel for her kids and dh tbh and I’d tell her to where to go. No help whatsoever if she expects you to pretend your daughter doesn’t exist. She needs a referral for MH support herself. That’s very abnormal behaviour.

WoolyMammoth55 · 03/04/2024 13:09

OP, what happened at Christmas when your DD was 4/5 months old?

Did she and BIL get presents for your boys and not DD?

I'm surprised this hasn't come to a head before now, TBH.

Wish you all the best going NC until she has given her head a substantial wobble!

D888x · 03/04/2024 13:10

Oh god no!! She needs to f* right off with that attitude! As another poster says send her an email with all the details, if you absolutely must, personally I wouldn’t given that attitude, asd is hard to navigate but not everyone gets help, tell her to do it herself. I feel sorry for the children but i’d need to stand my ground on this and let it be known I wouldn’t be associating with anyone who has any disdain towards my daughter.

pastelsanddarkles · 03/04/2024 13:13

Another ND family here (me, DH and probably soon to be born kiddos) and we think neuropsicy is a stupid term. I cringe when someone says it but you do you.

Anyway back to the questions I see you're going to send your DP off with a load of reading material but quite frankly, you might as well throw them straight into the trash. That's what she's probably going to do anyway. I'm sure at least some of the materials have a picture of a girl, or mention them, and she'll throw another fit.

Ahappymediumlarge · 03/04/2024 13:17

In all seriousness, she sounds like she needs some urgent therapy. This is clearly eating her up and there’s something very wrong if she’s being this extreme.

I am the mum of three DS (now grown up) and remember bumping into an old friend just after I’d had my third son. With a sympathetic look she asked me if I was ‘disappointed’. I thought what a weird thing to say to someone who’s just had a baby! I was just happy to have another beautiful healthy child.

Yes I’d have loved a daughter, but being the mum of three boys has been a blast, and I wouldn’t have swapped my youngest for the world.

TruthorDie · 03/04/2024 13:19

Reeceseggaddict · 03/04/2024 13:09

Does she refuse to have dealings with anyone who has a daughter? I feel for her kids and dh tbh and I’d tell her to where to go. No help whatsoever if she expects you to pretend your daughter doesn’t exist. She needs a referral for MH support herself. That’s very abnormal behaviour.

It feels like that. She would hate me -l have twin girls!

I wouldn’t be feeding into her nonsense. Sometimes in life you don’t get what you want. Some people have no children so at least she has 2

Helplessandheartbroke · 03/04/2024 13:21

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 😂

I've never heard the term neurospicy either but assuming op is Scottish and a other poster pointed out its a Scottish saying, I think you've misinterpreted.

I have an autistic son and wouldn't take offence to this I think its a little lighthearted.

Op SIL sounds awful! I would go as LC as possible she sounds batshit x

Bethany83 · 03/04/2024 13:22

Oh my goodness of course you must not do this. Think of your daughter. She can get support elsewhere. I am shocked at this, truly!! Wow, no words really and I am a VERY understanding person...

Caiti19 · 03/04/2024 13:23

Your baby is 8 months old, and she's still not over the immense shock of your baby being born female based on a 1 in 2 probability . The mind boggles.

Apart from her "shock and trauma" being rather stupid (babies are born one of only two genders after all), does she have no perspective on life? Does she not watch the news, or not know parents struggling with children with serious health issues?

Bethany83 · 03/04/2024 13:23

She has shunned your child, be a girl or a boy and not acknowledged her for nearly a year and has no intention too and you are even considering helping her?! I truly don't get this and I am a good kind person!

ChinnyChin2 · 03/04/2024 13:39

I don't owe people my diagnosis and I've almost 100% got adhd which frankly has crippled me my entire life.

So it isnt a "superpower" for you then?? That is EXACTLY my point! People should stop using "right on" "oh so cool" ways to describe themselves, you are just YOU. As am I, as am every other person here.

How can I hope to get people to accept my DC is just "them" when stupid words like "neurospicy" are used??

I long for the day when the term "special needs" is as antiquated as "retard". It is patronising and infantilising, and makes people's personal ways and behaviours define them as someone not normal, to be set apart from others as "special", rather than just part of the person and to be accepted as part of the norm.

BusyMummy001 · 03/04/2024 13:41

Only read first few pages - but no. Offer to go through the paperwork with BiL, in your own home, DD there. Or tell her to go to citizens advice and get someone to help there. Your BiL needs to insist SiL gets therapy. She is unhinged.

thecrispfiend · 03/04/2024 13:45

TeaKitten · 03/04/2024 08:46

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

Perfect solution

QueenBitch666 · 03/04/2024 13:53

She's a deranged cheeky fucker. How dare she 😡 I'd keep the hell away from her

QueenBitch666 · 03/04/2024 13:56

Ps. I'd not be giving her any help at all. What a nasty pos she is

QueenBitch666 · 03/04/2024 14:00

NaiceUser · 03/04/2024 10:05

Sorry but I can’t tolerate all the "wees" the "kiddos" & "neurospicy" cringey trend terms. I also have DC diagnosed with Autism but I'm not an "SEN Mum" I have a child with Autism/SEN.
Please stop

You're nice 🙄

Mumoftwo1312 · 03/04/2024 14:06

Lwrenn · 03/04/2024 13:03

Dp did say if he was changing his screen it would be to a custom design saying "grow the fuck up sil" 🙈

I like his style, and his brother could learn a thing or two from it.

I blame BIL somewhat for his part in all this. It sounds like he's being a go between.

Has no one around you noticed the irony that they're expecting you to give up lots of unpaid time and resources for the sake of your nephew while they won't even acknowledge their niece?!

Where's the symmetry in that?!

Thatsnotevenmyusername · 03/04/2024 14:06

OP I am a Sen mum too and always offering my support to anyone who needs to navigate this with their child…..but if someone said to me I can only help them on the basis I act like my kids don’t exist I would tell them to go to hell!! This is not your issue, you know what to do x

Noseybookworm · 03/04/2024 14:08

Nah, no way would be getting involved with her again. She sounds like a drama queen and a pain in the arse. You don't need that in your life. Steer well clear OP!

TheNeverEndingTale · 03/04/2024 14:12

What an absolute fucking nutjob. Of course you don’t go over and pretend your DD doesn’t exist, I can’t believe you’re even entertaining that? I’d be turning up with DD in the pram. She needs to give her head a wobble and go to the doctors if it’s impacting her that badly.

Also her poor sons! Clearly she isn’t happy with the family she has and they will be feeling this.