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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband trying to compete which grandparents see DC more

294 replies

hmhwd · 10/08/2024 14:54

More like, is he being unreasonable or is this a normal reaction from him?

DC Is 2.5. My family is quite wealthy, his is pretty average. In laws live closer so we see them for day trips once a month, my mum lives further so I will visit her overnight for a couple of nights but also about once per month.
Sadly my DF died when I was a teen but he was highly successful, left a large inheritance to my mum and I. My mum, having raised me, now mainly travels the world, enjoys life and helps me out with raising DC when I need it. On a few holidays (3-4 per year) she will invite me and DC along, DH is invited too but can't join for all of them because of limited annual leave, he does join for probably half (sometimes joins part way through a holiday, sometimes doesn't join at all and sometimes joins for the full length). These holidays are fully paid for by my mum. When not on holiday, I'll sometimes go to stay with my mum for a night or two if DH knows he will work late - her house is large enough for DC to have their own room, all the "child" equipment that I need can be and is stored at hers. On other days, my mum will just pop over to ours to help out, play with DC etc - this doesn't affect DH because he is out at work and it'll be in the daytime.

My ILs see DC far less. They can't afford to take us on holiday and my DH wouldn't pay for them to go with us. They visit maybe once a month. Staying at theirs is more difficult because a) it would need to be over a weekend when DH can come and b) the house is a squeeze, we don’t have anything there that we need (baby chair, cot, all the nappies / bottles / aprons / toys) so have to bring everything. I guess I also don't ask for help from my ILs the way I do from my own mum (for example if I need someone to watch DC whilst I have a doctors appointment - I will ask my mum or move it, never ask my ILs), largely because I just don't have that kind of relationship with them. We are civil and no arguments but we don't "get on like a house on fire" in that we have very different views, not many common interests. I find their visits tedious and exhausting for many (very subtle but many) reasons - none because they're terrible people, just that I find them difficult to be around, we run out of conversation fast and we have to fake agreeing on topics.

I've noticed recently my husband really tries to compete and compensate. He's trying to squeeze us into their house at Xmas (as opposed to hotel like we've done previous years) even though that meant 6 adults and 1 child in a 2/3 bedroom house (3rd bedroom is a study that will have a blow up bed in the middle, the bedroom we stay in will mean either someone sleeps on a floor mattress so we physically can’t open the door or walk around until mattress lifted, or all 3 of us sleep in a small double bed). Or he is irritable when he sees that DC will run towards my mum shouting GAM-GAAAAAAM ("grandma") or when the two have little inside jokes or games. If I ask about it he claims he's absolutely fine and just wants DC to give "gam-gam" a rest (my mum is thrilled with it, doesn’t want a rest). I can just feel resentment towards my mum for being able to spend more time with DC?

OP posts:
HAPPILYMARRIEDSINCE2012 · 11/08/2024 12:51

CatamaranViper · 11/08/2024 11:57

OP can you please tell us what you want from this thread?
You don't seem to want to hear what people are saying.

Did you just want to start an argument online? Were you hoping people would agree?

You don't seem very open to discussing the situation, which I just don't understand. Why start the thread?

I was wondering the same thing 🤔

Cantgetyououttamyhead · 11/08/2024 12:52

I understand wanting to stay in a hotel and preferring your own mum to your in laws. I don't like sharing a bathroom with lots of people and people seeing me in pyjamas etc..

But if you're happy to organise day trips to see your in laws maybe suggesting a couple of weekends to go and see them soon will mean a lot to your husband.

CatamaranViper · 11/08/2024 12:52

Vivi0 · 11/08/2024 12:03

I’m clearly not understanding this.

Christmas is already the best day of the year for my children, and we spend it at home.

Why would I sleep on a blow up mattress in someone else’s overcrowded home on Christmas Eve? My children are my priority - that is why we spend Christmas at home and everyone comes to us. My kids like being at home.

It’s nice that that is a nice memory for you. But that’s all it is.

Yes but it seems like their options are to stay in a hotel or stay at the in-laws.
He would rather stay with his parents and she would like a hotel. It reads like she's had her own way previously and he wants to do things his way this time.

Personally I could think of nothing worse than staying in a hotel on Christmas eve. I want somewhere homey, where you can wake up to excited shouts and breakfast in PJ's surrounded by presents and loved ones.
I've worked Christmas in hotels and it just feels so unfun for kids despite staff trying.

Thehop · 11/08/2024 13:00

It sounds like your husband had a pretty cushy number thanks to your dad. SAHM for his child at no cost. Free holidays.

do you think he's jealous? Feeling a bit emasculated?

jannier · 11/08/2024 13:01

Vivi0 · 11/08/2024 12:03

I’m clearly not understanding this.

Christmas is already the best day of the year for my children, and we spend it at home.

Why would I sleep on a blow up mattress in someone else’s overcrowded home on Christmas Eve? My children are my priority - that is why we spend Christmas at home and everyone comes to us. My kids like being at home.

It’s nice that that is a nice memory for you. But that’s all it is.

If you haven't done it and they haven't done it you wouldn't know and neither would they. Kids love sleepovers and waking up with cousins being spoilt by the time with extended family .... Christmas is family

Anywherebuthere · 11/08/2024 13:02

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 10:34

@Ponoka7 i guess my mum volunteered when my DC was super young, when DC was a newborn my mum would come in saying "how're you both? I've brought a lasagne over!" and offer to help with washing whilst ILs would arrive asking for black tea with milk and some biscuits whilst holding the baby (often asking to hold baby before washing hands)... that set the precedent that she'd be more helpful, would come over more.
That, and the fact that I'm way more comfortable in her company when recovering post partum, meant she came over more often and it just carried on.

Nothing wrong at all with being closer to your mum and wanting her around right after birth instead of in-laws.

However you dont sound very nice at all. Sounds like this is about you but instead you are trying to make your DH and in-laws sound like the bad guys.

Be honest with yourself. You don't like them because they are poor. You drip feed all sorts in your posts about them to make them look bad, it's too obvious.

labamba007 · 11/08/2024 13:03

Imagine your child in the future, would you be happy if you were treated the same way as your in-laws now? Or would you feel left out?

jannier · 11/08/2024 13:03

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 11/08/2024 12:33

' we don’t have anything there that we need (baby chair, cot, all the nappies / bottles / aprons / toys) so have to bring everything.'

is your child 2.5 months old or 2.5 years old ?

if as I think the age is 2.5 years old then you won't need any of that stuff at Christmas - and the child will be nearly 3 so could be out of day time nappies by then.

I think your real problem is that you feel / believe / know you have married out of the financial class you were brought up in...

WHY won't Dh pay for them to come on a suitable holiday ?
is he mean / can't afford it / or doesn't actually want to holiday with his parents ?

Maybe DH is paying all the bills why op lives it up as a sham?

Bestfootforward11 · 11/08/2024 13:09

What is your ideal outcome here? And what do you think your DH would like? Most people get on ‘ok’ with their ILs and not necessarily ‘like a house on fire’. It sounds a little like you want to do everything on your own terms. It’s great you and the DC get to go on all these holidays with your mum, but I imagine less great for your DH when he can’t join for these because he’s working or can only join for part. You give the impression that you don’t want to be uncomfortable or go to any effort for ILs by staying at theirs or packing kids stuff with you. I get it’s not ideal and can feel a hassle but isn’t that what you do with families? It’s not like you’re going to his family all the time. Completely normal for your DH to want the kids to have a good relationship with his parents and you both need to play a role in facilitating that.

Anywherebuthere · 11/08/2024 13:09

AquaFurball · 11/08/2024 10:55

Keep up the snooty attitude of his parents and him wanting to have a say in his child's relationship with them and you might be a single SAHM.

You sound unbearable flaunting your "wealth".

Except it's not even her own wealth, it's her mums!

Edit: I just read it's inheritance.

Still she sounds like an unpleasant person.

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:12

@Anywherebuthere what made you assume it's my mum's?

OP posts:
hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:13

@jannier he pays half the bills, no rent / mortgage. So basically like being part of a 2 income household, mortgage free and not paying for childcare ie the best of both worlds- SAHM and working wife

OP posts:
Vivi0 · 11/08/2024 13:13

CatamaranViper · 11/08/2024 12:52

Yes but it seems like their options are to stay in a hotel or stay at the in-laws.
He would rather stay with his parents and she would like a hotel. It reads like she's had her own way previously and he wants to do things his way this time.

Personally I could think of nothing worse than staying in a hotel on Christmas eve. I want somewhere homey, where you can wake up to excited shouts and breakfast in PJ's surrounded by presents and loved ones.
I've worked Christmas in hotels and it just feels so unfun for kids despite staff trying.

I really don’t think that by staying in a hotel she is getting her own way at all. I’m sure she’d much rather spend Christmas at home.

Greytulips · 11/08/2024 13:14

Relationships take time. I think that as you put in the effort with your mum, he needs to do the same with his family.

He can visit on weekends, he can invite them over (and do all the food prep etc) He can arrange a meet up at a play centre -

However he doesn’t get to suggest you sleep on the floor over Christmas - parenting is hard enough without sleep!!

I think as he and his child benefit from free holidays he shouldn’t complain - he should accept it’s a bonus.

You’ve done nothing wrong here - you are used to some comfort and as you can afford hotels and holidays - take them.

No point suffering because his parents are limited.

Anywherebuthere · 11/08/2024 13:15

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:12

@Anywherebuthere what made you assume it's my mum's?

I read it after.. inheritance

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:16

@Notonthestairs he's welcome to visit his parents solo! But would struggle as DC doesn't like to go down for a nap with anyone except me and normally ends up whining "mummmmy where's mummmmmyyyyy" if I leave DH with DC whilst going for a coffee with a friend for a couple of hours, let alone a day. And nope, doesn't happen with my mum somehow

OP posts:
hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:18

@Anywherebuthere "to my mum and I" it doesn't matter for the purpose of this thread how the inheritance was split as both have enough, but since you ask, based on the fact I'm his blood relative and younger than my mum ie longer life ahead, you can guess who he left more to

OP posts:
hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:21

@CatamaranViper "getting my own way" would be not having to trek there for Xmas and being able to go to snowy mountains for a white Christmas or Lapland for a magical Xmas with my baby :) so a hotel is a very generous compromise

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 11/08/2024 13:21

As there is no rent or mortgage for your dh to pay, do I guess you own the property you all live in as a family ?

what has he done with the property he lived in before you moved in together - or was he renting ?

5128gap · 11/08/2024 13:21

So when you married a man from a significantly less well off background, did you assume that you would 'elevate' him to your way of life? That he would drop the things connected to his background that you consider inferior? If so, I think you've made a big mistake and this is the up shot. Less well off people are not all chomping at the bit to replace their crowded gatherings in small homes with spacious hotels and swap normal visits to their parents for free holidays. He obviously wants your family life to include things from his background, not be consumed by your (mum's) ever open coffers.

Notonthestairs · 11/08/2024 13:22

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:16

@Notonthestairs he's welcome to visit his parents solo! But would struggle as DC doesn't like to go down for a nap with anyone except me and normally ends up whining "mummmmy where's mummmmmyyyyy" if I leave DH with DC whilst going for a coffee with a friend for a couple of hours, let alone a day. And nope, doesn't happen with my mum somehow

Well that's all fine - those are just things that can be worked on. Practice makes perfect.
I'd encourage him to do Saturday morning or afternoon trips to your in-laws local park. Bit of a play on the swings etc. doesn't have to be all day trips as they are relatively nearby. Short and regular would work well.
It would provide a good platform stay longer/later as and when your child is ready.

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:25

@Notonthestairs I wouldn't object to this and he knows it. In fact I do make Saturday morning plans with friends when he is welcome to do this, he's not keen on me being out for half a day at all and hasn't once used this time to visit his parents

OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 11/08/2024 13:25

Well that's on him then.

bluewatermelon · 11/08/2024 13:27

In your posts, this and other ones, you just write about money money money and how lucky your dh should feel because of you.

It seems like you utterly despise him. It’s sad.

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 13:27

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon his property / lack of property not really relevant to the question so won't get answered.
Yes he lives in a house that is mine legally (pre nup protected don't worry)

OP posts: