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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:
Leanmeansmitingmachine · 11/08/2024 14:18

When an OP is financially comfortable, it doesn’t half lure in the mad, bitter posters doesn’t it? Christ.

jannier · 11/08/2024 14:21

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 14:11

@jannier aaaaand where did you read that I live off him? 😂😂
Really enjoying what you read vs what's written, super entertaining, thank you!

So was he just the sperm donner? You don't seem to value him?

jannier · 11/08/2024 14:24

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 14:08

@jannier you have an amazing imagination!! I wish it was 5-6 per year or 10-15 weeks, no idea where you got that from but certainly not from the original post as it says something totally different 😂

Sorry 3 to 4 holidays still potentially up to 2 weeks at a time totalling 8 weeks unless rich mummy takes longer holidays. Most people manage by saving 2 weeks away

Evilspiritgin · 11/08/2024 14:26

Ilovelifeverymuch · 11/08/2024 13:46

I don't read it as she is against him encouraging a good relationship between his child and his parents, my interpretation is he is seeing it asba competition and feels jealous that her mother gets to spend more time with him and can afford to take them on holidays so he is trying to force more of a relationship with his parents.

Nothing working encouraging a relationship with his parents but his motivation is jealousy and resentment.

I haven't read anything about his parents actually making an effort.

Edited

Really , I can’t believe you actually think that his parents would make an effort with her, she comes across as greatly rude and her dislike of her pil is palpable, imagine how she is in real life, I bet they know how much she despises them.

I wonder if her mum is as blinkered and blinded by money

Divebar2021 · 11/08/2024 14:28

Oh you can be financially comfortable and not sound like the OP I assure you. There was no need for the OP to talk about money at all…. The inheritance, her in laws and their inability to pay for the OP and her DH to go on holiday are all completely irrelevant to the question ( which is actually about space and facilitating contact and whose job it is). I actually think a lot of women prefer their mothers to their in-laws and probably find squishing up a bit tiresome but hey they suck it up for their partners because they are emotionally invested in those relationships and they want them to be happy. Other than that I don’t have much to say about the OP - she was gifted a ton of money and it’s become her whole personality. Yay. Go you!

Evilspiritgin · 11/08/2024 14:34

Leanmeansmitingmachine · 11/08/2024 14:18

When an OP is financially comfortable, it doesn’t half lure in the mad, bitter posters doesn’t it? Christ.

I couldn’t care less that op has money,

You would think that not having to work or worrying about where the money to pay all your bills comes from would make you a happier person but not in this case its obviously made her a not so pleasant person hasn’t it

pizzaHeart · 11/08/2024 14:36

I think that nothing wrong if your DH wants his child to have close relationship with his parents but he should make an effort rather than trying “to cut” the relationship with your mum. Also I wonder how much of it is his wish and how much of his parents. The post partum visits with request of tea and biscuits are always a massive red flag for me. My MIL asked where iron was and did all our ironing. My Dad asked what’s for dinner. You could guess who was invited sooner.
The not washing hands is another red flag for me which probably indicates difference in values and approaches. It’s all good to tell OP that she should leave baby with in laws rather than with her mum. But if there is a choice between someone whom you can trust and who does things the same way as you and someone whom you don’t trust whom would you choose? The answer is obvious.
I have a similar situation among my relatives, only it’s husband’s parents who are wealthy and have big house etc. However it’s only one side. The MIL in this situation works really hard to have good relationship with her sons family. She helps a lot, often even using her annual leave. She is very careful with comments. Let’s say she is the one who is always coming with lasagna. So it’s not only about big house it’s about welcoming supportive atmosphere. And believe me, moral support usually costs nothing.
So from one side I think OP should of course to facilitate good relationship with her in laws but she is not the main person in this - it’s on her DH and on inlaws.

SplendidUtterly · 11/08/2024 14:39

I'd prefer to stay in a hotel too rather than be all sqished up sleeping on blow up bed's. Your DC is only 2.5 so they won't even remember any of this anyway! YaNbu

DeccaM · 11/08/2024 14:41

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 11:05

@Reallybadidea firstly why SHOULD he benefit from my inheritance? He didn't ... inherit it?!
And in answer to your question, aside from living in quite a large flat in central London, going on free holidays multiple times a year and having a wife caring for his children rather than leaving them in childcare (whom he doesn't have to pay for from his salary, as most husbands of SAHMs do...) no he doesn't 😂. Ie he does as a byproduct of being with me and things I want for myself, but not directly without me in the sense of him being given nice watches or fancy cars for himself.

Ugh. This post tells me everything I need to know about you as a person. I hope your DH sees the light and leaves you soon. And he could very well receive 50/50 custody. It doesn't matter a whit that you are unemployed.

jannier · 11/08/2024 14:43

Leanmeansmitingmachine · 11/08/2024 14:18

When an OP is financially comfortable, it doesn’t half lure in the mad, bitter posters doesn’t it? Christ.

It's not her finances it's the way she treats her OH and her attitude to the poor 3 bedroom household he comes from.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 11/08/2024 14:48

@hmhwd Sorry but after reading the OP post I do not understand why the majority of you are getting your knickers in a twist about!! it is the OP's hubby who has got a bee in his bonnet, not the OP. I frankly would not stay in a cramped house either if i could stay in a hotel for a few days on a weekend trip. a hotel is fine and they can go and spend the day with family instead of being under each others feet. also, it is natural for a daughter to be drawn to her own family rather than the inlaws. it iis the husband who is doing the competing not the wife!! just as an add, when I had my children no one came to my door with food of any description. No one came to stay and "help" me recover. no one came to do my housework. Hubby went to work on the monday morning after me getting out of hosp on saturday afternoon. I did it all myself but there are so many precious new mums out there nowadays that seem to need mollycoddled!!

jannier · 11/08/2024 14:49

Ilovelifeverymuch · 11/08/2024 14:13

No she is not controlling every holiday, he can also organize and pay for his family holiday rather than only depend on holidays OPs mother organizes and pays for. And by family holiday I mean him, his wife and child not necessarily his parents.

He working doesn't excuse him from ensuring his child gets to spend time with his parents if it is important to him.

I do agree the financial imbalance is causing issues and resentment but he also needs to own building the relationship between his child and his parents.

Edited

He could do another holiday if he wanted even more time away from his wife and child as she would still be off with her mother at every opportunity and he has to use his holiday to spend any time with them. He could take his DC to his family at weekends but op won't go and he does want Christmas with his family but op won't go unless she stays in a hotel. Op is putting up barriers and already has talked about taking child if OH doesn't toe her line. .....and mummy will finance the solicitor happily I guess.

Alli88 · 11/08/2024 14:50

You're really not coming over well at all OP. You sound very arrogant, resentful, entitled, snobbish and really quite insufferable to name a few characteristics that come to mind.

It would be a great idea for your child to spend more time with it's other grandparents to avoid the possibility of another generation ending up as unpleasant as you are sounding.

TemuSpecialBuy · 11/08/2024 14:53

Honestly unless you think your child is unsafe with his mum/dad I would make a concerted effort to “offer” the in laws the option to provide childcare maybe 1 time in 2 or give them first refusal.

if they are providing childcare you literally aren’t there so don’t have to interact with them so it is easy / costs little.

It’s also an easy win to give your DH, if they decline…at least you tried and showed willing.

I say this as someone he is not a fan of her own in-laws. I still facilitate a relationship and. I do that for my DH and my kids

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 11/08/2024 14:56

@hmhwd there actually seems to be a lot of jealousy on this page about how much op has and how many holidays she has. so what!! has anyone actually wondered if hubby saw pound signs in his eyes when he married OP? I am not saying he did but this works both ways/

exprecis · 11/08/2024 14:58

Divebar2021 · 11/08/2024 14:28

Oh you can be financially comfortable and not sound like the OP I assure you. There was no need for the OP to talk about money at all…. The inheritance, her in laws and their inability to pay for the OP and her DH to go on holiday are all completely irrelevant to the question ( which is actually about space and facilitating contact and whose job it is). I actually think a lot of women prefer their mothers to their in-laws and probably find squishing up a bit tiresome but hey they suck it up for their partners because they are emotionally invested in those relationships and they want them to be happy. Other than that I don’t have much to say about the OP - she was gifted a ton of money and it’s become her whole personality. Yay. Go you!

Exactly.

The OP's posts are always very recognisable because for her it's all about ££

I brought much more money into our marriage too but I genuinely don't think about it from one year to another.

Whereas for the OP, it's clearly somehow the most important thing and she has to reference it every time

Bluevelvetsofa · 11/08/2024 14:58

I don’t think you and your DH have a long term future as a married couple. You married a man that you clearly feel is your inferior. He’s working and advancing in his career, but that’s not good enough apparently. You’ve taken steps to ensure that he hasn’t got any claim to your assets, although, as you’re married, I’m not sure how watertight that can be.

You really do sound money and apparent status obsessed.

Personally, I’d prefer someone who worked to better themselves, cared for their extended family and wanted to maintain good relationships with them.

Vivi0 · 11/08/2024 15:02

Leanmeansmitingmachine · 11/08/2024 14:18

When an OP is financially comfortable, it doesn’t half lure in the mad, bitter posters doesn’t it? Christ.

Completely agree.

Greytulips · 11/08/2024 15:05

If he’s not paying rent or mortgage payments then he should have enough money to save for a deposit/buy a rental for his own future security.

Nanny0gg · 11/08/2024 15:07

hmhwd · 11/08/2024 09:28

To those asking why my mum babysits - she has a flat in London that she stays in when she visits us (we live in London, both sets of grandparents outside)

You could still ask your in-laws sometimes (assuming they'd want to)

You are pushing them away and there is a happy medium

Although I do agree a hotel is better when you stay for Christmas

DoreenonTill8 · 11/08/2024 15:10

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 11/08/2024 14:56

@hmhwd there actually seems to be a lot of jealousy on this page about how much op has and how many holidays she has. so what!! has anyone actually wondered if hubby saw pound signs in his eyes when he married OP? I am not saying he did but this works both ways/

Edited

Well he's on to a losing streak if he did! Op has clearly stated how well she's protected her money, which is clearly more upstanding and worthwhile than shabby money from being (yuk..) earned....

Husband trying to compete which grandparents see DC more
User100000000000000000001 · 11/08/2024 15:25

skibiditoilet · 10/08/2024 15:58

He needs to step up and facilitate the relationship with his parents instead of making you and your mum feel that this is both your faults. I think he is just clumsy with regards to how he is going about it.

Absolutely this.

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 11/08/2024 15:38

@User100000000000000000001 but as previous posters have pointed out, she moans if he tries. How is he supposed to do this, if not by trying to split the time spent with either set of grandparents more equally.

CatamaranViper · 11/08/2024 16:29

Greytulips · 11/08/2024 15:05

If he’s not paying rent or mortgage payments then he should have enough money to save for a deposit/buy a rental for his own future security.

He could yes, but perhaps he doesn't think his wife dislikes him and his family and is expecting/hoping the marriage works out so isnt making back up plans.

Personally I'd be a bit offended if DH bought a back up home for when the marriage fails.

Cornishclio · 11/08/2024 17:00

I think there are a lot of nasty posts on here. Most mums tend to gravitate to their own mums and in general it should be your DH facilitating a relationship with his DPs.

As your mum was widowed young it is nice you and your DC spend a lot of time with her so the money thing is a red herring. I expect she likes having company on holidays and the fact your PILs don't organise family holidays is not yours or your mums fault. He should pay for your family if you go away with PILs.

I think Christmas should be shared although if your mum was alone I would insist she was included unless you have siblings. If your PIL want to host I would use a hotel if their house is too small. Do you have room to put them up and they come to you instead and your mum stays in her flat?

Your DH is being petty by resenting the relationship your mum has with DC. He should encourage his DPs to come over more often than once a month or you go to them.

Obviously your DH does benefit from your inheritance by not having to pay for childcare and getting free holidays. Make sure you protect yourself financially whilst not working by setting up pensions etc.