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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU by not allowing my MIL to have any contact with our sons going forward?

91 replies

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 12:29

Apologies in advance, English is not my first language and this might be long

I 34F and my husband 34M have been married for over 6 years and have 3 boys under 5. I am Hispanic and my husband is European, we moved to his country when our eldest was almost 1 and we have been living in his parents family home while our house is ready, is more like two apartments in the same house. The situation has come to a bad point and we are not sure what to do.

Background on MIL 60sF:
She is s very difficult person, overbearing pushy, zero respect for us as adults, as parents, the works (I have plenty examples) and as I come to find out recently, she is also racist.
It was manageable when it was just us but sense moving here I stared noticing she was treating our son like a toy: he could only play with what she wanted, the way she wanted or nothing, even if he cried,she would take away toys, not let him get away from her, not letting him eat in peace, not letting him bite anything (theething baby)or would use force to move him how she wanted, would stop him from playing with grandpa if she wasn't included, she wanted to force him to play in a sand pit knowing he can't cause he gets a bloody rash, etc (I have more examples), so we started to put boundaries with contact, we tried talking to her many times we even gave her boundaries in writing, she doesn't wanna change or understand. Over time it came to the point when she could only have supervised time with the oldest for an hour or two but only with my husband (she would fake she didn't understand me wen I tried to correct her and would ignore me). I didn't love it but it kind of worked.

Now this January during an argument with my husband that I was not part of, she made racist insults towards me and my husband yelled at her. But when I told him that it was enough and I didn't want her to have contact with the boys at all he started to packpedal a little, saying she didn't meant it that way, she said it instead of calling me the B word, she grew up in a different time and society. To me, there are so many insults out there that if you feel the need to use race as an insult you are racist, is inside you and why you are racist doesn't matter.
And you can't be a racist narcissistic asshole and still feel entitled and demand contact with mixed raced children.

Sense then she has had no contact with the boys and she is losing her marbles. She took away the keys of the area where we are living and the bathroom while we were out so we couldn't lock the doors, she only gave back the bathroom key and we had to put a deadbolt on the other doors but she can still get in when we are not inside. She also confronted me faking ignorance as to why no contact and when I told her if been racist didn't seem enough to her, she came at me screaming while I was holding my baby and I barely made it inside and closed the door with the deadbolt.

My husband is asking to go back to supervised visits because he says she is not that bad, she is not physically abusive and it would be good for the boys to have a grandma in their lives. He has fond memories of growing up with his grandparents cause they took care of him a lot while his parents worked and I think he wants the same for our boys, he also is not convinced she is racist.

To me that sounds insane, she is a horrible person and I don't want her anywhere near our boys, she doesn't even see them as people but as things that exist to make her happy. And I live stressed now not knowing what she would do next, nothing is better than her.

To be clear, my husband is very supportive and he says he is not gonna force it but is difficult for him cause is still grandma even if he also doesn't like her much. So I don't think I have a husband problem.he also has pressure from family.

We started family therapy in hopes of getting and unbiased opinion but it doesn't work like that so we are here looking for that.

So AIBU by not allowing contact anymore considering is the only grandma they physically have in here ?

OP posts:
Otherstories2002 · 24/08/2024 13:59

If you can live with the racist then she can have contact. You absolutely do not have the right to put conditions like that in place in her home.

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 14:33

HelloMiss · 24/08/2024 13:38

Do you share kitchen, washing facilities, garden??

You live in her home yet fit locks on her doors?

Does she charge you rent?

We don't share anything.
Both floors are like apartments with everything kitchen, bathroom, 2 bedrooms, living room, the only thing shared is the hall downstairs to get in/out of the house.
We don't pay rent, my FIL said we could stay here while our house is ready, so not just her house. To be honest I didn't wanted to come here cause I already knew her to be very difficult, my husband convinced me it was the best idea and that we would only be here a year max, but we came then COVID hit so that screw us a bit, then buying and fixing a house is not fast or easy. My husband is doing it all of by himself, family has refused help and I'm SAHM, he is the sole earner so not swimming in money

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 24/08/2024 14:35

Greenbike · 24/08/2024 12:35

You need to move away. You can’t carry on living in MIL’s house while refusing all contact, that’s just not practical, and also it’s giving her a reason to think you owe her something. Rent somewhere else until your house is ready.

This.

HelloMiss · 24/08/2024 14:36

You need to rent a place to live in then

You've been there since before covid hit. That's insane

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 14:41

TwinklyAmberOrca · 24/08/2024 12:43

YANBU to want nothing to do with this awful woman, but whilst you are living under her roof, YABU to make demands, as it's her home.

I think space is key here, and you and your family need to move out ASAP to your own place.

When do you think your house will be ready? Is it nearby?

Husband says he can make it habitable (not fully ready) in 2-3 more months. That's why I think going to my country is best, would be cheaper than renting an apartment I think.

OP posts:
Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 14:48

MarkWithaC · 24/08/2024 12:38

I think it depends who would supervise the contact; I suspect he's assuming you will (I know I may be wrong). What if you tell him she can have supervised contact as long as he sorts and supervises it? He may change his tune.

He was already the one supervising contact cause she would pretend not to understand me or hear me when I try to correct her, so to avoid that it was on him. I was already not talking to her much

OP posts:
Maria1979 · 24/08/2024 14:51

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 12:58

Unfortunately moving away right now is not possible :( My husband is fixing our house as fast as humanly possible, I have asked him several times to let me take the boys to my country with my parents and wait there but he doesn't want to be left alone here, understandably.
The only fully aware of changes is the oldest 5y so I found myself in the position of having to explaining racism to him at his level(with a book) and why he can't spent time with grandma anymore and he is alright, he still spends time with grandpa. MIL works so avoiding her is not hard for the most part, just the weekends are tricky, as I said we kind of have our own apartment, we are on first floor and they are on second with no need to cross paths, just if we are heading out at the same time (which something she waits to hear if we are leaving to come down as well :/)
We are on family therapy but is not quite what we expected, and moves slowly. My husband was expecting a quick "who's wrong " and "do this" and it just doesn't work like that.

Family therapy because your Mil is batshit crazy? Is there a back story here?

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 15:18

Maria1979 · 24/08/2024 14:51

Family therapy because your Mil is batshit crazy? Is there a back story here?

No, we literally went there cause this is causing problems now in our marriage.
My husband knows his mother is not all the way there and also doesn't like her much and admits that if this was any other person wouldn't allow her anywhere near our sons but just because she is the grandma she should have contact.

And I say that's BS, it doesn't matter who she is, she is not entitled to have access to our boys just because she shares DNA, specially been a racist ass. I have cut contact with nuclear family members before for been insane (we all have one I think) so I'm not asking something i haven't done.
We can't agree so we went there looking for mediation on who is been unreasonable so we ended up here cause therapy is more about us finding a solution to the conflict but we feel we tried it all.

OP posts:
Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 15:26

Otherstories2002 · 24/08/2024 13:59

If you can live with the racist then she can have contact. You absolutely do not have the right to put conditions like that in place in her home.

I think I have the right to protect my sons, they are not a bargaining coin. Is absolutely not my personal choice to be here, I'm stock

OP posts:
Decaffeinatedplease · 24/08/2024 15:37

You can't protect your sons living for free in her house!

It sounds like they split their house so you and your family could have an apartment and they could too, it's not two separate flats where you both own one, is it? It's their house, which they gave you, which you are living in and stopping them seeing their grandparents, which might be justifiable, but then you can't live in their house.

If I were you I would move out to somewhere else (Air B and B longer term rental now the season is over, for two months, go home). If I were her, I would evict you, as I wouldn't see you as having a right to live in my home yet not allow me to see the grandchildren.

It's very unhealthy for the children to be stuck in this situation, told their grandmother is a racist against them, and then hustled out the front door hoping not to see them- you do need to move out, that's completely obvious.

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 15:58

Decaffeinatedplease · 24/08/2024 15:37

You can't protect your sons living for free in her house!

It sounds like they split their house so you and your family could have an apartment and they could too, it's not two separate flats where you both own one, is it? It's their house, which they gave you, which you are living in and stopping them seeing their grandparents, which might be justifiable, but then you can't live in their house.

If I were you I would move out to somewhere else (Air B and B longer term rental now the season is over, for two months, go home). If I were her, I would evict you, as I wouldn't see you as having a right to live in my home yet not allow me to see the grandchildren.

It's very unhealthy for the children to be stuck in this situation, told their grandmother is a racist against them, and then hustled out the front door hoping not to see them- you do need to move out, that's completely obvious.

They didn't change it for us it was already like this, husbands grandparents lived in the area were we are now, I think is common in here to have family houses like this, it is their house.
The boys still spend time with grandpa quite often as he is retired and not insane.
I totally agree we need out, I know this is not livable and is also taking a tall on us as a family, husband also agrees but there are only so may hours in the day, and he is doing it as fast as humanly possible, that's why I was asking to go wait back in my home country, were I also have support, renting would be more expensive I think.

OP posts:
Decaffeinatedplease · 24/08/2024 16:00

@Eri2020 It is owned by them, though.

I agree, going back to your own country sounds like a good idea to me, also a good way for the children to spend time with your family, and then come back to the family home (far away hopefully) when you return. I would talk again with your husband about this option.

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 16:02

So for what I gathered, Is reasonable to not want her to have contact with our sons going forward but I need to move yesterday. Yes?

OP posts:
tennesseewhiskey1 · 24/08/2024 16:03

Sorry - you need to move out.

mammaCh · 24/08/2024 16:10

If you're living in her house you absolutely cannot then refuse her to see the kids.
If she's truly that bad then you must leave.

Lindjam · 24/08/2024 16:26

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 16:02

So for what I gathered, Is reasonable to not want her to have contact with our sons going forward but I need to move yesterday. Yes?

Yes. She sounds monstrous, but you need to remove yourself and your child from this situation.

DH needs to get on board with you escaping to your own family.

HelloMiss · 24/08/2024 16:28

Once you are living separately you will be able to have more control over her seeing them. You can simply take them home....

coldcallerbaiter · 24/08/2024 16:33

I would move out and allow dh occasionally to take them to see her, without you. Supervised by him only. It’s a small compromise that will make a difference to dh.

NiftyKoala · 24/08/2024 16:36

mammaCh · 24/08/2024 16:10

If you're living in her house you absolutely cannot then refuse her to see the kids.
If she's truly that bad then you must leave.

This. No matter the price it costs to move out it is worth it.

Heronwatcher · 24/08/2024 16:38

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 16:02

So for what I gathered, Is reasonable to not want her to have contact with our sons going forward but I need to move yesterday. Yes?

Yes. You cannot live in someone’s house and lock their grandchildren away, however awful they are that’s just completely mad. Whilst you stay living there you have to try to keep the peace. It’s absolute beyond me how you could ever have thought this was workable at all, let alone for years.

Even if your house isn’t ready there are other options which most people use, like airbnbs, caravans in the garden etc and you are both fully grown adults capable of earning money.

Eri2020 · 24/08/2024 16:44

coldcallerbaiter · 24/08/2024 16:33

I would move out and allow dh occasionally to take them to see her, without you. Supervised by him only. It’s a small compromise that will make a difference to dh.

I have a huge problem with her having contact with the kids even supervised sense I found out she is racist, to me is insane to allow her around mixed raced children, specially when she has said to my face before they should not speak my language,only hers. I don't know what crap she would say to them and she can get yelled at but my kids can't unheard it.
And how do I explain to them later that I allowed someone like her around them "cause family and you're screwed" but they should not keep people like that around them or tolerate people treating them or others like that.

OP posts:
AnotherDayOfSun · 24/08/2024 17:26

She DOES sound difficult, but keeping someone from seeing their grandchildren is a pretty massive blow. Especially if it is more about your relationship with her and less about how she treats the children. I mean, think about it, would you want a daughter-in-law who doesn't let you see grandchildren? That said, if the children are ever in physical danger, or in any danger of massive emotional harm, that's completely different. Use your judgement, but still try to put yourself in her place, too, and remember family relations are not always perfect, unfortunately.

coldcallerbaiter · 24/08/2024 17:42

MIL obviously does not like you and I guess she did not want you to marry her son. The children have 2 parents. If dh agrees with you fine, but if he does want to supervise some access then he has a right to his opinion. If you split with him, he would be able to take them to see his mother during his shared custody.

Maria1979 · 24/08/2024 17:49

coldcallerbaiter · 24/08/2024 17:42

MIL obviously does not like you and I guess she did not want you to marry her son. The children have 2 parents. If dh agrees with you fine, but if he does want to supervise some access then he has a right to his opinion. If you split with him, he would be able to take them to see his mother during his shared custody.

If Mil harms the boys she has no "right" to see them. And according to OP she has already been aggressive towards them so who knows what she is capable of.
OP You need to tell your DH that his no 1 responsability is protecting his children not to please his wacko mama (OK leave out the wacko perhaps). And you are going home to spend some time with your family until your house is finished. Don't ask, just tell him it's to save your marriage and your sanity.

Hucklemuckle · 24/08/2024 18:11

So your place will be ready in 2-3 months? Great. You can take a holiday to visit your family then

That'll focus dh mind to get the place finished