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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

AIBU to feel I should have been invited? ***edit by MNHQ to say this is a reverse***

632 replies

checkeredboards · 27/10/2024 19:23

I get along well with my in-laws and I always feel included and part of the family. We live about 3 hours away from my family and about 20 minutes away from my PILs. We have a great marriage. Been married for 8 years now. I recently had my PILs and SIL over for cake for my husband's 30th birthday. Well MIL presented him with concert tickets for his birthday and said out loud, "I bought you, your dad, me, and your younger sister concert tickets so we can all go see this band that we all love together in concert yayy." I'm thinking in my head MIL prob just forgot to mention me by name because surely there's no way his mum forgot to include me in this as I would be the only family member left out and we don't have a rocky relationship we get along very well and it would be way out of character for her. But nope she didn't include me. She went on to say how excited she was to do this for the four of them.

My husband was like thanks mum I'm super excited. Which I was pretty pissed at him that he right away didn't stand by me and immediately ask what about my wife. I told him later on that I was pretty pissed because I felt like it's one thing for his parents not to think of and include me but it's a whole other layer of hurt when husband doesn't even think of me. I couldn't help myself and muttered pretty loudly so I could make sure they heard, "thanks for including and thinking of your son's closest family member you know his wife the woman he married." I mentioned that this is very clearly a celebration centered around the four of them and I was going to leave them to it. His mom said how of course I'm part of the celebration and I said well right now it doesn't really feel like I'm part of it. That's the time I felt like my husband should have supported me. I'm the one he married and lives with. He just stood there like a dumb man shrugging his shoulders. Not literally speaking but figuratively speaking.

I felt like if they couldn't afford 5 concert tickets ok fine but there was so many ways around that where I wasn't completely left out. They could have given my husband money towards the concert ticket based on what they could afford and said, "hey for your birthday I want to go to a concert as a family please put this money towards you and your wife's concert ticket." Or they could have made it just a mother son night or a father son not that way not everyone in the family is included but his own wife! Especially like I said this is sooo out of character because his parents are not the type at all to not consider others feelings or how things may look or come across.

AIBU to feel hurt and left out by the actions of my MIL and also even more hurt that my husband wasn't immediately like what the hell what about my wife? I mention MIL specifically because I know she is the present buyer for the family and she is the one who presented the tickets during the celebration. If FIL was the one who bought the family presents and presented the tickets I would have said him instead of MIL.

I feel like MIL was going back in time where their family was just the four of them but now her son is married and family functions should include his wife.

OP posts:
LifeisNOTlikeemmerdalefarm · 27/10/2024 19:41

And what did your in-laws say to you after pointing out about your omission.

Your DH is spineless in not asking about your ticket.

BreezyEagle · 27/10/2024 19:41

You seem very entitled to be honest. I could understand why you feel left out it was poor behaviour to present the tickets in front of you but your PIL are not cruise directors who should make your entertainment their sole focus. The day was about your husband and you made a special moment all about yourself. Perhaps that is why you were not invited you sound like an overbearing bore who believes their husbands family should care more about you than their own son who had a big birthday that you likely ruined.
Have some humility and quit acting the victim when you are clearly the one acting like a spoilt brat. Good lord I am surprised the man married you! If I was his mother you would never have been getting married.

5475878237NC · 27/10/2024 19:42

When posters reassure mums with gender disappointment that having sons is the same as having daughters, threads like this come to mind. No man has ever posted to ask why his wife and her mother and family of origin do things without him.

dragonfliesandbees · 27/10/2024 19:42

They’re going to see a band. It’s not a “family function”! I would have no issue with this. If I was your husband I’d be really embarrassed about the way you acted.

Soyare · 27/10/2024 19:42

Does SIL have a partner and are there any kids on either side?
that feels relevant to me because if it’s no on both counts then you are actually the only one not invited and it feels worse somehow

SouthLondonMum22 · 27/10/2024 19:43

You are being incredibly unreasonable and have made his birthday all about you.

Marriage doesn’t mean he isn’t allowed to do things with just his family. You don’t have to go everywhere with him.

ConsistantlyForget33 · 27/10/2024 19:43

Although I'd be hurt by not being invited there is absolutely no way id of made everyone feel uncomfortable by muttering infer my breath and throwing a strop. Are you 12?

Shes his mum. Shes allowed to want to spend some time with him without you there. With her saying she was excited to do this with the 4 of them makes me wonder how many other things you've forced them to invite you along to

TheHighPriestess1 · 27/10/2024 19:43

LifeisNOTlikeemmerdalefarm · 27/10/2024 19:41

And what did your in-laws say to you after pointing out about your omission.

Your DH is spineless in not asking about your ticket.

If the OP behaves like this, DH is probably glad of an evening away

HawkersSouth · 27/10/2024 19:44

YABU. Absolutely fine for him to do something with his family, they don't stop being a family just because he has a wife.
And YABVU to make it all about you on his birthday. You were rude and passive aggressive with your comment.

checkeredboards · 27/10/2024 19:44

This wasn't a mother son event so your theory doesn't hold water. If I was saying he could never do things alone with just his mother that would be a whole different thing. If it was just mother son my response would have been 100% different. It's literally my husband's whole immediate family and I'm left out. If we were just dating or something I could understand but once married your family is expanding and your child isn't young anymore. Not sure why the wife has to be left out of a whole family event for it to still be enjoyable.

OP posts:
Stormyweatheroutthere · 27/10/2024 19:44

Can't magine doing such a thing... Back away op. Your true worth has been spelled out imo. Bet she comes crawling back if any dc appear...

Bestyearever2024 · 27/10/2024 19:45

I couldn't help myself and muttered pretty loudly so I could make sure they heard, "thanks for including and thinking of your son's closest family member you know his wife the woman he married." I mentioned that this is very clearly a celebration centered around the four of them and I was going to leave them to it. His mom said how of course I'm part of the celebration and I said well right now it doesn't really feel like I'm part of it. That's the time I felt like my husband should have supported me. I'm the one he married and lives with. He just stood there like a dumb man shrugging his shoulders. Not literally speaking but figuratively speaking

You "couldn't help yourself"?

Is your tongue not within your control?

Perhaps MIL couldn't help herself when she bought the tickets?

Perhaps MIL, FIL and SIL are very polite to you but actually wish you'd act your age and not make things about you

Grow up ffs

Crocadoodledoo · 27/10/2024 19:46

They were mean to leave you out so conspicuously, and you were rude to react as you did.

Both sides WBU.

steff13 · 27/10/2024 19:46

Unless they're going to be the only four people at the concert it's not really a family event.

I can understand feeling hurt but you were wrong to make an issue of it at the actual party. And ultimately they're allowed to do things as a family without you.

checkeredboards · 27/10/2024 19:46

Good point on asking if my SIL has a partner or kids and the answer to that is no on both counts. No partner or kids. So I think that's why it stings a lot more because I am the only person left out. Also this is out of character for my in laws. They never dreamed before of going to say a restaurant or activity and basically tell their son his wife isn't welcome. They have always welcomed me with open arms and treated me like a welcome family member. So I'm hurt.

OP posts:
Webbing · 27/10/2024 19:46

It’s excluding you and she meant it to feel that way by giving the tickets at the party. Just take the hint now and keep her more at arms length in future. I don’t know if you have children but if you do try to put a bit of distance between her and them as she sounds very controlling.

HopelessHouseMaid · 27/10/2024 19:47

This can’t be real. I would be embarrassed to behave the way you are. They were family long before you come along and are aloud to spend time together without you. You have behaved very immaturely. I don’t think they left you out to be hurtful but I have a feeling they may be leaving you out a lot more in the future.

Mrsttcno1 · 27/10/2024 19:47

checkeredboards · 27/10/2024 19:44

This wasn't a mother son event so your theory doesn't hold water. If I was saying he could never do things alone with just his mother that would be a whole different thing. If it was just mother son my response would have been 100% different. It's literally my husband's whole immediate family and I'm left out. If we were just dating or something I could understand but once married your family is expanding and your child isn't young anymore. Not sure why the wife has to be left out of a whole family event for it to still be enjoyable.

You’ve said it yourself, it’s for THEIR immediate family.

Acommonreader · 27/10/2024 19:47

It wasn’t your birthday, why would they get you a ticket?
I think you owe them all an apology for acting like a spoilt child otherwise you might not be his next of kin by his next birthday !

Tellmemore16 · 27/10/2024 19:48

This personally wouldn’t bother me

SouthLondonMum22 · 27/10/2024 19:48

Webbing · 27/10/2024 19:46

It’s excluding you and she meant it to feel that way by giving the tickets at the party. Just take the hint now and keep her more at arms length in future. I don’t know if you have children but if you do try to put a bit of distance between her and them as she sounds very controlling.

MIL isn’t the one that sounds controlling.

Mum2So · 27/10/2024 19:48

VainAbigail · 27/10/2024 19:40

Are you that woman who posted recently about the MIL and the lack of relationship with said MIL? And all the yada about making precious relationships and memories, but the general consensus was that the MIL doesn’t really like the DIL?!?!

Yes! Same American English spelling.

Sweepsthepillowclean · 27/10/2024 19:49

This wouldn’t bother me in the slightest either but I think you were incredibly rude and unbelievably childish.

DoreenonTill8 · 27/10/2024 19:49

What did your parents get your dh for your birthday @checkeredboards?

Unicorntearsofgin · 27/10/2024 19:50

Honestly I think it was pretty thoughtless of them. But if you generally get on well then the best thing would be try to let it go and not make it into an even bigger issue.