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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My crazy SIL

114 replies

Username98337 · 13/12/2024 21:34

This is massive sorry but I need to let it out somewhere. I’ve had issues with my SIL (BILs girlfriend) since the day I met her. For ease, we’ll call her Daisy and we’ll call BIL Harry. For context, she and my BIL are my age, my husband is three years older.

I started dating my now husband in early 2016. Near the end of 2016, around October/November time, Harry introduced us all to Daisy. Daisy asked how long I’d been with my now husband for at this point, and I said 10 months. She told me she’d been with Harry for two years. The family all thought this was unusual because none of them had ever met, seen, or heard of her before. She told my MIL and husband that she met Harry at a party, she told me she met him through tinder, and according to Harry, they met at university and had to go long distance for a while. To be honest I didn’t really care enough, so never thought twice about it until now.

When we got to 2019, my now husband proposed. Daisy was furious when we announced the news, and openly said she should have been engaged first because she’s been in a relationship longer. In 2019, my now husband and I also bought our first house. We had a housewarming party which Harry attended alone. Daisy and Harry started renting a house a few months after we bought our house. For a few years (2019 to 2022), she told everyone they had bought the house, and none of us questioned this. However, in 2022, she and Harry had to move in with my MIL as their landlord no longer wanted to lease the property, and this is when we all discovered she wasn’t truthful about owning the property. She does own a house with Harry now (or so she says). Harry never shares any details, Daisy does all the talking.

Also at the start of 2022, my husband and I got married. Daisy argued with Harry very publicly in our reception, telling him that she should have been the one getting married first, not me (they still weren’t engaged at this point, and still aren’t engaged now).

After our wedding, Daisy started asking me at every opportunity when I was planning on trying for a baby. Literally everyday she would ask me, and I always responded with ‘not just yet’. Eventually the constant questioning got to me, and I admitted to her that we’d been trying for a baby ever since we bought our house in 2019, and we were on a waiting list for fertility treatments via the NHS. She said she was sorry to hear this. A couple months later she texted me to say she was 4 weeks pregnant and it was a complete accident and she’s so surprised at how easily she got pregnant. I texted back ‘congratulations, I’m so happy for you’. I genuinely was, but didn’t agree with her letting me know it was an accident. I didn’t share this with her as I won’t let my rain dampen someone else’s parade, plus I pick and choose my battles and didn’t have the energy to fight it.
Around when Daisy was 8 weeks pregnant, she very sadly had a miscarriage and I was genuinely heartbroken for her. I sent her flowers and food packages, and wished her my love.
At the end of 2022, I found out by some complete miracle that I was pregnant. The chances of this happening for us naturally were next to none, so I was very weary of getting too excited. My husband texted Harry and Daisy the news when we got to 12 weeks (we texted as we didn’t want to tell them in public knowing they’d had a loss). Harry called to congratulate us and sounded genuinely pleased for us. My husband apologised for telling him over text but Harry said he understood and appreciated it. We never heard back from Daisy.

When I was around 6 months pregnant, my husband and I met up with my MIL, Harry and Daisy for lunch for MILs birthday. Daisy refused to look at me and blanked me when I said hello to her. After the lunch, my MIL asked my husband and I if we’d like to go baby clothes shopping with her (MIL was very excited about having a grandchild). We agreed and Harry also came along as he said he wanted to treat his future niece or nephew. Daisy meanwhile ran off to sit in Harry’s car for the duration of our shopping. I texted Daisy when we got home to ask if she was ok and she said that she didn’t appreciate me inviting everyone baby clothes shopping as it was really insensitive to her (baring in mind my MIL organised this, not me, and Harry was happy to come along). She also said that I was rubbing my pregnancy in her face by wearing a tight fitting dress, and that I should have worn something loose to hide my bump from her (I was wearing a flowy maternity dress). I apologised and we didn’t discuss it since.

When my baby was born, Daisy refused to meet her, and to this day she doesn’t even look at her or acknowledge she’s in the room. I get that she’s suffered a loss but I think this is unhealthy. My husband spoke with Harry about it, and Harry said that they’re not currently trying as neither of them want a baby yet, and have plans to travel before settling down. Last month however, Daisy told my MIL that I’ve mocked her for having a miscarriage (I never would and I’m still offended by this), and said that I’ve done nothing but bully her since the day we met. My MIL disregarded this immediately. She then showed my MIL a diary she’d kept since 2016, wherein she’s written down all the times I’ve “bullied” her (all complete lies - things like I’ve hit her, called her house ugly, etc). My MIL has never been overly keen on her as she tells small lies a lot (e.g., her salary changes constantly, there’s different versions of how she and Harry met, she said she was originally from Bradford then moved to Scotland as a child when she’s actually from Lancaster, she said her dad is a multi millionaire with a successful company but can’t say the company as it’s top secret, etc). I now think she’s trying to turn my MIL against me, which is sad as I have a lovely relationship with her (so far it’s not working, and is only making MIL dislike Daisy more).

I basically feel like Daisy doesn’t like me, and has wanted to be “first” at everything, and can’t cope that I was. I don’t care about being first, but I feel like she does. She’s still not engaged and I dread to think how she’ll act if it doesn’t happen soon. I’m really furious about this notebook though, I think it’s really weird behaviour, and I’m now starting to think that there’s something wrong with Daisy mentally. Everyone is just laughing it off but my blood is boiling over it. Should I confront Daisy? Or should I ignore her and totally cut her off? I don’t want to be anywhere near this woman anymore, I think she’s plain weird!

OP posts:
Pussycat22 · 13/12/2024 21:38

Batshit.

Vaxtable · 13/12/2024 21:41

Hard as it maybe just ignore her. Have as little to do with her as possible, mute her on your phone/social media and crack on with your own life

Nothanks17 · 13/12/2024 21:43

She sounds dangerous. This is almost stalkerish/harrassment territory.

Do not confront her, make her as uninterested in your life as possible. Be vigilant.

They shouldn't be laughing this off.

Nikitaspearlearring · 13/12/2024 21:45

People who know both of you will come to their own conclusion (batshit). I would find it very hard not to confront her with the info in the diary, but I can't see what good it would do. Hard to argue if she says she felt bullied. Best to ignore her and distance yourself. She is to be pitied. Don't let her bring you down!

FruitBadger · 13/12/2024 21:46

Pussycat22 · 13/12/2024 21:38

Batshit.

This.

Take a big step back, don't confront her. Let her tie herself up in knots on her own, engage and she'll drag you in and make you look like a nutter too.

Bonbon21 · 13/12/2024 21:47

God help Harry!!
You can always ignore her tantrums...

LauderSyme · 13/12/2024 21:48

Follow your gut instinct and stay away from her. She does sound dangerous. Her behaviour suggests a personality disorder. Try not to give her any headspace, everything she is doing is all about her and not about you at all.

Maruni · 13/12/2024 21:49

The fact that she is ignoring your DC is enough to cut her off. People who can behave like this to children are usually not very nice. I understand it’s hard to totally ignore as she’s your BIL’s GF and you may see her around at family events, I would say a brief and polite hello and that is more than enough and more kindness than she deserves.

BilboBlaggin · 13/12/2024 21:50

Stay away from her and don't interact at all. That way she will have nothing to write in her diary about you.

Has no-one spoke to Harry about the diary and questioned why Daisy is making this up? He must know it's all nonsense.

Yikesthathurt · 13/12/2024 21:50

She sounds unwell.

Mum2jenny · 13/12/2024 21:52

Ignore her as much as possible and try never to be alone with her.
She sounds totally unhinged, but she may have other undisclosed issues you don’t know about.
However it’s not ultimately your problem.

AsFunAsEnglishWeather · 13/12/2024 21:53

I would be worried about Harry!

jellymaker · 13/12/2024 21:55

This kind of person is always hung by their own petard. Just step back and watch and wait. Everyone has the measure of her. Hopefully Harry will get out before it's too late.

mnreader · 13/12/2024 21:55

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Heronwatcher · 13/12/2024 21:56

She’s mad.

Agree with blocking her on everything and stop appeasing her, no way would I have been apologising to her. If she also ignored my child I wouldn’t be going to any social occasions either- kids notice these things quite soon and I wouldn’t be happy to put my DC through it. I think I’d send a polite but clear text something along the lines of “Daisy there appears to be an issue with your perception of me. I’ve been speaking to MIL and it’s clear that we have very different recollections of our interactions. To avoid future confusion which would obviously be upsetting to us both I think it’s best if we maintain a polite distance from now on. I would also appreciate a basic level of politeness to (DC) if we do see you with her please, as she’s part of the family. If you can’t manage that then please bear in mind we’ ll need to visit MIL separately. If we can stick to these ground rules then I am sure there will be no issues between us.”

travelmadmum23 · 13/12/2024 21:56

"Going" through something similar with mine... not on the marriage and baby front but she seems to constantly copy what I do and tries to engage in oneupmanship...

It starts to erode your sense of self and affect your daily life. Easy for people to say distance yourself but until it happens to you- you don't realise how it taints your family life etc.

Manara · 13/12/2024 21:57

Keep away from her, I fear she may hurt you or your baby. Stop messaging her at all.

DH should have word with BIL to ask if he’s ok as Daisy doesn’t indeed sound batshit.

itsmylife7 · 13/12/2024 21:57

You're too polite and Daisy is a compulsive liar.

Forget about her and carry on with your life.

Heronwatcher · 13/12/2024 21:58

And yes has your DH spoken to his brother to ask how he feels about his girlfriend ignoring his niece and lying outright about his SIL?

LauderSyme · 13/12/2024 21:58

I don't want to be grossly insensitive but is it certain that she suffered a miscarriage? Lying about being pregnant and then lying about a loss seems to fit her pattern.

PiastriThePastry · 13/12/2024 22:00

LauderSyme · 13/12/2024 21:58

I don't want to be grossly insensitive but is it certain that she suffered a miscarriage? Lying about being pregnant and then lying about a loss seems to fit her pattern.

Mm, this was my first thought too.
Ultimately it doesn’t really matter one way or the other I suppose. You know you’ve done nothing wrong and you know she’s bonkers and lies all the time. I’d just refuse to be around her tbh.

ChocolateAddictAlways · 13/12/2024 22:00

Oh dear OP. This woman is A LOT. There are so many red flags but refusing to acknowledge a baby (and the diary!) set alarm bells ringing. I’m surprised your BIL is still going along with this relationship because if she’s like this with you I can’t imagine how she is with him when she’s not happy.

Keep your distance and hope your BIL either ends it or addresses the problems in their relationship and urges her to seek help. I’m glad your MIL is on your side and wasn’t taken in.

Username98337 · 13/12/2024 22:04

Heronwatcher · 13/12/2024 21:58

And yes has your DH spoken to his brother to ask how he feels about his girlfriend ignoring his niece and lying outright about his SIL?

Harry’s been quiet about it. He’s always been close with my husband and I know that they don’t want their relationship with one another tarnished. He does believe most of what she says though, which my husband and MIL do find terrifying. They seem afraid of upsetting him by outing Daisy and pushing him further into her arms so are doing their best to stay mutual. It’s a very much walking on eggshells type of situation

OP posts:
buttonousmaximous · 13/12/2024 22:06

I'd ignore and avoid her. Confronting her won't change anything.

Hopefully your bil will come to his senses

Username98337 · 13/12/2024 22:08

LauderSyme · 13/12/2024 21:58

I don't want to be grossly insensitive but is it certain that she suffered a miscarriage? Lying about being pregnant and then lying about a loss seems to fit her pattern.

She went into hospital for medical intervention for it, which my MIL actually dropped her off for, it so I’m sure she’s not lying about this, although at this stage I wouldn’t be shocked

OP posts: