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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for not just getting up and moving?

70 replies

ThatSassyPeachPoet · 09/02/2025 16:28

Im not a total idiot so I’m already very much aware my FMIL was very clearly in the wrong here and if she acts this way after nearly a decade together this doesn’t bode well for her as a MIL in the coming years because her opinion won’t magically change in viewing herself as the number one woman in my husband’s life. She will always demand that she should still be the number one woman even over his partner/spouse. Thinking she should be sitting next to him at thanksgiving or other holiday dinners instead of his own wife. When the babies come she will think she has more of a say over me the mother bc she is the GRANDMOTHER AND DAMNIT THEY HAVE RIGHTS. But what I am asking is I’m on the verge after her tantrum and outburst of uninviting her to our wedding and the only thing that would be stopping me is the fact I wouldn’t want to do that to my fiancé because she is his mother and that this is the first time she has acted out but trust me I’m very tempted to. So I’m asking you guys is this wedding invite revoke worthy this incident?

My fiancé’s who is 29 his father very sadly passed away due to health complications from an accident he was in years back. His father was 59 years old and his father was an only child and so is my fiancé. My fiancé’s mom have been divorced from fiancé’s father for 20 years now. My fiancé and I own a home together and our wedding date is in June 2026. We have been together 9 years and have lived together for 5 years and are very much a fully committed couple we live as married and conduct ourselves as such since we have been living together a while. The day of the funeral I sat next to my fiance because well we been together 9 years, he is my life partner, never mind the fact we are engaged. And because naturally I’m going to be the person as his partner who is going to be his comfort to lean on and his emotional support when he is sobbing. Just to be very clear before I get into the rest that there were 6 chairs at the very front row and again both my fiance and his dad were only children so I wasn’t taken a seat away from a member of his dad’s immediate family by any stretch or otherwise I wouldn’t have sat next to my partner. So it was my fiancé’s dad’s mom, fiancé’s mom, fiance’, and me.

Well his mom (who mind you hasn’t been married to the man in 20 years) has the audacity to look me dead in the eye and tell me to and these were her exact words and I quote, “get up and sit behind my fiance because I’m not family and since she is my fiancé’s mother she will be the one to sit next to him and support him.” Now I get it it’s the father of her child and emotions run high at funerals so people say things that are out of character or not the kindest but IMO it’s no excuse to take it out on people who had nothing to do with the situation at hand. And I find it extremely out of line for an ex of 20 years to think she can dictate the seating arrangements. Never mind I’ve been with my fiance a decade and it isn’t bc I think I’m super close to his dad necessarily but I’ve always been raised funerals are about being there for the grieving not necessarily the deceased so I was there next to my life partner to be his shoulder to cry on. I said back to my FMIL, “I’m supporting my fiance and being this is his father’s funeral I think the decision should be left up to him.” His mother said back, “well I’m his mother and mother trumps partner so he can lean on me.”

I find this incredibly strange that she would expect her nearly 30 year old son to primarily lean on her and cry on the shoulder of his mother over that of his long term partner he has been with for a decade and who is about to become his wife. I’m worried that she still views herself as the primary woman in his life and that’s not going to bode well for our marriage bc I don’t ever see her view changing. I got up to sit behind my fiancé and he told me no I am family and I’m sitting right where I need to be and he told his mother if she has a problem with it she can move. She cried her eyes out and said she can’t believe her son is choosing some woman he isn’t married to over her.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 09/02/2025 16:33

You’re going to have a lifetime of issues with this woman UNLESS your fiancé puts a line in the sand
she sounds narcissistic and frankly batshit
if your fiancé will not have your back in this, I’d re think the marriage

Cherrysoup · 09/02/2025 16:34

She’s a problem but he isn’t, clearly, as he anted you next to him. Do you live quite close to her? If so, can you move? She sounds like she needs to be reminded who his wife (to be) is and how important you are to him. Sounds like it shouldn’t be an issue. I’d be checking your stats laws re grandparent’s rights, just in case. In the UK, a meaningful relationship usually needs to be proved.

Madamecholetsbonnet · 09/02/2025 16:38

Well he sounds like he has the measure of her tbh.

Can you move far far away from her?

Recurring1 · 09/02/2025 16:41

Well he told her no so that's a good start. She's a dick - clearly his dad knew it too because he divorced her. Do you live close to her? Are you likely to see her often? I'd just keep her at arms length.

Apollo365 · 09/02/2025 16:41

She sounds vile. So sorry OP.

Apollo365 · 09/02/2025 16:41

Also glad fiancé stood up for you - so many don’t on mumsnet!

DaisyChain505 · 09/02/2025 16:45

You fiancé is the one who needs to be dealing with this, not you.

He should be calling her out on things in the moment as they happen.

He should be telling her what’s what and putting his foot down.

Your fiancé is as much the issue here as your MIL is.

He needs to be correcting her in every situation, not just the one.

BeaAndBen · 09/02/2025 16:47

I wouldn’t have taken a seat in the front row of the funeral unless my partner requested it, because the most important person there was your partner’s grandmother, the mum of the deceased. Whatever she wanted would be my primary concern.

But if your fiancé wanted you with him, it’s not any business of his mother - the ex-wife of the deceased - to be issuing orders.

ThinWomansBrain · 09/02/2025 16:50

From your opening, this isn't untypical behaviour from her.
I imagine the last thing your partner needed was this bizarre tug of war, but he probably appreciates that she isn't going to change, whilst not giving in to her.

Invite her to the wedding - arrange the seating plan so that she is at the back next to the entrance to the loos.
GMIL top table for emphasis.

Owl55 · 09/02/2025 17:06

I find it’s amazing how some women who have divorced their ex husband and moved on suddenly claim the title of “bereaved widow “and are broken-hearted demanding sympathy ! At least your fiancée stood up for you .

ThatSassyPeachPoet · 09/02/2025 18:45

BeaAndBen · 09/02/2025 16:47

I wouldn’t have taken a seat in the front row of the funeral unless my partner requested it, because the most important person there was your partner’s grandmother, the mum of the deceased. Whatever she wanted would be my primary concern.

But if your fiancé wanted you with him, it’s not any business of his mother - the ex-wife of the deceased - to be issuing orders.

My fiance told me to sit next to him

OP posts:
BeaAndBen · 09/02/2025 20:44

ThatSassyPeachPoet · 09/02/2025 18:45

My fiance told me to sit next to him

As I said, not unless my partner requestd it - which in your case he did!

Blanketapproach · 09/02/2025 20:57

what was the aftermath OP?

I think your fiancé needs to have a stern word with her before the wedding. I remember our celebrant telling us about a mother of the groom (I think she had the rings or something) but who refused to go into the ceremony until her son (the groom!) came out and escorted her down the aisle. The worst part was the bride was standing there waiting to go in so she held up the wedding and knew the groom would see the bridge if he done what she wanted. Classic narc who made it about her and your FMIL sounds the same! Time for boundaries

theduchessofspork · 09/02/2025 21:05

Well he stood up to the mad cow so that’s good.

You need to have a sit down chat with him and say he is going to have to stand up to her a whole lot more in the future. Is he prepared to - if so then fine - but make sure he does, every time.

I wouldn’t try and uninvite her to your wedding over that one (admittedly appalling) incident - but I would follow up and say that you are giving her the benefit of the doubt since it was a funeral, but you are his life partner, not her, and you will not tolerate behaviour like that again.

Anytime she steps out of line, come down hard. And look up grey rock as a way to manage her the rest of the time.

ThatSassyPeachPoet · 10/02/2025 02:41

To those who think I am being unreasonable I would like to know how?

OP posts:
Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 10/02/2025 02:47

these were her exact words and I quote, “get up and sit behind my fiance because I’m not family and since she is my fiancé’s mother she will be the one to sit next to him and support him.”

This is written in a very confusing way - it's not an exact quote at all is it? You're paraphasing her words from your own point of view.

Spirallingdownwards · 10/02/2025 02:50

ThatSassyPeachPoet · 10/02/2025 02:41

To those who think I am being unreasonable I would like to know how?

Because they didn't read it properly I would guess! In no way are you unreasonable. I am glad your fiance stood up for you then.

I do think before wedding arrangements get fully underway he needs to have a word about it being your (joint) wedding and he wants no nonsense from her surrounding it otherwise she will not be welcome at it.

JC89 · 10/02/2025 03:05

Uninviting her is not your call to make, it's your fiancé's. If he doesn't want her there then fine, but if he does it is his wedding too!

RickiRaccoon · 10/02/2025 03:35

You must have a long history with your fiance's mother after 9y. I'd rely on that experience. I wouldn't uninvite her from the wedding just yet but, if anyone treated me like that, they'd be on thin ice and I can't imagine ever being that friendly with them (I do hold grudges).

I'd be watching her carefully and having a backup plan for her involvement in the wedding and your lives. If it's a one-off because she was upset, maybe it's forgiveable. If she's suddenly worried because you're about to be her son's wife, you might have trouble on your hands and it needs to be addressed with your fiance.

marcopront · 10/02/2025 04:08

I don't you are being unreasonable but I don't think you are entirely reasonable either.
It was a funeral, emotions run high.
Yes they had been divorced for 20 years but do you know how she felt about him.
She is right - you aren't married. You have been together 9 years and the wedding is still over a year away maybe she doesn't think you will get married,
Your fiancé stood up for you. That is what matters.

Mymanyellow · 10/02/2025 04:14

Not you again.

LindorDoubleChoc · 10/02/2025 04:23

I can (and do) sit next to my husband any day of the week. I'd have no problem if he wanted to sit next to his Mum and she him on family occasions, they don't see each other as often. I'm also not obsessed with "being the most important woman" in my husband's life. I think it's healthier to see oneself as an individual and not waste mental energy on grandstanding with the inlaws.

Fraaances · 10/02/2025 04:47

You need to grow a pair and tell her to fuck right off

LondonLawyer · 10/02/2025 05:03

OP, I distinctly remember your last thread, your sock puppet, and your style is unmistakable. The story continues to be embroidered, however.

Butchyrestingface · 10/02/2025 05:12

LondonLawyer · 10/02/2025 05:03

OP, I distinctly remember your last thread, your sock puppet, and your style is unmistakable. The story continues to be embroidered, however.

Don’t know that I read OP’s last thread but her writing style on this one makes me think she’s pretty intense and possibly a my-way-or-the-high-way type. Which is ironically how the future MiL sounds.

They will not make for good bedfellows as relatives, although from this account, it’s doubtful how well the MiL would get on with anyone her son marries.

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