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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is it wrong to want to spend some alone time with parent?

10 replies

Coffeedatecake · 20/07/2025 08:20

Wasn’t really sure what to put in the title.

Basically there is a backstory to mil and dil favouring sil (dhs sister) and her children. She’s not a single parent.

Sil spends a lot of time with mil & fil. They provide childcare a few times a week, they go on holiday together, generally hang out together.

Our dc are a bit older, so at the stage where they have parties, clubs at weekend. But we have made huge effort to see dhs parents regularly. We have bent over backwards to make an effort and have always put ourselves out, no allowances were ever made when our dc were small and they’d often arrange things where it was obvious it would be very difficult for us with small children.

Anyway, every time we visit in laws, sil and her family have to be there. So Dh never gets to see his parents alone. If we ever arrange to visit in laws always say they’ll have to check if sil can come.

That in itself isn’t so bad, but then we find out that sil is at her parents all the time. Dinner once a week, barbecues at weekends, popping in after childcare, oil looking after her dc and picking them up from nursery on the other days.

We are never invited to these dinners/barbeques.

OP posts:
thaisweetchill · 20/07/2025 12:26

When they say they need to check with SIL, that’s your cue to say ‘I’d appreciate it if we can visit just yourselves’

Coffeedatecake · 20/07/2025 12:39

Dh did a couple of times. He said we could just visit alone, he sad it was hard to chat with a house full and how it would be nice for the dc to spend some time with grandparents.

Pil just got offended and said that they wanted to see everyone, they didn’t want to leave sil out and they stoped inviting us over.

OP posts:
JudgeBread · 20/07/2025 12:46

Not unreasonable to want to spend time with just them, but unfortunately you can't force them to want it. It sounds like, given they stopped inviting you when you asked for time without SIL, that they're quite set on having her involved with everything. I suspect making an ultimatum with them would just make them dig their heels in more, they obviously value their relationship with her more than with their son.

If they're willing to sacrifice their relationship with their son and their grandchildren to keep SIL at the centre of things, then so be it. SIL can also be the one to sort them out as they get older and need more help and support can't she 🤷‍♀️ time to stop bending over backwards and putting yourselves out for them.

Octavia64 · 20/07/2025 12:48

Yeah we had this.

ExH had the conversation but it didn’t go well.

we started meeting up away from their house and invited them down to ours (which had it’s own issues but at least no SIL).

we also invited them on weekends away that were reasonably close to them.

Coffeedatecake · 20/07/2025 12:51

Octavia64 · 20/07/2025 12:48

Yeah we had this.

ExH had the conversation but it didn’t go well.

we started meeting up away from their house and invited them down to ours (which had it’s own issues but at least no SIL).

we also invited them on weekends away that were reasonably close to them.

Even when they come to ours they always invite sil or bring sils children if they possibly can.

OP posts:
randomlemonsheep · 20/07/2025 12:51

he needs to invite his parents, alone. He's not BU at all, but he can't force the sibling taking over to but out.

He can arrange for the parents to be invited somewhere, your home or something else, even a restaurant, anything.

He should also be well aware that the sibling will disappear the minute their parents need help....

randomlemonsheep · 20/07/2025 12:52

Coffeedatecake · 20/07/2025 12:51

Even when they come to ours they always invite sil or bring sils children if they possibly can.

that's awfully rude.

Make it a "adult only" invitation - and ask friends or families to take your own children, or go away with them. Just to make the point.

Coffeedatecake · 20/07/2025 12:53

It’s not as though we’ve got anything against sil.

But she’s with them several times a week, it would just be nice for dh to get an hour or two with his parents and the dc with their grandparents.

The dynamics are totally different when everyone is there.

Wasting energy thinking it will ever change I suppose.

OP posts:
WildUnknown · 20/07/2025 13:02

I completely understand this and sympathise. My sister absolutely monopolises my DM and my DM REFUSES to hear any criticism of this. I don’t even get a birthday meal without my sisters needs coming first and it’s literally all I ask

thepariscrimefiles · 20/07/2025 13:24

Coffeedatecake · 20/07/2025 12:53

It’s not as though we’ve got anything against sil.

But she’s with them several times a week, it would just be nice for dh to get an hour or two with his parents and the dc with their grandparents.

The dynamics are totally different when everyone is there.

Wasting energy thinking it will ever change I suppose.

It's obvious that SIL is their favourite child and her kids are their favourite grandchildren. They aren't even trying to hide it.

Pull right back and stop inviting them. Your DH and DC must know that they are second best. Your PILs are shit parents to your DH and shit grandparents to your children.

Stop making any effort with them. Do you still have your parents?

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