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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

MIL stole my thunder

109 replies

vivazeboo · 30/07/2025 22:27

Ok so this was a very long time ago, so I'm in no way asking for judgment or what to do..I'd just like to hear your thoughts on it. So I'm not a high achiever, never really done anything to make my parents proud. The one thing that I was so excited about was to give them grandchildren (sad..maybe). So, when I got pregnant I was so excited to tell my mum...and that was all fine and she was so happy etc...scroll on 9 months and I had just given birth to my son, 12 hr labour, lost nearly 4 pts of blood but ecstatic that he was born and alive and fine..my next thought was that I couldnt wait to tell my mum and dad...I phoned them - only to be told they already knew because MIL had phoned the unit and found out first... while writing this I'm thinking that I was maybe being unreasonable in being so fucking annoyed about it... but it was MY THING to do....and she took it from me...I've never been able to let it go..that baby is 23 now ha!

OP posts:
BrickBiscuit · 31/07/2025 08:22

hhtddbkoygv · 31/07/2025 03:23

Not to me hence my comment.

Woooossh

GrumpyExpat · 31/07/2025 08:28

My SIL sort of did that to me, but your story is much worse. She posted ‘Congrats on the birth of your daughter (etc)’ on my Facebook wall before I was even out of the hospital. This was 14 years ago when people were still active on FB. All my close friends saw it and started texting me etc. I was so pissed off. So yes, your feelings are valid. It’s your baby, you are the one who should share the news!!

BellaPommefritio · 31/07/2025 08:33

I feel your pain, my daughter is 29 now and I still seethe remembering when MIL took her aged 10 months for a 'walk around the block' in her pushchair. They returned an hour later with her wearing her first pair of shoes- she knew I had been looking forward to buying her first pair. It's making me tear up now!

Account734 · 31/07/2025 08:52

Maybe she told them to put their minds at rest that you and the baby were ok. If someone I loved was giving birth I'd want to know as soon as possible that everything was ok so I could stop worrying.

goldtrap · 31/07/2025 08:55

Ha, my MIL was generally lovely, but one fuck-up early on kind of niggled at all the good bits. She asked me to choose my 'wedding china' so she could give it to me as presents throughout my life (a gravy jug here, a set of cake plates there). Lovely. I chose a timeless and classic design, but on first gifting it was a completely different set. Oh, says she, I didn't like your choice, I thought this set was much nicer...
Hence, I was doomed to a lifetime of ugly crockery. Shame it has proved to be quite fragile over the years....

MarieAndTwinette · 31/07/2025 09:03

If I was your parents I would have pretended I didn’t know and let you have your moment. I have done this so many times with friends - about issues so much less important than the birth of a baby.

Floatingdownriver · 31/07/2025 09:07

Couple of things here and they’re not really to do with the news that your MIL delivered.

Firstly, have you been able to put these feelings of being under appreciated by your parent to rest? Do you recognise your talents and worth?

Secondly is it possible that MIL took this role because she cared and was proud of you with all you’d been through and wanted to alter your parents to the difficult birth so they could support you?

hazelowens · 31/07/2025 09:13

My MIL arrived at the unit straight after my eldest was born and tried to get in but I was really unwell BP was 49/17 and I was on oxygen and they were pumping fluids into me. She told the midwife or doctor she spoke to I was making it up so she couldn't see her grandson. She then went outside where my mum and dad were waiting and told them the baby was fine but I was being awkward and needing oxygen. I can only imagine what my mum said and how much dad reacted.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 31/07/2025 09:14

YANBU. It is nobody's business to break the news about a new baby's arrival but the parents. And, come to think of it, other news about the pregnancy. I might be a bit sensitive to this because I've just been told (by my DD) that she's pregnant with her first baby but she hasn't told any of the rest of the family yet (it's very early days and she HAD to tell her inlaws so told me at the same time). So I am sitting on the news which I know is going to absolutely DELIGHT everyone else, and I can't tell anyone. Because it's her news. Even though I know I could spill it and just ask them not to tell her that they already knew, that would be twattish behaviour because it's her news, not mine.

Julimia · 31/07/2025 09:15

Oh do come on. Whoever knows first, sees first etc doesn't alter the finished product does it? Rejoice in having a had a healthy baby instead. It wasn't a huge surprise anyway was it they all knew it was imminent!. Let it go.

Moonlightdust · 31/07/2025 09:31

GrumpyExpat · 31/07/2025 08:28

My SIL sort of did that to me, but your story is much worse. She posted ‘Congrats on the birth of your daughter (etc)’ on my Facebook wall before I was even out of the hospital. This was 14 years ago when people were still active on FB. All my close friends saw it and started texting me etc. I was so pissed off. So yes, your feelings are valid. It’s your baby, you are the one who should share the news!!

Edited

SIL did exact same thing to me. That was 15 years ago and still annoys me 😠

nainis · 31/07/2025 09:49

I get you. My MIL was staying with us when I did a pregnancy test... saw my face near to happy tears and rushed away to find my DH as she was wagging her finger calling out "who's been a naughty boy then?"

Crunchymum · 31/07/2025 09:55

When my mum went into hospital to have my baby brother people started to call for updates (it was the 90's). We'd been told it was a boy and I then told everyone I spoke to that he was called "Matthew" even though my parents hadn't decided on a name yet. They hadn't even known the baby's sex until he was born a few hours prior.

In the end so many friends and family got the memo that baby "Matthew" had arrived that my parents just stuck with the name I told everyone. It wasn't on their boy list and I have no idea why I told people that was his name. I'd spoken to both granny's, several of my parents siblings and some friends!

*I was 10 at the time

LancashireButterPie · 31/07/2025 10:00

Yes that's awful OP, but somehow you need to let it go now because it's been hurting you for too long.

Plan a little ritual just for you (and possibly the 23 yr old if they know how much it's hurting you) and put this thing to rest once and for all.

Planning the date is important as you need to look forward to that being the day you let go, so write it on the calendar.

Build a little fire in the garden/beach.
Pour yourself a drink and prepare a plate of nibbles.
Write down everything and use all the swear words.
Watch it burn.
Tell yourself it's over.
Feel the new calmness.

Don't let yourself think of it ever again, it's over.
Gone from your life and can't hurt you now.

Focus on the here and now and moving forwards.

It sounds mad but the above was recommended to me by a woman who was just a passing encounter in my life and it helped me to get over rape when counselling and medication failed.

godmum56 · 31/07/2025 10:01

OP I would hope that your attitude ("Not a high achiever" "never done anything to make my parents proud") is not one that your parents have taught you? Because that's plain nasty. I am shocked that the hospital gave information to some random on the phone even that long ago.
Did your Mil have form for muscling in or was it a genuine mistake?
I also think that if I had been your parents, I'd have kept quiet about your Mil's phonecall at that point.

godmum56 · 31/07/2025 10:04

goldtrap · 31/07/2025 08:55

Ha, my MIL was generally lovely, but one fuck-up early on kind of niggled at all the good bits. She asked me to choose my 'wedding china' so she could give it to me as presents throughout my life (a gravy jug here, a set of cake plates there). Lovely. I chose a timeless and classic design, but on first gifting it was a completely different set. Oh, says she, I didn't like your choice, I thought this set was much nicer...
Hence, I was doomed to a lifetime of ugly crockery. Shame it has proved to be quite fragile over the years....

yeah if it was me it would have had a series of horrible accidents.

cavalier · 31/07/2025 10:05

The hospital should not have given this out. Your mother-in-law could’ve been anybody for a start. It’s private and confidential. I’m brand-new grandson one of five was born last week and I messaged my daughter-in-law’s mum to get information we get on very well and there’s no way I would’ve rang the hospital.
But you know it’s 23 years ago you and baby were well and fine and dandy thank goodness and I really think that you should try your best to let this go because you’re hurting yourself and I truly believe that when people behave like this, they only hurt themselves. This is what I’ve come to think at my age and quite often I’ve proved to be right in many ways
Don’t be the villain of the the piece, even though you’re not. That’s my motto and also life is just much too short. Life is hard enough and no one is promised tomorrow. Don’t live in the past don’t live in the future just live for a day and enjoy it as much as you can.

Blobbitymacblob · 31/07/2025 10:14

My mil didn’t do this but i could absolutely imagine her because she sees my dps as more real (being of similar age and from a similar background) than we are. Even in their 50s her dc still haven’t achieved the status of personhood and are essentially pawns in her status games.

And while I’m not for a moment excusing your mil, but would it have killed your dps to let you have your moment? I think it says a lot that you feel you never made them proud. (Dh has done plenty that should make his dp’s proud but it’s still never quite enough)

Marmiteontoastgirlie · 31/07/2025 10:21

I wouldn’t see this as my thunder being stolen, I would see it as being surrounded by super excited grandparents to be (your MIL included) who couldn’t wait to find out what was happening. MIL would have rung hospital, found out and then presumably been so ecstatic that she called your parents to say “baby is here!!!” And then they all hung tight to hear from you. It would be stealing your thunder if she announced your pregnancy for you - but I think once you’re in hospital there is no thunder to be stolen! If it helps you move on I would reframe this with gratitude that you and your baby have a loving interested family on both sides. You still got to tell your parents about the birth and hand new baby over and see all that, it’s not like she snatched baby from your arms and presented it to them first or anything! She just shared the happy news that baby was earthside and that they’d be hearing from you soon.

starfishmummy · 31/07/2025 10:33

She shouldnt have done it, but equally your parents should have just pretended they didn't know when you called.

Definitelynotme2022 · 31/07/2025 10:35

Whiningatwine · 30/07/2025 22:40

A 23 year gap between sprogs would be most unusual. I'm sure the next one will be a surprise to everyone

Not that unusual.... my eldest is 36 and youngest 13 😉

OP - I don't blame you'd, I'd still be holding a grudge 23 years later too.

MoriftedinaFrenchEscapeRoom · 31/07/2025 10:40

@godmum56 I am shocked that the hospital gave information to some random on the phone even that long ago.

@cavalier The hospital should not have given this out.

OP has been back to clarify that it was her DH that told his mum, not the hospital.

godmum56 · 31/07/2025 10:43

MoriftedinaFrenchEscapeRoom · 31/07/2025 10:40

@godmum56 I am shocked that the hospital gave information to some random on the phone even that long ago.

@cavalier The hospital should not have given this out.

OP has been back to clarify that it was her DH that told his mum, not the hospital.

oh well in that case, unless he told his mum to NOT TELL ANYONE. its DH's fault.

MixedFeelingsNoFeelings · 31/07/2025 10:43

YANBU to be hurt and angered by it at the time. YABU to feel exactly the same way 23 years later.

That's why we have counselling, self-help, meditation, exercise, creativity, intellectual work and all the other things people do to help them deal with the shit life throws at them.

Best of all, we tell the people involved how their actions have made us feel, though that does take a certain amount of courage and confidence. Sounds like you don't have a lot of confidence, so maybe you're projecting your anger and frustration onto her, as well your hurt at the original incident. But as you've found, that doesn't work as it only harms you. She gets on with her life blithely unaware.

If you talked to this lady, you might find it all stemmed from a generational or cultural gap. Perhaps your MIL thought she was helping out, after you'd had such a traumatic birth and were recovering from losing so much blood, to put your parents' minds at rest. Nowadays we'd be outraged not to give the news ourselves - I would be too - but people used to be less precious about that kind of thing.

Equally, maybe she is just an interfering thunder-stealer who enjoyed nicking your big moment. Such people exist and they need to know that it pisses people off.

You've known her for more than 23 years so presumably have some idea which kind of person she is. Either way, you need weigh up whether you want to have that conversation with her. If not, you just have to close the book on it, for your own peace of mind.

ScribblingPixie · 31/07/2025 10:44

I don't really get it. Wouldn't your parents have been worried about you and wanting to hear asap that you were ok? Wasn't your MIL letting them know that you were once she'd heard from your DH that things had been quite rough but had turned out fine? Surely your DH would have told her not to if it was such a big deal to keep it from them until you were ready to speak yourself.