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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Anxious for MIL visit after holiday disaster

449 replies

TheQuaintTealSeal · 11/08/2025 00:06

As in the title really.

I am really anxious and not looking forward to MIL visit this weekend but somewhat being made to attend, more of a how should i navigate this than AIBU.

A bit of back story (sorry this is a long one), MIL organised a holiday for us all (myself, DH, DD 14 months at the time and MIL and MIL new husband and grandparents from Ireland) back in February. it would have been our first time aboard together since being married for 4 years. We only had a month to get passports for myself and DD due to when we were told about the last minute holiday, which I must admit I didnt really want to go with a 14 month old and undealt with mental health issues but was convinced to go by DH. Flight was around 4am so as you can imagine not a lot of sleep for anyone and with a tired 14 month old, the start of the flight was horrendous and I was starting to get frustrated and overwhelmed with anxiety being on a busy plane with lots of people looking at me with the screaming of DD, DH moaning in my ear about her screaming and already not wanting to go anyway, so I raised my voice to my DD and husband to both stop in the panic of everyone looking.
FF to when we get there all started okay until we check in and the whole overwhelming situation I get a bit upset and really not wanting to be there and just wanted to fly back home, this was lack of sleep talking. Spoke with my mum as we are close ish hoping it would help (which i massively regret) and it somehow ended up with my aunt at our hotel door the very next morning, which i definitely did not ask for or want in the slightest.
MIL finds out about this and seemed okay about it, but barely spent any time with us or her DGC the whole week! We had 1 evening meal and 1 drink the entire week! Fair enough they also wanted to do their own thing but our daughter got sick and being first time parents the situation at the time and her state and being in another country, we were worried and tried to get hold of MIL. (Wasn't even in the same hotel, was a 10 minute taxi ride away but she's a pediatric childrens nurse), DH called many times but she didn't pick up so ended up with my aunt helping with what to do.

FF to flying home, we never went to the air port with MIL despite previous arrangements and they changed their seats to the front of the plane away from us, we were all booked together at the back before, didn't know of the change until we got on the plane.
When we arrived home at the airport we saw MIL walking briskly to the front of the terminal to get the bus to the car park, without even saying goodbye to her DGC.
We thought this was odd but carried on to the carpark on another bus.

This is where it gets nasty. MIL texts DH to say "sorry for not saying goodbye to DGC I was just pissed off with myself for her aunt turning up and I fully blame her for it and for ruining the holiday and I dont appreciate how she talks to my DGC and style of parenting". Now I dont think my DH really defended me and in effect said "we are the ones that deal with her 24/7 and we will parent how we see fit". I actually didn't know any of this for months until DH slipped up in an argument and said his mum didn't like me and sent me the screenshot of her message out of spite.

I'm so angry and upset over her comment and the fact that she acted nice to my face whenever we did see her for the whole week.

Now she hasn't visited in 6 months where usually it would be every month or so and NOW she wants to drop everything and let it be, and forget everything and wants to visit, and im expected just to forgive and forget, but I cant. I honestly saw this woman as a 3rd motherly figure and now im questioning everything.

How would you navigate this visit without causing confrontation or arguments as I cant handle it but dont want to be 2nd guessing if im being slagged off behind my back or be somewhere where im not wanted because im still being blamed and seen as a bad parent.
And yes I am aware my DH was also wrong in this.

Shall I just forget everything as I was in the wrong with raising my voice and not trying harder for my aunt not to rock up or am I right to still be annoyed and hurt by all this.

OP posts:
TheQuaintTealSeal · 11/08/2025 16:20

diddl · 11/08/2025 16:15

kicked us out of the pub and told us to go home because we weren't hungry for lunch

With incidents that are coming out now I don't understand why any of you went on holiday with her.

Sounds as if your husband needs therapy to detach!

My husband is very much a mummy's boy and if you dare say a bad word about her then all hell breaks loose. We thought it would be nice for DD to spend time with her Nana but clearly we were wrong

OP posts:
Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:22

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:08

You did here

OP’s mother had her aunt check on her because she was worried about her mental health - and there’s no suggestion that auntie flew anywhere, more likely she lived locally to where OP was staying. Otherwise, logically, mum would have gone herself.

Total hyperbole and detail that was incorrect..

Nope. It was an assumption based on logic in the absence of detail - which has since been clarified. OP also clarified that her aunt went because her mum has a child and needed to work. I did also point out upthread that if auntie had indeed got on a plane it spoke to the seriousness of the concerns about OP’s mental health. I’m not engaging with this nonsense any more, it’s derailing for the OP.

TheTwitcher11 · 11/08/2025 16:24

OP mentioned they she was having issues re her mental health when she agreed to this holiday and her husband probably added to the stress by making comments about the baby crying during the flight. Sleep deprivation combined with mental health struggles will make you act out of character.

ILoveWhales · 11/08/2025 16:25

TheQuaintTealSeal · 11/08/2025 16:10

Honestly your right I do need to advocate for myself more, and i have been in therapy to help aid this but clearly there's more work to be done.

The silent treatment has been bliss and feels like I can be myself and enjoy my weekends off work mostly without having her to entertain and cater too. For background this is the same woman that visited for a weekend, we got up early (7am eating by 8:30) and had a small breakfast date before meeting up in later afternoon for lunch and she kicked off at us and kicked us out of the pub and told us to go home because we weren't hungry for lunch but said we didn't mind sitting and chatting while they had something to eat.

She came to visit for the weekend and you went out for a breakfast date and then would not eat lunch with her that was planned and proposed to sit and just watched whilst she ate?

Sorry that's very rude of you.

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:26

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:22

Nope. It was an assumption based on logic in the absence of detail - which has since been clarified. OP also clarified that her aunt went because her mum has a child and needed to work. I did also point out upthread that if auntie had indeed got on a plane it spoke to the seriousness of the concerns about OP’s mental health. I’m not engaging with this nonsense any more, it’s derailing for the OP.

Edited

Oh right, so my assumption was far nearer the actual situation.

You know what they say about assuming?

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:27

ILoveWhales · 11/08/2025 16:25

She came to visit for the weekend and you went out for a breakfast date and then would not eat lunch with her that was planned and proposed to sit and just watched whilst she ate?

Sorry that's very rude of you.

Edited

Don’t be ridiculous. It was a pub lunch and OP wasn’t hungry. What were they supposed to do, order food to waste it ? Perfectly acceptable to sit and have a drink in an informal pub setting. MiL’s reaction to ask them to leave was the rude bit.

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:28

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:26

Oh right, so my assumption was far nearer the actual situation.

You know what they say about assuming?

If you like. And whatever they say about assuming, you did it too.

ILoveWhales · 11/08/2025 16:29

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:27

Don’t be ridiculous. It was a pub lunch and OP wasn’t hungry. What were they supposed to do, order food to waste it ? Perfectly acceptable to sit and have a drink in an informal pub setting. MiL’s reaction to ask them to leave was the rude bit.

When someone comes to see you, you at least eat lunch with them when they visit.

You dont fuck off out for a breakfast date and then leave your guest to it for lunch.

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:30

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:28

If you like. And whatever they say about assuming, you did it too.

No I gave you quite a number of scenarios, that were reasons not to believe your hyperbole was right..

Which it wasn’t!

5128gap · 11/08/2025 16:31

Your husband is awful OP. Pressuring you to go on the holiday when your MH wasn't up to it. Being unsupportive when you were struggling on the flight and worse, having a go at YOU about DD crying. Being so useless when DD was ill you needed your aunt to help. Not defending you to his mother. Spitefully telling you his mother doesn't like you and stirring the pot. Then expecting you to host his mother. Tbh, your MiLs shortfalls are nothing compared with those of her son. I'm your shoes I'd be telling him he should host his mum as he sees fit because you'll be about as supportive of him as he was of you. However, I don't suppose for a moment you will. So I'd just suggest you be polite and pleasant to her and see how it goes.

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:32

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:30

No I gave you quite a number of scenarios, that were reasons not to believe your hyperbole was right..

Which it wasn’t!

Why do you keep tagging me ? It’s a public forum. I have as much right to comment as you. You didn’t give any ‘scenarios’, you jumped on a post and accused me of hyperbole several times, despite you clearly having very little idea of what the word actually means. I had a few theories which turned out to be wrong according to OP’s clarification. As have several others on the thread. So what ? Why don’t you take your hyperbole and go tag someone else ?

diddl · 11/08/2025 16:33

Your husband is awful OP. Pressuring you to go on the holiday when your MH wasn't up to it.

It sounds like the classic can't cope with his mum, can't stop seeing her & takes it all out on his wife.

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:41

ILoveWhales · 11/08/2025 16:29

When someone comes to see you, you at least eat lunch with them when they visit.

You dont fuck off out for a breakfast date and then leave your guest to it for lunch.

OP said for background this is the same woman that visited for a weekend, we got up early (7am eating by 8:30) and had a small breakfast date before meeting up in later afternoon for lunch and she kicked off at us and kicked us out of the pub and told us to go home because we weren't hungry for lunch.

Why are you assuming that OP’s breakfast date wasn’t with MiL ? That’s not at all clear from what she said.

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:43

5128gap · 11/08/2025 16:31

Your husband is awful OP. Pressuring you to go on the holiday when your MH wasn't up to it. Being unsupportive when you were struggling on the flight and worse, having a go at YOU about DD crying. Being so useless when DD was ill you needed your aunt to help. Not defending you to his mother. Spitefully telling you his mother doesn't like you and stirring the pot. Then expecting you to host his mother. Tbh, your MiLs shortfalls are nothing compared with those of her son. I'm your shoes I'd be telling him he should host his mum as he sees fit because you'll be about as supportive of him as he was of you. However, I don't suppose for a moment you will. So I'd just suggest you be polite and pleasant to her and see how it goes.

All of this. In a nutshell. And somehow it’s all OP’s fault !!

NewHere83 · 11/08/2025 16:46

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:32

Why do you keep tagging me ? It’s a public forum. I have as much right to comment as you. You didn’t give any ‘scenarios’, you jumped on a post and accused me of hyperbole several times, despite you clearly having very little idea of what the word actually means. I had a few theories which turned out to be wrong according to OP’s clarification. As have several others on the thread. So what ? Why don’t you take your hyperbole and go tag someone else ?

Edited

She's a very strange person. Really invested in this, but not from a place of wanting to protect anyone (like OP) just wanting to argue and be right. 🙄

TheQuaintTealSeal · 11/08/2025 16:47

ILoveWhales · 11/08/2025 16:29

When someone comes to see you, you at least eat lunch with them when they visit.

You dont fuck off out for a breakfast date and then leave your guest to it for lunch.

This breakfast was at 8:30 and wasnt due to meet up until 2:30? Was we supposed to put all our plans on hold for her? Starve ourselves until 2:30/3pm for lunch with a toddler? No! Was hardly a massive breakfast and its a monthly thing we try and do to not forget that we're married and a couple? Not just parents

OP posts:
BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:48

TheQuaintTealSeal · 11/08/2025 16:20

My husband is very much a mummy's boy and if you dare say a bad word about her then all hell breaks loose. We thought it would be nice for DD to spend time with her Nana but clearly we were wrong

Not much of a mummy’s boy if there has been no contact for six months.

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:49

TheQuaintTealSeal · 11/08/2025 16:47

This breakfast was at 8:30 and wasnt due to meet up until 2:30? Was we supposed to put all our plans on hold for her? Starve ourselves until 2:30/3pm for lunch with a toddler? No! Was hardly a massive breakfast and its a monthly thing we try and do to not forget that we're married and a couple? Not just parents

But it was enough to not eat lunch at 2.30. That’s quite a long timescale.

ChickenChow · 11/08/2025 16:50

OP, I wouldn't agree to MIL staying with you. Perhaps she can stay locally and you can meet up for lunch one day. Take it from there.

Do what feels right for you. Sending hugs.

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:50

NewHere83 · 11/08/2025 16:46

She's a very strange person. Really invested in this, but not from a place of wanting to protect anyone (like OP) just wanting to argue and be right. 🙄

The irony is hilarious…

🤣🤣🤣

TheQuaintTealSeal · 11/08/2025 16:53

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:49

But it was enough to not eat lunch at 2.30. That’s quite a long timescale.

We thought it was fine as it was a while until we had to meet up with her, not being dictated too if we can have a breakfast date as a married couple or not, for the record it was a small English breakfast from wetherspoons, nothing huge!

OP posts:
NewHere83 · 11/08/2025 16:54

God, now the evil trolls are coming for OP over the historic lunch. OP you need to ignore this thread, people are out for blood for some reason. I personally wouldn't have my MIL to stay after what happened, although I wouldn't try to prevent her relationship with DH either. Since you weren't involved in this visit being arranged, can't you arrange one of your own, and be visiting your mum when this happens? Sending best wishes x

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:54

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 16:32

Why do you keep tagging me ? It’s a public forum. I have as much right to comment as you. You didn’t give any ‘scenarios’, you jumped on a post and accused me of hyperbole several times, despite you clearly having very little idea of what the word actually means. I had a few theories which turned out to be wrong according to OP’s clarification. As have several others on the thread. So what ? Why don’t you take your hyperbole and go tag someone else ?

Edited

Why do you keep tagging me?

BlankBlankBlank14 · 11/08/2025 16:56

NewHere83 · 11/08/2025 16:54

God, now the evil trolls are coming for OP over the historic lunch. OP you need to ignore this thread, people are out for blood for some reason. I personally wouldn't have my MIL to stay after what happened, although I wouldn't try to prevent her relationship with DH either. Since you weren't involved in this visit being arranged, can't you arrange one of your own, and be visiting your mum when this happens? Sending best wishes x

It’s information that OP had provided, it will lead to questions. That’s the way forums are.

RimTimTagiDim · 11/08/2025 16:58

Rosscameasdoody · 11/08/2025 15:47

Where did anyone add detail that wasn’t there ? A couple of things needed clarifying to end the speculation, and they were. It’s irrelevant that MiL paid for the holiday, and it’s irrelevant whether auntie flew in or lived there. OP didn’t want to go on the holiday. DH clearly did, and talked her into it. She felt overwhelmed and she had no support - either from her DH or his extended family. Had she been allowed to make her own decision about the holiday, none of it would have happened.

It's irrelevant and yet you challenged another poster on it... almost like you don't care what the actual facts are, just repeating your baseless opinions over and over and over and over...