Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Constant comments from mil that is affecting my mental health badly

51 replies

Zaina89 · 23/08/2025 14:17

my in laws are Pakistani, I am Muslim but not Pakistani.
i have 3 kids, dd1 9, about to be 10 in 2 weeks, ds2 who is 8, and dd2 who will be 2 in October.

when my dd turned 1 last year and she came over for dds 1st birthday my mil would make constant comments that i “ had the perfect with 2 kids before, a girl and a boy” but “oh you planned another one”

these comments hurt and i told my husband and he wasn’t happy but never confronted his mum,

regardless of girls or boys we have always said when we got married we wanted to have 3 children.

my mother in law has again come over to visit and dd2 is almost 2 now at the end of October, over the past few days she’s been saying the same comments,

” you had the perfect life with a girl and a boy but you went ahead and wanted another one now look she’s hard work”

“ if your sister in laws 2nd child was a girl ( he was a boy) she never would have planned a 3rd, she only had a 3rd because she wanted a girl”

“ oh this person manages their house hold so well, look they only have 2 kids, 1 girl and 1 boy”

just a reminder, my mother in law has 3 kids herself in the order of girl,boy and boy. That’s what makes this even worse.

it is affecting my mental health badly, dd is quite difficult, she’s never slept a night and I’m so sleep deprived and we are currently dealing with teething, but she is and was obviously very much wanted and planned by me and dh, we always said we wanted 3 kids, even though she’s hard work I love her unconditionally and this is hurting me, and because I’m sleep deprived it’s affecting my mental health and now I’m starting to feel like I shouldn’t have had another.

i honestly don’t know what to do, I don’t know why she’s making these comments to me on a daily basis, it’s not like I’m planning a 3rd, the 3rd is almost 2 years old and already alive! It’s really, really hurting me.

OP posts:
Earthwards · 23/08/2025 14:20

Is she visiting from Pakistan, or is she based more locally?

AcquadiP · 23/08/2025 14:25

I'd be pointing out the obvious:

(Big smile)
"But mother in law, you had three children! And we're very happy with our little one."

Then a quick change of subject. And repeat as required.

Frankly, it's none of her business how many children you choose to have.

Limonades · 23/08/2025 14:25

Maybe your life would indeed have been better with two children? What’s wrong with that opinion?

OSTMusTisNT · 23/08/2025 14:30

I would warn your DH that the next time she is rude in your home, you'll snap back at her so he either gets her told privately in advance or you'll deal with it yourself.

You could also try the silly Granny approach "Oh Rosie, what a silly Granny you have, she must have forgotten that she had 3 children too, heehee"

sillysmiles · 23/08/2025 14:33

To be honest, while her opinions are catsuit, she's not going to change them. So you need to control letting it affect you.

You can't control her, only your reaction to her.

lazyarse123 · 23/08/2025 14:35

OSTMusTisNT · 23/08/2025 14:30

I would warn your DH that the next time she is rude in your home, you'll snap back at her so he either gets her told privately in advance or you'll deal with it yourself.

You could also try the silly Granny approach "Oh Rosie, what a silly Granny you have, she must have forgotten that she had 3 children too, heehee"

I'd go with this.
So many relatives who think their opinion is more important than yours.

VaseofViolets · 23/08/2025 14:36

To let this affect your mental health is a ridiculous overreaction OP.

Who gives a toss what she thinks? If you’re happy, that’s great. Her opinion means nothing. Why do you care so much?

Teenagequeenwithaloadedgun · 23/08/2025 14:37

She sounds really boring if that's a big topic of conversation. Remind her she herself chose to have 3 and refuse to engage further.

BreakingBroken · 23/08/2025 14:41

Maybe it’s more complex than your original post.
Please speak to someone about personal boundaries and resilience.
On the surface of it this should not be affecting your mental health.

FTM09q24 · 23/08/2025 14:41

Annoying, sure, but I don't really understand why it's affecting your mental health? You need some thicker skin and tell her how much you love DD. On repeat. Done.

cariadlet · 23/08/2025 14:41

I think you're letting your MIL's comments get to you because you're sleep deprived - there's a very good reason why sleep deprivation is used as a means of torture.

Because you're exhausted, you are letting irritating comments get to you instead of letting them wash over you.

You love your family of 3. Your husband loves your family of 3. That's all that matters.

You can't control what your MIL thinks or says but you can control your reaction to it. These comments will only affect your mental health if you allow them to.

Think up a stock response (eg "We're very happy with 3 children"), use it every time that your MIL starts with her nonsense and then briskly change the subject.

MyLimeGuide · 23/08/2025 14:44

She sounds like a bloody nightmare! You will have to bite the bullet and stand up to her next time she says something- tell her she is being rude and to stop putting you down as its hurtful and un helpful. Or tell her to shut the F up??

Squishymallows · 23/08/2025 14:46

Limonades · 23/08/2025 14:25

Maybe your life would indeed have been better with two children? What’s wrong with that opinion?

What a strange thing to say

Vaxtable · 23/08/2025 14:48

Just stand up to her, I simply don’t understand why you would not say something

mil we wanted three children
mil you has three children why didn’t you stall at two when you had a bit and gorl
mil stop being so rude
mil shut up

RosesAndHellebores · 23/08/2025 14:49

"Well, it's too late to put her back now so if you can't say something positive, please stop talking about it."

How often does she visit?

CoastalCalm · 23/08/2025 14:50

I’d tell her it was none of her business , what a bitch

CherryVanillaPie · 23/08/2025 14:51

sillysmiles · 23/08/2025 14:33

To be honest, while her opinions are catsuit, she's not going to change them. So you need to control letting it affect you.

You can't control her, only your reaction to her.

Love the autocorrect "catsuit"😸

AbzMoz · 23/08/2025 14:51

‘Oh my god MIL, you’re so right! Let’s hand back the first DD now we’ve got a younger model!’

What a cruel and daft thing for her to say. I agree your reaction seems a little OTT but she really needs to stop - with either you or DH telling her

Campingisnexttogodliness · 23/08/2025 14:51

Tell her you are considering having her adopted....
Stupid bloody woman.

Start walking away whenever she starts with this shit...

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 23/08/2025 14:53

You really have to develop a fuck you attitude.

Say, “Our life choices are absolutely none of your business, mil. You’re getting on my nerves with your stupid comments. Give it a rest.”

You have to snap back at bullies.

thepariscrimefiles · 23/08/2025 14:54

Limonades · 23/08/2025 14:25

Maybe your life would indeed have been better with two children? What’s wrong with that opinion?

Even if OP's MIL thinks that, it's really rude and unkind to say it to OP. It's akin to saying that she wishes that her youngest grandaughter hadn't been born.

It's pointless and cruel because what on earth does she expect OP to say or do? Tell her MIL that she is sorry and will have her adopted? It's none of her MIL's business and she should keep her mouth shut.

wizzywig · 23/08/2025 14:55

Be direct and ask her why she is saying that?
Or.....tell her that in Islam, children are a blessing and is she disagreeing with religion? (She will have to agree with you then)
Good luck, I'm from that background. And the obsession with 1 boy 1 girl and thats it, job done is irritating

romdowa · 23/08/2025 14:56

Personally I'd tell her to shut the fuck up and keep her nasty opinions to her self or get out. But maybe give dh one more chance to tackle her before going my route lol

MissyB1 · 23/08/2025 14:56

Limonades · 23/08/2025 14:25

Maybe your life would indeed have been better with two children? What’s wrong with that opinion?

Are you projecting by any chance?

CherryVanillaPie · 23/08/2025 14:57

"Aww did you regret having your youngest?
We're happy we had three."

Swipe left for the next trending thread