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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

So upset with inlaws and DH

494 replies

ForShyBlueFish · 16/12/2025 01:31

Honestly, not sure what I’m posting for. I am so so upset I feel very let diwn by my DH and what inlaws have said. I would have expected my DH to have stood up for me more but he hasn’t and I suppose I want to know if I am BU.

I (“Amy”) have been married to “John” for 13 years. All these years I feel I’ve had a good relationship with my in-laws. I’m not hugely close to them but always got on well . so I thought. We only see them maybe three times a year due to living very far apart. But its a relaxed good time when we do meet up.

They have just been to visit us for Christmas. I feel I alomg with my DH made our usual quite a lot of effort for them, cooked nice meals inc full roast one eve and full cooked breakfast one of the mornings, got spare room set up lovely & cosy for the 3 nights they stayed over. Basically tried our upmost to make them welcome. As we always do. While they were here, we all visited my parents, who are local to us. Everything fine. I have never exchange any cross words with my inlaws all the years I have known them and im shattered to now learn they (well my MIL at least) feel this way about me, sorry to ramble, let me now explain,

While they were staying with us, my inlaws had a close friend of hers looking after her dog. As they were leaving to go home yesterday morning, MIL said something about the fact she was going to message the dog sitter / friend once they were on the road, to let her know when theyd be home.

well. What happened was, she accidentally sent the message to our family group chat which contains me, DH, MIL and FIL. This is what the message said,

“On road now, satnav saying arrival home at.. oclock. All fine here except Amy seems to gain even more weight every time we see her. Such a burden on John. What’s that they say though - love is blind, right”.

It is true I am overweight, I have had a very sad year and it has been about just getting through it rather than focussing on life style changes. My DH is very supportive and loves me anyway however he knows I want to make the changes and is promised to support me on whatever way I choose to loose weight next year when I do want to concentrate on myself again.

to say I was shocked . Well. A very big understatement. In a rush decision, I actually phoned up my MIL (FIL does the driving). I said, did you know you sent that to the group chat and I can see it? She said “ohhh my mistake you know I’m not very techy like you, must go speak soon”. And that was that…..!!!???

i burst into tears. DH comes in, having just seen the message in group chat. He says when he knows they are home again he will call her and talk about it. So he does, later that day. He has the phone on the hands-free this is at my own request when making the call. But she wont let him speak, just says. a half hearted sorry that she sent it to the wrong chat screen. And then brushes him off saying it is has been a long journey home and she is tired and got to go.

I wanted him to try and say more I wanted him to try and defend me and tell her what she said is completely disgusting and unacceptable but he said what’s the point, she won’t listen, what’s the point in falling out with them? I mean really I am his wife!!

I feel so violated, I have them in my home as I do when they visit even though it is not very often we both make a lot of effort to make them welcome. They sat around the table, our table, ate our food, sat in my own parents home, and all along they feel that way about me.?

am i being over sensitive here?

OP posts:
Eenameenadeeka · 16/12/2025 01:34

You are not unreasonable, she was awful to say that and he should have stood up for you much better.

DallazMajor · 16/12/2025 01:37

She sounds vile.

If your husband cannot understand the importance of why he should be talking to her then I would address it myself.

Timetoheal4good · 16/12/2025 01:38

No your DH needs to raise this again and firmly. That is disgusting from her.

IFeelLikeChickenTonite · 16/12/2025 01:39

That’s awful! of course you’re not being over sensitive. Your ‘D’H needs to stick up for you. What a cow your MIL is!

BruceAndNosh · 16/12/2025 01:40

I'd be upset to be called a burden, that's so much worse than the comment about your weight

ForShyBlueFish · 16/12/2025 01:41

BruceAndNosh · 16/12/2025 01:40

I'd be upset to be called a burden, that's so much worse than the comment about your weight

yes that bit stings alot. I
may be big but I’m certainly no burden. On anyone.

OP posts:
HoppityBun · 16/12/2025 01:44

I don’t think there’s anything DH can do with MiL. She’s said it and you now know she thinks it.

What matters is the relationship between you and your DH.

MarxistMags · 16/12/2025 01:44

Violated is a strong word to use. You're upset, angry and feel let down . Clearly MIL thinks it's no big deal as she shuts you down when you try to talk about it.
It was very rude of her to criticise you behind your back. And she should apologise to you.
But try not to cause a rift within the family and disregard her comments. Your husband is supportive and loving. That's what truly matters.

WallaceinAnderland · 16/12/2025 01:44

I don't think I would try to have any more conversations with her. If she wants to apologise it should be sincere and come from her. I would take a very big step back now and stop messaging. I would be cool with her and I certainly wouldn't be inviting her into my house again.

Sometimes people's actions change things and unless they are willing to take the steps to repair what they've done then it really isn't worth the effort. I hope she is mortified.

Truetoself · 16/12/2025 01:45

i can understand your upset at the comment. What gave them the impression that you are a burden though? Can you look at things objectively and see? Are you sure it is not your DH?

Vaxtable · 16/12/2025 01:46

I would be having a long talk with h your dh and tell him e a toy how you feel. Including how his actions have made you feel

I would also be telling him that if they come again it’s up to him to do everything and you will be going to stay with friends/ family whatever and would not have anything to do with her again

And from now on he will be responsible for anything to do with them

forgetitplease · 16/12/2025 01:47

Sorry you're going through this, OP. Well, if I were in your position I would ban her from my home and tell my husband that he can crack on with her, but I won't be seeing her again. She's not only ungrateful, but a judgemental and harsh person. As if you're not aware of any weight gain and I'm sure that you did a lot of, if not most of the hosting. How on earth is that a person who is a burden? She's a bitter and cold cow.

CatsKoalasBunnies123 · 16/12/2025 01:47

I get that you're upset. You should be upset, that was really nasty of her.

I don't think you should be upset with DH. There really isn't anything he can do.

I would refuse to host them ever again. They can stay in a hotel next time.

Gymnopedie · 16/12/2025 01:48

I get DH not feeling there is any point in saying anything now. But that doesn't give him a free pass to ignore it. When she can't argue that it's been a long journey blah blah, he needs to go in hard. And if she still won't listen and/or puts the phone down you need to have a serious talk with him about what your (you singularly and as a couple) relationship with them is going to be in future. I'm not sure I'd want to host her again without a genuine apology.
He especially needs to tell her in no uncertain terms that you are NOT a burden to him.

idontwanna10 · 16/12/2025 01:50

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MarxistMags · 16/12/2025 01:51

Eeeekkkkkk ! !

idontwanna10 · 16/12/2025 01:54

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QuirkyMoose · 16/12/2025 01:54

Try not to let it worry you. People talk about people behind their back all the time. Kind to their face, and then talk behind their back. It's so unfortunate and it's so terrible to hear. Especially when you thought you were on pretty good terms.

Your husband should have told her off, and stood up for you more. Agreed.

I suppose if you really wanted to drive your point home, you could post in the family chat about how your mother-in-law " is so bad with technology, losing it, so forgetful and has such lack of awareness that she posts private messages in public chats..." But what would be the point?

ForShyBlueFish · 16/12/2025 01:55

Truetoself · 16/12/2025 01:45

i can understand your upset at the comment. What gave them the impression that you are a burden though? Can you look at things objectively and see? Are you sure it is not your DH?

Edited

I really do not truly know how I can be considered a burden in any way. I work, have hobbies, keep a nice home, I feel i am a good wife. Yes fully realise being overweight is not healthy, as I said I’ve had a terrible year and weight loss not been able to focus on. What has also shock me is that if I had not seen the message then I actually would not have known she felt this way about me.

OP posts:
Gymnopedie · 16/12/2025 01:55

Reported. Hope the night watch get to it. Seen other similar posts tonight.
(The @idontwanna10 post)

Utterlyexhausted · 16/12/2025 01:56

I’m sorry this happened to you, op. I think your mil has form for this as her way of handling the fallout is way too nonchalant. She also knew your dh would ring to have words but her handling of it via railroading the conversation shows she’s v skilled at this!

My mil is very similar and I see the pattern. She’ll never change I’m afraid. But you absolutely don’t have to deal with that disrespect either. I would complain to my dh whenever my mil would behave like this.. it took years but now he sees it. I agree with pp who said that all that matters is your relationship with your dh.

idontwanna10 · 16/12/2025 01:56

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ForShyBlueFish · 16/12/2025 01:58

O please dont spam my post :(

OP posts:
canuckup · 16/12/2025 01:58

Absolutely bloody awful. At least you know her true colours now??

The first thing she says too - not, oh we had such a nice time, such good hosts etc.

Really poor form op

slowbam · 16/12/2025 01:58

I dare say mil is burning with embarrassment. She needs to apologise properly to you though and hopefully will very soon. It’s a bitchy thing to have written to a third party so at least you now know her real person.

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