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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:
Flowerlovinglady · 16/12/2025 12:55

Your husband needs to make it quite clear to his mother and to you that you are not a burden to him. What she does with that is up to her and you or he can have no control over that. I'd forget about the weight thing.

LemaxObsessive · 16/12/2025 12:55

There’s a lot of nasty women on this forum who are very anti-any kind of overweight and will soon be along with the veiled insults and passively aggressively siding with the MIL but do not listen! They are bullies.

My Heart breaks for you, OP. I would never, ever speak to them again and I would never have them around your DC again either! I’d also be second-guessing my marriage if your DH doesn’t stand up for you on this one! I think she sent it to your chat on purpose! She knew exactly what she was doing, she’s a vicious woman. Why on earth would she tell her dog sitter that her DIL has put weight on?! She wouldn’t.

LemaxObsessive · 16/12/2025 12:57

ChristmasinBrighton · 16/12/2025 11:54

This really isn’t about OPs weight. My BMI is 19 so I have no skin in the game.

It is about being nasty, disrespectful and rude about someone who has shown you kindness. If OP wasn’t overweight then MIL would have just picked another perceived flaw.

MIL is vile and OP would be totally justified in going completely NC with her.

Why on earth did you feel it necessary to share your BMI?!?! 😆😆😆 WTAF

Apocketfilledwithposies · 16/12/2025 12:57

It must be super upsetting to realise your MIL is a two faced bitch and your DH is a doormat who won't stand up for you.

Marjoriesdoor · 16/12/2025 12:58

She's a total cow. I'd be tempted to post a message in the group chat that says "In case it wasn't clear earlier, I am extremely offended by the spiteful things you said about my weight and me being a burden especially after the effort and expensive that I, and my parents, made to host you for the past few days. Your message was not only cruel but incredibly bad manners. I am expecting a genuine and heartfelt apology before I can even consider moving past this."

Bettysnow · 16/12/2025 12:58

The fact that she is choosing to sweep the whole thing under the carpet is horrendous.
I would make plans to visit your own family next time they are due to visit and let your husband host them alone

LemaxObsessive · 16/12/2025 12:59

Newyearawaits · 16/12/2025 11:42

Hi OP, I understand that you are upset.
I am unsure how much weight you need to lose but I appreciate that addressing such matters with someone is very difficult to navigate.
Also, the more weight there is to lose, the harder it is.
Please excuse me for stating the obvious but in worst case scenarios, very overweight people become more dependent.
Your MIL's actions were wrong and you have every right to be upset.
Please use the opportunity to embrace some healthy weight loss.
Take care OP

Case in point! Here are the exact kind of passive aggressive, veiled insults I said would arrive! ⬆️

AssembleAChairFromIkea · 16/12/2025 13:00

holachicatita · 16/12/2025 02:39

I would seriously reconsider my relationship with her after this OP. What a horrible, nasty thing to say. Your weight does not define you, I'd give your husband another chance to put things right. If she won't talk to him he needs to send her a very strongly worded message telling her that she was out of order. At least you can lose the weight, she'll struggle to lose that nasty streak she's been hiding!

Me too. Your husband has been utterly spineless and completely let you down on top of all of this. What a fucking awful family.

LemaxObsessive · 16/12/2025 13:01

dobbylan · 16/12/2025 10:44

Only issue I see here is her saying you are a burden! How ?

Oh really! Thats the only issue you can see, is it??? Well aren’t you a lovely, lovely person!

Eatinpeachesonthebeaches · 16/12/2025 13:04

I hope you talk to your own parents soon. Do you think they would be surprised?. Bitchy 2 faced people are always the same with everyone around them and I wonder if your mum might have picked anything up. My paternal grandmother was of a similar nature.

TinyCottageGirl · 16/12/2025 13:06

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?

Wow she's just nasty. Totally rubbish that your husband didnt' stand up for you and he should be having serious words with her about this. She should be embarrassed!

TinyCottageGirl · 16/12/2025 13:09

Icecreamisthebest · 16/12/2025 02:20

OP you are absolutely right to be upset, not just with her message but how she and DH have handled it.

I would tell DH (write it down if that's easier) that you would like to clarify that he is prioritising not falling out with his mother over defending you. He needs to understand that this is what he is doing and that the likely outcome of his actions is that you will realise that he cannot be relied on to have your back and this will impact your marriage. Ask him if that is what he wants.

he has a clear choice to make here. There is no need to fall out with his mother. the choice is defending you or not defending you.

Of course he cannot make her apologise but he can state very clearly that he does not see you as a burden, that he is disappointed that she would choose to focus on your weight and gossip about you and that no invitations to your home (your safe space) will be extended until she has apologised properly (assuming that this is what you want).

I wouldn't even bother hosting them EVER again, they've made their bed.

Zippymonkey · 16/12/2025 13:21

My response would be cold and hard on the WhatsApp group:
Keep comments like that to yourself. Do not come to my home again.
I would let my DH off I think, he isn’t good at conflict and I wouldn’t want him to choose between me and his Mum.

PinkArt · 16/12/2025 13:23

BashfulClam · 16/12/2025 12:46

Exactly, her message was cruel and catty!

It's a baffling level of nastiness. The most important thing she could think of to say about the visit to see her, presumably beloved, son was about the OP's weight. As an overweight woman. I'm acutely aware of what some people think of me because of that, but for it to consume someone like that to the extent it's the only thing they comment on is fucked.

User8008135 · 16/12/2025 13:23

What a horrible two faced individual. She would defo not be welcome in my house again. Your husband hasn't behaved well on this, King of Minimising by the looks of things. There's not wanting conflict and there's giving someone a green light to be rude and mock your spouse. Is he normally such a doormat or could this be something he's heard many times and been even more a doormat/useless over? What a joke.

You did well ringing her up right away OP. Your dh is a disgrace for not following up on your lead and calling her behaviour out.

Agrumpyknitter · 16/12/2025 13:29

That’s terrible. I would just leave the WhatsApp group chat and no longer facilitate any discussions or visits with them until she apologised. Let that be your husbands ‘burden’ from now on. If she does half heartedly apologise and visits later I would leave my husband to do everything for them, cook, clean etc. She already thinks poorly of you, and no matter what you do in the future, she won’t change her mind. I wouldn’t visit the in-laws though, apology or no apology.

RetirementTimes · 16/12/2025 13:31

Marjoriesdoor · 16/12/2025 12:58

She's a total cow. I'd be tempted to post a message in the group chat that says "In case it wasn't clear earlier, I am extremely offended by the spiteful things you said about my weight and me being a burden especially after the effort and expensive that I, and my parents, made to host you for the past few days. Your message was not only cruel but incredibly bad manners. I am expecting a genuine and heartfelt apology before I can even consider moving past this."

This is the message that @ForShyBlueFish needs to be sending and not hiding behind her DH. stand up for yourself and call her out on the shitty behaviour

themerchentofvenus · 16/12/2025 13:31

ForShyBlueFish · 16/12/2025 02:15

Yes :( I am truley shocked as to how someone can hide their feelings so well to your face,

What an absolutely awful comment from her, but even worse she seems to show no remorse for what she said.

I would get your DH to message her saying that he is absolutely disgusted with what she wrote, and how dare she accept your hospitality all weekend then write something so vile, and that she should be ashamed of herself.

If it were me I'd then add that "she may be overweight, but at least she is an amazing and kind person who would never say something so awful behind someone's back".

Tartantotty · 16/12/2025 13:32

Sorry about this. It must have felt awful for you. You SIL sound a bit of a bitch and I guess she's hugely embarrassed now.

I'm sure your not a burden but maybe this is a trigger to think about your weight issue. Consider changing your lifestyle, your diet and how you view yourself. Obesity is a serious problem in this country, but there are ways to beat it. You go girl! good luck!

PS: It took one doctor to tell me that I was horribly overweight that put me on the course to loose all the extra pounds

HipHopDontYouStop · 16/12/2025 13:35

Vile woman. I would not let her in the house again. You should not host someone who insults you in this way.

Notonthestairs · 16/12/2025 13:35

Fucks sakes.
The Op isnt asking for advice about her weight.
The Op is upset her husband didn't stick up for her when his mother insulted her!
Keep the pass agg weight loss advice for someone that has asked for it.

pizzaHeart · 16/12/2025 13:37

It’s awful what she said, unfair and upsetting but I would think really carefully about my next steps.
I wouldn’t contact her again and ask for apology or anything. I wouldn’t want a tick boxing apology from her.
I would sit and think carefully if I missed the signs and if it’s only towards me or if it’s her general attitude towards people.
If it’s the latter it’s a bit different, it is unpleasant but it’s less personal and I would decrease my efforts but still keep things polite for DH’s benefit.
If it’s the former I would cut my efforts very significantly, still keep polite but very very minimal.

Its actually something my mum and my aunt could say ( and they did!) about relatives, in laws and friends. So I’m not surprised that your MIL thanked you, hugged you etc and then was bitching about you behind your back. She put a performance of a good polite mother in front of your DH whereas in reality she was an unpleasant gossiper.

By the way I would be thinking about “ burden” comment.
What did she mean by that? Could it be that your DH told his parents too much about your problems with heath/ at work/ with parents etc etc He obviously didn’t meant bad, was just chatting but ime this sort of sharing never ends well. Especially if he is the only son or a favourite.

Please don’t let it ruin your Christmas, moan about this to a supportive friend, then tell yourself loudly: F* you off bitch MIL.
And do something nice with your DH.

ChristmasinBrighton · 16/12/2025 13:40

LemaxObsessive · 16/12/2025 12:57

Why on earth did you feel it necessary to share your BMI?!?! 😆😆😆 WTAF

It was in response to someone implying that posters saying MIL was rude were just body positive fatties themselves. I was trying (and failing) to defend OP. I grew up with a mother who made such comments regularly and loudly so I am probably over sensitive to it.

I take your point though 🤣

wfhwfh · 16/12/2025 13:40

OP, you are right to feel violated by this. This woman enjoyed your hospitality (and your parents’), ate at your table and stayed in your home.

I am astounded she did not have the good grace to be mortified.

Do you have children? If not, id step back from them entirely. Your husband can manage all dealings with them. Without a proper apology it is impossible for you to move on from this without dishonouring healthy boundaries.

Remember, she is the one who has behaved shamefully and exposed her true self. Do not feel any embarrassment as you have shown her nothing but kindness and hospitality. But that all ends now.

LostittoBostik · 16/12/2025 13:45

My heart broke for you reading this. I’m sure your DH is just as shocked as you but is now being an idiot in how he’s handling it.

How does he feel about his mum in general? Does she have form for being an arse about other people behind her back? Is he perhaps very comfortable living a long way away for this reason.

Your MIL presumably knows she’s massively fucked up and is now brushing it under the carpet because she doesn’t want to lose her relationship with her son over it. But you are right to expect your DH to raise this with her again and more forecefully. It sounds like she rushed him off the phone last time anyway - clearly this is a conversation she doesn’t want to have, but it has to be had nevertheless.

When you’ve had a couple of days to process things, could you ask your DH to maybe write her an email? That means she can’t push in or cut him off and brush it off as if it doesn’t matter…

Who else was in the group chat? Is there any chance someone else has seen this and is absolutely shocked and has raised it with her? Or who your DH could ask them to raise it?