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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:
Catpiece · 16/12/2025 16:42

EmeraldShamrock000 · 16/12/2025 15:09

I would send her a text message in the group to say she was rude, adding while we’re being honest she left a sour smell in your home.
I hope you are okay.

Ooo yes. Say she stunk out the toilet every day too.

Kokonimater · 16/12/2025 16:50

Tell your husband she will never be welcome in your home again. And she needs to explain the ‘burden’ comment and apologise

HerVagestyTheQueef · 16/12/2025 17:00

What a revolting two-faced woman.
I'd have nothing more to do with
her. And what a disappointment your ‘D’H is.

Cut this ungrateful, bitchy person out of your life. Her son can see her on his own from now on.

I'm sorry you had this spoil your festive season💐

EmeraldShamrock000 · 16/12/2025 17:02

Butchyrestingface · 16/12/2025 15:47

I'm be tempted to put something in the group chat like

Can't believe we have to host bloody MiL again - her voice alone is like a pneumatic drill going off in my head. How her husband has managed to cope for 40 years is beyond me, must be longing for the sweet release of death.

WHOOPS, WRONG CHAT.

But I wouldn't, because I'm boring and middle aged now.

Excellent response. 😉

StabbyCat · 16/12/2025 17:12

Great idea to put something in the group chat!

”Can you believe MIL slagged me off in the group chat by mistake? Nasty ungrateful woman! At least it means I wont ever have to see her again - I was upset at first but every cloud and all that!”

phoenixrosehere · 16/12/2025 17:14

You’re not going to get a proper apology out of her.

Tell your DH he’s right that it is pointless and therefore you don’t see any reason to have anything to do with her since she has let her real feelings about you known to all and because of this everyone who has seen her message will know why you don’t.

No reasonable person would think you should have to deal with such a person, family or not, and any family member in the group chat that thinks you’re overreacting can join her and you can have nothing to do with them as well.

This would put me off if I read this on a group family chat and if they’re comfortable enough to say such things about one family member behind their back, what would they be saying about me.

JackStrawsCastle · 16/12/2025 17:14

I don't often write comments on social media but wanted to say I really empathise with you. What a horrible way to treat someone who has made her welcome in their home. Being overweight is not a reason to treat you this way and it says more about her than you. You have value, you are not less than because of your weight

I too wonder if your husband has been talking to her about you given his lack of response to her unkindness. Maybe not in a critical way but enough to give her the ammunition for her nasty comments. I have experienced this sort of thing myself except it was after my husband's death and after I had cared for him when he had terminal cancer. It made my grieving for him very complicated. I questioned our relationship, wondered how honest it had been. I also wondered what kind of person would make nasty com ments and disclose some of the things he said shortly after his death

That was over 20 years ago. Of course I don't know for sure what was said, he may have just been offloading but it gave someone the opportunity to hurt me at a vulnerable time. Which says a lot about them. I still feel ambivalent about the integrity of my marriage and I am profoundly sad I had no opportunity to discuss this with my husband.

I would talk to your husband , tell him how hurt you are, especially 'the being a burden to him. His brushing it all off is not good enough. He needs to support you. It may not change anything but he needs to do this. As for his mother I would find it difficult to maintain more than an arms length relationship with her. She has shown you who she is.

sending you my best wishes. you are enough.

tealandteal · 16/12/2025 17:21

How cruel and two faced. I would reply “No need to burden yourself with another visit here then”

Knittedfairies2 · 16/12/2025 17:28

I would remove myself from the group chat, but not quietly. I would tell the other people in the group that I was leaving due to very unkind, toxic, remarks, and no longer wish to have anything to do with the author of those remarks. Let the bitch squirm.

Pickleslovesourdough · 16/12/2025 17:28

What a two faced bitch! I would never host her again! In fact because she didn’t even say sorry properly she wouldn’t be allowed to step foot in my house. If you don’t stand up for yourself now she will continue to disrespect you. Now is the time to set boundaries!

Zebedee999 · 16/12/2025 17:32

StabbyCat · 16/12/2025 17:12

Great idea to put something in the group chat!

”Can you believe MIL slagged me off in the group chat by mistake? Nasty ungrateful woman! At least it means I wont ever have to see her again - I was upset at first but every cloud and all that!”

Stupid idea.

The OP agrees she has put on weight over the year, which is precisely what the MIL wrote... i.e. the truth!!!

She could reply "yes I have put on weight and hope to do something about it next year". But to be nasty in response to a factual statement is daft!

CatNoBag · 16/12/2025 17:36

Zebedee999 · 16/12/2025 17:32

Stupid idea.

The OP agrees she has put on weight over the year, which is precisely what the MIL wrote... i.e. the truth!!!

She could reply "yes I have put on weight and hope to do something about it next year". But to be nasty in response to a factual statement is daft!

You really think that the worst part of the message? Not the bit about being a burden and 'love is blind' and the implication that she had endured the visit rather than enjoyed it?

Eatinpeachesonthebeaches · 16/12/2025 17:37

Naa the mil was being a right 2 faced cow
Don't know why the hell some posters think it was factual. I'd be wanting to make the bitch squirm and no I wouldn't be bothering with them in future.

MrsDoubtingMyself · 16/12/2025 17:40

Zebedee999 · 16/12/2025 17:32

Stupid idea.

The OP agrees she has put on weight over the year, which is precisely what the MIL wrote... i.e. the truth!!!

She could reply "yes I have put on weight and hope to do something about it next year". But to be nasty in response to a factual statement is daft!

Are you on the wrong thread? MIL said OP is a burden! MIL is a bitch and H is a nasty piece of work too

Tigger18 · 16/12/2025 17:46

They wouldn't be welcome in my home again, DH would be visiting alone moving forward 💐

Nevernonono · 16/12/2025 17:52

Zebedee999 · 16/12/2025 17:32

Stupid idea.

The OP agrees she has put on weight over the year, which is precisely what the MIL wrote... i.e. the truth!!!

She could reply "yes I have put on weight and hope to do something about it next year". But to be nasty in response to a factual statement is daft!

Stupid response, MIL the nasty piece of work said OP was a burden. The nasty piece of work also spoke to a friend about OP, why not speak to her directly and offer some advice or concern.

A factual statement to the right person would’ve been better than gossiping to the dog sitter.

Nevernonono · 16/12/2025 17:55

CatNoBag · 16/12/2025 17:36

You really think that the worst part of the message? Not the bit about being a burden and 'love is blind' and the implication that she had endured the visit rather than enjoyed it?

Exactly this, but obviously some people as well as the MIL, think putting on weight is some sort of heinous crime and entitles guests to bitch about you.

hattie43 · 16/12/2025 17:57

I’m not sure id invite her to your home again . What a horrible thing to say .

FofB · 16/12/2025 18:09

What a shitty thing to say. You are right to feel gutted. Personally, I would never lift a finger to host her again.

Trendyname · 16/12/2025 18:25

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.

Lot of gaslighting and minimising in this post.

thepariscrimefiles · 16/12/2025 18:37

Zebedee999 · 16/12/2025 17:32

Stupid idea.

The OP agrees she has put on weight over the year, which is precisely what the MIL wrote... i.e. the truth!!!

She could reply "yes I have put on weight and hope to do something about it next year". But to be nasty in response to a factual statement is daft!

Oh fuck off! Why on earth are you trying to convince people that OP's toxic twat of a MIL is doing her a favour by commenting on her weight, calling her a burden to her DH and saying that love is blind?

Hopefully OP will cut off all contact with her MIL and never have her to stay again.

Toomanysofttoys · 16/12/2025 18:39

Please tell us you have messaged her to say she's no longer welcome to stay at your home anymore due to her being a nasty old twat.

Not those exact words.

PrestonHood121 · 16/12/2025 18:44

I'm petty but I would send a bright and breezy "In light of your text message about my size, you're no longer welcome in my home. Have a fab Christmas!" And then let your husband deal with whatever happens next from here on out.

PoshHorseyBird · 16/12/2025 18:57

Well I certainly wouldn't be contacting her again. If by chance she messages you just give the most bland, shortest answers you can. "How are you DIL? Fine thanks." No engagement beyond one or two word answers. Or you could just ignore any messages! If shes coming to stay just tell your DH 'ok thats fine I'll be staying at a hotel/family/friends house. You can do the hosting'.

WallaceinAnderland · 16/12/2025 19:10

She wouldn't be stepping foot in my house.