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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:
WallaceinAnderland · 16/12/2025 19:11

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.

No, better to just say she's too much of a burden.

JaceLancs · 16/12/2025 19:18

I would address it head on through the same group chat just stating how upset you are by her comments, and that you previously felt that you had a good relationship
Ask her directly what she meant about you being a burden to her son, how and in what way and say that you are also disappointed in her son as he is less of a man than you thought and how much you are hurt by his lack of support

MrsDoubtingMyself · 16/12/2025 19:20

@MarxistMags. on what fucking planet is H supportive and loving? Jeez your bar is low! H is a total tosser 🤢

Iloveacurry · 16/12/2025 19:26

I think you need to address your MIL yourself, whether you speak on the phone or say something on the group chat. Stand up for yourself as sounds like your DH won’t. Your MIL is happy to be entertained by you at your house and I bet you did most of the work not your DH.

Aimtodobetter · 16/12/2025 19:44

Your MIL was horrible but I wouldn't blame DH - not sure there is much more he can do. I never understand the "demand an apology" route as if it isn't given freely what value does it have anyway. Just adjust your interactions for the knowledge that your MIL doesn't like you (but at least she is polite in person).

Vartden · 16/12/2025 19:50

She doesnt say she doesnt like you. Just mentions your weight. Is she one of those people who has a thing about weight?I had a friend like that. She was weight obsessed and always brought it into any coversation when discussing people. It was very strange.

DuchessofReality · 16/12/2025 20:01

As you have been married to your husband for 13 years, is it actually a surprise that she is like this? Because if she speaks like this about you, has she never spoken to you about someone else like this?

I have a relative like this. She is generally lovely, very supportive, very helpful, but she has a massive hang up about weight and would definitely comment about anyone who had put on weight, or who she thought was overweight. But actually, as far as I can tell, most people roll their eyes, don’t engage too much, and realise that actually she would be really shocked if people thought she was being nasty or two faced. I know it sounds weird but it is just how it is.

Skybluepinky · 16/12/2025 20:05

ForShyBlueFish · 16/12/2025 01:41

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

Sounds like hubby has expressed his issues with your weight and health to her, and she agrees with him.

sprigatito · 16/12/2025 20:06

Skybluepinky · 16/12/2025 20:05

Sounds like hubby has expressed his issues with your weight and health to her, and she agrees with him.

I don’t think she would have added that poisonous little “love is blind” swipe if that were the case.

JLou08 · 16/12/2025 20:08

It says more about her than you, she is a very nasty woman. I can see where your DH is coming from though. He's raised that it was unacceptable, there's nothing more he could do other than cut her out of his life. I personally think that's too big of an ask. I suppose he could've got angry and shouted at her but that wouldn't achieve anything. It won't make her feel regret or make her change. If anything it will reinforce to her that you are the problem and are making life hard for her poor John.

Minnie798 · 16/12/2025 20:12

Weight loss, weight gain , it's something a lot of people do talk about with others.
The burden comment is a bit strange though, what does she mean by that?

Gymnopedie · 16/12/2025 20:13

She doesnt say she doesnt like you.

Well she calls OP a burden on her son. If that doesn't mean she doesn't like OP I don't know what does.

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 16/12/2025 20:47

Minnie798 · 16/12/2025 20:12

Weight loss, weight gain , it's something a lot of people do talk about with others.
The burden comment is a bit strange though, what does she mean by that?

I certainly don’t make comments about my friends or family’s weight in the manner the ops mil did.Hmm

Theslummymummy · 16/12/2025 21:24

Oh she's a nasty bitch. And couldn't face what she'd done/said. And your husband is a spineless twat.

PinkArt · 16/12/2025 21:45

Minnie798 · 16/12/2025 20:12

Weight loss, weight gain , it's something a lot of people do talk about with others.
The burden comment is a bit strange though, what does she mean by that?

Would it be the first comment you made to your dog sitter about someone who just hosted you though?! Saying that they're a burden and essentially you find them so physically repellent that 'love is blind' must be the only reason their husband hasn't dumped them.
It's one thing to chose to gossip about other people's weight, which is already pretty unpleasant behaviour, but the MIL has taken it to a much nastier level.

crumpet · 16/12/2025 21:54

Leave it. Let the dust settle and have a lovely Christmas. Then in the New Year )perhaps when she thinks she has managed to brush through the incident) write to her and ask her in precisely what ways you are a burden to her son.

suburburban · 16/12/2025 21:58

Nasty women and an unkind thing to say to someone else about your dil

SavageTomato · 16/12/2025 22:12

She's a Hyacinth Bucket, fuck her. Hope your husband has your back.

ThatBlackCat · 17/12/2025 02:13

I'd send one last message to the family group chat outlining everything you have said here. How you looked after her, keep a nice home, work hard and have had a very sad year and it's been about just surviving through the pain and what you needed from in laws was support, not a 'backstabbing coward' (yes I'd use that phrase). And that she didn't even have the decency to apologise like anyone suitably mortified would. That if you aren't good enough as a person and your home isn't good enough she needn't worry anymore as you won't be inviting her again or seeing her again. Then leave the chat, and go NC.

And tell that useless, unsupportive coward of a husband that since he won't defend his wife to the end of the earth he is sleeping on the couch. He needs to work out who he wants to 'fall out with' less; his nasty, ungrateful backstabbing mother, or his wife that he lives with and sleeps with. Put it that way. And he can choose if he wants to see the bitch or not, but you won't be and she will never be welcome at your home ever again, she's done her dash.

I will say it's probably better you sending that note in the chat because she might just hang up if you or your 'D'H ring, so that last message might be the only way. Also it seems your H had an idea of what she is like if he knows she "won't listen" when he said "what’s the point, she won’t listen". Seems he has known her true character all along. Lastly, I do wonder that maybe she did mean for you to see it. Her lack of apology and 'you know I'm not tech savy' as a cover. I think maybe she spitefully intended for you to see it. Whether she meant for you to see it or not, I would definitely send one last chat message and make sure she (and others in the group) know and understand why you are going no contact with her. I'd also say at the end 'I can always lose weight, you will always stay a nasty, judgemental, two-faced coward'.

ThatBlackCat · 17/12/2025 02:35

Unicornsandprincesses · 16/12/2025 16:31

I could believe she sent it to the group chat on purpose. Hence her not panicking when told and brushing you both off. Wouldn’t most people stutter, be apologetic, feel dreadful they’d been ‘found out’…..

My theory too. She sent it on purpose. She didn't seem too contrite or bothered at all about being called out.

Power26 · 17/12/2025 02:40

I don’t buy her excuses anyway. I don’t think it’s easy to send such a message to a group chat, vs the right recipient in a solo chat. Firstly the friend/dog sitter wasn’t even in the group chat. Secondly group chats look different enough that even someone who isn’t techy can easily see a difference. I mean, group chats themselves are targeted towards the lowest common denominator- NOT people who are tech literate but the sort of person she is. I think she purposely wanted you to see what she truly thought and always knew she could blame her lack of tech skills.

Maddy70 · 17/12/2025 03:53

Maybe your DH has said something to them , why do they think you're a burden? Dies he have to extra things to support you mentally?

You say you've had a tough year , perhaps that's what she meant , many people out on weight when they're in a mentally traumatic state and you almost stop caring.

It wasn't meant for you, she fucked up. I bet she's mortified and doesn't know what to say

That must have been horrible reading for you , but that doesn't mean she doesn't like you. It was a flippent comment to her friend

Maddy70 · 17/12/2025 03:54

Power26 · 17/12/2025 02:40

I don’t buy her excuses anyway. I don’t think it’s easy to send such a message to a group chat, vs the right recipient in a solo chat. Firstly the friend/dog sitter wasn’t even in the group chat. Secondly group chats look different enough that even someone who isn’t techy can easily see a difference. I mean, group chats themselves are targeted towards the lowest common denominator- NOT people who are tech literate but the sort of person she is. I think she purposely wanted you to see what she truly thought and always knew she could blame her lack of tech skills.

I am constantly sending stuff to group chats instead of the individuals in the chat ... It's easily done!

Muffinmam · 17/12/2025 04:45

The silver living is you never have to host her ever again. She didn’t even apologise.

You don’t host her - you don’t see her.

Your husband is another problem. He doesn’t seem to care how upset you are.

Muffinmam · 17/12/2025 04:49

ForShyBlueFish · 16/12/2025 02:15

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

She’s duplicitous. It means she’s two faced. She’s a horrible human being.

My sister’s mother in law makes passive aggressive comments about her weight at the dinner table. One time she kept going on about my weight (illness + eating disorder meant I was skinny and really sick). She kept going on about it and I realised it was just to upset my sister.

Your MIL has shown you her a-hole.

Your husband has done absolutely nothing to defend you. He’s pathetic. Do you even want to be with him?

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