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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What do other's make of this? BIL & SIL issues...

35 replies

Ewg9 · 05/01/2026 17:05

We were asked by MIL to go round over Xmas for a meal. I assumed with Brother and Sister in law as they live next door and although we have not got on for the last year, we have had lunches/meals together as a bigger family during the course of the year. They have been painfully awkward, but I’ve sucked it up. MIL asked for help with cooking the meal as she has undergone an operation which has left her unable to manage basic things like cooking, she is in recovery. Husband went to cook a roast and to keep his Mum company. I turn up late afternoon with DC. I realised the table wasn’t set for all of us. My shoulders relaxed on realising they weren’t coming. Once we’d eaten, MIL mentions they might still come round for something to eat whilst we are clearing things away. We are sat in the living room, SIL lets herself into the house, for context, she used to live there before moving next door (which is also a house owned by MIL) so, this might be excused. SIL lets herself in, walks straight through to the kitchen, straight past where we are sat. She doesn't say anything, no ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ proceeds to take the dishes out of the oven and leave the house with the food… MIL had gotten up and asked if SIL was hungry and she said ‘yes’. On her leaving the house I got up and wished her congratulations and hope she's feeling ok as she is pregnant, I haven’t seen her in person to wish her well. She said ‘thanks’ and left. I am no saint but I know generally how to be polite.

We didn’t discuss anything about it there, I asked husband once we were home if he knew they weren’t coming, he advised yes but his brother had told his Mum not him. They would know it was my hubby doing the cooking as they know how bad MIL has been. Hubby spent two hours cooking the meal! Husband advised he wasn’t happy about what they had done... For background, there have been issues with my SIL for a year, and then further tensions/disagreements have occurred through this last year I think partly due to lack of communication and disagreements. We have made effort to get along but I think we are very different personalities. We have made effort to avoid eachother but have had to sit through several meals with her being rude and off with me. She’s even come to my house several times and not spoken to me which I found very cheeky, rude and quite frankly awful to deal with. For context, I am mid 30s they are 30 years old.

I don’t want anything to do with them anymore, I have discussed with hubby about getting a gift for their baby, but I prefer to keep interaction to a minimum. SIL and BIL have been rude plenty to me this last year, and I get that by them not coming, it is snubbing me and they are not bothered about hiding their dislike of me. However, it’s a whole other level to be so rude to my MIL in her house and to my hubby. I’m no saint, I know that they may have found me difficult or rude but I have never intentiontionally caused offence. I’m quite strong in my opinions and also stubborn but I can apologise and acknowledge when I’m in the wrong and I’m not happy that there is a problem with them but they have acted really selfish and quite frankly bad this last year. I feel bad for my hubby more than anything else as he is sensitive and non confrontational. I don't think he will say anything to his brother about it. Just wondering what others would make of this? My family have advised me to avoid like the plague, and that they’ve done me a favour by behaving so badly. Should I try find out what’s wrong to prompt such bad behaviour? I also think what could possibly warrant such rudeness? It all feels abit too late and I’m not really prepared to start apologising for things I don’t even know I’ve done wrong. I have avoided SIL partly thinking she would not like to be confronted on her issues with me.

AIBU to be appalled by them?

Hope my garbled words make sense, thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Butterflywings84 · 05/01/2026 17:10

Did your MIL not say anything on the day? Not sure I could have just sat there and pretended that hadn’t happened

beAsensible1 · 05/01/2026 17:13

Leave well alone. If you and DH are content with it and it’s not causing any emotional heartbreak etc. leave them to it.

don’t bother, be kind to MIL but I wouldn’t have them in your houses ignoring you it’s not on. Don’t invite them again.

it’s for mil to address rudeness in her home not you two. DH can talk to his brother if he wants.

OhDear111 · 05/01/2026 17:25

@Ewg9 Are they coercing MIL? Is she vulnerable in any way? Your sil is marching into your mil’s house and no one says anything? You both need to speak to mil urgently. This looks like bullying.

Twinkletoes127 · 05/01/2026 17:42

OhDear111 · 05/01/2026 17:25

@Ewg9 Are they coercing MIL? Is she vulnerable in any way? Your sil is marching into your mil’s house and no one says anything? You both need to speak to mil urgently. This looks like bullying.

All of my adult kids barge (enter?) my house whenever they arrive. Im not their butler, doors have they are capable of using them.
OP they absolutely do not like you, nor do they want to see you or interact with you.
You have said there have been tensions and disagreement.
Maybe they find you rude as well as disagreeable.
I have no idea, but you don't like them and they don't like you.
That's OK, you didn't marry them. Get your husband to deal with his family in all counts, his mum can come to your house in future

Whoneedsanamesuggestion · 05/01/2026 17:47

They were really rude and seem really, really not to like you and your dp. I wouldn't want anything to do with them either. Just try to maintain the relationship with your mil and don't bother.

Fwiw, nowhere near as rude as this, but I avoid my dh's siblings as much as possible! He has to hang out with them (as he values their relationship). I do not

Lmnop22 · 05/01/2026 17:48

Just stay out of their way whenever possible and be polite and no more if you have to spend time with them. Don’t make MIL or DH choose but you do what’s best for you

OhDear111 · 05/01/2026 17:49

@Twinkletoes127 I do not have my adult dc coming in and out at will. I know when they are coming and I open the door. They don’t come in and help themselves to anything!

Twinkletoes127 · 05/01/2026 17:54

OhDear111 · 05/01/2026 17:49

@Twinkletoes127 I do not have my adult dc coming in and out at will. I know when they are coming and I open the door. They don’t come in and help themselves to anything!

Ok, thats the way you do it. Nothing wrong with that.
Mine is still a family home, regardless of their age. Its not even the home they grew up in as ive downsized. They enter and leave freely.

mbosnz · 05/01/2026 18:29

They are incredibly rude.

Personally, I'd not go out of my way to interact with them, they've clearly got a very large stick up their collective arses, but when we did, I'd be civil and stick to topics like the weather, and little else. At the same time, I would get them a baby gift, things like that, a. because it means they've got nothing to kick against, and it makes them look silly and petty, and b. because I know it would really grind their gears, lol.

As to them being so rude at your MIL's house, and with your DH cooking, it's bloody upsetting, but it is for MIL and DH to address with them, or not.

Thedaywoman · 05/01/2026 18:30

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Thedaywoman · 05/01/2026 18:31

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couldthisbe2501 · 05/01/2026 18:40

They are very rude but I’m not sure why you’ve mentioned them coming into the house without knocking. That’s not rude - that’s perfectly normal in many families.

Twinkletoes127 · 05/01/2026 18:52

Twinkletoes127 · 05/01/2026 17:54

Ok, thats the way you do it. Nothing wrong with that.
Mine is still a family home, regardless of their age. Its not even the home they grew up in as ive downsized. They enter and leave freely.

In fact, half of my grown kids are knobs, affectionate, generous, loving but knobs.
If the door was locked I know at least 2 of them, would be shouting through the letterbox "oy, Landlord, have you changed the locks?" While rattling the door and generally causing a humdrum!

Devuelta81 · 05/01/2026 19:37

What have the tensions and disagreements over the past year been about?

Pinkbananaa · 05/01/2026 19:41

Sounds like they're definitely more to this i suspect theres a clash of personalities at play.

Specialagentblond · 05/01/2026 19:41

My ex SIL was exactly like this. Came to my house, ate the food I’d cooked her and then was rude to me, alienated me from other families. I rose above it.

Just continue to be polite and avoid her as much as possible. If she wants to ruin her own Christmas she can.

sprigatito · 05/01/2026 19:43

Twinkletoes127 · 05/01/2026 17:54

Ok, thats the way you do it. Nothing wrong with that.
Mine is still a family home, regardless of their age. Its not even the home they grew up in as ive downsized. They enter and leave freely.

My adult children are also welcome to come and go as they please and are welcome to anything I have in the fridge/cupboards. In reality, they let me know they are coming and ask before they take anything, because they’re nice people who respect us. I have to remind DS1 that I don’t want him to knock before he comes in!

the BIL and SIL in the OP sound like utter barbarians, but it’s MIL’s house and her call.

puffyeyewink · 05/01/2026 19:49

Me and my brother always let ourselves into our mums house, on the odd occasion I forget my key I get told off for interrupting whatever she’s doing (tv show she’s watching) to make her answer the door. The fact that SIL lives next door indicates that they likely have a relationship where the houses are seen as an extension of each others. That’s not rude and nothing to do with you.
The fact MIL mentioned they may come later for food indicates that MIL had likely said to SIL come get something later.
MIL hosted, you don’t say you bought all the food so I assume it was MIL’s food, she probably assumed it was hers to give away. I doubt she even considered (quite rightly) that her son helping cook because she’s incapacitated would change that.

Sorry op, yes SIL was rude for ignoring you but there is clearly history there, however the rest of it feels like you’re just looking for an angle to have a problem.

UnhappyHobbit · 05/01/2026 19:57

I’m slightly curious about the live next door set up. I bet she’s not paying a market price rent. Clearly she has an entitlement issue here which she needs to grow out of.

Ewg9 · 05/01/2026 22:26

Butterflywings84 · 05/01/2026 17:10

Did your MIL not say anything on the day? Not sure I could have just sat there and pretended that hadn’t happened

MIL didn't say anything though she and hubby discussed it once I left with little one. She is aware something is wrong but doesn't know what.

OP posts:
Ewg9 · 05/01/2026 22:29

OhDear111 · 05/01/2026 17:25

@Ewg9 Are they coercing MIL? Is she vulnerable in any way? Your sil is marching into your mil’s house and no one says anything? You both need to speak to mil urgently. This looks like bullying.

No, I don't think it's bullying but I do think they have taken liberties with MIL. Things have been said by my MIL to my hubby when i have been there. I've not involved myself, but thought at the time they are cheeky buggers. MIL is a strong personality, she can more than hold her own as I have found being on the receiving end of her myself.

OP posts:
Ewg9 · 05/01/2026 22:35

couldthisbe2501 · 05/01/2026 18:40

They are very rude but I’m not sure why you’ve mentioned them coming into the house without knocking. That’s not rude - that’s perfectly normal in many families.

I think you have missed my point where I say in my OP that her not knocking first could be excused as SIL used to live there... I think i place more emphasis on her walking into someone's house and not saying anything at all... Think it's rude and creepy quite frankly.

OP posts:
Specialagentblond · 05/01/2026 22:43

In our situation, the BIL and SIL were having marriage problems - and MIL was trying to keep out of it, but as she lived 4 doors down, she was more entwined than we were. I took a lot of my SIL’s behaviour personally but looking back, the bigger problem was in the marriage. So she was in a mood with BIL before she came to our house and then was off with me.

Bizarrely, a friend picked up on it.

The question to ask here is ‘are they ok?’ Perhaps get DH to reach out to his brother? There could be literally anything going on - an affair, a diagnosis, money issues. Tread kindly.

If you’ve not done anything hugely wrong, then don’t take her behaviour personally. She’s obviously not in a good place.

ProcrastinatingAlways · 05/01/2026 22:43

Ewg9 · 05/01/2026 17:05

We were asked by MIL to go round over Xmas for a meal. I assumed with Brother and Sister in law as they live next door and although we have not got on for the last year, we have had lunches/meals together as a bigger family during the course of the year. They have been painfully awkward, but I’ve sucked it up. MIL asked for help with cooking the meal as she has undergone an operation which has left her unable to manage basic things like cooking, she is in recovery. Husband went to cook a roast and to keep his Mum company. I turn up late afternoon with DC. I realised the table wasn’t set for all of us. My shoulders relaxed on realising they weren’t coming. Once we’d eaten, MIL mentions they might still come round for something to eat whilst we are clearing things away. We are sat in the living room, SIL lets herself into the house, for context, she used to live there before moving next door (which is also a house owned by MIL) so, this might be excused. SIL lets herself in, walks straight through to the kitchen, straight past where we are sat. She doesn't say anything, no ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ proceeds to take the dishes out of the oven and leave the house with the food… MIL had gotten up and asked if SIL was hungry and she said ‘yes’. On her leaving the house I got up and wished her congratulations and hope she's feeling ok as she is pregnant, I haven’t seen her in person to wish her well. She said ‘thanks’ and left. I am no saint but I know generally how to be polite.

We didn’t discuss anything about it there, I asked husband once we were home if he knew they weren’t coming, he advised yes but his brother had told his Mum not him. They would know it was my hubby doing the cooking as they know how bad MIL has been. Hubby spent two hours cooking the meal! Husband advised he wasn’t happy about what they had done... For background, there have been issues with my SIL for a year, and then further tensions/disagreements have occurred through this last year I think partly due to lack of communication and disagreements. We have made effort to get along but I think we are very different personalities. We have made effort to avoid eachother but have had to sit through several meals with her being rude and off with me. She’s even come to my house several times and not spoken to me which I found very cheeky, rude and quite frankly awful to deal with. For context, I am mid 30s they are 30 years old.

I don’t want anything to do with them anymore, I have discussed with hubby about getting a gift for their baby, but I prefer to keep interaction to a minimum. SIL and BIL have been rude plenty to me this last year, and I get that by them not coming, it is snubbing me and they are not bothered about hiding their dislike of me. However, it’s a whole other level to be so rude to my MIL in her house and to my hubby. I’m no saint, I know that they may have found me difficult or rude but I have never intentiontionally caused offence. I’m quite strong in my opinions and also stubborn but I can apologise and acknowledge when I’m in the wrong and I’m not happy that there is a problem with them but they have acted really selfish and quite frankly bad this last year. I feel bad for my hubby more than anything else as he is sensitive and non confrontational. I don't think he will say anything to his brother about it. Just wondering what others would make of this? My family have advised me to avoid like the plague, and that they’ve done me a favour by behaving so badly. Should I try find out what’s wrong to prompt such bad behaviour? I also think what could possibly warrant such rudeness? It all feels abit too late and I’m not really prepared to start apologising for things I don’t even know I’ve done wrong. I have avoided SIL partly thinking she would not like to be confronted on her issues with me.

AIBU to be appalled by them?

Hope my garbled words make sense, thanks for reading.

Lots of space and time is what’s needed.

I once fell out with my ILs after 20 years of getting along great, but I had my opinion - which they really didn’t like - about a very sensitive issue and to this day I stand by it. After our ‘explosive’ one-off argument I kept my distance for about 4 years. My DH (whom also agreed with me) and DCs (whom never knew about the issues) remained in contact and I encouraged that. After 4 years and then questioned by my children why I never go round there, I just got my coat on and went. Apparently they were happy to see me. We all played with the kids, and just moved forward. We now go for meals etc.. however, we never have discussed what happened as it’s in the past and little by little even though our opinions on the issue remain the same, it’s getting buried by new memories.

Keep your distance until enough time has passed for you all to get along again.

Ewg9 · 05/01/2026 22:44

Thanks for the replies, To clarify, I have never said anything rude to MIL or FIL about BIL or SIL and I don't plan to. We acted like nothing had happened and will continue that way. I agree aswell, her house her rules, I don't plan to say or do anything about what happened, it's my hubby's brother and for him to deal with. It happened in her house so again up to her. I just wondered what others would make of the situation.

OP posts:
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