AIBU to want to stop all MIL contact? I am at the point I want to make myself unavailable when she wants to visit and be busy when invited over (admittedly these are few and far between now)… apologies for the very very long post but genuinely baffled if she has a MH problem? Or what is going on here ? Is it classic MIL syndrome ? Something I always denied was a thing.
Prior to my DD being born 1.5 years ago we got on super well. Honestly I couldn’t have asked for a better MIL. I considered us friends. We used to go out together alone and I couldn’t have dreamed this would happen to us.
Post DD birth she changed overnight. She grew distant, acted off. I hand on my heart did NOTHING different. I treated her (almost like) my own mother. I say almost because after the birth my mum came to stay with us for 4 days, as I had an EMC. I would have invited MIL too but her and FIL are joined at the hip. Literally, cannot do anything separate. Also, I didn’t want her clearing my blood and changing my pad. I actually admitted the latter to her. I saw her more than my own mother due to location (my mum lives on the other side of the country).
Examples of the behavior that has led to my current situation;
My Daughter was seriously ill, admitted to NICU multiple times. She got diagnosed with something serious (think birth defect) and had to operated on when I was 5 months PP.
Shortly after DDs stay in hospital, MIL had a full blown “MIL syndrome” episode. It started over nothing, a family WhatsApp group photo I posted, and she attacked me, saying my child was “unsafe” and we didn’t know how to parent. DP called her out (politely and privately) and she blocked him.
FIL called DP and SIL the next day said their mum was unwell and they “had to help her” and he needed to talk to them in person. When they got there, they were ambushed by FIL, MIL and MILs brother. The bizarre accusations that DP and SIL faced was unbelievable! They were attacked and she attempted to gaslight my DP, some of the accusations was that I had pushed MIL out of DD life! Complete fabrication! In fact, contrarily I had offered MIL to care for DD when I returned to work as SOON as I was pregnant and to pay her what she earns (she works PT at a supermarket) as she always said she didn’t want to do the job. She was so excited about it, used to talk about “when she had the baby”, but suddenly decided she didn’t want her shortly after DD got diagnosed with her health condition and when I was due back to work… this left me and DP in an awful situation with no childcare. FYI the health condition is no longer serious as she had corrective surgery. I asked her at the time why she didn’t want her anymore and it was OK I was just baffled, she said “she couldn’t leave her job and her friends”. I thought it was strange at the time but parked it. But now to be accused of pushing her out of DD life? I was very angry!
I went to MILs the next day after this ambush. She was SO aggressive to the point I thought she was going to hit me. I said she had been off since the birth and I asked WTF was going on with her? I spoke to her like my friend, like a sister said her accusations about me and DP were unfair, and how she treated DP was unacceptable. I don’t think anyone has stood up to her before and she took massive offence. One of the spiteful things she said to me that day was that I “need to get over the fact I’ve had a sick child” - bear in mind this was a WEEK after DD had had a major major life saving operation and I was only 6 month PP. FIL joined in, it go so bad I had to leave. Time passed and dust settled but little things started to happen again. Here are a handful of many many things that have led to this need for them to leave our lives:
- She said she couldn’t believe what happened the day DD was born, how she didn’t get to see her grandchild on that day, what if she (MIL) died?! This probably stems from the fact MIL has long term health condition but was no worse than it always is. She lives a normal life manages to get her nails and her done and lip fillers regularly 🤷♀️ Also for context both my mum and MIL were told at the same time when I was in labour and my mum chose to come to hospital and wait in foyer. MIL and FIL “got lost” as they refuse to use sat navs, they live 30 mins from the hospital yet my mums 3 HOURS. They then said they didn’t know where to park and were calling my DP who didn’t answer as I was getting an EMCC! They tried coming in at 10pm at night!
- arrived late to DDs first birthday party and both her and FIL were acting weird, also she then didn’t smile at ALL all day. BIL and I are close and he said he asked her at one point what was wrong and she said she had a mouth ulcer so it “would hurt to smile”
- Ruined our first Christmas as parents for my DP by having another emotional episode at our house over how to make her a coffee and then slammed our front door and left (on XMAS morning).
- On a recent visit to our house, She’s “off sick” from work atm as she still hates her job but is bored , I offer her to care for DD one day in the week, and she then makes bizarre excuses says she’s out that day. I found out from my DP it was a lie as she was home all day. She then writes in family chats and informs other family members she never gets to see DD
- MIL and FIL very occasionally (3 time per year) look after MILs brothers dog. I have always said I am not happy visiting when he’s there as he is a large breed and not familiar with kids. It’s not even that often. When I told this to my FIL again for the 100 time, I heard him slagging me off to my MIL when I went to the toilet. They are both as toxic as each other
- I had an ectopic pregnancy and was seriously unwell. I had no one to help me and DP asked if she could come and sit with me when he went to work for half a day. He asked her not to bring FIL (I heard the convo) as I didn’t want a man around as I was leaking blood everywhere. They both arrived and FIL come in. She didn’t once say to leave knowing how uncomfortable I felt woman to woman I just can’t get over this.
- says she can’t wait for more Grandchildren yet doesn’t bother with the one she has
- Got irritated and angry when I told her the theme of DDs birthday as she “doesn’t know the characters” also annoyed with me rolling her eyes and giving me the “head mistress” look because I didn’t get the cake maker she wanted , and “it’s SO important about the taste!!!!” Tutting and cold after this.
- Had an episode over a meal some months ago when BIL was talking about his home country (he’s Asian). She said BIL was trying to take her daughter (SIL) away from her, ruined the meal and left hysterical crying
- last weekend was SILs birthday. We all visited. MIL asked normal for 30 minutes asking me how DDs week was and general chit chat. Then, switched. Wouldn’t talk to anyone, sat on her phone in the corner. Genuinely like she was two personalities
- Didn’t see us or DP for a month as DD had a cough. She was “scared she will catch it”, but is happy to be around her family members who had COVID
- she’s regularly slagging off her family to all of us, but then is nice as pie when she sees them. I’m talking, really spiteful things. Makes me think what she does behind my back!
I used to think MIL syndrome was made up, but now I am really unsure what the hell is going on? I don’t want her in our lives especially DDs given her emotional manipulation, gaslighting and erratic almost schizophrenic switching.
Also I now understand why BIL hates her. I was always on the fence as to why MIL and BIL had a frosty relationship (similar situation to what happened with me but it started with SIL and BILs wedding as opposed to grandchildren).
And yes I have tried to ask her what’s wrong, the day it all kicked off at her house I went their with good intentions to resolve everything I asked her what’s wrong I could do to make it right but it was full blown gaslighting. She blames us, changes facts to her fiction and gets very very angry and defensive.
I’ve asked DP, he genuinely doesn’t see it because she’s apparently “always been like this”. I’ve never really dug further but I do know that DP and his ex wife partied ways (I’m sure lots of other reasons) but it culminated with an argument between his Ex and MIL.
WTF do I do?