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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would this bother you?

63 replies

Yellowspottysocks1 · 03/02/2026 22:32

My DH and I have been together for 8 years, married 1. My in-laws over the years have made it clear myself and my kids are not welcome. His adult 23 y/o DD also. Examples are his DD was suppose to be a bridesmaid at our wedding, bought a beautiful pale dusk dress but she turned up in a racy black one. She also presented him with a birthday present last year (the only time she got him a gift) and it was a photo album of him and her mum (they separated when she 2 so it was all old early 20s photos of them)
Anyway for Christmas his mum got a family drawing made with all the members of his family, except me. Or my children.
Would that hurt you? Or am I being a tad sensitive? DH says I am.

OP posts:
Yellowspottysocks1 · 04/02/2026 22:50

@FullLondonEye oh god no. I'm 41 this year, for me I'm past that stage in life. Plus could you imagine his DD reaction to that? All hell would break loose!

OP posts:
FullLondonEye · 04/02/2026 22:55

Yellowspottysocks1 · 04/02/2026 22:50

@FullLondonEye oh god no. I'm 41 this year, for me I'm past that stage in life. Plus could you imagine his DD reaction to that? All hell would break loose!

😂You may feel past all that but at 41 it's not because of your age! Clearly I'm petty because the DD's reaction sounds like a pretty good reason to do it 😉. Seriously though, he shouldn't be treating you like this.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 04/02/2026 23:07

You married a man who doesn’t see his own child not sure why you expected a happy families vibe.

Yellowspottysocks1 · 04/02/2026 23:59

This reply has been deleted

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Delphiniumandlupins · 05/02/2026 00:00

Can you take the family picture back to the original artist and get yourself added in? If the family never come to your house they'll never see it but might make you feel better. I think you may not be able to win over your DH's daughter but he shouldn't allow her to be so rude to you. I would laugh at the photo album she put together although I know it's annoying.

canklesmctacotits · 05/02/2026 00:04

Your DH had a stepdad? Who was in this family drawing? trying to choose between hypocrisy and irony - think I’ll go for both. Idiot woman. Weak DH.

WhereYouLeftIt · 05/02/2026 00:48

"Yes he's an only child. The only child in the whole family, his auntie didn't have children so he is babied a lot."

"he was single for years before we got together"

His relationships - with his daughter's mother "he was 23 and lasted a year" with his son's mother a one-night stand, and "one other who he was with for 4 years (and no dcs) that's his whole dating history."

He really is a walking example of 'they fuck you up, your mum and dad'. His role in the family is to be "babied" and by god he absolutely behaves like one (as they have trained him to doSad). That he's held down a relationship with you for so long is testament to you holding it together, I suspect. So much of his adult life spent single, which probably suits his mother very well. She'd drive you away if she could, OP.

But he is the root of the problem here - his behaviour, what he does, what he doesn't do.

"he doesn't say anything to them. He's too scared to say anything from his DD in the fear she falls out with him."

"Would [his mum's tacky family drawing] hurt you? Or am I being a tad sensitive? DH says I am."

It absolutely would hurt me. And my husband telling me I shouldn't feel that hurt, that I am too sensitive, would hurt me even more. Bad enough that he's too scared to say anything to them about their behaviour, he's also too scared to acknowledge their behaviour, preferring to gaslight you that no, nothing to see here, no bad behaviour towards you at all, hand me that brush I have to sweep all this under the carpet. What a fucking baby!

"We have 2 main slow dances planned, a first one just us then a second that everyone could get up and dance with us. After the first dance finished my DH instantly let me go and pulled up his DD to slow dance the 2nd one with. I was standing there like a spare prick on the dancefloor then the best man swooped in and we danced. That part was awkward."

That shocked me - really shocked me. And you've only be married a year, so I'd imagine this is a very raw memory for you. I wish you'd realised then that you will never be a priority to this wholly inadequate man. I'm sorry, but he is. His birth family have seen to that, and I doubt he is capable of change.

This dysfunctional family will cause you hurt again and again whilst you remain married to this man. They won't be able to stop themselves, and he does not have your back. So - is this what you want from your life? You're so young, this shouldn't be your future.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 05/02/2026 00:59

I'm afraid that's what happens when you try to blend families with a deadbeat dad and a dysfunctional family. Why bother at all? Why put your kids through it? Life's too short.

DeeLasVegas · 05/02/2026 01:07

Why hasn’t your husband told his family that what they have done is the wrong? I’d be pissed.

Fearnotsunshine · 05/02/2026 02:08

Have you spoken to DH about all this because ultimately there's only him that can change things. What does he say about your MIL and his DD - does he acknowledge that their behaviour is disrespectful towards you, or does he laugh it off, or does he get angry with you about it?

Did DH move out of his family home before you 2 met, did he have his own place?

You would think that MIL would be happy knowing her son is happy, but it can flip the other way - she doesn't want him to be happy so she's doing what she can to exclude you knowing that it will cause problems for you two.

Sounds like his DD has issues - maybe her mum has fed her bad things about DH ever since she was old enough to understand. Did he pay CSA for both his children? She probably sees every other woman/child in DH's life as competition, why does he like/love them but not me? It's common and really painful for them (I've got DSD who is 33 and has been displaying similar behaviour towards my DD and her dad (my DP) for years - DP was caught between a rock and a hard place trying not to upset her but she went too far.

It's upto your DH to have difficult conversations with his mum & DD, tell them you're a family, you come as a package, or not at all.

Mere1 · 05/02/2026 06:43

JLou08 · 03/02/2026 22:50

It wouldn't hurt me. I'd be angry for a bit, I'd then feel pity for them. They're pathetic and they are blatant attempts to make you feel excluded. Leave them to it. Don't make any effort with them, just enjoy the people who matter and treat you well.

Good advice.

carchi · 05/02/2026 15:03

FrozenFebruary · 03/02/2026 23:28

So, she's 23. Why shouldn't she have Sue tie and with her Dad.

i'm sorry you find the idea ridiculous, I'm sad you mustn't have had a good relationship with your own Dad.

I think it's ridiculous too. Very few children get one parent just to themselves. At 23 DD should be getting on with her own life not being a spiteful person because of something she has never had. And by the way I had a great relationship with my dad so that's not the reason for my opinion.

Redragtoabull · 06/02/2026 20:08

I'd be protecting my children from this pathetic herd. Full on no contact of any sort and if your husband wants to see his brat of an adult daughter and bitchy mother, he can go on his own. And don't ever give them another thought, they all sound like cunts

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