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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to refuse unsupervised contact after MIL shouted at and smacked child?

72 replies

Mrstiptop · 13/04/2026 19:42

A couple of months ago we were at my MIL’s and while we were in another room, we heard her REALLY shout at our DD7 for accidentally closing a box on her brothers hand (he didn’t cry). DD was beside herself at how Nanny had shouted, so we left quite quickly and I promised my DD that she would never have to go again if she didn’t feel safe. MIL rang the next day, and asked to apologise to her, which she did and all was left.

A month or so later, she asked to have both children for a sleepover, we agreed. When I collected them the next morning, DD told me Nanny hit DS5 during a board game because DD was cheating, DS was furious about the cheating, and was shouting and screaming at his sister to stop. He’s very justice sensitive and hates cheating! MIL apparently shouted “shut up” in his face, then smacked him. I told DH, and he rang her to ask what happened. She said “it was just a tap” and didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. But it was enough that it was the first thing they told me on pick up. She didn’t apologise this time.

I’ve said I don’t feel comfortable with her looking after my children again. She can still see the kids, but always with one of us present. DH keeps pushing me to let me have them in the school holidays, as “she’s not a bad person”. We’ve never touched our children, and would never smack them and family know this.

AIBU to refuse to let her have the children unsupervised?

OP posts:
thepariscrimefiles · 13/04/2026 19:55

Your MIL seems to have a very short temper and she jumps immediately to shouting and smacking when your children argue.

I'd be very reluctant to let her look after them without your supervision. No-one should be smacking your children. Has your DH spoken to his mum about her smacking your son? Isn't he concerned about who she did? I'd be pretty cross that he is pushing you to let your MIL look after your children unsupervised in the school holidays, especially considering that there has been no apology from MIL this time.

Credittocress · 13/04/2026 20:05

Hell would freeze over before I’d let her be alone with my kids again. I wouldn’t even go out if the room .

Octavia64 · 13/04/2026 20:08

No I wouldn’t be ok with this.

we had a similar situation with my FIL. My dh wasn’t overly supportive but I managed to fix it so we were busy or went with the kids

fidrunately a couple of years later they tried to host multiple grandchildren for a week and it got out of hand very quickly and they handed the kids back after less than a day. After that they never suggested it again.

Weregoingtothefuckingmoon · 13/04/2026 20:10

Ofcourse she can't look after them again. If she assaults them again and the DC tell school, SS will be involved and will want to know why are unable to safeguard your children given it is not the first time.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 13/04/2026 20:11

You need to report her for assault.

Nofeckingway · 13/04/2026 20:14

That's horrible of her. Guess that was her method of parenting. She must know it is wrong as she did apologize . Yet she shouted and smacked again . She can't be trusted not to lose her temper again so unfortunately it's a no to her having unsupervised contact with the kids .

Listlostlast · 13/04/2026 20:14

Not a chance would she be alone with my children again, ever. I would genuinely feel like I was letting them down by not protecting them from someone who should care for and love them but instead screams, shouts and hits them. Fucking awful. I’m sorry you have to deal with this!

Ohthatsabitshit · 13/04/2026 20:14

Mine wouldn’t ever be alone with her again.

PercyPigInAWig · 13/04/2026 20:16

There is no way my DC would be with her alone again, and I'd have to think about all contact as she clearly doesn't see anything wrong with it.

Not being a bad person and hitting small children aren't compatible.

Temporaryname158 · 13/04/2026 20:16

My dad grabbed my son by the arm and smacked him hard when he was 2 (this was out of sight but myself and my mum were nearby) and heard the commotion and my son ran over and told me what happened. I could see the red marks on him.

my mum went ballistic, she is normally a quiet reserved soul but told my dad if he ever laid a finger on him again she’d divorce him.

he has never stepped out of line again. He sulks and finds grandchildren irritating I think and avoids any care (I’d never leave them in his care even now at 11 and 8) but my mum does a great job at looking after them and

Eclipser · 13/04/2026 20:22

What was your dh’s reaction to those incidents. Was he satisfied with the “just a tap” explanation?

I find it a bit odd that he’s not a bit more aware of why this is deeply problematic. What was his childhood like? Given how quickly your mil escalates with gc, I’m wondering if there was some serious abuse going on in your dh’s childhood? Sometimes it can be very difficult for children who were abused to stand up to their dps even as adults.

You’ve got good instincts here op. Actually I think you’re being generous to your pils under the circumstances.

bigboykitty · 13/04/2026 20:26

There would be no unsupervised contact and in your shoes, I would not trust husband to supervise contact. He has poor boundaries. If you want them to see the children, meet at a park so you can leave immediately if there's an issue. The fact that MIL won't apologise is a problem.

Here2talk · 13/04/2026 20:30

The person who voted you are being unreasonable must be your mother in law.

wishfulthinking25 · 13/04/2026 20:37

I’d go and smack her in the face and tell her to pick on someone her own size.

Peonies12 · 13/04/2026 20:39

Totally on your side, I’d be reporting her to the police for assault. Isnt smacking illegal?

Whenlifegiveslemons · 13/04/2026 20:43

Id never let her have the children unsupervised again, without question. Your poor children.

OrangeOpalFruits · 13/04/2026 21:08

Smack her hard, scream "shut up!" then explain to her and your husband that it was just a tap, and that you're not a bad person.

Delici · 13/04/2026 21:11

Absolutely not unreasonable. I wouldn’t be doing supervised.
She’s got a problem.

Spread2Thinly · 13/04/2026 23:33

@Mrstiptop you’d never be comfortable leaving your DC with her, even if she promised never to do it again as she simply can’t control her temper. So unfortunately, you wouldn’t be doing your parenting duty of protecting your DC if you left them with her.

It’s best all round if they just see the DC when you all visit them as a family.

Eenameenadeeka · 14/04/2026 05:06

I wouldn't let her see them at all.

CinnamonBuns67 · 14/04/2026 05:12

Yanbu. She'd not see them again even supervised if it was me.

ViciousCurrentBun · 14/04/2026 05:30

My SIL hit my DS and I refused to see her for 5 years, DH used to see her alone . It was the one time our marriage came close to breaking down. I do see her now. It also caused a huge row between MIL and I. She blamed me for not having family Christmas, she was hysterical about it one Christmas. I replied in a very firm but calm manner that she knew exactly why. It ended up with her wailing and I mean actually wailing that she knew her own daughter was horrible and then even moved on to that was why she had never married and had children. This is I feel true as she is as awful as her Father was. I will never ever like that woman and if DH dies before me then I will never see her again but I do see her now for his sake. MIL and sister are ridiculously over dramatic people.

Never leave them with her, it will cause an issue with your DH but there is a case for no contact even if temporary. It will test your marriage to its limits.

ChaseTheSin · 14/04/2026 05:33

Peonies12 · 13/04/2026 20:39

Totally on your side, I’d be reporting her to the police for assault. Isnt smacking illegal?

Not in England it isn’t.

Zanatdy · 14/04/2026 05:33

thepariscrimefiles · 13/04/2026 19:55

Your MIL seems to have a very short temper and she jumps immediately to shouting and smacking when your children argue.

I'd be very reluctant to let her look after them without your supervision. No-one should be smacking your children. Has your DH spoken to his mum about her smacking your son? Isn't he concerned about who she did? I'd be pretty cross that he is pushing you to let your MIL look after your children unsupervised in the school holidays, especially considering that there has been no apology from MIL this time.

Stick with your boundaries. No grandmother should be smacking their GC and shouting in their face.

ThejoyofNC · 14/04/2026 05:58

I'd give and give her just a tap and see how she likes it.