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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be angry after SIL accused me of disordered eating?

232 replies

PerfomativeDisordered · 09/05/2026 13:08

In the Easter holidays we went away with SIL and her family. The dc get on well and we thought it might be nice for them to spend more time together. Up till now we always got on with SIL and her DP.

The plan was to go away again in the summer. However SIL spoke to DH yesterday and they’ve cancelled coming with us. Apparently my behaviour at Easter was not something they can ‘put up with or expose their teenage daughters to’

They accused me of

  1. having disordered and performative eating habits and possibly an eating disorder and don’t think I should be around their girls as it’s not setting a good example. That I was affecting her as well as I made her feel stressed about food the way I ate and the quantities and how 3 cooked meals a day is gluttony yet I’m too thin so she felt huge anxiety?

2)that I’m cruel to animals as we wouldn’t allow their dog into our room in the accommodation which meant they had to get up to distract him. Apparently he loves dh and wanted cuddles and me preventing that made them feel anxious as that’s not a normal response ? I love animals I just didn’t want a dog in our bed ! Every evening and early morning he was whining and scratching and this ruined their relaxing.

Back to the eating. I eat totally normally! SIL had put the idea to dh that I must have crash dieted before the holiday , overeaten in a performative way during then accused me of ‘probably starving herself’ when home apparently to make her feel bad.
I eat very healthily and normally. Never had any kind of eating disorder and I’m a normal size (8-10 no idea what I weigh as I don’t have scales as never needed any)
a typical days eating for me is pretty standard I think:
I have eggs on toast and a smoothie for breakfast. Snack on fruit or nuts mid morning. I love lattes. Have 2-3 a day.
I love to cook so for lunches I make things like pasta salads, chicken and salmon with rice and avocado. Sometimes frittata or quiche.
Dinners I’ll have anything but it’s the biggest meal and things like curries , bolognese and garlic bread. When we were away I made a dark
choc and raspberry torte and SIL kept saying ‘well of course I can’t have dessert’ and seemed annoyed when I had 2 slices. I snack in the evening and had popcorn one night and a glass of wine and crackers and cheese another night. She said I overeat so I must be cutting back at other times to overeat around them and her daughters will see me and the amount I eat and ‘it doesn’t add up’

She doesn’t want someone ‘unstable who won’t admit there’s a problem’ around impressionable teens and it’s apparently very concerning that I dislike animals that’s a red flag apparently.

DH told her this is all ridiculous he’s known me for a long long time he knows I have zero issues that she is suggesting. I’m confused too as she’s known me a long time I’ve always been the same size ???

AIBU to be really angry at these accusations. We also have teen dds as well as younger ds. She was insinuating that im a risk to them as well and telling dh that?!

OP posts:
AngryHerring · 09/05/2026 13:10

Tell her that's fine by you. The thing with the dog is bizarre.

spicysalad · 09/05/2026 13:10

She sounds insane. I think you’ve had a lucky escape tbh as I wouldn’t want to be going away with her again.

Soontobe60 · 09/05/2026 13:11

Sounds like she’s the one with disordered thought around eating!

TFImBackIn · 09/05/2026 13:12

Yes it sounds as though she's the one with disordered eating! I dislike animals so the idea of a dog coming into my bedroom would horrify me. Why didn't she just get up and pet the dog when it was wanting attention?

Glittertwins · 09/05/2026 13:13

SIL is the one with multiple problems, not OP

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 09/05/2026 13:14

She’s the disordered one. If she’s going to avoid you, she’s done you a favour.

AmericaIsSoBloodyGreat · 09/05/2026 13:15

Well she's sorted the problem by cancelling so you don't have to, tell her to go the whole way and cut ties altogether. Win win!

WhosGotTheKeysToMyBimma · 09/05/2026 13:15

She sounds absolutely crackers. Eating disorder 😆

The dog thing is bizarre.

To be honest I think you've had a lucky escape.

Perhaps one day she will look back on herself and admit she behaved like a lunatic but at least you don't have to suffer another holiday with her poking at your eating habits. What a weirdo.

ToastyToes101 · 09/05/2026 13:15

Well aside from being a tad jealous that you are a size 8-10 and can eat all that (not that it's a huge amount, but I just need to look at a doughnut and put on 2lbs!), she needs to mind her own business. Unless you are commenting on your food intake non-stop or on other people's?

Do you exercise a lot?

Honestly, she sounds jealous (as am I, lol!) but I've known people who can eat far more than me and remain slim. It's just the way it is,.some people have faster metabolisms, exercise more, are taller etc etc.

The dog thing is weird, it's not your DH's job to entertain their dog! I also like dogs, but wouldn't want one in my bed either!

I'd probably just reply and say, yes it sounds like it would be best for us not to go away together again, as your issues around food and how much people eat isn't something that works for me either.

toomuchfaff · 09/05/2026 13:15

Projecting much?

Batshit crazy..

Heronwatcher · 09/05/2026 13:16

Yeah your SIL has an eating disorder.

Be glad that you didn’t have to find out on holiday!

Goldenbear · 09/05/2026 13:16

I think you have had a lucky escape too but I di think food, meals timings is the worst thing about going in a big group especially 2 or 3 families as inevitably you get someone who wants it all these own way. I like to be spontaneous and prefer to eat out on holiday and hate set timings for breakfast, lunch etc. As sometimes I don't even fancy it and certainly not in a set way. It's different with family as you can just say what you think.

Getmeacoffeenow · 09/05/2026 13:16

Is she on WLI???

SeaToSki · 09/05/2026 13:16

Look up neurotic projection around eating and eating disorders and you may find some connections to SIL behavior. Maybe that will help you manage things with/around her

KeepingItAnonForThisOne · 09/05/2026 13:17

Respond ‘not a problem, kind of relieved tbh because the dog ruined our holiday anyway’

Shes already accusing you of disliking animals so I’d use that just to wind her up lol

Matcheroo · 09/05/2026 13:18

I think you’re lucky to be able to eat that much and not put on weight, but a lot of people can. I used to be able to, but unfortunately not now post-menopause.
It seems she can’t either?
Your diet sounds very normal and healthy and great to see. Good for children to see people enjoying eating mostly healthy food.

Regarding the dog, she’s lucky she’s not sharing with my family. Allergies here so we couldn’t have the dog inside at all. And it’s very, very normal not to want a dog in your bed in any case. Lots of dog lovers draw the line there I’d have thought.

Luckydog7 · 09/05/2026 13:18

So...

Your normal eating she's finding triggering

And...

You refusing to look after her pet means you are cruel to animals.

Yep, she's crackers and looking for excuses not to be around you. I suspect she has food issues and is struggling to lose weight/control her eating or is overly worrying about her daughter's gaining weight and you being slim while also enjoying food she's finds difficult. None of this is your fault. Leave them to it. Glad to see DH is firmly on your side.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 09/05/2026 13:18

SeaToSki · 09/05/2026 13:16

Look up neurotic projection around eating and eating disorders and you may find some connections to SIL behavior. Maybe that will help you manage things with/around her

Or don’t, and just get on with your life. You shouldn’t have to look up half-baked theories in order to go on holiday with family. It’s not meant to be this hard.

Just avoid her. She’s batshit and life is too short.

Perhaps see your nieces separately so they can have a base with normality.

greatshesback · 09/05/2026 13:18

She needs to take a look in the mirror….

PopcornKitten · 09/05/2026 13:19

I’d be seething. Sounds like she is jealous of you.
who wants someone else’s dog climbing over their bed.
she’s very unreasonable.
im glad your DH put her straight. I wouldn’t have anything to do with her from now on. She’s batshit.

PygmyOwl · 09/05/2026 13:19

It's fine, you don't need to go on holiday together and better to find out now that you're incompatible.

Offherrockingchair · 09/05/2026 13:20

Hilarious! What a weirdo she is. I’m also petite and can eat LOADS! It just is what it is. Siblings the same. People can’t help but hate us for it. I can smell her jealousy from here. Lucky escape!

PerfomativeDisordered · 09/05/2026 13:20

Getmeacoffeenow · 09/05/2026 13:16

Is she on WLI???

I don’t think so I’d guess she was a size 12 maybe ? She’s not big at all so it just felt very strange how she was acting about things like desserts etc. They apparently like a lie in and don’t have breakfast but I was up as always have it and maybe the cooking smell annoyed her ? Then they had to get up for the dog as I think he was a bit hyper due to different place and people?

OP posts:
PerfomativeDisordered · 09/05/2026 13:21

KeepingItAnonForThisOne · 09/05/2026 13:17

Respond ‘not a problem, kind of relieved tbh because the dog ruined our holiday anyway’

Shes already accusing you of disliking animals so I’d use that just to wind her up lol

That really hurt me as I love animals! We had taken him on a couple of walks too and given him lots of affection in the daytime but she’s furious about us saying not in the bedroom at all.

OP posts:
WeatherOrNothing · 09/05/2026 13:22

She sounds mentally unwell