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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:
Tabla · 09/05/2026 14:55

Leavesandthings · 09/05/2026 14:52

Was the OP supposed to not eat on holiday then?

Are rich people not supposed to wear Rolexes?

Whiteheadhouse · 09/05/2026 14:56

She's batshit. Let her off. Best that you don't ho on holidays. I wouldn't rise to her or her accusations as she sounds unhinged.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 09/05/2026 15:00

She clearly has issues with food. Just be bright and breezy ' oh ok, that's a shame but never mind' and you crack on. I wouldn't give it another thought. She sounds like a buzz kill anyway. I am sure you will have a much more relaxed holiday without her.

Brightonrockkk · 09/05/2026 15:02

@tabla op has already said that her sis is around a size 12 though, so probably far from large!

ProudCat · 09/05/2026 15:03

Were you waking the dog up and then shutting him out of your room? If be annoyed if someone did that because by default they'd be waking me up.

No idea if you have disordered eating. Most people don't have a ready list or monitor in such a way as to state desert one night, a glass of wine the next, but not both on the same night. I certainly can't recall with such precision detail what I had on which day 4 weeks later. In other words, you've either got a much better memory than 99.9% of the population of your SIL is right.

Tabla · 09/05/2026 15:04

Brightonrockkk · 09/05/2026 15:02

@tabla op has already said that her sis is around a size 12 though, so probably far from large!

Edited

If she was afraid to eat desert, it means she puts a lot of effort/thought/stress into maintaining it though, I think.

beeble347 · 09/05/2026 15:04

What on earth 😂 I mean sounds like you have a great metabolism and SIL can't get her head round that! What a shame.

Also the dog thing is so weird, who wants a dog in their bed 🤢 fine if it's your own, crack on, but when it's not even yours!

DeftGoldHedgehog · 09/05/2026 15:11

She sounds unhinged and pretty disordered herself. You can come on holiday with me anytime, if you cook those nice lunches for me as well! 😋

MyDeftDuck · 09/05/2026 15:15

Personally OP, I think you’ve swerved a bullet! SIL sounds a tad unhinged and extremely judgemental.

likelysuspect · 09/05/2026 15:18

She's raving mad

The end.

SlumChum · 09/05/2026 15:19

I'd take the sarcastic high road with this:
"I had no idea you were experiencing so much anxiety on our holiday, that must have been awful for you. Yes, it sounds like we'd better holiday separately. I hope you have a much more peaceful holiday this time round"

SpaceRaccoon · 09/05/2026 15:19

ProudCat · 09/05/2026 15:03

Were you waking the dog up and then shutting him out of your room? If be annoyed if someone did that because by default they'd be waking me up.

No idea if you have disordered eating. Most people don't have a ready list or monitor in such a way as to state desert one night, a glass of wine the next, but not both on the same night. I certainly can't recall with such precision detail what I had on which day 4 weeks later. In other words, you've either got a much better memory than 99.9% of the population of your SIL is right.

That's nonsense. I like food and tend to remember food highlights, especially from holidays and travel, for years.
I'll be like "you know, that village in the Lot where we had the really good walnut pastry things" or "the day when we went out for the langoustines, not the day we had the pies".
Food is nice, it's a good memory to have.

NoisyHiker · 09/05/2026 15:20

Yanbu...but do tell your secrets witch! I am jealous!

I am far from a perfomative under eater, but if I have more than a light lunch and normal dinner regularly I start plonking on the weight!

That is with 30 minute jog every day, 1 hour dog walk in the woods every day and three weight training sessions. Maybe it is my PCOS?

Anouken · 09/05/2026 15:22

A lucky escape for you, she sounds bonkers! Tell her thats not a problem cancelling, you've booked a lovely day out out at the zoo/animal park/petting farm to enjoy being with what you love most in life.

likelysuspect · 09/05/2026 15:23

Tabla · 09/05/2026 14:50

she’s talking about them on the thread

and the SIL was watching OP eating the whole time

I suppose theres a solution to that, OP could have just starved herself or taken herself to her car to eat her meals alone

Sounds reasonable doesnt it

I dont understand your post above, theres a lot of double negatives in it so Im unclear what you're saying. Are people not able/allowed to say that they dont particularly watch what they eat? Why cant people say this?

I dont check my bank balance either for what its worth.

SpaceRaccoon · 09/05/2026 15:23

NoisyHiker · 09/05/2026 15:20

Yanbu...but do tell your secrets witch! I am jealous!

I am far from a perfomative under eater, but if I have more than a light lunch and normal dinner regularly I start plonking on the weight!

That is with 30 minute jog every day, 1 hour dog walk in the woods every day and three weight training sessions. Maybe it is my PCOS?

It will certainly be your PCOS.

Ricecakes101 · 09/05/2026 15:24

Op disordered eating is one of the following -when you binge, starve, over exercise, don't know really how big or small you are, think constantly or not at all about food, compared yourself to the bodies of others.

It would help to know your height and weight as that would probably help us to answer you

Thehandinthecookiejar · 09/05/2026 15:24

She sounds quite mad tbh. She’s the one with the eating disorder if she can’t cope with watching another women eat normally or be a healthy weight without starving herself.

But you know what? It’s her burden to bear. Don’t give it headspace.

NoisyHiker · 09/05/2026 15:25

SpaceRaccoon · 09/05/2026 15:23

It will certainly be your PCOS.

Damn it.

Maybe one day I will find a hidden secret that lets me have some of that delicious torte more often!

likelysuspect · 09/05/2026 15:26

ProudCat · 09/05/2026 15:03

Were you waking the dog up and then shutting him out of your room? If be annoyed if someone did that because by default they'd be waking me up.

No idea if you have disordered eating. Most people don't have a ready list or monitor in such a way as to state desert one night, a glass of wine the next, but not both on the same night. I certainly can't recall with such precision detail what I had on which day 4 weeks later. In other words, you've either got a much better memory than 99.9% of the population of your SIL is right.

I remember food with precision because we are foodies, we go out specifically for the food, menus, flavours, cuisines. We book our holidays around foods and food culture and food experiences.

So I can remember meals from years ago better than I can remember to take my phone out with me day to day.

Wiseplumant · 09/05/2026 15:32

Sounds like you are well out of this. She's seems unhinged. Don't take anything she says onboard regarding your DDs.

starfishmummy · 09/05/2026 15:33

She sounds hard work, and I'd count nkt going away with them ever again as a bonus!

PerfomativeDisordered · 09/05/2026 15:36

Ricecakes101 · 09/05/2026 15:24

Op disordered eating is one of the following -when you binge, starve, over exercise, don't know really how big or small you are, think constantly or not at all about food, compared yourself to the bodies of others.

It would help to know your height and weight as that would probably help us to answer you

I don’t know my weight but I’m 178cm so tall

OP posts:
PerfomativeDisordered · 09/05/2026 15:38

I think the dog was just over excited to see dh as he loves him. Getting all the fussing and cuddling and playing in the day then I think he just wanted more time with him ! But he’s not that well trained so wasn’t happy to be told no to the bedroom or not let in.

The only time I spoke about food was to ask if anyone else wanted the same if I was making something for breakfast or lunch. If I made a coffee I’d offer everyone else if they wanted a drink.

OP posts:
likelysuspect · 09/05/2026 15:38

You absolutely do not need to give your weight or height, that is ridiculous!!!!

This isnt a clinic!!!

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