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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My husband tells his parents everything

232 replies

Shinyblackstone · 15/05/2026 20:59

My husband is a great man, good husband, good around the house, great with the kids etc. He is very close to his siblings and parents which I honestly think is fab.

I get on fine with my family but we are not close. We grew up in a very private family where nobody could know our business and I was always stressed out trying to make sure that I didn't accidentally let something slip. My.mum was constantly telling me 'dont tell such-and-such this' and "if anybody asks, tell them xyz".

I never, ever ask my kids to keep secrets but at the start of our relationship would tell me husband what he could and couldnt tell anyone. He told me it stressed him out and so I stopped doing that because I realised that I was repeating a pattern of burden and putting it onto him.

However, I don't fully trust my husband and keep a lot to myself. Anything personal to me that I do not want to be repeated, I have to be very specific that he cannot tell anyone. I still have my doubts and just cannot be fully vulnerable with him unless I am really upset about something. Most of this is childhood trauma stuff.

Anyway I know that my mother in law tells everyone's business. I know all about my siblings-in-laws' lives, their kids, their problems, and as someone who was so guarded growing up, this is horrible.

Anyway recently, one of our older children (late primary) gor into very big trouble in school. It was very upsetting and while we supported the school and followed through on co sequences at home, I feel like i owe my child their privacy and that for their sake, I want this to be known by as few people as possible. It is not that I am ashamed. I'm not. But I value my child's right to be able to forget about it. It was a very sensitive issue and I just heard my husband on the phone to his mum giving him an update in a way which suggested that he has been keeping her updated.

On one hand, its his mum and he has a right to discuss his children with his family. On the other hand, its my child too and I value privacy and the right to not have everyone talking about you. I know far too much about my husband's nieces and nephews for example.

Is this me projecting my childhood or is my husband out of order for repeating every little thing back to a family who will share the news over dinner?

Aibu for feeling really uncomfortable with this? Am happy to be told that I am but dont want a big argument or to make things weird with him and his family.

OP posts:
PissedOff2020 · 17/05/2026 16:43

You’re not being unreasonable to want somethings private. My husband likes to natter, I keep stuff private from him sometimes too.
BTW, they’re not just your husband’s nieces and nephews- they’re yours too. Would you feel the same if it were your own siblings children?
Your MIL probably thinks it’s normal to share details about your immediate family. You’re effectively her daughter now. I know lots about my family nieces and nephews - from both my husband”s and my side. Just as your in-laws know, doesn’t mean they’re going to bring it up to them.
Being close to family is the norm, which means sharing the good and bad. Your husband probably likes his parents advice on things. If he was sharing your sex life fair enough, but details about your children - I think you’re being a little ridiculous tbh.

Oldwmn · 17/05/2026 17:03

Shinyblackstone · 15/05/2026 21:08

My mother is so secretive that once I went home to visit her and needed my hair cut urgently. She reluctantly told me where her hairdresser worked but informed me that I wasn't to say I was her daughter or mention me. Just act like a regular stranger off the street.

Now that's what I call weird!

Firefly1987 · 17/05/2026 21:16

Katemax82 · 17/05/2026 11:08

Yanbu. Your husband doesn't have to tell his mum everything. I get your frustration because my husband is the same, it pisses me right off. He has in the past...
Told his mum in graphic detail about a horrible infection I got in my vagina when we first met

Gone crying yo his mum about every row we ever had

Told his dad warped versions of me getting into debt (i ran up a few catalogues, he made it sound like I'd gone on a 5k bender in one hit)

Gone on the family group chat and told the whole family in microscopic detail about the IVA he had taken out a few years ago and how he was worried he would have his car taken off him as he had to do a final optional payment at the end of the loan or give it back. He cc'd his uncle and uncles wife in America just to make sure all our private personal lives were shared as widely as possible.

We're going through hell with our 2 autistic kids regarding school. Every time something happens he tells me to WhatsApp his mum to "keep her in the loop" I don't.

Screenshot my response to a bad argument we had the previous day about his grown up son in which I had said a few home truths about him, then he sent the screenshot to his other grown up son

I recently shared our daughters autism assessment report with him via screenshot on WhatsApp. I had to remind him not to share it with everyone in the family especially his grown up sons otherwise I would divorce him.

He also finds it acceptable when out with people I don't know to video call me and get me to say hello to strangers (normally while I look like crap) so now if I get a WhatsApp video call when he's out I turn my camera off

It's not unreasonable to expect a bit of privacy

Any chance your husband is also on the spectrum?

Payitforward55 · 17/05/2026 22:43

Oh I'm so with you OP. Your husband needs to learn some cop on about what shout be repeated. Issues that someday your son would rather forget shouldn't be part of the daily update to his mum. Your son doing well or not so well in exams etc of course share but something big no. Not everyone will judge him like you and you never know when it will be brought up again. I too have learnt to not tell my husband things if I don't want them repeated. He is getting better but sometimes just doesn't know when to shut up.

CallOfDemons · 17/05/2026 23:17

I completely understand where you’re coming from because I’m in the same situation with my mother in law. My partner tells her everything, and then she goes on to tell everyone else just like she tells us everyone else’s business too. It’s so frustrating, and I know how awful it feels when you don’t even want to tell him anything anymore 🙁

Notpop · 18/05/2026 10:57

I think in situations like this your DC deserves some privacy. Things have a way of getting back to the wrong people, particularly if your MIL thinks it's OK to tell everyone she comes into contact with (my MIL is exactly the same so we only give her 'edited highlights' of what's going on). I too feel uncomfortable knowing everything about SIL/BIL/FIL's health 'issues' and I certainly wouldn't want them knowing all mine! So, no, in this situation you ANBU

Tuesdayschild50 · 18/05/2026 20:28

It depends what it is they're relaying back.. if his parents are genuinely caring or concerned they could help with words of wisdom..
It could be your hubby needs another perspective.
I get you being protective of your son I understand this.
Some things are best kept between a family I mean just mum dad and kids to maintain trust.
Maybe you can find a middle ground with hubby in that certain things are only between yourselves to stop blathering everything to everyone.
I do think your mum has affected you also x

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