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FIL - I can’t bare him and his stupid behaviour and I’m close to exploding

704 replies

Sovereigns · 03/08/2026 14:51

I feel like I’m going to snap. I’ve name changed as I’ve spoken to a few people in real life about this and it would be obvious who I am.

My father in law - I’ve never liked him. I don’t know what it is, he has the most annoying face and stupid expressions. He always has to be centre of attention. On our wedding day the person doing the video went over to him and he just stared into it with a stupid grin slowly opening a bottle of wine and it completely ruined the video as it’s so, so annoying. Everyone says so, it’s not just me.

During the summer holidays he’s taken it upon himself to visit every morning to see the kids (unfortunately he only lives a short walk away). He lets himself in through the back door and then just stands there in the kitchen grinning, not saying anything. I’ve started just completely ignoring him until he walks in and speaks like a normal person.

Thing is I can feel myself boiling over with rage. On Friday he came in, stood there not speaking so I ignored him and he suddenly shouted “I’ve Brayed my Bonce!” Baby was asleep, woke up in shock, started crying and I was so annoyed I just snapped and said “Right. Why did you come here then?” Whilst I saw to the baby.

On Saturday DH made a big carrot cake and FIL came in and shouted “where’s my lump?”. DH said we’re not cutting it yet. Later that evening he rang up saying “don’t forget I want a lump”.

Yesterday morning he came around and said “when am I getting my lump?” So I snapped and said “DH will you just cut him some cake please, I’m getting sick of hearing about the fucking thing”. He winds me up more than anyone I have ever met. I’m getting annoyed just writing this post.

This morning he came in - stood in the kitchen grinning with his arm outstretched holding the tub the cake was put in so I snapped “what??? Just put it on the side!! What are you just stood there with it for??”

he put it down and said “right, I assume you’re busy so I’ll leave you to it” and left. Now I’m thinking is it me??

OP posts:
floopyboop · 28/09/2026 09:44

ContractorQuestion · 03/08/2026 15:10

Waking the baby is wrong, but other than that, what you’ve described sounds like a you problem.
You start by saying you don’t like his face, that’s pathetic and immature. Your DH, if his biological son, will grow older to look like that face.
Doing something he thought funny on a wedding video doesn’t ruin the whole video. “Everyone says so”, really? Or are they pacifying you?
Making the effort to see his grandchildren, how awful. Making a joke about a cake? Yes, a bit irritating to carry on the next day but nothing to cause an argument over.
In some families (such as mine!) it’s normal to pop in and out of each others houses, the door is unlocked. If that’s a problem for you, raise it in a mature way, have a conversation about knocking, or arranging times.
You sound angry and I don’t see how he can be the entire cause of your rage.

I know nothing about this man other than reading OP's post and even I'm irritated by him. He evidently thinks he's hilarious... I bet he says things like "I'm mad, me!" (no you're not, you're a )

That in itself is worthy of a whinge on Mumsnet, but letting himself in the house and just standing there? Loudly announcing himself in the oddest way? Has he not noticed that nobody seems pleased to see him and that he keeps waking the baby and pissing his daughter in law off? The lack of self awareness would make me raaaage.

OP is in no way the problem!!!

(Also OP I sincerely hope you are planning a nice Christmas away somewhere because dealing with that on Christmas Day would have me necking the cooking brandy).

TorroFerney · 28/09/2026 09:54

ConsiderEnd · 03/08/2026 15:10

I have a theory in life that you can work on every emotion apart from irritation. It sounds like you are so irritated by this man that everything he does will now annoy you. I would be exactly the same. From your brief description, it has made me want to kill him! Sorry I have no solutions but you have my sympathy.

Does he need to be the centre of attention usually? Does he think he’s funny?

Edited

Agree (know this is an old post). When you get to this stage he could say today is Monday and you’d take offence !

floopyboop · 28/09/2026 09:58

Oh my God I've just read your remaining posts OP... I'd be issuing my husband with an ultimatum. Move house (far away!) or divorce. And he needs to sit his dad down and tell him he's an annoying prick and that he's driving everyone away and stop trying to be funny for the love of all that is good.

PinkEasterbunny · 28/09/2026 12:28

floopyboop · 28/09/2026 09:58

Oh my God I've just read your remaining posts OP... I'd be issuing my husband with an ultimatum. Move house (far away!) or divorce. And he needs to sit his dad down and tell him he's an annoying prick and that he's driving everyone away and stop trying to be funny for the love of all that is good.

Totally this. The OP's description reminds me of one of ex-DH's relatives. I can only describe him as a 'professional northerner' who made anything and everything about Lancashire. Before there's a pile-on, 99% people I've met from the north are perfectly sane. But he invented a persona that crossed Benny Hill with Dad's Army and Last of the Summer Wine. He thought he was hilarious, but he wasn't.

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