Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

That this a divorce-worthy holiday.

55 replies

OffWith · 28/08/2026 12:43

Name changed because this is definitely going to be outing, and I know some of the relatives are on here, but I just don't fucking care anymore.

We are short of money at the moment so had to save all year for a week in the UK (two young dc, one with SEN) FIL passed away last year, so we invited MIL and my DM. We knew it may be one of the last group family holidays we may have.

From the start I had a feeling that I had made a mistake. MIL started insisting on a certain seaside location. Saying we would all love it and it would mean so much to her. It isn't what we would usually choose as we usually like walks and exploring moors, forest, beaches and caves, but she was so insistent that we gave in. It has lots of shops/pubs/restaurants but not much for children (we figured we could drive out and explore nearby places).

We go home in three days. The disasters that have occured so far:

  1. BIL and awful wife SIL showed up as a 'surprise' when we arrived. I had a sinking feeling as MIL had dropped a few hints but I thought she couldn't be serious. That was fun to deal with, and by 'deal' with, I mean realise I have a spineless DH problem because I was not backed up. They expected the holiday to stop revolving around the dc and start being about sitting in cafes and pubs with them.

  2. My dd had an emergency that required an a&e trip and a few hours in hospital. I feel guilty that the one hour drive there and back, and the a&e stay, felt so relaxing compared to the rest of the holiday.

  3. MIL suddenly insisted she needed to be pushed about in a wheelchair and couldn't possibly go anywhere without one. She did mention having a 'poorly leg' so I offered to book her a scooter a month before the holiday. She insisted she didn't need one. Took days to hire one as they were all to be booked in advance.

  4. Aforementioned shitty BIL started calling MIL and telling her that we were so rude (the one mercy is they were in different accomodation), that no one had made any special effort to welcome him or make a fuss of his birthday (that he had already recieved gifts for), invite him to our apartment, or involve him on day trips (I offered one, he refused as that was for just 'kids').

This caused an almighty row when I finally snapped at MIL when she was weeping over how we had ' not treated' her son.

MIL, BIL and DH are all friends again now. It is just me that is the problem for not getting in line apparently.

Even with all the effort I could muster dc have picked up on an atmosphere, and though they've tried, I can tell they have not enjoyed it and are disappointed.

I am apoplectic. Those immature, narcissistic bellends have ruined what may have been the last holiday I have with my DM and the children. And I know damn well that when we are back home, MIL will expect me to become her personal assistant without complaint again. And expect me to take her on holiday again, not sure she realises yet that hell will have to freeze over first.

And spineless DH will expect me to fall in line, forget they've completely ruined our ONE family holiday and roll over with my belly up like he does. In his eyes, he couldn't be annoyed his brother showed up unannounced, and his shit stirring mother making everything about her and the golden child is just a 'caring mum' getting involved and upset.

AIBU to be seriously, and I mean seriously considering divorce just to get away from having to deal with these people anymore? Written down I know it doesn't look like much, but the level of stress every single day this week is hard to get across!

OP posts:
sugarplumlily · 28/08/2026 20:17

She also said one night at dinner that all women who complain about childbirth pain are pathetic and she did it without any pain relief and that all women should shut up and get on with it.

Justbrieme · 28/08/2026 20:32

YANBU I have awful in laws, as does my DH 😂 just really awful, criminal behaviour, violence, abuse, those sorts of things, both sides, proper awful.

We tried to muddle along early in our marriage but eventually we had to be ruthless with boundaries and with that the relationships have petered out.

The thing that got us through was therapy individually to acknowledge how really bad and serious a situation it was and us getting on the same page.

We have very limited interaction with some members of his family and only interactions with my lovely extended family, not my own direct family.

Getting on the same page has made our lives lovely, pleasant and really peaceful. It is delightful. You need to do some couples therapy with your husband.

LizzieSiddal · 29/08/2026 09:05

OffWith · 28/08/2026 20:02

I genuinely did think it would probably be ok in the beginning.

When we all went away a few years ago (with both sets of parents) it was fun and relaxing. Everyone got on, there was no drama and the dc had a great time.

I really miss sane FIL.

Don’t beat yourself up! You tried to do a nice thing, which is what nice people do. You’ve really learnt from this how to deal with this family going forward and I hope your H has too.

Elsvieta · 29/08/2026 15:12

Drop the rope. Stop acting as her PA and of DH has got a problem with that, he can run her errands. You may well find that when it's him instead of you that has to do the work that goes with putting up with her, he'll miraculously grow a backbone.

Crazycockerpoo · 29/08/2026 15:20

It seems like every day I read a post that makes me so glad I'm single...

This is today's post 😁

No dealing with other people's dysfunctional family, I have enough to deal with, with my own! Take your own DM out and ignore the whole drama. Then when you get home start making more time with your DM so you don't feel like you've lost time with her. Thats what is important right now, nothing else 💐

New posts on this thread. Refresh page