Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

It's a genuine question. MIL related.

36 replies

TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied · 20/11/2009 19:59

I'm always whinging about her but this time I just want to know if I'm cutting my nose off to spite my face or if enough's enough.

Sorry this is long.

MIL fussed and fussed when I was preggers with DS, she said it was her only chance to have another baby as she'd had a MC. When he was a day old he stopped breathing, we were rushed to hospital, where she turned up uninvited with half the family on children's ward, in tears, fussing around DS and DH and totally ignoring me. I'd just given birth and then thought my baby had died in my arms and watched them struggle to put a canula in etc (I know people go through worse but it was scary and I hadn't slept for days). So was in a bit of a state.

Anyway, I never said anything but she started to get weird over the next few weeks. She wanted to have a say in every tiny little thing with DS and started saying things like DH's ex fiance was asking after DS etc, when she knows we don't like each other and I was very hormonal (actually had PND).

She then turned and to others she went on about how she always had DS and he was doing this that and the other but she'd rarely bother to see him and she kicked off and left his christening early as she wasn't centre of attention.

Recently she's been saying to others that she needs reminding by her Dh that she has a grandson as she is so close to her great nephew that she just can't share out her attention. There is a lot of attention around this child as his mum died after giving birth and she gets attention when she's around him IYSWIM.

This time I'm pregnant she barely mentions it, she never calls, she never asks to see DS, she minds him one afternoon a week for a couple of hours so that they can have some nana-grandson time but she sometimes tries to get out of this saying she's going shopping or to the pub etc. She never visits our house (round the corner) and if we visit her we're made to feel unwelcome.

As you can imagine, the story is a whole lot bigger than this and I'm just giving little bits I feel are relevant, or an overview.

We asked her weeks ago if she'd like to come round the night we have a 4D scan and watch the video, explained my family and some more of DH's family were coming, that it's a ten min DVD and we'd put on a few drinks etc- a little family gathering. She said she would.

The 4D scan is tomorrow afternoon and we're travelling for it so everyone is coming round in the evening. She has just rung and said she won't be coming as her and her DH want to go to the pub. Her DH is grandchild mad so this won't be his decision. She said they'll call round Sunday. She does this all the time to be controlling- e.g, she tried to change the date of DS's christening for no apparent reason.

I don't want to spend Sunday with them when we've had everyone round Sat night. DH is working all day so it means them coming late and she'll expect us to keep DS up or will be loud and purposely wake him (all this has happened before). I have loads of work to do and I want to go and see my friend who's Dh has just left her and she's got a 12 week old baby. Then I want to put DS to bed and curl up with DH before we start a weeks work again.

So can I just tell her not to come on Sunday?

OP posts:
theworldsgoneDMmad · 20/11/2009 21:16

Of course you can tell her not to come on Sunday. The only reason she doesn't want to come on Saturday is because she doesn't want to share.

"tell her your really hurt she doesn't pay attention etc
tell her you feel left out etc
tell her you feel shes making excuses.."

Well meant, I'm sure, but this is likely only going to end in histrionics from the MIL. Why bother?

You've gone above and beyond the call of duty. Just step back now and if she's bothered, let her come to you.

If she complains behind your back that you never contact her anymore, just remember that you can be content in the knowledge that you did all you could.

TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied · 20/11/2009 21:24

Could i sort of hijack my own thread as I have another question.

On xmas day last year she demanded we go to her and we said no, as it was Ds's first xmas she could come to us for bacon rolls and to see him with all his toys etc. In the end she gave in. This year she has opted to work until 1.30pm so she can't come and see DS on xmas morn. Her DH is coming to see DS. Later on, we're having our own xmas for first time ever (someone pass me a cookbook!) and she is going for lunch at her mums with the rest of the family.

She said she won't be seeing DS at all on xmas and DH asked her if she'd like to call round after work. She said 'no way, I'm going to the pub then for dinner. You can bring him to see me at work on xmas morn.'

I looked the other way to avoid killing her with an evil stare, but she kept going on about it. There's no reason why she can't pop in and see him playing with his toys on xmas before she goes for lunch. My family will also be popping round to see DS.

Why has she got to be so selfish. There's no way I'm dragging DS away from his toys xmas day to go and see her at work when we have visitors all morning. DS is at the age where he understands and he gets excited about new toys and people coming to see him etc now.

OP posts:
PerArduaAdNauseum · 20/11/2009 21:34

Blimey. Just say No. Again and again... Or say you'll take DS and then phone/text and say not possible on the morning. Please feel no compunction about lying to her where necessary - she clearly has a detached relationship with the truth herself.

And as to the 2 hours a week - why don't you suggest that she just come to you for playtime, while you get on with chores? That way you can just plan to be at home, making it much less disruptive when she cancels.

lizziemun · 20/11/2009 21:36

She wants to see your ds at the pub, so she can play the doting grandmother.

If she won't come christmas day then tell she can pop around on boxing day.

groundhogs · 20/11/2009 22:21

get the DVD copied, get the copy put through her door, then she can watch it if she wants to, and the reason for coming round will no longer exist.

If you have plans and she won't fit in with them, tough titty, both for the DVD party and Christmas. Tell her when IS available, and it's down to her to make it work, you've bent over backwards to accommodate her and she still wriggles and wriggles.

She's playing the martyr, let her. If you think she's less than keen to spend the couple of hours with your DS, knock it on the head.

Don't pander to her, she'll have to stop behaving like a spoiled child eventually.

Raise your game. Take back control.

ilovepiccolina · 20/11/2009 22:29

Personally I would just 'forget' to ring/invite/call round and leave all contact to DH, until she grows up.

tulpe · 20/11/2009 23:43

You are not going to be able to make any progress with your MIL until she sorts herself out, tbh.

The comment about your DS1 being her baby after her MC......Just....No, actually.

She clearly needs to be centre of attention and nothing less. Very toxic situation. As others have said, distance yourself as much as poss and perhaps get DH to discuss with her - if he thinks she will listen.

This kind of thread makes me so . My MIL was lovely was I would hate to be the kind of MIL that gets complained about on MN.

NotAnotherNewNappy · 21/11/2009 00:07

Is it possible that you are trying to mix her with your family (to kill 2 birds with one stone?) but that she would rather see your DH and DS own her own - possibly so that she can enjoy more of their attention?

The thing on saturday, will your side of the family be there as well? Xmas day after work, will your be there as well?

If so then I can sort of understand how she feels. I notice that when my mum and my MIL are both around my DD then MIL very much takes a back seat and seems a bit lost.

I think maybe YABU as she doesn't sound that bad. Though the comment about DS being her last baby as she MC was creepy.

TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied · 21/11/2009 19:59

NotAnother- nah my family won't be there at xmas, they pop round very early on before she's even out of bed and she knows this, she just likes to be awkward.

Some good advice on here.

She rang DH drunk and said she'll be round tomorrow. DH said he was at work and she said 'well I don't need you, my daughter in law will be there'.

I'm only her 'DIL' when she feels like it IYSWIM.

So do I say I'm out? Have far too much college work to do and like I said, aside from that I have plans.

OP posts:
groundhogs · 21/11/2009 20:22

yeah, GO out! do your work at the library, in a bus stop if you have to....

snapple · 21/11/2009 20:52

Ofcourse go out. Her problems and issues - such as getting drunk - don't need to be yours - try not to take them on - I know it must be difficult but life is short.

Good luck.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page