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Divorce/separation

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Family in laws

53 replies

MoreCheeseEverywhere · 14/10/2026 21:49

Did your in-laws stay in touch with you after you separated? My ex had an affair with a girl half his age but despite it all being his doing I've been dropped by my in-laws like a hot potato.

I used to go to their house every week, helped out with errands, sorted their admin, their internet, wrote letters for them etc. In 30 years I have had a cross word with my parents in laws or my sister and brother in laws nor any of their spouses. I've been an attentive aunt to their kids - remembered their birthdays, bought the birthday and xmas presents. Ex-Dh did fuck all in that area.

Ex-Dh is a grandiose narcissist and MIL is a covert narcissist (always the victim - hence all the letters I wrote for her for whenever she was "wronged" by various companies).

I was with him for 30 years and I've been absolutely excommunicated from their side of the family. MIL even bitched about me to my DC. I understand it from him and my MIL but I don't understand why my bro and sister in law and their other halves have also done that.

OP posts:
Pumpkinsaregrowingnicely · 15/10/2026 10:45

I never gave mine a second thought..the feeling was mutual.

Even when exh doesn't get court ordered access to our older dc I still didn't hear from them.

RaraRachael · 15/10/2026 13:13

Gall10 · 15/10/2026 10:38

But also remember….you can choose your friends but not your family!

Totally agree @Gall10. I spend no time with family members but lots with friends.

DrEllisGrey · 18/10/2026 08:16

The word “Grief” is used after divorce and this is one of the situations it applies. You grieve your split from you ex and then, bam, it hits you that you’re grieving the ending of a relationship with your in laws.

What you’ve described is really common.

I was so close to my MIL, and one of the SIL. Did a lot for all of them, felt like I was a doting DIL. I was dropped like a ton of bricks and the new GF filled my shoes before I’d taken them off. Heartbreaking.

I stopped trying to please. My focus remained on DC and the co parenting relationship. His family could go fuck themselves for all I care now.

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