How can i say NO to family visits

[Hyland]

Sister in law reduced hours at work.

To see neice every week.

This wasnt discussed with me but I believe it was with my partner.

I dont like that this arrangment was set up without me fully understanding.

It annoys me that I assume I am expected to see her same day every week.

If i make an excuse I feel it will only result in my partner being offended.

I dont like them having a hold over me where I feel commited to seeing her every week. Despite it being only for an hour or two, it is more the principle.

How old is your DD? can you go out while SIL bsbysits so you don't have to see her?

Failing that can you be busy on that day? Perhaps DD has a class you need her to go to?

7 weeks old

I have no intention of leaving her to babysit.

Live in the middle of the countryside so I am usually home.

My first born child (different father) was also never left with anyone, babysitting. Not until tge age of 2 and half ish.

Sorry your SIL has gone PT at work to see your DD, am I reading that right?

That's properly BONKERS

Yep she has booked the afternoon off work Permanently.

Seriously? She has changed her hours to see her niece every week? That sounds very strange and over invested. I adore my niece and see lots of her but I wouldn't change my working pattern.

At 7 weeks old your baby is too young to be left for very long and even then only if you want to do so.

It is called condensed hours.

I think she had this fantasy idea of being able to take her for walks.

I am not that sort of person, and have no intention of allowing this.

However i do feel cornered.

Every week i get a text asking how i am doing. Knowing that what will follow, will be can she come over.

I agree with Silver, this is a bit strange. Also the fact that your DP and her discussed this with each other but not you. I would say you are under no obligation to see her at the same time every week. If she has went part time, that was her decision, not yours. I wouldn't be leaving a 7 week old baby either. However in the future maybe she could babysit. I would also be telling DP not to make arrangements with people without discussing it with you first.

That is very odd! Perhaps she will get fed up and do something different with her spare afternoon. However, I'd definitely go with finding something else to do - the only baby sensory class happened to clash, what a shame?!!

7 weeks? That's brand new! Definitely not the babysitting route then, far to soon.
I'd be out or busy on that day. Perhaps see her every now and then but not weekly, that's rather presumptuous of her.

Now that our baby is 7 weeks old I think they have all realised that I dint need anyone to look after baby to shower or have a break. I manage quite well, with some planning and organisation. I do get agitated when i get the weekly text, knowing that her polite request to come round is in fact an expectation!

Aw such a shame. The mum and baby session is on that exact day. Oh well.

I can be very childish. I would arrange it that he sees someone on a weekly basis without bothering to talk to him about it. See how he likes it. Wouldn't be a mate that he could bugger off to the pub with either.

Ignore the text or head her off :

" we are great thanks, just off out, speak later, byeeeeee"

And he can take his feeling offended and shove it. He should have thought about the impact on you before arranging anything.

If I ask for the car every Wednesday my partner will know I'm avoiding her.

This will very quickly blow up in my face.

I will add that she is over 10 years younger than me and has no children of her own.

Condensing work hours to visit a baby? That's a new one.

Yes, make yourself "busy." At that exact date and time. Permanently.

Well I think she is bonkers! But unless you are getting plenty of time to yourself anyway (by DH taking over babycare) then I would grab this with both hands and make the most of it by going off and doing my own thing. I might even ask her if she would come every week same time and day because there was X class I wanted to take. She might be feeling a bit taken for granted by that and back off

I have ignored her text.

I am now waiting for him to text me and ask if I've heard from his sister and replied.

Awkward

Feels like I am starting an argument.

Being made to feel like I am being unreasonsble.

I'd be annoyed at this too. I don't like having my time managed for me.

The danger with a standaibg arrangement is that she will eventually feel entitled to that time and aggrieved if it's not available. I might occasionally arrange to have a doctor's appointment or similar at that time so that I could legitimately say no without offence.

Well sometimes you need a nap after being up with the baby at night. Usually a Wednesday afternoon nap.

Are you close to SIL? Would you spend time on your own with her prior to the birth of your baby?

Wouldn't be a mate that he could bugger off to the pub with either.

No it would have to be one of OPs family wouldn't it? Perhaps she has an eccentric uncle who likes to talk about his vegetable plot.

I think it's a bit unfair to ignore but if you don't want to see her then come up with something else you're doing - new mum friends, nap etc to put her off before it becomes a habit. Do you not like her? I wouldn't have minded a chat over a cuppa every Wednesday afternoon frankly

Maybe she's trying to be nice and genuinely doesn't understand that it's a little too much.
Talk to your partner. Explain how you feel.

How about Just about to nap.
If the response from either is to be pissed off then let the argument happen. It's going to happen sooner rather than later. But to be pissed a new born and mum sleeping is low and deserves them being told.