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Parents of adult children

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Daughter in law issue

447 replies

Carleajam · 19/12/2024 09:00

I have a bit of an issue that is bothering me. A week ago I asked my son and his wife plus daughter who is 16 months now if they would like to go on a weekend break next year paid for by us. I messaged this and as usual got no response. After several days with no response I messaged again only to get a message back from DI saying they are very busy and will think about it.
Historically this is very familiar. In the past I have invited them to come away with us but there is always an excuse not to come. It's not just holidays but I've invited them for days out or meals even before they had their daughter.
I look after my GD once a week but would so love to spend a bit of quality time with everyone as a family.
The thing that hurts me the most is they go down to Dorset at least twice a year with her family as her sister lives there.
The problem is I don't know how to address this issue without causing upset. DI gets very defensive and I've had issues in the past where I'm made to feel guilty for making her feel guilty if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong I get on OK with her but she is the boss and I'm wasting my time even saying anything to my son because he is under the thumb so to speak.
I don't really get it because when my kids were little when my mum and dad offered to take us away I used to jump at the chance. It really hurts me how I am offering something nice and they don't even acknowledge my invite or even act grateful. Who knows they may decide to come in the end which will be a miracle but if they decide not to how can I explain my hurt without causing upset.

OP posts:
Parker231 · 19/12/2024 10:26

Carleajam · 19/12/2024 09:47

I'm not trying to excuse my son. He just has a terrible habit of never responding to messages. .Anything I say to him goes straight back to his wife. He never seems to have a mind of his own.

Why not ring him - why does everything take place via messages?

GreenGrass28 · 19/12/2024 10:29

Agree, you should be looking to your son rather dil. He's rude if he is happy to let you watch his child weekly, but doesn't bother to even reply to your messages. I'd be pulling him up on that.

I feel like it's really common for mother-in-laws to label the dil as the 'boss' or 'in charge', when actually the husband / son has often forced them into that role because they're too lazy to facilitate relations with his own family.

Your dil probably goes to see her family more because she puts the effort in to maintain a relationship with them. They are her family. Your son has exactly the same options and opportunity to do the same with his family, but he's choosing not to. That's not her fault or her job.

Look, you're very generous helping them with childcare weekly and I don't want to disregard that. But if you're feeling unappreciated, that's really on your son and you need to communicate that with him. You don't have to guilt him, just tell him what you want eg I'd appreciate it if your could reply to my messages. I'd like to see you, can you tell me what works for you so we can make it happen.

Also, just an fyi, your dil knows that you only think she's 'ok' and that you perceive her to be the 'boss' over your poor hen pecked son. She knows and that will be why she's resistant. She'll naturally gravitate to people who think more of her.

I say this as a dil who knows my mil thinks similar of me. She's never explicitly said it, but I know all the same. My family however think I'm lovely and easy going and don't think I'm an overbearing boss boots who orders my dh about (because I'm not!). So guess who I want to spend more time with?

fiorentina · 19/12/2024 10:30

It’s definitely rude not to respond at all - especially from your son. However my MIL wanted to take us all away - admittedly older DC who are at school plus do many activities and we seriously have such little time. Annual leave is used for family holidays - rare time just us, and weekends they have sporting commitments. If your son and DIL both work then maybe this seems an added pressure rather than the nice break you think it could be?
Also your tone when describing her isn’t that pleasant so maybe she finds it awkward and not that fun?

Carleajam · 19/12/2024 10:31

I did give him a call today. He works long shifts and I can't always keep ringing him...hopefully we can sort something out.

OP posts:
bigkidatheart · 19/12/2024 10:33

a daughter is a daughter all of your life, a son is a son until he takes a wife

atotalshambles · 19/12/2024 10:36

I think it is just the dynamic with some sons and wives. I would worry that complaining about the lack of communication would make things worse. Ultimately when you are an adult you can choose who you want to spend time with. I would accept that she is the 'boss' (were you when your kids were little as well?) and concentrate on building a relationship with her even if it you are not happy with the dynamic If she enjoys spending time with you then it is more likely that she will be happy to come on holiday with you and you can build the relationship you want.

godmum56 · 19/12/2024 10:40

ok....my take is that they don't want to do this but don't want to be upfront and say so....which is fair enough, you'd feel worse if you got a clear "no thank you" response. My late mil and fil were lovely people but were very different from my DH and I.....we liked different things and while we did meet up for meals and so on, it was always a bit "mannered" and not relaxed. Not their fault and not ours.

Mylovelygreendress · 19/12/2024 10:42

It never fails to amaze me how these men who never respond to messages , never remember birthdays , never organise anything etc manage to hold down jobs !

reesiespieces · 19/12/2024 10:42

Carleajam · 19/12/2024 10:11

I agree to a certain extent but if I push my son for an answer I know I will just get he needs to check with his wife. I'm scared to say anything to him because everything I say goes back to her

I think he might be using her as an excuse and just doesn't want to go.

I don't stop my husband from seeing his family, in fact I encourage it, but when he doesn't want to go they often round it up to me not allowing him to go but that's never the case. 🤷🏻‍♀️

arethereanyleftatall · 19/12/2024 10:43

Crikey your son is incredibly rude. Was he always this rude growing up and what were his consequences?

Do you do the weekly babysitting for free?

It seems he's happy to take from you, but give nothing back.

Onelifeonly22 · 19/12/2024 10:46

I agree this is a son issue not a DIL issue - really rude of him not to at least acknowledge your kind offer. It may simply be that they feel they see you regularly anyway if they see you each week - whereas if her sister is in Dorset, they are presumably not seeing each other every week so it makes sense that they prioritise holidays with her (and her parents then get to go as well). I think this is totally normal and probably how I would feel if I saw one relative each week and one is the other side of the country. Time off and weekends get so full - she may get defensive because she feels bad but doesn't feel she has it in her. So perhaps you need to spell it out to your son that you'd like to spend some time with him as well (and your DIL), not just caring for your grandchild. This doesn't quite explain why they also turned down meal offers pre baby though.

Mix56 · 19/12/2024 10:47

She doesnt want to go

Jingleberryalltheway · 19/12/2024 10:48

When your son was growing up did his Dad organise things with his parents and spend time with them? This kind of behaviour or norm is often learnt from parents.

user23124 · 19/12/2024 10:49

Your son has "bad habits" but his wife "bad intentions" - can you not see this is not a reasonable way of viewing it? She will be sick and tired of his laziness and lack of arranging anything I imagine - why should she arrange the trips to see you? This is his problem.

Bumbers · 19/12/2024 10:50

My DH can be truly terrible at replying to family and friends, and often doesnt want to commit to things. Despite me nagging. It sounds like a DS issue to me as well!

jannier · 19/12/2024 10:50

Carleajam · 19/12/2024 10:11

I agree to a certain extent but if I push my son for an answer I know I will just get he needs to check with his wife. I'm scared to say anything to him because everything I say goes back to her

But isn't that how arrangements work ...you are asked, you then check with partner if it fits with plans....

PixieMcGraw · 19/12/2024 10:51

I do feel for you, unpaid childcare is very generous and no doubt taken for granted and you obviously feel hurt. I do believe in families there needs to be give and take. I have been away with my in-laws (Centreparcs and weekend country breaks etc) when I definitely didn't really want to because it is not particularly relaxing but I know that most people wouldn't. Building strong bonds with extended family (unless there are wellbeing issues like disciplining style and toxic behaviour) is important but ultimately doesn't depend on your DIL or son for that matter. I would advise to let it go, continue to be a wonderful GP and build that relationship which will continue into the future when grandchildren can decide for themselves what sort of contact they have with you.
Just for context, I have two adult sons. They had many more hours with my mother as children but as grown ups they visit my PILs more frequently and have a lovely bond.

Jellycats4life · 19/12/2024 10:54

The older I get, the more I realise that men are fundamentally lazy and will more often than not just go along with whatever their wives want to do with their free time.

That rhyme about a son only being yours until he finds a wife has to have some basis in fact, otherwise it wouldn’t exist.

ItGhoul · 19/12/2024 10:54

Don't get me wrong I get on OK with her but she is the boss and I'm wasting my time even saying anything to my son because he is under the thumb so to speak

I wouldn't want to spend time with my MIL if she spoke about me like this.

LottieMary · 19/12/2024 10:55

As a DIL I'm fed up of managing the relationship between my dh and his parents so I've stopped. If they don't want to see each other enough to sort it out that's fine.
I like them well enough and love a holiday! But I have enough with my own family, work and extended family. I'll make sure we see them a couple of times a year for the children to have a relationship but it's on them to do more

mnreader · 19/12/2024 10:55

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Schoolchoicesucks · 19/12/2024 10:55

bigkidatheart · 19/12/2024 10:33

a daughter is a daughter all of your life, a son is a son until he takes a wife

Jesus. What low expectations some people have of their sons.

ItGhoul · 19/12/2024 10:56

Carleajam · 19/12/2024 09:47

I'm not trying to excuse my son. He just has a terrible habit of never responding to messages. .Anything I say to him goes straight back to his wife. He never seems to have a mind of his own.

Why have you called this thread 'Daughter in law issue' when it's your son that's the problem?

OAPapparently · 19/12/2024 10:58

If they both work, holidays are precious. I don’t think it’s a sign they don’t value you necessarily, I think they are using avoidance because they don’t want a family holiday with more than just their family unit and probably don’t know how to tell you.

If they said to you they didn’t want to go, are you good with taking ‘no’ for an answer? I use avoidance for the people who don’t take ‘no’ as my answer and start telling me all the reasons I must go and unpicking my reasons why I can’t. It’s a headache when they ask us to do something that we don’t want to do.

If you are ok with hearing ‘no’ from people then I think it’s likely they just don’t want to go and are awkward about telling you. Tbh, the idea of a holiday with my in-laws is my idea of hell. I think it is for a lot of people.

They may not feel like they are ‘using you’ for childcare, they might be seeing it as an opportunity for you to spend time with your Grandchild without them there (because they don’t want to be there). I wouldn’t use it as a ‘I do babysitting for you, so you should want to come on holiday with me’ thing, because it could backfire and you end up losing that time with your Grandchild too.

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 19/12/2024 10:58

bigkidatheart · 19/12/2024 10:33

a daughter is a daughter all of your life, a son is a son until he takes a wife

Oh give over with this nonsense.

Men are perfectly capable of isolating and alienating their wives and girlfriends and do so quite often.

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