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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Why do relationships with MIL and DIL get so difficult after we've had children?

178 replies

IA71 · 17/09/2012 09:06

Do you think it is the MIL trying to keep her position as top dog in motherhood? Are they trying to keep the DIL 'in her place' ie below her? What is the point in all these insults and jibes? Should a DIL keep her mouth shut and let the MIL say what she wants just to keep the peace?

OP posts:
BonnieBumble · 20/09/2012 17:55

After dh and I married my relationship with mil hit rock bottom it then improved for a while and got bad again after the birth of my first child. It has improved after having my second child.

Dh was the first of her children to move away and she saw me as a threat to her family. It has been quite useful as I know how not to be when I'm a mil.

A lot of it is also down to personality differences.

sickofpolitics · 20/09/2012 18:25

Whatever! This blogging cat fight is beyond me...the problem with 'women' is instead of coming up with productive solutions we end up in having arguments...it is coming from a woman myself and thats why i say 'sickofpolitics'...

pictish · 20/09/2012 18:52

Err...you started the argument? Confused

sickofpolitics · 20/09/2012 18:54

Nope! I didnt :)

elizaregina · 20/09/2012 19:09

I think some DILs have problems because they married a man who is spineless.

! Spineless" hmmmmmm, alot of the mils in particular some people have mentioned on here and thier families have done all they can ""Not" to raise a man who can assert himself but one who must be submissive to the narc MIL. They have not been interested in raising inviduals but servants/slaves to themselves.

If they have been subjected to such DM - as the MILS have turned out - alot of the time they also tend to end up trying to be people pleasers and peace keepers. They often dont know how to handle the two women in thier lives.

I think the DFIL have a massive role to play in keeping DMILs in check - and smoothing things over....if they are also scared of their DW's there isnt much hope for anyone....

pictish · 20/09/2012 19:11

By the same token, I suppose you could say that some mils have problems because their sons are spineless, and won't speak out in defence of their mothers!

exoticfruits · 20/09/2012 19:15

I think that a lot of it is to do with DSs not standing up to them-they then get a partner who won't put up with it so it does cause problems. Being a parent means gradually letting go-if they won't let go then you get problems.

SuoceraBlues · 20/09/2012 19:19

..the problem with 'women' is instead of coming up with productive solutions we end up in having arguments

..the problem with people is instead of coming up with productive solutions we end up in having arguments

There, all fixed.

I think you are overlooking the nature of the thread. Generalised thread, generalised arguments, much too-ing and fro-ing, fairly "debaty". Specific poster with specific issue with specific relationship....productive solutions often forthcoming in spadefuls, debate tending to be a side dish.

IA71 · 20/09/2012 19:35

elizaregina ?that is a very good point that I have never thought of.

'! Spineless" hmmmmmm, alot of the mils in particular some people have mentioned on here and thier families have done all they can ""Not" to raise a man who can assert himself but one who must be submissive to the narc MIL.'

Sorry no idea how to do bold!

OP posts:
sickofpolitics · 20/09/2012 19:35

Thanks for fixing my words Suocerablues!

Anyways...moving on i'll give my bg if anyone is interested to share some thoughts feel free but again this is my particular situation i do not say or think that all mil's are like mine...

My mil is a 'puppet' there you go i said it...she gets influenced by her two daughters, her husband fil and her older son...my sister in laws who are complete cows...i'll give a recent example...since a few days i have been sick but despite this been forcing myself to go to work as i dont want sickness episodes on my file...anyways my hubby has been going out to various events one day after the other and today he asked his mum my mil to look after our lil girl so i can rest/recover from my sickness...my mil said yes at first to her son but then called this morning and cancelled on me...her excuse? Her daughter's in laws are coming at lunchtime and she offered them dinner despite the fact she had already offeres to babysit her granddaughter...now i believe i am generally a good daughter in law and have done alot for my in laws in times of need but when it's my turn i dont get any help...what i want to share or say is there is give and take in relationships and just by offering someone help but than cancelling on you is something i havent accustomed myself with...

Sorry for long msg...but i have countless examples of my in laws with similar situations & dont know what approach i should apply ...

elizaregina · 20/09/2012 20:23

By the same token, I suppose you could say that some mils have problems because their sons are spineless, and won't speak out in defence of their mothers!

Absolutly!!! In some cases....

Most DILS i have read about on here - just what I have read on here - not in
" general" have had to put up with totally ghaslty situs - where the son cant really defend the DM because what she has done is usually " in defensible".

Personally from my personal experience and in my large - family - the DM's who have a good relationship with thier sons, perhaps more than one - seem to be fine with DILs. Some have few problems but nothing serious - just the usual shallow problems that mean nothing in the large picture. I have had BF with slighty tricky mothers but usually have had no problems myself.

The problems I have seen get more serious is where the DM has doted on one son, perhaps doesnt have a great marriage or much to occupy herself, is self centered, controlling in some way, has narrow views and isnt willing to be open to new ideas or people. On rare occasion its been because the DIL has been problematic - on paper - drinking too much or not in thier eyes being a good wife.....or the son has been moaning about the wife to the mother....and understandibly she is concerned about her son...and dislikes the woman making him unhappy.

Usually they havant had a good relationship with the son either - and the arrival of a serious partner then exasperates that problem....

I think we all understand that some people get on and some dont - and all the nuances and differences there can be between us all....

Most DILs on here are talking about specific problems where they feel most definatly targeted by thier MILs.

halloweeneyqueeney · 20/09/2012 20:29

no nastiness here, we get along

but I think there's 2 factors:

  1. I think its a challenge for MILs to not favour their daughters babies over their son's babies because they feel connected to them earlier because one of her children carried it
  1. I think its often a challenge for a woman to be as open and sharing with their pregnancy, birth and early motherhood with their MIL as they are to their mother
sickofpolitics · 20/09/2012 20:36

Elizaregina

I must say you have got it spot in!

Most DILs on here are talking about specific problems where they feel most definatly targeted by thier MILs.

That is exactly how i feel 'targeted' and being a 'victim ' of mind games but through experiences i now know when someone is playing mind games with me & so normally i try to get out the situation but what hurts me the most is i forgive and forget and do things for my in laws and times of need i always get disappointment :(

sickofpolitics · 20/09/2012 20:44

Well Halloweeneyqueeney

My situation is different...when i got married mil would treat me like a princess and all bcos i used to live in my inlaws house after my marriage for 3 years then i fell pregnant while i was living with them but bcos my fil works overseas from time to time and instead of my Mil staying back and i could share my pregnancy experience with her as i felt i was close to her in that aspect she left me to take the responsibility of the big house and everything and she went to stat with my fil abroad...now there were opps for her to be involved the thing is when mil'a lie and say they love you as their own daughter and them abandon you when its your first pregancy that is just 'low character' ...when she found out her daughter was pregnant she travelled to middlesborough where her daughter was at that time and stayed with her for a month ! Now what will you think...

exoticfruits · 20/09/2012 21:35

I can't see why a MIL would favour her DDs children over her DIL - my mother certainly doesn't. I can't say that I know anyone where that happens.

halloweeneyqueeney · 20/09/2012 21:59

exotic fruits from a basic genetic/anthropology point of view it is widely accepted that paternal grandmothers tend to invest more in their daughter's children because they are the ones who they can be sure carries their dna and their son's children can be subconsciously "competition" for the guarenteed genetic grandchildren

(not that there's any doubting my child's paternity, he's his father's mini me, but still)

exoticfruits · 20/09/2012 22:16

Not in my experience. I think it would be horrible if my mother favoured my children. It is quite obvious that my brother's DCs carry her DNA - you only have to look at them. She actually sees more of them because of geography. Grandparents and grandchildren make their own relationships - it is only really down to the parents in the first few years. I think there is a lot of nonsense talked - I couldn't for one minute imagine that I would invest more in a DD's children. I have never had a favourite - I love them unconditionally.

exoticfruits · 20/09/2012 22:32

In fact I can't believe that either my brother or I would have a good relationship with my mother if she was going to base her relationship with her grandchildren on who gave birth.

halloweeneyqueeney · 20/09/2012 23:12

its not a conscious thing

DisastrousDiva · 21/09/2012 00:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

diddl · 21/09/2012 07:05

"I can't see why a MIL would favour her DDs children over her DIL"

Me neither.

But I can see how you might spend more time with your daughter & her children.

My MIL is a victim.

Everyone tiptoes around her so as not to upset herHmm

Odd to me, but then gives me an excuse, if I want one, not to say much to herBlush

She always called herself "2nd best GM"

Wouldn´t visit in the week when my husband was at work & has never been here to see us either(husband won´t promise to be off for the full duration of a visit)

So ILs have seen much less of the children than my parents.

So a sort of "self fulfilling prophecy"

I can´t imagine not bothering to see my -(only GC in MILs case as my husband is an only child)-because I didn´t get on so well with my DIL that we were like best friends.
Cordial/polite will do for me!

Thumbwitch · 21/09/2012 07:22

"I can't see why a MIL would favour her DDs children over her DIL"

Well, I can see why because it happens - your own DD will (in normal relationships) always be your DD, and if she splits up with her partner, she will still be your DD and you will still be able to see your GC with little problem.
Your DIL, if she splits up with your DS, may take the children many miles away and depending on your DS's contact, you may never see them again, or only so rarely that a true relationship is almost impossible. This does happen!

I actually get on ok with my MIL. She's a very kind and giving person, but we are both pretty strong minded (me more so, she has had a lot of dominant male characters in her life that she has given in to, I don't do that). I make efforts not to upset her, she makes efforts not to upset me - but there are still times we get on each others' nerves, I'm sure! We're not best buddies, but we like each other and so make an effort. DS gets on really well with her and is currently spending at least one night a week at hers on a sleepover - he loves this! DH would have her here every day if he could - I could not cope with that - but that's because she will do everything for him, given half a chance (cooking, cleaning, washing up, washing etc.) whereas I make him share the load of cooking and washing up.

exoticfruits · 21/09/2012 08:15

As a DIL I made sure that my PIL saw their grandchild when I remarried and they were also grandparents to my DCs of the second marriage - likewise the new grandparents were grandparents of the eldest.
I am pleased that I don't, consciously or unconsciously, favour DCs depending on who gave birth.
As a grandchild I made my own relationship anyway. It had nothing to do with my mother's relationship- I can't see why I should get on best with her mother because she does- I am not my mother. Maybe your DD and your MIL are like two peas in a pod!

exoticfruits · 21/09/2012 08:16

There are lots of mothers and daughters who don't get on.

exoticfruits · 21/09/2012 08:18

The grandchild that my mother spent the most time with as a baby was my brothers because SIL wasn't well.

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