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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

Overbearing MIL and SIL am I overreacting???

75 replies

Mamasasha · 16/11/2013 00:58

I've always got on well with MIL and she had a difficult time since 2011 due my DHs older brother quite literally disappearing without a trace and still not returning 2 years later, I have always tried to be a constant support to her and have always made time for her to come to our house for lunches and gardening sessions etc. She was as thrilled as we were when we announced the pregnancy, first grandchild for all our family, so it's a big deal! I understand this but I'm not quite sure if there has been some scientific study to prove whether us DILs character mutates when pregnant and all of a sudden our MILS become "the enemy" or if it's the MILS that mutate into over bearing fusspot that overstep the mark constantly by overriding your views and opinions, desires and crossing that intimate imaginary line you have created with your partner as a family.
We recently moved into our new house (within the last 8 weeks) which is a 5 min drive from hers and boy oh boy how things have changed!!! I thought this would be fantastic as she would be able to drop in and school nearby eventually she will pick her up. I never expected her to come here and move things around at her preference, tell me how to do everything and override everything I say...she also has turned up with no warning and after finding the front door locked with key let herself in through the back and walked up the stairs of her own accord whilst we were napping! (Me in my underwear!) 38 weeks pregnant when she did this gave me the fright of my life!!! this is all before the baby is here so I'm dreading what she will be like after... My face did say it all I guess but I didn't receive the support I expected off my DH... He thinks I'm being mean to her and it's her right to drop in whenever..I'm firmly convinced it's the other way around! I mentioned I was going to buy wooden letters I had seen for my babies door; 2 days later she turns up with a (ugly) boys set which I've had to put up on the door to please her in lieu of the beautiful girls set I wanted to get...when I was deciding how to decorate the room she told SIL she was to come round and paint a drawing on the babies wall, in particular she wanted clouds and a moon, yes lovely except I had already painted the wall blue and chosen my own design, after all, it's my babies room no? SIL was bitterly disappointed but then again she's 4 years older than me, perhaps she needs to have her own baby to decorate and educate? We also went to choose baby clothes and she pretty much pushed me out of the way to choose the items she liked (I kept quiet again) MIL phones constantly to find out how I am, SIL does not stop texting DH, I have been clear regards hospital visits, I want us to go alone to hospital and let them know when baby is here and when we are ready, I don't want people waiting on ward, outside delivery or in the room, but
MIL and SIL are insisting they want to be there?! And that they will come and wait until we're back in room as they can't be expected to wait impatiently with no news at home! I've explained I want to establish BF and us time with hubby and baby on our own and after some reset will love them to pop in and meet her...this was met with a disappointed reaction from MIL as she wanted to be the first in the room and SIL said she didn't care she'd find out when we were in room and she was coming??? I feel tortured by this as my DH also thinks I'm being weird for saying I don't want visits straight awayI feel totally bowled over by all of it and even worse I'm booked in to be induced on Sunday 8am if she doesn't decide to come out tomorrow... So everyone will know when we are going into hospital and they will all be swarming like bees to be the first to hold baby... After everything I feel really awful and stressed about the whole fucking thing. Sorry for swearing any advice?

OP posts:
LittleBairn · 17/11/2013 16:27

stanis are you the MIL? Hmm you have conveniently ignored the fact she's demanding to be around for the birth even thought she's been told she isn't wanted.
Most MIL do the school run whilst managing not to be over bearing busy bodies.

Meerka · 17/11/2013 16:35

It doesnt take a whole lot of sensitivity at all to realise that there's such a thing as privacy and respecting someone's stated wishes. SIL in particular here is expressly not doing that. stanislas Im sorry your MIL was much worse but this isnt ok at all either.

However, its a fair point that maybe you need to sit down with the MIL, mamasasha, and say clearly what you want. How you would like to be treated. If she's used to just walking in and taking over like that then she may not really realise. Saying so politely and firmly will let her know clearly.

If she doesn't respect that - and from the sound of it, that's very possible- then I'm afraid there is a much bigger problem on your hands, part of which is your husband.

Stanislas · 17/11/2013 16:37

Not a MIL yet. And I think anyone who wants to be in on a birth apart from the midwife is mad. I think there are too many tv Programmes with the world and his wife looking in that gives people a stupid belief that birth is a free for all. She' s just wildly excited at the prospect of a DGC.op should Laugh at the idea of anyone except DH being there. And where are the OPs parents in all this? Must admit haven't been reading all the woes.

perfectstorm · 17/11/2013 18:26

Stanislas this is fairly obviously not just about wooden letters, if you read the OP properly rather than skimming.

I never expected her to come here and move things around at her preference, tell me how to do everything and override everything I say...

That's not an invisible line in someone else's home. It isn't one you should need to set out. I agree she needs to talk to the MIL and have said so in my OP but this is not remotely subtle.

Jux · 17/11/2013 20:18

Hope all's gone well today.

FWIW, my MIL was exactly the same and rode rough shod over everything once dd was born. Relations between us got worse and worse, especially as dh was a wimp and did nothing about any of it, even when she barged into our bedroom as I was resting at about 38 weeks pg, stark naked. Once dd was born there was really no stopping her.

I warned dh that I would wind up hating her if he didn't have a word and get her to step back, but he didn't and I did wind up hating her, refused to see her at all in the end. It's all rather sad. We were never best buddies, but it shouldn't have gone so far. DH was useless and even when I spoke to her, she ignored me as I was just the vessel which produced the baby. Sad

Thumbwitch · 18/11/2013 00:01

Jux, that's terrible. What an idiot your husband was, not to have listened to you and stood up for you. :( and Angry for you.

TheFabulousIdiot · 18/11/2013 10:43

I hope that you are well and that they baby has arrived with no complications.

You need your DH to stand up for what you want and pregnancy hormones are the one time you can get away with wailing and crying and insisting you get your own way.

Keep the doors double locked.

Jux · 18/11/2013 18:55

Hope you're OK, my lovely. How's the induction progressing (obviously I have no idea what I'm talking about). Hope things are going well and your dh and mil are behaving as they should - worshipping at your feet Wink

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 18/11/2013 19:13

Hoping OP is comfortable and has had a safe delivery and DH has kept the others at bay until new mum and newborn are settled.

HoneyandRum · 19/11/2013 08:47

Hope all went well OP.

Regarding MIL, with people who see normal boundaries it's possible to be gentle, understanding and subtle. I'm afraid in this case being remotely passive will result in you being steamrolled by MIL and SIL. You have everyone's full permission on here to LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN BEST INTERESTS because I'm telling you now absolutely no one in this family is going to care about you or what you want. They won't ask because it never occurs to them to see anything from your point of view. As many people have said, your role is to produce their precious new generation - you are of personally no interest to them whatsoever.

Therefore with that in mind do whatever is necessary to protect your personal boundaries and for God's sake do not let them bully you into handing over your child or doing anything that make's you uncomfortable or anxious.

I am any easy-going person and I am good at holding boundaries in place but it did not stop my MIL to sit in the room while I was laboring when I expressly told my DH that I did not want her there. Eventually I broke down and my Doula ordered everyone out of the room. I then explained that I was so stressed because of my MIL and the hospital staff had my DH drive my MIL home. That was only with our first child, she never got in spitting distance with the other two births.

My FIL also came to see us after each birth and would send us copies of the many photos and I would not be in a single one! There would be plenty of DH and the other kids and FIL and wife holding the baby - but apparently they have grandchildren who are birthed without a mother I am swiftly erased from all memories if at all possible.

It is so hard to believe when you know you are a perfectly normal person, who is happy with plenty of friends etc. to be treated this way. It can make you wonder what on earth you did, it is basically all about control. If they can't control you they will just try and shove you out of the way literally or figuratively.

You are not alone. Protect yourself and your child and come here for advice when things get tricky.

Mamasasha · 20/11/2013 20:25

Hi everyone! Our beautiful daughter arrived 7pm Monday after being induced Sunday morning at 8am. What an awful process that eventually ended up in an emergency c-section, we are just grateful it's almost over with as I'm currently writing from my hospital bed recovering and it's looking like we will be home by The weekend.
My DH has been AMAZING. I never expected him to be as considerate, patient attentive, caring as he has been he deserves a medal!!!
Referring back to my OP regards the MIL and SIL, MIL has luckily kept a reasonable distance, she managed to keep herself away from hospital until yesterday evening which I was happy with. She did arrive with the "Christmas outfit" she wants our daughter to wear on the day, but as that's a long way away and I may prefer a different outfit, I will just keep quiet until then and see what the weathers like (wink) I do appreciate hEr efforts but She will have to learn tHat she's our daughter.
As for SIL, well she's currently not talking to my DH because she hadn't been allowed the access she wanted to our daughter.
When our little one was finally born, she had swallowed meconium and had to be rushed off to pediatric care as we'll as be monitored until the next day of glaucoma. Luckily shE is fine now but I didn't get to meet her straight after the birth, I met her yesterday morning for the first time.
During this tine my SIL (knowing I hadn't met my own daughter yet) couldn't wait to meet her herself and told my DH she planned to shun visiting hours and beg the doctors to allow her into the poorly baby ward so she could hold her!!
I told DH that i didn't want anybody holding baby until I had met her and I was not going to allow anyone to plague our doctors to allow them access to our poorly baby...I tried not to show how incensed I was about it and luckily he agreed with me and told her it wasn't a good idea to harass the doctors and that i needed to rest. At 33 she has thrown a childish strop and now hasn't met her niece!!. I can't believe she was willing to jump the queue like that and also had no consideration for my feelings!! She also knew I'd instructed for no visits at hospital as I want to recover and concentrate on BF, so she told a couple of their cousins to pop in....? So childish!!! What do think?

OP posts:
Horsemad · 20/11/2013 20:41

Congratulations!

Your SIL sounds a piece of work Angry Just concentrate on resting and enjoying your beautiful new daughter Smile Plenty of time for SIL & extended family to meet her.

laughingeyes2013 · 20/11/2013 20:46

Congratulations! What a long and stressful time you've had. I'm really glad to hear your DH has been a rock. Shame about the other two! But hardly surprising all things considered.

YOU should be the first to hold YOUR baby! Good for you for being so insistent. How incredibly self-centred your SIL is behaving Shock

And as for the first Christmas outfit? Only a mother should make that decision! I'd turn up on the day with something completely different and be all smiles and happiness.

So now - rest. You'll need plenty of it. And once again many congratulations on the birth of your DD.

Bogeyface · 20/11/2013 21:04

Huge congratulations! I hope you have a speedy recovery :)

Glad to see that Daddy Bear instincts have kicked in with your DH, he will need it because you now both need to stand your ground with EVERYTHING to do with the baby. It doesnt matter how insignificant the issue is, you must stand your ground so that you make it clear that it is your baby, your decision.

Give way to your SIL on anything and she will push and push and push. Give her an inch and she will take a mile, so dont give her anything!

If I was feeling evil I would suggest instigating a major row so she never speaks to you ever again, as life since my SILs (and MIL, bonus!) stopped speaking to H and me has been so much nicer :o

Meerka · 20/11/2013 21:07

Lovely to hear of your daughter, congratulations and hope she's much better now. Lovely too to hear that you've managed the MIL thing and even the SIL thing so well.

Congrats and Kudos to you both :)

IAlwaysThought · 20/11/2013 21:20

Congrats Thanks. I am so happy for you. Aren't new babies adorable. Grin.

Jux · 20/11/2013 21:27

Congratulations! What a nightmare, you poor thing, induction, cs and poorly baby. You sound remarkably chipper though! Good on your dh, too.

Your MIL has behaved herself, good. Your SIL is a brat.

Oh, and to mark the occasion, this Tardis

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 20/11/2013 21:36

Thank you for updating and many congratulations Flowers on your lovely DD Bear.

Thank heavens DH has risen to the occasion and you can relax knowing he's on the same wavelength. Try not to dwell on what SIL is playing at. Focus on your little family for now.

perfectstorm · 20/11/2013 22:56

Aww, congratulations on your gorgeous daughter, and so sorry her arrival was so stressful for you both! How lovely that both of you are doing well now.

Also really happy and relieved for you that your DH is stepping up so brilliantly - you know, silver linings, but it may be that seeing you endure all that in delivering her, and being worried about his daughter, has thrown the nonsense into proper proportion so he's unwilling to tolerate it.

Your SIL is being a complete idiot. Talk about making it all about herself. Still, the longer she sulks, the longer you have peace and quiet, hey? Wink

Congrats again. Lovely news.

Thumbwitch · 21/11/2013 01:58

Hurrah! Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby girl, and well done to DH for standing up for you both.

As for your SIL, well she's mad as a box of frogs and she needs to wind her neck in and realise that this is not all about her and what she wants.

Can't believe she tried to hold your DD before you had! Shock

HoneyandRum · 21/11/2013 05:45

Congratulations on your beautiful dd Mamasasha!!!! Have a wonderful babymoon.

The bright side of this outrageous behavior from SIL and MIL is you know what to expect and understand how far they will go. This makes it easier to maintain cast iron boundaries. Glad to hear your DH has been so caring and supportive. You have your own family now and the three of you are the priority before anyone else in the extended family.

Congratulations again!!!!!!!

LittleBairn · 21/11/2013 05:52

Congratulations!
Well done on sticking to your guns and staying resolved during such an ordeal.

Cuddleczar · 21/11/2013 07:19

Congratulations and well done! Don't worry about the Christmas outfit--chances are your baby will have grown so much by then that it won't even fit!

I agree that your SIL is well out of order but it sounds to me like she is jealous of your family and your baby...considering that might help you to handle her better?

Good luck with the next few weeks anyway!

ladymariner · 21/11/2013 07:37

Congratulations on your beautiful little girl, all good wishes to you all.

I think you've handled the situation amazingly well, you've remained calm and dignified and I'm so glad your dh has behaved as he should too, he obviously has realised where his priorities lie. At least MIL seems to have got the message, let's hope she continues. As for SIL, well, I agree with cuddleczar and think she's jealous, you can't do anything about that as its her problem, just continue as you are, ignore her and enjoy your new baby xxx

eatriskier · 21/11/2013 07:48

Congrats on your little girl. I'm glad your dh is being good. We went through a similar thing with dd and it's pretty scary so I'm guessing the last thing your dh needed was your sils behaviour, but hopefully it's opened his eyes. Enjoy the break from her for as long as you get it. Btw I also understand what it's like for an adult to strop like that, my sister did the same and has not seen my Dd since she was 2 weeks old and has never met my ds. She couldn't cope with not being centre of attention and tried to isolate us but in the end only isolated herself.

With the Xmas outfit don't sweat it. My dm and mil both bought dd an Xmas outfit as had we. I did realise that we had Xmas day, dhs family day and my family day so we could accommodate 3 outfits. Also babies grow so differently and manufacturers of clothes wildly vary in the baby stage so if you don't like it you can say it doesn't fit Wink

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