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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

Seriously thinking about NC with DH's side of the family

467 replies

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 22/02/2016 02:46

This is going to be long but think I need to post the background

I've posted previously about SIL's wedding. I have 3 DCs - age 3, 2 and 13 weeks. The oldest have just turned 3 and 2 respectively so still small.

SIL is getting married about 150 miles away on a week day. We have been told no DCs at the wedding. Mil has a difficult family background and her half-brothers children will be going however - albeit they are older than ours. I susir t ultimately that SIL will also permit her friends to bring small babies. I understand that it is SIL's wedding but I find it pretty hurtful that our children (who are actually her closest relatives) are to be excluded.

My parents are extremely supportive of us and will normally drop anything to help us out. Mil has form for being very difficult and has been very unhelpful at difficult times - eg looked after putt DS on the day of my grandmother's funeral (250 miles away) but refused to rearrange plans so I had to get out cleaner to come and look after DS (then 1 year old) as she had to leave at 5pm. The whole thing was horribly stressful and I still find it very upsetting to think about.

My parents normally drop everything to help us but normally go on holiday with friends around the date of SIL's wedding. They therefore told me immediately that they may be able to look after our DCs but that - in this instance - they actually won't cancel their holiday if the group of friends can only manage that date (they are all retired so tend to go quite last minute to get the best deal) and we should therefore get a plan B. I immediately highlighted this to DH and his response was - (massively fucking entitled) oh it's my sister's wedding. Surely they won't go away. I said they very well could and he should highlight this to his family now as we may not have any childcare and ultimately I wouldn't be able to go. Plus, I could very well still be feeding youngest DC. Really the only option would be to take someone to look after the DCs on site and I didn't even know if that would be feasible. But I was highlighting it now so that there were no amateur dramatics near the wedding if I couldn't go

Communication within DH's family is pretty piss poor so nothing was done.

At the weekend, SIL, MIL and FIL came ti visit and stay the night. SIL said something in passing about my parents looking after the DC and I said that actually they maybe away and there wasn't really a plan B. I said that I could perhaps ask my DS's key worker from nursery to travel to the wedding and look after the DCs but we would need to get him accommodation. And, in any event, I was uncomfortable about being away from my youngest DC even if I could get someone look after all DC at our house.

SIL told me that there were no rooms left at the hotel but if I got the key worker, he could perhaps stay at a local B&B. That she was having to lay £150 a head per guest and she wanted me to be able to relax and enjoy myself and also keep costs down - hence why our DCs weren't invited. I said that the best solution maybe to ask the key worker. And, if I did, would SIL like the DCs to be brought to the church (waiting outside during the ceremony) for a few photos as they would be in the area. Totally up to her obviously but thought she might like it. She said yes, but she was banning children from the church. I said I quite understood as FIL's brother's children had made a terrible racket during ours in the church (MIL insisted they were invited) and you could even hear the noise on the wedding video. MIL said she couldn't remember that but I said (nicely) that it was on the video. I also said that if my parents were looking after the DCs, they had also offered to bring them to the church (to wait outside) and take them home (a big thing as a huge drive) after if she wanted photos.

So - it was all perfectly pleasant and I thought the childcare issue was clear. More importantly, there was actually communication like normal people. DH then went to work in the morning and the DCs and I went out with SIL and the PILs for brunch - all perfectly pleasant. Nothing else said. I was slightly nervous about going out as the PILs had been invited to visit DC3 a few days after she was born and had been very late (with no communication). I was upstairs feeding the baby and DH had said something to MIL about it. She had started shouting and bawling at DH saying it was my fault Confused and I was manipulating them and being very rude about me. I decided the best thing to do was pretend I hadn't heard and gloss over things. But, again, everything perfectly pleasant at brunch

DH then arrives home and asks me what I had been saying to his sister? I explained the position about childcare and said that I had highlighted this to him already but his approach seemed to have been that my parents would have to just cancel their holiday. That wasn't very constructive so I had highlighted things to SIL so she could make ab informed choice about allowing the DCs to attend in the vicinity and be looked after off site (pretty pissing annoying that DH could have mentioned it earlier so we could have got a room for them and carers at the hotel but now we couldn't) as ultimately if we couldn't get appropriate childcare, I wouldn't be able to go and with a wedding of 60 people, that would be noticeable.

DH then says that obviously I had a chip on my shoulder about FIL's neice making a racket during our wedding Confused and that my parents were manipulating things by refusing to cancel their holiday (the irony after my grandmother's funeral and various other times that they have dropped everything and driven 300 miles to help us out after the PILs have let us down!). I susir t he had spoken to MIL on the way home.

I am absolutely fed up with this. I am fed up of rather than everyone talking civilly about things (as I tried to do) and resolve problems in good time, MIL then approaches DH behind my back. If she or SIL had a problem, why not discuss it with me at the time or the next day? I am fed up (and I think this is the crux of it) if DH not simply explaining that all I am trying to do is sort out childcare for the DCs (as basically he seems to have opted out of it and my parents - his indentured servants obviously - are to drop everything AGAIN to help out). Why is DH not able to actually support me (his wife) and make it clear - politely - to his family that if you have your wedding hundreds of miles away and don't invite your very young nieces and nephews, then yes, childcare will be an issue and that is not bring "difficult". It's a matter of fact. And, actually, if your "keeping costs down" banning your brothers children whilst letting others attend is actually pretty fucking hurtful

I actually don't know what to do. I've said tinDH that I think that actually everyone should just be honest and communicate clearly with each other now. So if he thinks my patents are "selfish"
and "manipulative" (the breath taking cheek!) he should say to their faces. Further, I will contact SIL and MIL and ask them if they need me to clarify anything about what we discussed. Further, another option is for me to not attend and look after the DCs which I think maybe the best option all round

I'm actually so so sick of this. I don't want to see the PILs again and I don't particularly want to see SIL again.

Should I contact them? Should I just decline the wedding invitation? I want to make it clear why

I also need to sort out the DH issue too

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 24/02/2016 21:55

To be fair, an option still on the table is that I don't go.

OP posts:
NotQuiteSoOnEdge · 24/02/2016 22:00

I'm worried that you are going to back down and smooth over what he said about your parents. You can't agree to disagree, because it wipes it under the carpet, but the temptation to do that will be strong. If this issue gets dismissed because he 'can't remember', or 'didn't do it', when you know full well he did, but you don't make a stand, you will essentially green light him to do/say what the hell he wants because he knows you'll accept his rewriting of reality.

I didn't notice how I'd slowly had this done to me over bigger and bigger issues until he was pretty much saying he hadn't said something that he had LITERALLY just said.

The day I threw him out was because he wanted to agree to disagree over whether or not he'd hit our son so hard on the head he flew across the room.

I'm sorry, but I think all the wedding stuff is you rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. You have a serious problem right in front of you, way more serious than you think. Forget the wedding, but use not going to make a stand for the kind of DH you need him to be. And if he can't do it, you need to get out.

WonderingAspie · 24/02/2016 22:01

I think you would be an absolute doormat to pay a keyworker to come with you, pay for their accommodation just so your children can travel 150 miles to sit in a room because they aren't invited to a family party. Seriously, why would you even contemplate this? Your DH clearly isn't firing on all cylinders. Who cares if SIL looks like a shitbag, you don't like your ILS, why would you go to this much trouble and expense for these people!

It is being made into a far far bigger deal than it should be. You have been invited to a wedding. Your DCs haven't, your parents are possibly not able to have them, therefore the solution is you can't go. End of situation. If ILs or DH don't like it, do you know what? Tough fucking shit. They created this.

RandomMess · 24/02/2016 22:04

WonderingAspie has said what I think tbh

IF you have a child-free wedding it's a risk you take that people don't come. It's madness that they demand to be involved with your dc but only when it suits them and you are bending over backwards to go to a wedding where you and the dc aren't actually welcome...

DoreenLethal · 24/02/2016 22:06

Why all this key worker stuff if they are actually invited?

And if he didnt say all these things, what does he think you have been arguing about?

DoreenLethal · 24/02/2016 22:09

Persnally i think they are all conniving bastards on a major wind up.

JessicasElephant · 24/02/2016 22:09

Also, there's nothing churlish about refusing to go to a party while your kids are hidden upstairs with a babysitter.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 24/02/2016 22:11

I think DH is trying to find a middle ground between the DC bring on the premises so I cAn feed the baby etc and check the other 2 are OK and SIL's wish for a child free wedding. He thinks this is a genuine compromise so everyone is happy.

OP posts:
tribpot · 24/02/2016 22:12

I think he envisages himself at the wedding, telling people that the DC and I couldn't come as the wedding was child free and children were banned from the premises, whilst surrounded by other children

And this is your problem how? (Or even really his problem for that matter). He says it, people can judge or not, he moves on.

AcrossthePond55 · 24/02/2016 22:15

You'll probably take a higher road than I would, but I'd probably opt out for myself and the children and let him stew in his own juices trying to come up with a reason as to why I wasn't there. Not likely he'll tell people that children aren't allowed because he's likely to run into someone who'll tell a different story the truth.

As far as the future, would he consent to go to counseling to deal with his FOG and the way he lies/gaslights to avoid problems?

JessicasElephant · 24/02/2016 22:17

But everyone isn't happy. And he shouldn't be balancing everyone's needs or trying to keep everyone happy. You and DC should be his priority, everyone else comes second. When compromises are to be found it should be you and him making decisions together and others having to accept those decisions.

DaemonPantalaemon · 24/02/2016 22:18

I know it's not good form but I have now read all your threads, whether about the cleaner, the keys, you not wanting to go to a birthday party of a friend but compromising in the end, or your many threads about your MIL and her birthday and her visits, and her spilling coffee over your son. They all have one thing in common, these threads. You go round and round in circles, but ultimately, nothing is resolved. This means you usually end up doing the very thing you said you did not want to do to keep the peace. You care so much about appearances, you have become a martyr to other people's wishes. Then you complain about it! You need to take a course in assertiveness or something because honestly, this is way too much stuff to be happening to one person. To find a solution, you really need to look inwards, say what you think and mean it, and stop being a martyr! This is no way to live!

NotQuiteSoOnEdge · 24/02/2016 22:21

Agree with Daemon too.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 24/02/2016 22:27

Not going is still an option

I probably do over think things but that is because I do try to be kind and find a middle way. I did get rid of the cleaner and I did tell DH to STFU about the keys (as did his colleague)

Resolution of the PIL family issues will take a while - according to toxic in law book bit needs DH ultimately to sort it out

I'm not going to be assertive with MIL as ultimately I'm sure she'd love a fight. But I am going to have very firm boundaries from now on re: their visits etc.

OP posts:
nauticant · 24/02/2016 22:28

They have really messed with your head haven't they? It's possible your H doesn't want you to go. Same goes for your MIL and for your SIL. However, because you don't want to go, they're working together to make you go so they have the satisfaction of thwarting what you want even though it probably goes against what they actually want.

You're so confused you're joining in with their collusion in this fucked up situation. It's amazing but then this kind of thing happens with gaslighting.

Darnley · 24/02/2016 22:30

What she said.

DoreenLethal · 24/02/2016 22:34

But she isnt having a child free wedding!

honestly, you are going in circles. And are back where you started.

JessicasElephant · 24/02/2016 22:36

The in laws book also says you need your DH on side. That you need to get him on side and then set new boundaries together. One person cannot do it alone.

NotQuiteSoOnEdge · 24/02/2016 22:44

I'm not saying you're not kind, it's clear you are, but this isn't about you being kind. It's about you turning yourself inside out to try to please everyone and avoid confrontation. You don't want anyone to think badly of you. So when your IL's or DH tell you you're being unreasonable, you don't react as if you KNOW you are reasonable, you get all flustered wanting them to 'get' you, and like/approve of you and 'see you as you really are'.

You are caught up in a hunt for fool's gold. You think 'if I just say this the right way it'll all fall into place and everyone will start behaving properly at last, and be nice to each other.

It is never going to happen. The words you are looking for don't exist.

I've so been there.

Darnley · 24/02/2016 22:45

Sorry, whole thing moved faster than me. I meant Daemon. I'll get me coat.

WonderingAspie · 24/02/2016 22:45

It's not a genuine compromise and the only people that will be happy are ILs and your DH. It's ridiculous to drag 3 small children 150 miles for them to sit in a room with a bloody keyworker (not fun for them either) so you can attend a wedding that your children aren't welcome at and you do t really want to be. Put your foot down and end this bloody madness now!

Your DH is a wet blanket when it comes to his family and he isn't going to change that....

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 24/02/2016 23:01

You are caught up in a hunt for fool's gold. You think 'if I just say this the right way it'll all fall into place and everyone will start behaving properly at last, and be nice to each other.

Well that's certainly true enough

OP posts:
fuzzyfozzy · 24/02/2016 23:07

What about..
Not going to the wedding, saving the £500 it would have cost to get the dc there and using this money for a child free holiday for the two of you. I'm sure your parents would babysit at a agreed time.

BinaryFinary · 24/02/2016 23:11

Didn't you say it was a weekday wedding? Won't the key worker be working?

And what about the other email stuff; financially irresponsible and unappreciative? Has that been retracted or explained away as a bizarre misunderstanding too?

MypocketsarelikeNarnia · 24/02/2016 23:13

I wish someone had told me the fool's gold thing about my pil years ago. And I wish they'd told me that about my DSis who is an alcoholic. I could have told my dps and then everyone could gave stopped searching for the magic words...

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