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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

parents in law advice

234 replies

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 07:39

I have been with my partner for 4 years and we have a 1.5 year old together.

To put a long story short his parents are heavily involved in our relationship and have been since day 1, although now it's causing major problems. When I fell pregnant we stil lived at home, they suggested they buy a house and we would pay them 'rent'. At first I went with the idea but after seeing their behaviour I felt it wasn't something I wasnt comfortable with so we decided to rent and do it ourselves. We rented a small flat and for the first while it was fine, until we had our little boy it became far too cramped. We found the heating didn't work well and was constantly getting damp as it was an old property. We became pretty miserable in there tbh. His parents then resurfaced with an idea that they could buy a house jointly with my partner, I wasn't keen for this because we had agreed when the time came myself and my partner would buy ourselves. After some discussion they assured me that after a year they would come off the mortgage and I would go on it, I felt a bit funny about it but went ahead nonetheless. Now the whole time since we moved out (May 2014) they really started to show their colours. I thought us moving in together would make them back off but it became worse. Even worse once our son was born. His mother would make comments about our house how it wasn't clean enough constantly. She would clean it and I mean clean the shower, toilets etc if we went our and left her with the baby. This caused friction and on numerous occasions we fell out. Things came to a head when we moved into our new property and we had a big falling out, but it was put right quickly and I felt it had done some good. Anyway as time went on she started to slip back into her old ways. It came to a year since the purchase of the house and thats when I found out the hard way I would be nothing to do with the house ever. This angered me so much because they had lied to me, I also felt stupid I had believed them and not looked into anything and had been so naive. Anyway again this ended in a huge argument between me and his parents to the point I threw them out the house. Their involvement in our relationship has become unbearable. They constantly put things into my partners head and as he has always heavily relied on them throughout his life he still seems to do so now even tho he has been moved out near 2 years. They have stopped us getting joint bank accounts, stopped us from speaking to certain people they see as 'nasty' his mother constantly undermines me in my house takes over the cleaning as if she is a cleaner and undermines my parenting. Now I'm not an ungrateful person but this is crossing a line. They constantly make digs at the house, how we live, what we spend our money on. She will open my partners mail and feel the need to deal with it herself. They have told me I will never stop them seeing their son (I never said that!) this has caused a major issue in our relationship, I can't stand to be around his parents. He won't fall out with them (not what I'm asking anyway) and for our sons sake I need to tolerate them being round. I need him to stand up for himself and tell them to back off but he won't do it. It's going to split us up. It has gotten to the point my family are now involved in this too. Any advice? Thanks.

OP posts:
hellsbellsmelons · 02/03/2016 14:10

Contact CAB and find out what you would entitled to as a single parent and needing accommodation etc.... Then you can make an informed decision.

MoominPie22 · 02/03/2016 14:42

I disagree that your son would resent you for keeping him apart from toxic Grandparents. You´re protecting him! And you would explain all that to him, and the reasons why ,cos they´re bad people etc when he´s older and able to understand. They´re emotionally abusive, why on earth would you want what they´ve done to your partner done to your son? Confused

I went NC with my ex-mother 3yrs ago and my 4yr old has never mentioned anything yet ( well she has no memory obv, as so long ago ) but if she ever inquires in the future I´ll be telling her that she was a nasty woman who made mammy sad etc. Besides, she´s got lovely Grandparents from my husband´s side just like your son has your parents.

Seriously, a child will never be lacking or damaged if they are kept away from toxic, abusive family members. That´s sheer lunacy! Why are you assuming a child needs both sets of Grandparents in order to be happy? Your son is too young to know any different anyway. Young kids must be around kind, caring and decent people that serve as good role models and have a positive influence on their development during their formative years.

To deliberately expose them to horrid, dysfunctional, toxic or abusive people, out of some misguided sense of duty, is tantamount to child abuse imo. As a mother your primary role is to keep your child safe from physical and psychological damage. To put kids in harms way deliberately would mean a parent fails in this most fundamental of duties.

They´ve fucked up your partner´s development, do you want them to fuck up your son´s too? Your partner is hardly a shining example of how a grown man should turn out. Quite the contrary. They don´t seem to like you very much so my primary fear would be that they´d poison your son against you.

I think the only possible compromise would be that you are always present when they see your son, if you feel like NC isn´t something you can do. Then you can intercept if you feel they´re behaving inappropriately.

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 14:52

No i totally understand what you're saying, it's just as my dad has been through this and been in my sons position he feels resentment towards his mother for stopping contact. Although he was a little older so has memories of being with his grandparents. Im just upset this has happened tbh.

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rumbleinthrjungle · 02/03/2016 15:48

Your dad has got to grow up with a minor resentment about a fantasy ideal relationship he might have had - and at the same time grown up without the affects of trauma, abuse, manipulation, having his relationships with his key carers distorted and undermined, and judging by your posts grew up to be a stable person in a non abusive marriage who raised competent, self aware children. The flipside to that lost fantasy is gratitude for what he was spared ever having to experience and live with.

Trauma is the legacy that keeps on giving from generation to generation. You would probably find it going back through the generations in your dh's family; people who behave like this are usually working on distorted internalised models they experienced growing up.

rumbleinthrjungle · 02/03/2016 15:50

Sorry, that's supposing your dad's parents went NC for a good reason.

You would certainly be working from a very good reason, number one being what has been done to your dh that he doesn't question their enmeshment or invasion of him or resent that they've allowed him to have no separation or boundaries. And that they've deceived and conned his partner in a major financial matter that represents enough broken trust that you're seriously considering leaving him.

They are not going to be lovely grandparents.

Out2pasture · 02/03/2016 16:02

Why do your in laws disapprove of you?

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 16:03

His mother comes from a dysfunctional family, she has a brother in prison and one in a mental home. I can see why she is the way she is. As for his dad I don't know about much to do with him apart from he hates his own mother. Not a good start.

This whole thing just seems to be sucha mess. My parents are only going to take me in as a last resort, they saw this coming but when I found out I was pregnant I wanted to try make it work. I couldnt abort my child for an easy life. I can see now the road ahead me is a long and stressful one.

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cookies92 · 02/03/2016 16:04

They would disapprove of anyone I think. Its the same for their daughters partner they don't like him either and never have, she just stays more away from them and has no ties to them unlike my partner.

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Chocolatteaddict1 · 02/03/2016 16:09

Oh god of course they would disapprove of anyone. This really isn't about you and it never has been, it's always been about their control over your dp.

Op it might not be so final if you move out, your dp might see that he is fucking up, my Dh did. AND if he doesn't fight for you or bend over backwards to prove he will protect you then he wasn't really worth the shit anyway.

See moving to your parents as very temporary. You have got money invested in your dp house so I'd ask for it back for a deposit on a new rent.

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 16:15

My dad has said if I'm to move back it only be if it was the last move. Hes already told me he doesn't want me coming and going. So I can't even do it as a temporary thing :(

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cookies92 · 02/03/2016 16:41

Also has one poster has mentioned how would I stop my son seeing his grandparents if me and his dad split up, he could easily take him to see them etc.

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MatrixReloaded · 02/03/2016 16:50

In your shoes I would cut your losses and go to your parents. Your partner has betrayed you terribly and his loyalty lies with his parents, not you. Despite his snivveling about you leaving he's not actually done anything to solve the problems with his parents. He's not capable of having a healthy relationship with you or anyone else.

I put up with this toxic rubbish for years in the hope that something would change. It didn't. You cannot be married to these men because they are already married to their mothers.

rumbleinthrjungle · 02/03/2016 16:58

You can't stop your son having contact with his GPs so long as dh wants it. If you were separated, dh would need to sort out contact with GPs during contact time. But (I'm presuming you're ds's main carer?) ds would be living with you in a house not under fire from GP's machinations and invasions 24/7, and in a secure financial and legal position that can't be messed with. The impact of the crazy would be limited. But I always worry when a woman is considering staying for perceived child needs rather than because it's the right thing for her.

If you stay would you be able to prevent contact in any case?

MoominPie22 · 02/03/2016 17:01

cookies I was wondering about your last question too cos I don´t know the ins and outs of how that would work from a legal perspective. I´m sure someone will be along with legal know how. BUt as far as I´m concerned you should have final say, as the mother, who your child is exposed to.

If, hypothetically, you split up it´d be cos of his crappy, toxic parents anyway ( or his inability to deal with them ) so why would any woman want her child spending time with the very dysfunctional people who were the cause of her relationship breakdown? So you´ve got rights but you´re gonna need to find them out. It would be utterly ridiculous to have him take your son to see them after everything!

I´m quite surprised and disappointed in your dad´s attitude mind. Why´s he not being helpful and supportive? He can surely see how fucked up the parents are and what a pickle you´re in!Shock

Out2pasture · 02/03/2016 17:03

Why did your parents disapprove of your partner?

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 17:08

When i lived at home I didn't get along with my dad at best. Nothing major just clash of personalities. Since moving out things have been a lot better, but from the beginning he could see this or something similar happening. He obviously cares about me and my son but has the 'i told you so attitude' about it all.

My parents didn't disapprove of my partner as such, just thought he was too young and immature to deal with this situation, which I guess they were right about.

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OvertiredandConfused · 02/03/2016 18:59

I would move out with you son and stop paying the bills.

THEN tell you DP that you still love him and want to make it work but will only do so if you have counselling and agree AND SET UP appropriate arrangement are the house, will, his parents etc.

I think the only thing that would satisfy me is to seek the house you have now and buy another one together without his parents. If you can't do that, find a better rental. Move back when it's into a new place.

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 19:04

If I move out I'm not coming back. I don't want to drag my little one in and out of a relationship that may or may not work. If i leave i leave for good. In regards to the house he will never sell it, or at least no time soon. The house is brand new in a lovely area, I've asked him this before and been told no way. That's something I know for sure he will never ever agree to.

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MatrixReloaded · 02/03/2016 19:23

If he won't sell the house I don't see how it's going to work.

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 19:24

He definitely won't sell the house I know this for a fact.

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OvertiredandConfused · 02/03/2016 19:44

Then I'm sorry but the house matters more than you and his child.

I know that's really hard but the sooner you accept that and make plans, the better.

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 19:49

I don't think it's the house, it's the fear of going against his parents. Not to mention the fact he will have no clue how to sell it anyway. I just need to get the power to leave

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OvertiredandConfused · 02/03/2016 19:55

It's the same difference Cookies. I'm sorry. I know it's easy for us to say, but it really is true. If he's a part owner, he can force a sale. He can get legal advice about how to do it. If he won't it's because his parents matter more. I'm so sorry

inlectorecumbit · 02/03/2016 21:29

Oh Cookies l fear that your DP would chose his DP's over you and your DC given the ultimatum because he simply doesn't have a backbone or courage to stand up to them.
He won't sell the house in case he uosets the DP's ..
This relationship will got go anywhere, l am so so sorry but l would cut and run before things get any harder.

cookies92 · 02/03/2016 21:43

Deep down I know if it doesn't end now it will in the future if nothing changes

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