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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

Does anyone else only have their DH?

13 replies

Lonelytree · 30/12/2017 07:16

I'm NC with my family - parents and sister - have been for few years now and it's been a huge relief, they were toxic to me growing up and left me permanently lacking in confidence after years of emotional and occasional physical abuse. They haven't taken it well and I would say actually hate me and DH now as he was very supportive of my decision to go NC and eventually emailed them to tell them to leave me alone when they wouldn't. On the few occasions we've seen them since they have refused to speak to us and my dad honestly looked at me as if he would like to kill me, with pure hatred. It was very shocking and unsettling. I try to forget about them and usually manage. But generally I have worked through it and am OK and feel happy with decision to go NC. They have been told that they can see our kids if they want but have chosen not to, they do send presents though.

My DH's family absolutely adore him and love our kids (though DH is their main focus). They have never particularly liked me. We have different political views that we both feel strongly about (both on normal range of political spectrum, nothing extreme) and as politics is a big part of their life - they campaign locally and are very passionate about their politics - and a reasonably big part of mine - that has been a problem. DH privately shares my views but would never tell them this as I don't think they could take it, he was brought up with their views and his siblings are like his parents and feel very strongly, I think they suspect that he thinks like me though and feel that I have turned him when in fact his political views have evolved on their own. There are many other things which I won't list as they are too outing - just generally I think they feel I am not good enough for him even though we have a very happy marriage. I know this as they regularly make comments and his brother even started a huge argument with DH earlier in the year over a political view that we both share, at that point it became very clear not for the first time that he dislikes me quite a lot. I do try with them, like buying them nice Xmas presents, inviting them over, I even tried to help his brother find a flat last year, he was moving to an area of the country where I know quite a lot of people and he was struggling to find an affordable flat to rent, I messaged a few people on his behalf. But I think I just annoyed him. I visited the area where he lives with his wife earlier this year and texted him asking if he wanted to meet for lunch, which he ignored. Again I won't say too much as it's outing but I also spent quite a lot of my own money a few years ago to help them out after they had an unforeseen disaster. They regularly ignore my efforts - things like ignoring emails, recently I had a piece of writing published that I was proud of as was DH, he sent it to them and they all completely ignored his email. They will regularly ignore texts from me and when I send birthday or xmas gifts they will always thank him even if they are home made by me (I don't think they dislike the things I make as they have paid me before to make them for other people). I recently spent a long time hand making a gift for nephew, I know SIL liked it as she had bought a version of gift for friends, she did not acknowledge gift to me but thanked DH instead. I am trying to choose my words carefully as I'm afraid people will pick them apart and try to suggest that it's my fault they don't like me. And I guess it is, I am who I am with my own views and habits and personality traits, I have plenty of friends and colleagues who like so I don't think I'm an awful person and don't have extreme views on anything. The bottom line is that they just don't like me and I am not who they would have chosen for their son. He had an ex who they absolutely adored, they were devastated when he broke up with her and years on they are still friends with her on FB etc, I think they just wish he'd stayed with her as she is so much more like them.

It's just hard as I feel that DH is the only adult that actually loves me, he is so loved by his family and I am hated by mine and disliked by his. It makes me think that I would be so alone and lost without him, I hate being so dependent on one person but I have actually developed a sort of anxiety over it and worry whenever he goes out that something is going to happen to him.

Thanks for reading, am just feeling it particularly at the moment, we have spent time with them over Xmas and time with them always reminds me of how things are - his brother is the worst and sometimes he just can't hide his dislike for me. I am constantly promising myself that I won't try so hard any more with gifts, messaging, offers of help, as I always end up feeling stupid, but I never seem to learn. I wish I could just take a step back, I suppose I always think, if I just do this one thing, then they finally will like and accept me. They never do though.

OP posts:
OccasionalNachos · 30/12/2017 07:29

I think you do need to take a step back. Your DH’s family sound awful - you can’t make them like you.

I’m sorry you feel like this Sad Do you have friendships? A family of choice can be just as supportive as a family of origin Flowers

FarAwayFromLand · 30/12/2017 07:41

It is hard to feel like you don't have many people in the world who love you, but you do have a lovely DH who you are very happy with and also children who will grow into adults and hopefully you will have a close loving bond with them too.

Maybe you could reconnect with some friends and try to nurture a bond there or try to make some new close friends. I always feel more alone when I have time on my hands - can you throw yourself into work, kids, hobbies, even reading etc.

As for the in laws, if the brother makes you feel rubbish you're best to ignore and avoid as much as possible. I know it's easier said than done but I have definitely developed my filtering/teflon skills with my family over the years. Maybe with his parents agree not to discuss politics or just don't engage with them, 'well Marjory, thats your view, you know my feelings on Brexit, no more really needs to be said. Did anyone watch Narcos btw?' or something. That conversation happens roughly 100x over Christmas with my PIL! Grin

Lonelytree · 30/12/2017 07:54

Hi, yeah I do have some really good close friends, though the closest two from school/uni live in London though (quite far away, we still manage to see/speak as much as we can. I've made quite an effort this year to develop networks and have managed to do so, by taking up a new hobby and joining a book group and have already made some good friends. Plus good network at school with the other mums. So yes a family of choice, though as I say the closest ones are far away so if I didn't have DH I would be pretty alone in the town we live in.

It is hard to just finally accept that you can't make people like you, especially when you know they don't like you just for being you and when you still have to see/hear from them regularly. I wish I could never see BIL again tbh, he makes me feel quite crap and my confidence is always low after spending time with him. At a wedding recently his wife was very drunk and went on to me about how much BIL adores and worships my DH and how much he loves and misses him, then she said "and you know I'VE always liked you" which told me quite a lot. I don't think she meant to be mean. The thing is my DH has actually said he feels far less close to his brother than he used to as his brother so obviously dislikes me. We don't see that much of them as we all live far apart but when we do it's difficult to avoid - Xmas, weddings, parties etc - and I always have to psyche myself up beforehand and afterwards.

Thanks for taking the time to reply x

OP posts:
category12 · 30/12/2017 08:29
Flowers

You sound nice to me. Spend as little time as you can with these people. Bil is an arse.

BackInTheRoom · 30/12/2017 09:43

@Lonelytree

Have you actually spoken/asked his family what their problem is with you?

Brighteyes27 · 30/12/2017 09:55

I think this time of year is maybe magnifying how you feel. You are doing all the right things and be grateful for your DH kids and the extended friends/family you do have and that BIL lives far away.

As I have got older I focus far more on spending time with people I enjoy and spend much less time with people who have a negative effect on how I feel. Take care OP

middleage3 · 30/12/2017 10:42
  • I only have my DH .
My parents are long dead and I am an only child. For a long time I was where you are now and trying to get my ILs to like me when they so obviously didn’t . Now I say life is too short to spend time and energies with people that are never going to like me. I took a huge step back many christmases ago and to be honest I feel much better for it. Let them get on with it and live your own life - you don’t need people putting you down or being rude.
Lonelytree · 30/12/2017 11:24

No, I’ve never asked Bibbidee but as the flash points seem to be political I think that’s a big part of it.

Middleage I think stepping back is the healthiest thing to do. I guess I’m just pathetically desperate to have a family and replacement parents and siblings but need to accept that ILs are never going to be that.

OP posts:
middleage3 · 30/12/2017 11:37

You are spot on lonleytree Smile
I desperately wanted ILs to be my family- I suspect the difference in political views is only part of it. In my experience, they were never going to like me and that was the bottom line ..... unfortunately for them our DH chose us , perhaps in part because we are not from the mound their parents wanted

princesssparkle1 · 30/12/2017 11:50

My ex's family didn't like me. I tried and failed to make inroads into their lives. I gave up in the end. You cannot change anyone and you can't make anyone like you. Simple.

ThePinkPanter · 30/12/2017 12:31

Yeah I get you. My dad died recently and I'm so acutely aware that I've just my DW. My mum is an actual diagnosed narcissistic who was incredibly abusive towards me and my DB can't accept that I won't put up with it any longer just because she birthed me. I've done a 180 recently and we're now planning on having children. For a long time I refused because I thought I might be like her but now I think I would be bloody good at it, even just because I'm so conscious of what I think a good mum would be.

Lonelytree · 30/12/2017 13:23

Sorry about your dad, Pink. I think having a shit mum can make you a better mum as you end up trying to be the mum you never had to your own children.

OP posts:
Whippet · 30/12/2017 13:39

I only have DH (and the kids). I also have a brother, but we are virtually NC - he only contacts me when he wants something, and I have been burnt too often, so mostly try to avoid him now Sad.

I often feel very alone at this time of year. Both my parents are dead (and were ill/dying at this time of year, so the 'festive' memories are not always positive).
I've never felt that DH puts me before his family. His parents are both still alive (although elderly) and he is always disappearing off to see them at times when I think he should be with his own family.
His family are polite, but just dote on DH and I've never seen eye to eye with FIL about lots of things.
We stopped going to see them as a whole family a few years ago as DCs (teens) didn't always want to go, and DH said it was 'getting too much' for his parents to have a houseful, so now he buggers off alone and leaves me on my own, which I always find hard at this time of year, as my friends are all with their own families. I'm sure DH just does it to get a break from family life, but I NEVER get a similar break - I have nowhere to go!
The teens are currently in their ungrateful, grumpy phase of life, but I'm hoping they will turn kind and loving again in the future.

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