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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

Advice on how to deal with SIL

14 replies

ScoobyC · 21/06/2007 09:39

Hi, would appeciate any suggestions for how to deal with a situation with my SIL. Prepare yourself as this will prob seem really silly but it is is really really bugging me!
Also sorry but will prob be quite long. Not really sure I expect anyone to be bothered to read it!! but if anyone does have any suggestions I'd appreciate it (plus helps me to write it down!)

Background is that she is 10 yrs older than dh, their mother died a long while ago and she has a long history of being very possessive of dh, which he assures me is much better now than it used to be... But basically I have felt threatened and p**ed off by her since I got with dh as she does not respect boundaries.

Sooo roll on to ds being born (now 1) and of course she doesn't respect boundaries there... The particular thing that is really annoying me at the moment is that she takes an obsessive interest in his health to the point that she tells us what is wrong with him - ie "he's got a temperature" or "he's chesty". Well recently she's started announcing "his glands are up" - ie she's picking him up and rummaging around his neck to see if his glands are swollen. Aaaaargh! I can't even type this without getting the red mist!!

I want to tell her to f**k off and leave him alone but not sure how to do it without creating a scene and without sounding like I'm being really stupid. Perhaps I am? Does anyone else think this is out of order or have I just totally lost perspective on her?

Any thoughts appreciated!

OP posts:
Freckle · 21/06/2007 09:52

Does she have any children of her own? If not, then your dh and your children are her family and she is behaving as you would towards them.

I appreciate that it is really not her place to do this and I think you must either talk to her about it (or get dh to do it) or put up with it. At least she is showing an interest.

warthog · 21/06/2007 09:52

eh? she's picking your DH up and rummaging around his neck??? firstly, she must be very strong, secondly, she's nuts. she's obviously taken over her mum's role and is playing dm to your dh. it would drive me crazy too.

tbh i think it's up to your dh to tell her to stop. doesn't it bother him?

cornsilk · 21/06/2007 09:54

My sister and my mum do that. Just grin and bear it. Your ds will tell her where to go in a few years anyway if she's still prodding and inspecting him. Why not take advantage of her interest in your ds and get her to babysit?

julezboo · 21/06/2007 10:02

Havent got any answers for you, wanted to bump up and say your not alone. I have the same with MIL, shes convinced my ds(4mnths) has brochitis!) I did blow up at her and offend her horribly when I was pregnant for what good it did. I just grin and bear it now but MIL lives 300 miles away.

I feel for you xx

ScoobyC · 21/06/2007 10:03

Excellent, wasn't sure anyone would reply! Thanks all.

Freckle - yes she has a 6yr old ds...

Warthog: It does bother dh too but he has had things out with her in the past and she doesn't handle it well so he's reluctant to say anything.

Cornsilk - I know that would be the best approach, but I just can't. My nose physically flares when she's in the room, I can hardly bear her being around ds so the thought of her babysitting and getting him to herself makes my hackles raise!!

Any suggestions on specifically what to say if either dh or I said anything to her? Ie what to say without sounding ridiculous?!

OP posts:
ScoobyC · 21/06/2007 10:07

Thanks julezboo, she does act like an overbearing mil...
Glad you've found a way of dealing with yours!

OP posts:
MilkMonitor · 21/06/2007 10:12

Grin and bear it? Why? Your SIL is being ridiculous.

Next time she picks him up to check his glands, just casually say, "Oh he's fine. Stop mauling / pawing him, would you?"

She's obviously a weirdo.

colditz · 21/06/2007 10:14

Or be uber-sarcastic and say "Yes, this often happens to crack babies as they mature. Would you like to speak to his social worker about it? I'm sure I have the number somewhere."

mumto3girls · 21/06/2007 10:16

Say...hmmm with your interest in help why did you never become a nurse/doctor etc...

Then just say I'm his mum I'd know if he was ill and take him to the GP...thanks for caring though, but don't worry he's fine.

ScoobyC · 21/06/2007 10:23

Oh yes, I like to hear she's a weirdo!! (I am a bit worried I am over-sensitised to her now.)
Lol at the crack baby one!
All good suggestions, I'll start memorising them!!
Thanks

OP posts:
warthog · 22/06/2007 08:00

ahh sorry, she's picking your ds up, not your dh... well i'd be tempted to hold him whenever she comes over and if she tries to touch him, move him away and say 'he's absolutely fine thank you', and not let her anywhere near him until she gets the message. i think it's her way of expressing love in some wierdo backhand kind of way.

Sakura · 22/06/2007 08:41

I agree with milkmonitor. Im tired of people thinking they can treat others how they like, and Im tired of the people who say you have to put up with it. If it doesnt annoy, niggle or grate you then carry on and leave the situation as it is. However if it <span class="italic">does</span> annoy you, and you feel <span class="italic">your</span> own personal boundaries are not being respected then it is <strong>not</strong> <strong>okay</strong>. Different people have different boundaries, so what would be okay for one person, wouldnt be okay for another. Its silly to wonder whether you are being too sensitive or not.
Your SIL is not respecting you and your personality. In my experience, people don`t change or alter, even if you draw attention to the problem. The only solution is to spend as little time as possible with her, so draw the boundaries that way.

NerdMagnet · 22/06/2007 08:57

I agree that she is behaving like a mother-in-law.
I also agree that there is no reason for you to put up with her unreasonable behaviour - especially in your own home.

You haven't lost perspective. The events you describe don't seem too bad as a one-off, but I'm sure it's just one in a long line of annoyances, and you do need to sort it out, imo.

From experience I know that if you don't make a stand with people who have these sorts of personalities, they will get worse.

My MIL is a very abrupt, rude and critical person. She can give it out, but can't take it. She will cry and moan and sulk and whimper when challenged, so everyone let her get away with it.

Until I came along!

I don't see why someone should be allowed to ride roughshod over the feelings of everyone else, just because they react badly when they are told they are being unreasonable.

Deal with her as if she is a toddler.

Clearly set the boundaries of how you would like her to behave. Do it calmly, and use humour if possible. (use puppets, a tambourine and a glockenspiel if you have to, but make it clear as day!)

So maybe say "thank you for taking an interest in DS's health, but he is absolutely fine. I would prefer it if you didn't poke and prod him, as I will know if he is ill. I'm neurotic enough without you making it worse" (cue laughter! ).

If she ignores you, then say:

"Do you remember that chat we had about this?"

Graduating to:

"Well, it is important to me, so I'm going to have to ask you again".

Go on to timeouts if necessary, where she can't visit until she promises to back off.

So she has a tantrum - she's a grown woman, she'll get over it!

I understand that she feels very protective of your DH. This is where he comes in.

He needs to make it blatantly clear that you and your child are his first priority. If she is rude to you, he needs to firmly tell her that her behaviour is unacceptable.

You both need to stand together on this, and have clear boundaries on the sort of behaviour you will take from her. (See, united front, think toddlers! )

(Can you tell we've had a similar scenario in our family? )

Your DH is the key. Until he proves that he doesn't need her to be his mother figure anymore, and stands up to her, your attempts to modify her behaviour won't be successful.

Good luck - and stand firm.

Sakura · 22/06/2007 09:18

NerdMagnet! EVery word you`ve written could have been me! Its totally true that these kinds of personalities get worse the longer you leave it. Its true that everyone puts up with it because the person simply cannot take any form of criticism themselves. When DH finally confronted MIL about her ridiculous behaviour, she started crying . And yet I (a new mother who gave birth in a foreign country with no family around) had no right to ask for some basic respect, apparently.
DEfinitely treat her as you would a toddler. I think mine wanted me to give her boundaries. Because her behaviour just started getting more and more ridiculous and she was pushing me, like a 3 year old would.
I cut off contact for 4 months, then gave 4 conditions

  1. I have the right to privacy- no turning up at my home (Or my labour), or anywhere that I am, unnanounced
  2. Our family has the right to schedule our own time and do our own thing on weekends and holidays. It may or may not include her, but I won`t be held to ransom by her demands
  3. No more gifts (she`ll buy something for me, then act like I owe her my life and should be obligated to her)
  4. When in her presence, I don`t want to hear any criticisms or snidey comments

DH (on threat of divorce) told her the conditions and to be fair, she has stayed away and respected that we needed space, even though she lives down the road.
So tomorrow, I told DH that he could take DD (8 months) to see her for a couple of hours without me. Shell be pleased with that, because shes made it clear I should be edited out of her perfect son and grandaughter picture. I don`t care, as long as the 4 conditions are met.
So you see, you must treat these people like children.

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