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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

Mean well or interfering in-laws?

52 replies

Belle33 · 12/04/2019 07:52

So, I have lived with my partner for the last 6 years. We are engaged and most of the time are very happy. My in-laws live less than 3 miles from us. My farther in-law comes round every morning, around 7.30am on weekdays and a little later at weekends. He returns in the afternoon and stays for a couple of hours. He does a few jobs like cutting the lawn, takes out bins and takes the dog for a walk. I feel like this is his second home and he enjoys being around us. My mother in law takes it on herself to come round once or twice a week to do my washing and ironing. She sometimes stays longer and cleans the windows or general housework. Whilst I appreciate their help sometimes I feel like my home is being invaded, sometimes after work I just want to chill out, play music and have a glass of wine which is difficult if my in-laws are here. My house sometimes I feel is not my home and I find myself going out to avoid them. They're passive aggressive in the sense that they hold it against me that they 'have' to do these things to keep the house ' in order' and I'm not cut out for domestic duties. The thing is, my partner and I are morethan willing and capable of doing all the things my in-laws do. Am I being ungrateful? I just wish they would get on with their own life and let us get on with ours. TIA!

OP posts:
peekyboo · 12/04/2019 11:00

It would even be different if they just liked you and wanted to spend time with you. That would still be intrusive but at least they'd be enjoying time with you as people instead of visiting the house like entitled butlers.

GoFiguire · 12/04/2019 11:10

Have noisy sex at 7.35am.

GoFiguire · 12/04/2019 11:10

Then leave DFiance tied to the bed and go out for the day.

triballeader · 12/04/2019 11:49

When I had my third son I was so darn ill from complications of prgenancy, complications around and after birth I could not even lift my newborn son on my own let alone walk, do gardening or housework. I took every offer of help going......I needed to.

It took me 12 months to get back to any level of helth and fitness by which time I found I was getting way too much help. I cheated and introduced my inlaws to the local University of the Third Age. Suddenly they found they had more fun things they wanted to do rather than help with children and housework.

Think about the reasons this situation came about so you can try to come up with solutions that could work for you and maybe even all of you.

Belle33 · 12/04/2019 13:40

Thanks for all the advice guys. It's
Made me realise how use to this I've become and how inappropriate it really is. Lol I think noisy sex at 7.35 am would be a good start! I wish I
Could be braver and face it head on with the in-laws but I don't like
Confrontation....maybe they know this! I am not bypassing my own home anymore. Frank conversations to be had with hubby! He needs to cut his
Apron strings and realise we are a team a team which can tackle the ups and downs of life without his parents in the background leading the way.....he is 50 ffs!! Thanks again xx

OP posts:
Pianobook · 12/04/2019 13:55

He’s 50?! He should be doing jobs for them!

TarragonSauce · 12/04/2019 14:05

Bear in mind, it may not suit your partner to have to do all these chores himself! Maybe that's why the situation had gone on so long.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 12/04/2019 14:08

He is 50, such men do not change. He may not be able to completely cut the apron strings here also because he may not want to and also because his parents won't allow him to do so.

What has his relationship history been like to date; it may well be that ex's were treated in the same ways. Regardless of this, your partner's inertia when it comes to them hurts him as well as you. He may never want to address it.

His parents know you do not like confrontation. This is partly how such passive aggressive people like this get away with it, no-one ever pulls them up on it.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 12/04/2019 14:14

Is FIL there now?.

What has your fiancé used as the reasons for not moving into another property?.

Holidayshopping · 12/04/2019 20:47

This doesn’t bear thinking about-I absolutely couldn’t stand living like this.

Have you read Philippa Gregory’s The Little House?!

Singlenotsingle · 12/04/2019 20:59

50??? His dps must be mid 70s at least! Shock It must be time for them to slow down, surely?

BertrandRussell · 12/04/2019 21:06

“What is to stop either of them going through your mail, other private papers, drawers with underwear in etc?. This is likely to be happening. ”

This is complete bollocks. HOWEVER. Has this been happening for ages? Because it sounds as if it really suited your Dp before you moved in, and you need to make bloody sure that your DP is prepared to do his share of what his parents do when they stop. Otherwise you’ll end up doing it all and he will carry on thinking the fairies do all the work a household needs to run smoothly except that the fairies will be you, not his parents.

NewMum19344567 · 12/04/2019 21:13

My MIL walked my dog while I was at work. One day she said I was selfish as was off work and said I wanted to walk the dog myself. She said the dog was her only social life. She said I was a ungrateful bitch ect and honestly it ruined our relationship! It's so hard to stop them overstepping in a nice way and I honestly hope you find a way as we ended up blowing up in anger and making it 100 percent worse! 2 years on I still remember what she shouted at me!

DoubtOfTheOrdinary · 12/04/2019 21:18

He's 50 and his parents come round to mow his lawn and do his fucking washing??! I've never heard anything like it! Is he a total man-child in other ways, OP?

BertrandRussell · 12/04/2019 21:28

“He's 50 and his parents come round to mow his lawn and do his fucking washing??! I've never heard anything like it! Is he a total man-child in other ways, OP?”

As I said, I’d put money on the OP ending up doing everything his parents do when they stop..........

GoFiguire · 12/04/2019 22:59

Unless she moves out?

Happynow001 · 13/04/2019 03:35

God @Belle33
How have you borne this for so many Years? This sounds like a very suffocating and intrusive relationship.

I hope your DP will speak firmly but kindly to his parents and manages to get them to back off but at 50yo he may not want to change this pattern. Have you spoken to him in the past and, if so, what was his reaction?

Of course it may suit him too. After all he's got a live in girlfriend for socialising and getting intimate with, parents doing the chores, and a ready made carer who'll be glad to look after his parents' needs as they get older because, after all, they've been so good to you both...

See the light OP.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/04/2019 09:12

What is to stop either of them going through your mail, other private papers, drawers with underwear in etc?. This is likely to be happening. ”

Why wouldn't this be happening?. His parents are over at their son's house regularly and regard their place as their own. He thinks his parents doing this gives them a purpose in life.

If their washing and ironing is being done then it is put away in drawers. Your own response to my above comment is weak, rude and without any real substance.

Chamomileteaplease · 13/04/2019 10:34

Please keep posting OP because if you dp thinks this kind of behaviour is normal and acceptable then you are going to have a bit of a battle and it won't be plain sailing.

With regard to your ILs needing a purpose in life - tell your dp there are thousands of charities out there who would love their help. You two do not need it!.

As an aside, I am not sure how you could find such a man attractive - one who has his parents "look after him" the whole time.

Good luck!!

another20 · 13/04/2019 19:06

Why are yiu accepting of them being passive aggressive to YOU? Why is this OK?

SandyY2K · 13/04/2019 19:24

Your DP doesn't want to do these chores and it will all fall on you if/when you ask his parents to stop.

You said he's in his 50s, so maybe he doesn't want kids at his age, but heaven help you if you do have kids. Your inlaws will be almost living with you.

Does your DP have any learning difficulties or anything. A man his age having his elderly parents do all this just isn't normal?

Has he been married before? Or in other long term relationships? He'd have been latish 40s when you got together... maybe this is the reason why.

BertrandRussell · 13/04/2019 19:43

He and his parents have been living like this for years. It suits them perfectly- they have jobs to do- he gets all his jobs done. And for the past 6 years you have gone along with it. He’s not going to change-why should he?

I’d be out of there if I were you. Do you have any rights in the house?

Comet456 · 14/04/2019 08:39

Your own response to my above comment is weak, rude and without any real substance.

BertrandRussel is like this with everyone Atila, don’t take it personally. The comment is only worthy of a massive eye roll 🙄

BertrandRussell · 14/04/2019 09:28

Oh, I wouldn’t worry about Atilla. Anyone with a sense of proportion would see that her comment was over the top and completely unhelpful to the OP who has been drawn into a very tricky co dependent relationship she would in my opinion be best running from as fast as she can.

Comet456 · 14/04/2019 09:29

🙄

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