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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

How do deal with a MIL who doesn't like you/makes sarky remarks to SIL about you?

70 replies

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:14

My fiance has a really close family, which I originally was happy with, but recently the dynamic IMO has turned a little weird between his mother and me. Back story is she is divorced from his dad, and he is the only son. I think he has had to emotionally support her from a young age.

Recently, at a family event, his mother was being rude to his step mum. She was calling her an alcoholic infront of everybody, I felt really uncomfortable and (luckily) me fiance called her out and told her to apologise (something she IS NOT used to and WAS FURIOUS with my fiance for)

After this event we all went back to a family members house, where she came in hysterical, pointing at my fiance over me, saying he let her down, didnt stand up for her, should of had her back, shes always had his, he was wrong, she isnt talking to him, and refused to look at him. My fiance was forced to keep asking his mum if she was ok, she was ignoring his requests, being really childish. At one point I was in the conversation and I told her that he done the right thing, and she replied "well who taught him to do that?!!!". I could tell it was affecting my fiance, to the point where he followed her outside in the garden and saw them hugging? he literally had to pander to her, because he done the right thing and told her she was wrong? After that, we had 2 weeks of facetimes of her crying, saying she has always stood up for him even when he was wrong, and he done the wrong thing.

We had 2 weeks of phonecalls of her facetiming him crying about this situation. In the end, I told my fiance to tell her to please stop talking about it, it was making me uncomfortable keep talking over and over about it, especially when she was penalising my partner for doing the right thing, that doesnt sit right with me. Next time we was at a event, she was telling my fiances friend about it, and looked at me and said I KNOW YOU DONT WANT TO HEAR THIS ANYMORE SO LOOK AWAY, and proceeded to whisper to my fiances friend infront of me, again i felt very uncomfortable.

Anyway, ever since then, we have been at family events, and I can tell she is making comments about me, for eg I walked past her and over to my fiance to discuss something at a bbq and i heard her go over to my fiances sister and all i heard was the fiances sister say "oh stop, you are being weird stop it"

Seperately, she opened the door and called my fiances sister in the house (obviously to discuss something) I suspect to make me feel left out. throughout the day she kept pulling the SIL to one corner and they was discussing SIL wedding but it felt very on purpose, to leave me out, or to make me feel a certain way. She often glares at me, and/or my fiance, to watch how we are together, and its starting to make me extremely uncomfortable. She is nice to my face, and pretends to like me, but there is just something not quite right.

I don't know how to move forward as I have to see her A LOT at family events, and i dont want to have to let my fiance go alone and to live seperate lives. my fiance has offered to tell her i feel uncomfortable around her and to sort it out, but i know she is going to deny it and run to the sisters, the sort of person that will try and turn everyone against you and make out you are the problem. I have no idea how to proceed? I often wonder what is going to happen when we have kids/at our wedding. I honestly dont want people at my wedding/around me faking it, i would rather no negative energy and for them not to show up. I dont do fake very well.

OP posts:
Ardrahan · 03/09/2024 17:21

I think you’d be deeply unwise to marry into a long-running Jeremy Kyle episode, and crazy to have children in it. Your fiancé sounds pretty enmeshed.

‘Close’ isn’t necessarily a problem. ‘Close’ in the sense of continually badmouthing one another at what sound like frequent family gatherings is.

TipsyJoker · 03/09/2024 17:21

You have 2 choices here; 1) completely ignore her and pretend she doesn’t exist and just focus on the other people at these events and enjoy their company. Don’t feed into her drama in any way whatsoever. Or 2) give her a piece of your mind, put her firmly in her place and the. Completely ignore her. Personally, if I didn’t want her at my wedding, I’d go with the second option because then she will prob make a big drama about how she couldn’t possibly attend when you’ve been so awful to her. Clearly the rest of the family can see she’s a totally nightmare and prob will say, “on for you” if you tell her off. Do not pander to this woman either way. She’s toxic so you should sort her out now before you have any children whose lives she wants to be part of.

MorrisZapp · 03/09/2024 17:23

Well she's ghastly to your fiancé and he keeps going to the many family events. So you can either go with him and accept the dynamic or sit it out at home.

Bodyswerving a barbecue isn't living separate lives.

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:24

MorrisZapp · 03/09/2024 17:23

Well she's ghastly to your fiancé and he keeps going to the many family events. So you can either go with him and accept the dynamic or sit it out at home.

Bodyswerving a barbecue isn't living separate lives.

thanks. do you agree that it was ghastly behaviour? I felt so uncomfortable, and almost sorry for him, it was like an insight of what his childhood must of been. is it trying to control him in a way? be interested to hear other peoples POV

OP posts:
dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:25

MorrisZapp · 03/09/2024 17:23

Well she's ghastly to your fiancé and he keeps going to the many family events. So you can either go with him and accept the dynamic or sit it out at home.

Bodyswerving a barbecue isn't living separate lives.

i think she doesnt like me, because she knows i can see through her.

OP posts:
dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:26

Ardrahan · 03/09/2024 17:21

I think you’d be deeply unwise to marry into a long-running Jeremy Kyle episode, and crazy to have children in it. Your fiancé sounds pretty enmeshed.

‘Close’ isn’t necessarily a problem. ‘Close’ in the sense of continually badmouthing one another at what sound like frequent family gatherings is.

@Ardrahan she only bad mouths the females that have married into the family, none of her own of course. and constantly reminds everyone 'family first'

OP posts:
Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:29

I think she sounds hilarious but I appreciate you don't.

Your fiance and his mother sound like they have an unhealthily close relationship, or enmeshed, as pp said. That may prove to be a problem and I would hold off marrying him until he made some changes.

It sounds as though he will have difficulty prioritising your needs over his mum's. His mum sounds like a manipulative nightmare who thrives on drama and being the centre of attention.

I just wouldn't get involved in any of it. I would ignore her snide remarks, keep her at arms length and be polite.

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:30

TipsyJoker · 03/09/2024 17:21

You have 2 choices here; 1) completely ignore her and pretend she doesn’t exist and just focus on the other people at these events and enjoy their company. Don’t feed into her drama in any way whatsoever. Or 2) give her a piece of your mind, put her firmly in her place and the. Completely ignore her. Personally, if I didn’t want her at my wedding, I’d go with the second option because then she will prob make a big drama about how she couldn’t possibly attend when you’ve been so awful to her. Clearly the rest of the family can see she’s a totally nightmare and prob will say, “on for you” if you tell her off. Do not pander to this woman either way. She’s toxic so you should sort her out now before you have any children whose lives she wants to be part of.

@TipsyJoker thank you, thats what i have been trying to do, completely ignore her, but its her side of the family, so obviously shes very close to everyone at these events, but i do get along with everyone else so it is possible to ignore her, its just the atmosphere and tension is starting to make me feel really on edge, and like I said the constantly watching me. its weird. thanks though, i have been dealing with it by ignoring her, only spoke if spoken too, (she only talks to me infront of people, if we are one on one and i ask her if she needs help she will pretend not to hear me etc) and then i tell my fiance on the way home, but he probably gets upset/stressed with the situation too, and doesn't know how to handle it.

OP posts:
updownand · 03/09/2024 17:30

Well, you're getting plenty of warning of what it's going to be like. Do you really want her as a future grandparent? Would your DP distance himself from her?

I'd take your time getting to the altar tbh

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:32

updownand · 03/09/2024 17:30

Well, you're getting plenty of warning of what it's going to be like. Do you really want her as a future grandparent? Would your DP distance himself from her?

I'd take your time getting to the altar tbh

@updownand no i do not, but i cant dump my partner just because of her. he has shown improvements (told her she was wrong, is listening to the way i say she treats me) i have highlighted her manipulative behaviour to him, but sometimes he gets annoyed, because deep down he knows i think, the possibility of moving away (different state) is possible in the future and i think will be best for us.

OP posts:
Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:35

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:32

@updownand no i do not, but i cant dump my partner just because of her. he has shown improvements (told her she was wrong, is listening to the way i say she treats me) i have highlighted her manipulative behaviour to him, but sometimes he gets annoyed, because deep down he knows i think, the possibility of moving away (different state) is possible in the future and i think will be best for us.

You can dump your fiance for any reason you want and many women would run screaming from Norman Bates.

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:36

Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:35

You can dump your fiance for any reason you want and many women would run screaming from Norman Bates.

I just keep thinking though, once I have kids, its up to me who they see, and if shes still acting crazy its in my power for her not to see them a lot, right?....

OP posts:
invisiblecat · 03/09/2024 17:37

Smile sweetly, be your usual friendly self, be nice to everyone and rise above it all.

Everybody knows she's batshit.

Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:42

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:36

I just keep thinking though, once I have kids, its up to me who they see, and if shes still acting crazy its in my power for her not to see them a lot, right?....

Your MIL isn't really the problem here, it's your fiance. He has an unhealthy attachment to his mother, he's running around after her pandering to her every whim.

From the sounds of it, he will not have your back. He will take his mother's side over yours every time. I wouldn't let my family be rude to my partner and I wouldn't listen to them being badmouthed.

When you get married, it's fundamental that you and your husband are on the same team. Life will throw plenty of obstacles your way and you need your partner and best friend to support you 100%.

fortheveryfirsttime · 03/09/2024 17:42

updownand · 03/09/2024 17:30

Well, you're getting plenty of warning of what it's going to be like. Do you really want her as a future grandparent? Would your DP distance himself from her?

I'd take your time getting to the altar tbh

Agree with this. If this is the situation now I cannot imagine how unhinged she'll be around a wedding and babies.

@dublinderby34 you won't be able to control her time with any children because her son isn't going to stand up to her.

Run a fucking mile!

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:44

Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:42

Your MIL isn't really the problem here, it's your fiance. He has an unhealthy attachment to his mother, he's running around after her pandering to her every whim.

From the sounds of it, he will not have your back. He will take his mother's side over yours every time. I wouldn't let my family be rude to my partner and I wouldn't listen to them being badmouthed.

When you get married, it's fundamental that you and your husband are on the same team. Life will throw plenty of obstacles your way and you need your partner and best friend to support you 100%.

but didnt he stand up to her when he outright told her to apologise in front of everyone, and done the right thing? that must of been hard for him to do, but he done it.

OP posts:
dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:44

Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:42

Your MIL isn't really the problem here, it's your fiance. He has an unhealthy attachment to his mother, he's running around after her pandering to her every whim.

From the sounds of it, he will not have your back. He will take his mother's side over yours every time. I wouldn't let my family be rude to my partner and I wouldn't listen to them being badmouthed.

When you get married, it's fundamental that you and your husband are on the same team. Life will throw plenty of obstacles your way and you need your partner and best friend to support you 100%.

also, i dont think she would badmouth me infront of him.

OP posts:
TipsyJoker · 03/09/2024 17:48

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:44

but didnt he stand up to her when he outright told her to apologise in front of everyone, and done the right thing? that must of been hard for him to do, but he done it.

And then he backtracked by going outside and hugging her and pandering to her and then allowing her to keep badmouthing you and make you feel uncomfortable since.

TheGirlattheBack · 03/09/2024 17:49

You reeeealy need to stay out of it. Let your fiancé manage the relationship with his mother. He will be very used to her awful behaviour and will manage it through well established patterns of their fucked up family dynamic.

You shouldn’t have said anything in the first argument - too late for that now. In future be polite to your MIL but don’t engage with the crazy. Think hairdresser conversation. Support/comfort/validate your fiancé/husband because that’s who you’re building a life with, he probably needs therapy at some point in the future.

Unless you grew up with a crazy mother you will never get your head round their relationship.

Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:50

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:44

but didnt he stand up to her when he outright told her to apologise in front of everyone, and done the right thing? that must of been hard for him to do, but he done it.

OP he didn't stand up to her, he expressed an opinion and she created drama so he followed her around and apologised. Then he took two weeks of weeping and didn't say anything.

You've obviously made him aware about the remarks and he hasn't said anything to her about her behaviour.

Anyway, best of luck.

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:51

TheGirlattheBack · 03/09/2024 17:49

You reeeealy need to stay out of it. Let your fiancé manage the relationship with his mother. He will be very used to her awful behaviour and will manage it through well established patterns of their fucked up family dynamic.

You shouldn’t have said anything in the first argument - too late for that now. In future be polite to your MIL but don’t engage with the crazy. Think hairdresser conversation. Support/comfort/validate your fiancé/husband because that’s who you’re building a life with, he probably needs therapy at some point in the future.

Unless you grew up with a crazy mother you will never get your head round their relationship.

he actually called me over in this argument, and asked me to tell her what i thought, i think he needed my support, trust me, there was a lot more i wanted to say. he 100% needs therapy. He will never come to me looking for support/validate with problems with her, because he wont want me to be right in what i say she is like.

OP posts:
Ardrahan · 03/09/2024 17:51

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:26

@Ardrahan she only bad mouths the females that have married into the family, none of her own of course. and constantly reminds everyone 'family first'

But so what, though? Regardless of who she’s badmouthing, is that something you want to be around? Is that something you want your children to think is normal? And I’m not sure I buy your idea that she only behaves badly to women who married in. What about the two weeks of crying FaceTimes to her son?

I’d run for the hills.

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:52

Overbearingndn · 03/09/2024 17:50

OP he didn't stand up to her, he expressed an opinion and she created drama so he followed her around and apologised. Then he took two weeks of weeping and didn't say anything.

You've obviously made him aware about the remarks and he hasn't said anything to her about her behaviour.

Anyway, best of luck.

@Overbearingndn thank you, appreciate your comments. So he keeps offering to say something to her for me, but i really dont know if he can articulate it the right way without sounding like I HAVE a problem with her, but he keeps saying i wont let him talk to her about it. That's what i was asking on here, should i let him, should i talk to her myself, im not sure.
PS - what do you think he should of said to her with the 2 weeks of weeping? he kind of laughed and kept saying like "come on mum, you know i have ur back i told both of you that you was wrong" and was kind of trying to make light of it.

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 03/09/2024 17:53

Don't get married. If you do get married definitely elope. And if you marry, tell your husband you will not be attending family events until he sorts this out. Problem solved.

dublinderby34 · 03/09/2024 17:54

RedToothBrush · 03/09/2024 17:53

Don't get married. If you do get married definitely elope. And if you marry, tell your husband you will not be attending family events until he sorts this out. Problem solved.

he wants to talk to her about it, but after what i witnessed, is she really going to listen? i fear he will back down again. I don't know if she will make him feel bad again and then i come off even worse/with more tension/the whole family hear that ive made him say something to her etc etc

OP posts: