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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

I am about to go crazy with my husbands family, and being gaslit by them all. Please tell me I am not crazy!

187 replies

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:19

OK Situation 1

Me and fiancé (soon to be husband) planned weekend away wine tasting for our wedding. Was planned for 4 months and the only weekend the wedding venue could do. We get a text from brother saying that we shouldn't be going as its dads 50th birthday. We already had a plan to take dad out for dinner, and he was happy with that. at this point no plans or parties for dads bday. I reply and say well this is the weekend we needed to go, and that there aren't any plans for birthday. proceeds to tell me now that my fiance shouldn't be going, and there aren't any plans yet because he has been busy. 4 days later, he texts my fiancé with a miraculous plan for the dad, over the weekend we are going to the wedding venue. Fiance replies we cannot go, and why did you make the plan knowing we are not going to be here. whilst we are on our trip, brother delivers some bad news to my fiance whilst we are at dinner, and ruins our evening.

Situation 2
Last year family member died over my birthday. He was a doctor. Sad situation. I done everything I could to support, attended funeral, paid for therapy for my fiance, held his hand and supported him during the entire process. for the past year, there have been 'events', 'fund raisers', 'community events', 'sports games' honouring the family member. Really special and fiance and me where possible have attended every one. We lost money as we had a holiday booked over my birthday, but not important, and i have not once mentioned anything to do with that, and showed up for my partner. My parent was also in the hospital, very stressful time.
this year, we have planned a weekend away for my birthday. MIL contacts fiance months ago, saying its doctors week in XYZ city, and that all the family are going. Fiance says we cannot go as its birthday weekend, already have plans, and last birthday was very sad we don't want this one to be similar. MIL does not really accept no for answer, asks him to reconsider. Was consistently asking him everytime she saw him. Few days later, texts again asking, he sticks by his guns says no. We go over for dinner, asks me this time, i say probably not and she says its a week long celebration, can we go before my bday, i say ill take a look. Next morning, after not even 24 hours so we haven't dicussed it yet, asks my fiance on the phone. He tells me. This time i text her saying probably not going sorry, feel free to send details but not going to make it. She says no problem whatever is best for me and my fiance? Then 10 minutes later i get a text from the brother, saying "question" i say "yes..." he says are we definitely out of going XYZ, its a once in a lifetime oppourtunity and thinks we should go, i reply and say on this occasion no after last year, thank you for the invite but not going to make it. He then proceeds to change the subject and say my fiance will be angry if he knows he text me.

My fiance at this point is overwhelmed, stressed, and clearly feeling pressure from his family. We end up arguing. He calls older brother who lives in different country for advice, who says we should go for the days we can and then proceed to go onto my birthday weekend after. Fiance then texts me saying "we are going and this is not up for discussion" after that, WW3 breaks out and have a huge argument, as quite obviously i am feeling ambushed and misunderstood/disrespected by this entire family, now including my fiance.

I am at a cross roads, my fiance is now kind of blaming me, saying yes his mum shouldn't of been going on, but saying i have a problem with the brother and mum? (of course i do after their treatment of me) and he wants to get us all in a room together (no). I do not feel ready to see them or want too they cause me nothing but arguments in my relationship, and i think are so used to my fiancé doing and being at every event, they do not like that he is not there. bare in mind, these women are nice to the uncles wife, but are horrible about her behind her back and are very false, so i have witnessed first hand two faced behaviour. My fiance has previously called his mum out for bad behaviour, and she cried for weeks, trying to make him feel guilty (he agrees on this) and trying to make him feel bad for going against her when she was being mean to another lady infront of us.

What do I do? My fiance can't cope with being in the middle and wants us to resolve it, and the more i keep going on for him to see my feelings, he gets annoyed and i look like the one with the problem. he is saying i am now being stubborn and spiteful (??!!) that i wont go to XYZ and go to my bday weekend after, maybe i am being difficult, maybe i should go, but i cant forgive the issues they cause in my engagement so far.

OP posts:
SunshineAndFizz · 06/01/2025 18:25

They all sound overbearing and hard work.

You sound precious and inflexible.

Was probably a matter of time before WW3 happened.

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:26

SunshineAndFizz · 06/01/2025 18:25

They all sound overbearing and hard work.

You sound precious and inflexible.

Was probably a matter of time before WW3 happened.

@SunshineAndFizz can i ask how i sound 'precious' and 'inflexible' unlike them, i am self reflective and want to improve from this situation...

OP posts:
OliveThe0therReindeer · 06/01/2025 18:30

They sound like difficult and demanding people. Id be thinking twice about marrying into such a family.

This will get a lot worse once / if you have kids.

Autumn38 · 06/01/2025 18:30

Well i would probably be the sort to change my birthday plans (if they only involved DH and I/ I’d not invited anyone else yet) and go on a family holiday- I tend to prioritise family personally so I can see why they are disappointed.

But I can also see you aren’t in the wrong either to make a plan and stick to it 🤷‍♀️

SunshineAndFizz · 06/01/2025 18:31

Celebrate your birthday another day? Clearly it's an important event in memory of the relative, sounds like there was a compromise suggested but you weren't interested. I always find it strange when people insist a birthday celebration has GOT to be on the exact day or else it's a tragedy.

And wedding prep is always more important to the couple than anyone else - I was the same and look back and cringe. 50th birthday top trumps wine tasting any day.

Iloveyoubut · 06/01/2025 18:31

I couldn’t live with this. I felt my chest going tight just reading it. They sound like a total nightmare. Your fiancé has to decide what stance he’s going to take and stick to it because this is going up become a husband problem and not an in-law problem very quickly. He’s not in the middle and he can’t put himself in the middle. He needs to see that they are being demanding beyond reason and out his foot down now. I genuinely don’t think I would go ahead with the wedding unless this was all resolved because your life is going to be a misery if he doesn’t sort them out. Can you imagine if you’re planning on having children how much of a nightmare it’ll be with a pile of overbearing in-laws who refuse to let you have your own life. This sounds truly awful. They need to know they’re going to lose your fiancé if they continue like this otherwise it’ll be you who ends up losing. You need to be able to live your own life OP, I couldn’t cope with that at all. It’ll get so much worse unless he puts his foot down right now and they know 100% that it’s not on. It’s not fair on you at all. I think it’s reasonable to get in a room and hash this out right now- but not is your fiancé is going to side with them even when they’re the ones being unreasonable. Good luck!

Brefugee · 06/01/2025 18:31

i found it all very confusing about who is related to who and whose brothers.

Tell your fiancé that you will be doing X on your birthday, and if he is going to faff you about he might need to reconsider wanting to marry you but remain so enmeshed with his family.

It all sounds very intense tbh

Hoppinggreen · 06/01/2025 18:33

They have a week long celebration of a dead persons birthday? Am I reading that right?

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:33

Hoppinggreen · 06/01/2025 18:33

They have a week long celebration of a dead persons birthday? Am I reading that right?

week long celebration to remember all the doctors that died that year.

OP posts:
meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:34

SunshineAndFizz · 06/01/2025 18:31

Celebrate your birthday another day? Clearly it's an important event in memory of the relative, sounds like there was a compromise suggested but you weren't interested. I always find it strange when people insist a birthday celebration has GOT to be on the exact day or else it's a tragedy.

And wedding prep is always more important to the couple than anyone else - I was the same and look back and cringe. 50th birthday top trumps wine tasting any day.

funny because my fiance insisted that his cousins bday (21st) needed to be celebrated on his actual bday last year, when it was over our anniversary. @SunshineAndFizz

OP posts:
Tinselinthewhoopsiebasket · 06/01/2025 18:35

Reconsider the marriage or every week will be like an episode of Eastenders..... If he won't back you to his family now he never will... Imagine adding dc to that?

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 06/01/2025 18:35

Situation 1 seems familiar, did you post this at the time?

Wedding planning is one of those things that seems big to you at the time, and after you don’t care.

You all sound as inflexible as each other, PP is correct.

Ex’s family were like this and I’d run a mile from anyone like this.

Hoppinggreen · 06/01/2025 18:37

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:33

week long celebration to remember all the doctors that died that year.

Well thats just weird for a start

neilyoungismyhero · 06/01/2025 18:38

I agree with PP it doesn't sound like you are ever going to be a priority in this relationship.

Your fiance can't stand up to family pressures and it will only get worse once you're married. I think I might hold off on wedding plans for a while if I were you.

SunshineAndFizz · 06/01/2025 18:38

21st birthday top trumps an anniversary - especially not even a wedding anniversary (assume it's a dating anniversary - sorry that thing just isn't important).

Soontobe60 · 06/01/2025 18:41

Who in their right mind has to plan a weekend away to choose wine for their wedding? That in itself is incredibly precious!!
All you needed to do is to tell the venue what wines you'd prefer - no need to spend money on a weekend away to taste them.
a]Also, what was the ‘bad news’?

FitAt50 · 06/01/2025 18:42

Is your fiance from a different country/culture as the whole 'doctors week' sounds rather alien?

AnnaMagnani · 06/01/2025 18:44

Week long celebration of all the doctors that died that year?

Is this a specific cultural thing? Because this really sounds like some made up BS that your ILs family have latched on to.

My suggestion is couples therapy before you get married. But with half an eye that your Fiance may just not be worth it.

Icanflyhigh · 06/01/2025 18:46

This all sounds like very hard work. Are you marrying your fiance or his family?

Its not too late to walk away and keep your sanity.....

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 06/01/2025 18:47

They clearly prioritise and focus around their extended family, where you would like to be a more separate unit/entity. Those differences aren't going to change. Your fiancé feels a strong allegiance to them and their ideals (understandably). I think you really need to think about your future as your values and your fiancé's are just not aligned.

Soontobe60 · 06/01/2025 18:48

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:34

funny because my fiance insisted that his cousins bday (21st) needed to be celebrated on his actual bday last year, when it was over our anniversary. @SunshineAndFizz

You said earlier that you had to cancel your birthday holiday because the family member died suddenly, so youd have been on holiday when it was the 21st. You could not have been both on holiday on your birthday AND at someone’s birthday party on the same day.

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:48

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 06/01/2025 18:47

They clearly prioritise and focus around their extended family, where you would like to be a more separate unit/entity. Those differences aren't going to change. Your fiancé feels a strong allegiance to them and their ideals (understandably). I think you really need to think about your future as your values and your fiancé's are just not aligned.

but i have made my views of a marriage (Seperate unit - family treated as extended and wife/husband/kids are immediate family) and he says he agrees with this view. i have made it clear if he doesnt agree or sees marriage differently we do not need to be together and he has reassured me so many times that is also how he sees marriage? eg prioritising his wife

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 06/01/2025 18:50

Massive wall of text
TL DR:

” Think very hard before marrying into a family where they are at odds with how you like to do things “

wizzywig · 06/01/2025 18:50

Is this an Asian family?

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:50

oakleaffy · 06/01/2025 18:50

Massive wall of text
TL DR:

” Think very hard before marrying into a family where they are at odds with how you like to do things “

but fiance assured me my way is also the way he likes to do things?

OP posts:
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