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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:
EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 07/01/2025 10:06

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:50

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

I'd pay more attention to how he acts and admittedly I couldn't make it through the wall of text but it sounds like he wants you to suck it up and make nice. Is he an anything for a quite life type? So tells you he agrees with and tells other family members that he agrees with them then just wants you to make nice so he doesn't have to deal with any of it?

thepariscrimefiles · 07/01/2025 10:26

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’?

Edited

Just because you wouldn't do this doesn't mean that it is unreasonable for OP and her fiance to book a weekend away to taste the wines for her wedding. It's unreasonable for them to expect OP to cancel her weekend away for something that was arranged after she had booked it.

OP may be a bit high maintenance but her fiance's family sound ridiculous enmeshed and demanding.

Thecrawdadssing · 07/01/2025 10:32

@thepariscrimefiles Exactly, I mean personally I couldn’t imagine having that kind of wedding , I’m more of an elope on the beach type of person, and I don’t drink, but I totally understand that’s just me! We’re all different.

Everyone can have their own level of detail
/planning /luxury etc in their own wedding.

It’s probably going to be a nice weekend away for them too. There’s no need for them to justify it to others if that’s what they both decided to do. As I said, it’s not my cup of tea but it really doesn’t sound like a crazy thing to do.

And OPs fiancé was all for it until his family got to him.

2025HereICome · 07/01/2025 11:28

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’?

Edited

I ran weddings for a venue for years and this is incredibly common. A stay in the hotel to include menu/wine tasting is included in the wedding package. It's a lovely way for the couple to get excited for the wedding, spend some quality time together, meet with their wedding coordinator and other staff to go through other wedding details.

I'd be fucked if I gave that up to go to a week long celebration for all the doctors that have died in the year in the entire country, sorry. If it was a specific anniversary event for that specific person, maybe, but I know my family would tell me to forego any anniversary events to go and do our wine/menu tasting.

OP, I'd be putting my foot down and refusing, tell your fiancé that you will go without him if you must. A PP mentioned having some couples counselling before the wedding and this is a good idea because it appears that you'll always play second fiddle to his family.

Just imagine what is going to happen when/if you have children.

OliveThe0therReindeer · 07/01/2025 11:29

Mabelmable · 07/01/2025 09:59

Your H2b has spent his entire life doing as he was required by his mother. It would be impossible for him to be independent without they gift him independence and there is no sign that they will grant him that.
As already stated once you are married you will be considered 'under contract' to them. It will get worse and any parenting of your children will come under their control.
Time to leave duckie, I would have gone long ago.

This.

WhisperGold · 07/01/2025 11:47

Dead doctor's week doesn't sound like a thing to me. Happy to be proved wrong.

ACatNamedRobin · 07/01/2025 12:09

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.

Edited

This OP.
Read the various posts on MN from women who've had to put up with 20 years of this - and yes getting worse after children.
Get out now. He'll never have your back.

ClapKissBang · 07/01/2025 12:16

Are you married to your husband or his family?

I wouldn’t be changing any of my plans for ill-mannered family members and I would expect my partner to support me.

Branleuse · 07/01/2025 12:25

Youre being groomed to accept being bottom of the list. Your husband wants to stand up to them but sounds pretty weak.
I think I would have grave concerns about the marriage and whether your husband is actually capable of putting you first. Youll be signing a legal contract into this family, not just your fiance. If he's that under their thumb, then you are going to be miserable imo.
Actions speak louder

SpryCat · 07/01/2025 12:46

His family are putting their foot down, manipulating him, he concedes and in turn he puts his foot down and say you’re going to Doctor week! The family decides, not your H2b or you, you might win a few battles but the majority will be them deciding on where and what you are doing. Your H2b is happy with that else he wouldn’t have rang brother up as he would’ve been capable of making a decision with you.

Spudthespanner · 07/01/2025 12:52

Uuuuuuugghhhhh

Just call off the wedding. Christ almighty. Everyone in this situation sounds fucking mental.

Honestly, I can't wrap my head around the way some people live their lives.

pimplebum · 07/01/2025 12:57

wine tasting for your wedding - literally never heard of that ! We just said one red one white per table , clearly lots of available cash flying around your family and also flying to another country for week long celebrations for brother and expecting all family to join in - again a lifestyle most can only dream off so I can’t really relate sorry not very helpful but may be why you are getting harsh replies

your oh sounds fragile and shouldn’t be dictating what you do
I would carry on with your birthday plans flights and he can go do the death anniversary thing

Mum2jenny · 07/01/2025 13:04

I’d 100% reconsider whether I really wanted to get married, given the overall family setup. Your h2b needs to get a spine and stand up for what he believes in. And remember, actions speak much louder than words.

PointySnoot · 07/01/2025 13:06

You have a fiance problem.

He doesn't view family the way that you do. What he says is irrelevant - it's what he does that matters. And what he is doing is bowing to every demand that his family makes (dead doctors week - really?).

Proceed with caution if you marry him. It won't change, it won't get better.

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 07/01/2025 13:25

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:48

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

and he says he agrees with this view.

Doesn't matter what he says, it matters what he does. In the second scenario he caved, so he is placating both sides as I see it.

TheFormidableMrsC · 07/01/2025 13:26

I absolutely would not be marrying into this family. What the hell are they going to invent to celebrate on your wedding day? What fresh hell will occur when you have children. As a PP said, the OP made me feel anxious. You can't live like that.

moose62 · 07/01/2025 13:44

Unfortunately I think you are at fault here. Your fiance said to his mother and family multiple times that he was not going to the week long doctor fest but when you were asked you said you would look at it and didn't shut it down straight away. so they keep going on at him and he capitulates.
I really think you have to reassess this relationship.

moose62 · 07/01/2025 13:45

"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."

Just to quote from your OP about you not sticking to your guns!

Barrenfieldoffucks · 07/01/2025 13:50

Tbh, I think the first instance was avoidable given that you both knew the 50th was that weekend so it was inevitable that something would be happening for it. I'd have assumed so a d booked another weekend. A whole weekend for a wine tasting? The only weekend in 4 months? 🙄🤔

The second, I would have gone for a few days then off to birthday weekend. Why not?

Barrenfieldoffucks · 07/01/2025 13:52

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

Yea, which sounds perfectly reasonable. Especially given it was a 21st, and you're not even married so hardly an anniversary!

Letstheriveranswer · 07/01/2025 14:00

Autumn38 · 06/01/2025 19:03

The thing is, mumsnet always demonises this kind of family set up but actually it has its perks. A sense of belonging, a sense of camaraderie, having a network, having people you can call on.

Yes they are pushy but it’s the only way you actually organise a big group of people to go and do something all together.

I have a big pushy family and I roll my eyes and get frustrated but I then also have the BEST time when we are all together and I’m never lonely or feel like I’m missing out.

Id say your fiancé possibly feels a bit like me. Can you live with it OP?

Exactly this

In this scenario you aren't just marrying him, you are very much marrying into a family. If you can roll with that, and like his family, all well and good.

I love the idea of this type of family (if I got on with them), but in reality I just wasn't raised that way and wouldn't cope well long term with having my independence reined in - the cracks would quickly show and however willing I was, it would become difficult.

Your fiancé may be willing to be more independent from his family, but the time to show that is now, before you are married. In reality, maybe it's not that easy for him as he was raised in that type of set-up -he is accustomed and acculturated to it.

You need to figure these important things out before you get married.

JustWalkingTheDogs · 07/01/2025 14:01

After having a now exdh with a family similar to your df, I can tell you it doesn't get better, in fact it's worse when you have dc. If you dh isn't prepared to have your back and shut his family down then it will continue to be drama drama drama. In your shoes I'd think very carefully about marrying this man

Starlight1984 · 07/01/2025 14:31

moose62 · 07/01/2025 13:44

Unfortunately I think you are at fault here. Your fiance said to his mother and family multiple times that he was not going to the week long doctor fest but when you were asked you said you would look at it and didn't shut it down straight away. so they keep going on at him and he capitulates.
I really think you have to reassess this relationship.

week long doctor fest

😂

Starlight1984 · 07/01/2025 14:32

WhisperGold · 07/01/2025 11:47

Dead doctor's week doesn't sound like a thing to me. Happy to be proved wrong.

Same! Am desperately waiting for an explanation on this one. Even tried Googling it myself I was that curious 😂

MajorCarolDanvers · 07/01/2025 14:40

Doesn’t sound like you are willing to be flexible yourself.

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