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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:
FreeRider · 07/01/2025 14:47

Starlight1984 · 07/01/2025 14:32

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

Nearest I could find is "National Physicians Week", which is an American event that runs this year between March 25 - 31. Apparently as part of it is a tradition to place flowers on a deceased doctor's grave on March 30th, which is "National Doctor's Day".

So yeah, the deceased doctor remembrance is one day, not a whole week.

ClapKissBang · 07/01/2025 14:53

He's the family doormat and gets mudded and trodden on. His family are already preparing to rub their boots all over you.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:13

Codlingmoths · 07/01/2025 00:49

I think you say I can’t marry someone who’s not going to be on my team. I can’t work so hard every time something comes up to try and get you to understand how I feel and have you get mad at me for thinking I matter too, especially on my birthday. I think we need to take a break and you can use it to decide if we are always going to put your family first as long as they ask enough times, and if you genuinely don’t think I’ve supported you enough then you shouldn’t marry me anyway, as I think I’ve supported you a lot, and not had the same support in return. You don’t have to battle my family to prioritise us wvery single time anything happens, the way it’s going 150 days a year will soon be scheduled as critical for your family and you haven’t time for a wife or partner if you want to go along with that. I don’t want a partner who can’t celebrate our anniversary.

So his new thing is, we are still going for my birthday, he just is going to go to this week long celebrations mon - wed and then my bday weekend thur - sunday so hes saying he hasnt changed his mind, and they havent got into his head.... but we have had 4 days of pure hell from this, how does he see they haven't caused this. now im the one with the issue? its crazy

OP posts:
TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:14

@meliisawalker29 I'd think very carefully whether or not you want to go ahead with this marriage.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:19

@sprycat @branleuse @spudthespanner @pimplebum @mum2jenny @pointysnoot @geogemichaelscat @theformidablemrsc @moose62 @barrenfieldoffucks @letstheriveranswer @ju@justwalkingthedogs @SpryCat @Branleuse @Spudthespanner @pimplebum @Mum2jenny @Barrenfieldoffucks @Letstheriveranswer @TheFormidableMrsC @moos@AttilaTheMeerkat @moose62 @GeorgeMichaelsCat @TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne firstly, thank u everyone for ur comments i am still going through. this argument has been hell and honestly ruined my excitement for my marriage, i am very upset at the moment. i have to fight for my fiance to understand my POV, he wants ME to speak to his mum and brother and tell them how i feel cuz he says i am the only one with a problem with their behaviour, im honestly shocked, and confused. he says they try to change his mind but they havent as he is still going on my birthday weekend, he says his actions speak louder than words, and we still went to the wedding event and we are still going to my bday place, he is saying i am making his life harder by not goign to this doctors week as it logistically is on the way to my bday weekend venue, but i really do not want to go, so i either meet him at my bday weekend or he drives back 4 hours to get me, now he is blaming me calling me difficult because i do not want to go.

OP posts:
crockofshite · 07/01/2025 15:22

You will spend your life being railroaded by the mother, brother, even your fiancé.

I'd step back from the relationship, he doesn't know how to stand up to them and have your back.

This will happen every year on birthdays, Xmas, significant event days. Your life will no longer be your own.

Imagine how it will be with kids in the mix as well.

Ugh!

ClapKissBang · 07/01/2025 15:23

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:19

@sprycat @branleuse @spudthespanner @pimplebum @mum2jenny @pointysnoot @geogemichaelscat @theformidablemrsc @moose62 @barrenfieldoffucks @letstheriveranswer @ju@justwalkingthedogs @SpryCat @Branleuse @Spudthespanner @pimplebum @Mum2jenny @Barrenfieldoffucks @Letstheriveranswer @TheFormidableMrsC @moos@AttilaTheMeerkat @moose62 @GeorgeMichaelsCat @TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne firstly, thank u everyone for ur comments i am still going through. this argument has been hell and honestly ruined my excitement for my marriage, i am very upset at the moment. i have to fight for my fiance to understand my POV, he wants ME to speak to his mum and brother and tell them how i feel cuz he says i am the only one with a problem with their behaviour, im honestly shocked, and confused. he says they try to change his mind but they havent as he is still going on my birthday weekend, he says his actions speak louder than words, and we still went to the wedding event and we are still going to my bday place, he is saying i am making his life harder by not goign to this doctors week as it logistically is on the way to my bday weekend venue, but i really do not want to go, so i either meet him at my bday weekend or he drives back 4 hours to get me, now he is blaming me calling me difficult because i do not want to go.

Edited

Why would you begin to consider being engaged to someone like this ……? There are better choices out there.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:25

Happyinarcon · 07/01/2025 01:35

It’s one thing to take priority as a family unit, it’s another thing to make up half baked reasons why you can’t attend any significant family birthdays. A 50th and 21st are important. Also you seem to be deliberately vague about the doctor week event, you either genuinely don’t understand it, in which case you should make an effort to understand it, or you’re choosing to gloss over it for the sake of getting people on your side against your husband and his family. If someone’s birthday is on the horizon it’s not fair to schedule in an event like wedding wine tasting and then insist it’s vitally important and your husband is betraying you by giving into his family. That’s gaslighting and soon he’s going to notice the same pattern that his family have already noticed.

i had no idea it was his dads birthday, and either did he, he doesn't have the best relationship with his dad at present, because the dad is also relying on him for financial and mental support @Happyinarcon

OP posts:
DaftyLass · 07/01/2025 15:26

These people are crazy, your fiance is one of them

I'd take this as a wake up call
He is making you feel like you don't matter as much as his mum, or fam
He ignores your feelings, he gaslights you, and is trying to bully you to go where you don't want to be, with people you don't want to be with

Mark my words, one day this man will move his mum in

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:26

Oh darling. Honestly, it shouldn't be this difficult.

You're not even married yet, and you just fall out with this man all the time.

Please, please reconsider. Your fiancé isn't on your side, is he? You're not happy. You're just lurching from one dispute to the next.

And nothing you're arguing about is even very important. It's all minutiae.

I'm sorry. I really recommend at least having a complete break from the relationship. Take a fortnight off, turn your phone off, ask him to give you space.

If he loves you, he'll agree to this.

You'll soon realise how tranquil life is without him and his family.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:27

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.

@Mabelmable i think thats why they don't like me, because i am not willing to be controlled by them and he is finally trying to put a woman first, and hes rocking the boat

OP posts:
meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:29

for everyone asking, doctors week to remember the doctors (all over the country, not just him specifically) that were killed in service. this particular family member will have a name on a wall (or something to the affect) the event consists of a vigil, conference, gala and parade? he wants to go 4 hours to go to the vigil, as the gala and parade is on my actual bday which he accepted we will not be doing.

OP posts:
ClapKissBang · 07/01/2025 15:30

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:27

@Mabelmable i think thats why they don't like me, because i am not willing to be controlled by them and he is finally trying to put a woman first, and hes rocking the boat

Financially and emotionally supporting his father? You're not the priority and you likely know this already. There's no space for your feelings.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:31

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:27

@Mabelmable i think thats why they don't like me, because i am not willing to be controlled by them and he is finally trying to put a woman first, and hes rocking the boat

He isn't. Not really.

Look, my husband is on my side. Always. He's my supporter and friend, and has been for twenty five years.

If he disagrees with me, he'll say so. We'll have a discussion and reach a conclusion. But my husband would never put me through all these arguments with all these squabbling people. As I say, he's on my side.

If you truly think your fiancé is on your side, I have to ask why you started the thread - because it isn't just his family. It's him, too. Telling you what to do. Giving you ultimatums.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:32

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:31

He isn't. Not really.

Look, my husband is on my side. Always. He's my supporter and friend, and has been for twenty five years.

If he disagrees with me, he'll say so. We'll have a discussion and reach a conclusion. But my husband would never put me through all these arguments with all these squabbling people. As I say, he's on my side.

If you truly think your fiancé is on your side, I have to ask why you started the thread - because it isn't just his family. It's him, too. Telling you what to do. Giving you ultimatums.

Edited

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne but he is saying we are still going to xyz for my birthday, so they havent technically changed his mind, is what he is saying

OP posts:
meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:32

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:31

He isn't. Not really.

Look, my husband is on my side. Always. He's my supporter and friend, and has been for twenty five years.

If he disagrees with me, he'll say so. We'll have a discussion and reach a conclusion. But my husband would never put me through all these arguments with all these squabbling people. As I say, he's on my side.

If you truly think your fiancé is on your side, I have to ask why you started the thread - because it isn't just his family. It's him, too. Telling you what to do. Giving you ultimatums.

Edited

he is also saying because I AM BOTHERED by their behaviour that its a me issue?! like what the hell. he tells me to ignore them

OP posts:
TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:35

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:32

he is also saying because I AM BOTHERED by their behaviour that its a me issue?! like what the hell. he tells me to ignore them

So he's blaming you for disagreeing.

That's actually outrageous.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:36

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:35

So he's blaming you for disagreeing.

That's actually outrageous.

or he is blaming me for 'letting them affect me' when they are 'just giving their opinion' im flabbergasted.

OP posts:
TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/01/2025 15:41

................as quite obviously I am feeling ambushed and misunderstood/disrespected by this entire family, now including my fiance

This is a quote from your opening post.

It isn't just his family, is it. It's him as well.

Please either tell him you need a complete break for a while, or call off the whole relationship.

EmmaMaria · 07/01/2025 15:41

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

I was wavering until this post.

You have made your views on marriage known and he needs to agree or not marry? You sound as bad as them. This will not end happily, so I think you should cancel the wedding and call it quits before it explodes.

Snorlaxo · 07/01/2025 15:43

This is going to get worse as time goes on.

His mum nags and guilt trips because there’s a history of it working.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:46

Snorlaxo · 07/01/2025 15:43

This is going to get worse as time goes on.

His mum nags and guilt trips because there’s a history of it working.

@Snorlaxo i know, and he knows. now she is calling him everyday to 'check is he ok because we have been arguing' can you believe the audacity... he is learning what she is like.

OP posts:
Snorlaxo · 07/01/2025 15:47

meliisawalker29 · 06/01/2025 18:50

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

I bet he tells you and his mum what he thinks that you both want to hear so he doesn’t have to be the bad guy.

This man isn’t ready to get married as he’s not able to be independent from his mum. If you marry him then this will continue and he will make you feel bad for being annoyed when he caves into his mum’s demands.

Snorlaxo · 07/01/2025 15:49

He would rather annoy you than his mum which is a massive red flag.

meliisawalker29 · 07/01/2025 15:50

Snorlaxo · 07/01/2025 15:47

I bet he tells you and his mum what he thinks that you both want to hear so he doesn’t have to be the bad guy.

This man isn’t ready to get married as he’s not able to be independent from his mum. If you marry him then this will continue and he will make you feel bad for being annoyed when he caves into his mum’s demands.

@Snorlaxo thank you, has he caved in though if we are still going to my bday weekend? (this is what he is saying) - there is no way i am going to this week before hand for my bday, but if he wants to by all means, he is annoyed that he has to drive back now to pick me up, but how is that my fault

OP posts: