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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

DH has problem with my mum

7 replies

JakesMum05 · 19/05/2008 17:11

My DH and I have been together for 9 years, married for 5 and have DS nearly 3.

He is going away with work in a few weeks and i thought it might be nice for me and DS and my mother to go away somewhere too. DH and I haven't been apart for the length of time it will be before.

I asked him (yes asked) with some trepidation if he would mind (i already knew he had slight issue with her) and he said 'what you, DS and his second daddy'. I was not taken aback by what he said but how he said it. It was quiet sudden and said in such a way that (if i hadn't know better) i would have thought he was drunk.

He then went on at length about how she's always here and she sees more of DS than he does. I asked what he wanted me to do about it and he said nothing he'll just deal with it, but he said it in such a way that made me think he wanted me to do something about it. So i suggested she come one day in the week and go home before he gets home (only briefly before he goes back out to work) and then on a saturday night (when he works also) she come round once he's gone then leave before he gets back. That didn't appease him, he said that's like it's an affair.

My issue, is this, he gets up in the morning at the last possible minute because he hates work and he works 3 nights a week. If his issue is not seeing DS enough i suggested he get up earlier and stop working his night job. He won't leave his night job because he actually likes that and being up early just means he has more time to think about job he hates.

I need my mum, she's wonderful, she'll come and look after my boy or have him at hers at the drop of a hat (not like other mothers who need plenty of notice). Sometimes i'm tired or irritable and my mum has DS while i go off and clean or do other stuff that needs doing so i don't leave him on his own in his room or shout unessecerily because i'm a bit stressed.

I can't stop my mum coming round and i really need her sometimes. Obviously i'd rather have my DH but he likes the other job and the money is nice (means we can afford more than bills and food!).

I feel he is being v unreasonable but i am now in very hard place where i need to make sure my well meaning, least malicious person in the world mother doesn't say or do anything that might annoy my DH.

Weirdly he used to like her just fine. recently though she left my dad (who none of us like especially) and since then DH has been less tolerant of her 'i can see you dad's point' being uttered alot.

She can be a little irritating and she is a bit of a fuss pot, even though i tell her not to fuss about DS spilling food on himself she does, DS now bit neurotic about dirty hands! And she says things that could be misconstrued as snidey or interferring but she doesn't mean it the way it sounds.

He was particularly annoyed recently about hearing my mum doing opposites with DS. I had done them with him the night before, he had picked them up really quickly and then DH did a couple with him. I told my mum cause i was so proud of him and so she tested him the next morning (when she came round to look after him all day, taking the day off work, cause i was 'working').

DS says 'don't like daddy' alot but he says it when my mum's not here too. and my friends little boy shuts his dad out of the house when he gets in! I think DS says that because daddy goes out to work alot (but that can't be helped)

Came to a head this friday evening when he had been working mon, thurs, fri, due to do sat and we were at DS new nursery on weds. SO DH and DS didn't see much of each other this week.

Also we are trying for another baby and if we are successful i will need my mum even more on the nights he's working.

Is it normal for husbands to be jealous of mother in laws? My granmothers were a very big part of my life and influence on who i am.

Should i lessen my mum's time with DS? should i try to understand DH's issue (cause i really can't and i'm usually quite good at that kind of thing) or should i just leave him to deal with it himself and try v hard to not cringe or worry incase my mum says something annoying or misconstrueable (not a word i know).

Sorry about the length of this, problem i have is person i would usually talk to about stuff like this is my mother.

My 2 best friends don't have kids and the friends i do have with kids, i don't know well enough to talk to about this (i am sad friendless person!!)

Cheers, hope it makes sense

OP posts:
Nagapie · 19/05/2008 17:18

The usual advice given to any MNetter moaning about her MIL is that you married him and so you have to make it work - I think this is the same for your DH...

You need your mum's help and, from your account, he isn't there to help when it is needed so for him to get the hump with your mum is not helpful.

I think the issue is that your DH is going to have to look at his work/home life situation and try to make it work for the family and not blame you or your mum...

andiem · 19/05/2008 18:04

tbh I can sympathise with your dh re the comments thing my fil makes lots of comments to me and it really gets my back up but my dh is used to it as he grew up with his dad making comments all the time so it is water off a duck's back to him

I think you have to try and get a happy medium so that our mum is still around but your dh isn't pissed off too

sorry not very helpful but I think we are all more tolerant of our own parents and perhaps don't see how sometimes they may annoy others

nametaken · 19/05/2008 18:54

Can't you organise things so that your mum is there to help you when your dh is out but that your dh can enjoy his home peacefully without her when he gets back.

If I was working long hours I'd want to enjoy my precious free time in my own home with my family around me. I wouldn't want someone else there all the time, no matter how much I got on with them.

You need to find a compromise.

greenhill · 19/05/2008 19:02

Your Mum sounds marvellously caring and supportive. Your DH sounds as if he is a little jealous of those excellent relationships (not just you and your Mum , but your DS and your Mum ie "second Daddy" comment). He needs to be positive about the help you are BOTH receiving.
Does he understand that he would have to do more around the house (after a hard day in work and after a night shift) if your Mum didn't give you BOTH her time for you to keep your house tidy. And he would not have as much quality time with you in the future (you'd BOTH have to be catching up with the housework or preparing a meal) once your hoped for new baby and DS were asleep, if your Mum didn't provide this help.
It won't make him like her more, but he might be a bit more grateful of your quality time together.
One thing to improve the relationship between DS and your DH might be to get them to play a special game together, that no one else does, particularly not your Mum. Explain to your DS that it can only be with his Daddy when he comes in from work, so have your DS anticipating your DH's arrival... I have my DD repeat "Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Daddy" after me, once I hear my DH come in from work and get her to offer him a toy to play with together.

NotABanana · 19/05/2008 19:05

I am not sure who is the child here. If your husband won't be around more to support you and be a part of your child's life, then he has to accept you will be with the person who will support you.

Why does he want another baby when he doesn't see the one he as much?

Rosella · 19/05/2008 19:30

"She says things that could be misconstued as snidey or interfering but she doesn't mean it the way it sounds".

I have some sympathy with your DH as this is exactly the line my DH takes with me when I complain about the nasty, snidey comments that his mother comes out with in my presence.

The trouble is that one person can be very different depending on the context/relationship they are in. My MIL loves my DH, is nice to him and he therefore likes her back. She feels the opposite towards me and her behaviour reflects this.

If I were you, I would try to be a little bit objective and really try to see it from your DH's point of view. It might well be that from his standpoint she is overpowering and domineering, especially treading on his toes with regard to your son, and this situation needs to be managed and contained before it gets worse especially as she may wish to become even closer to you now that she is on her own.

Personally, I think your idea of allowing your mother to be there and to leave before your DH gets home is a good one. Your DH can't have it all his own way, and this way she carries on being a great help to you whilst not being so "in his face" at the same time.

JakesMum05 · 19/05/2008 20:50

Thank you all.

Don't want anyone to have the impression my DH isn't supportive of me, he is. He's only out working 3 nights a week. And when he's with my DS he is, much more often than not, wonderful with him. He's a great husband and daddy.

I agree that i probably don't see how she affects him.

My mum thinks DH is wonderful it would upset her if she knew how he felt.

His mum isn't around (she died before we met) and he didn't have grandparents growing up so perhaps that's something. Doesn't understand the dynamic and involvement of a grandparent.

Rosella, agree completely that he may see her helping me as being overpowering and domineering. He says he feels like she's judging him as a dad.

Ta

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