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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

irrational issues with MIL

31 replies

jaybird · 19/04/2005 14:07

i have really bad issues with my MIL and don't know why.
she lives about 2 hours drive from us, but her DH died before we had our DS and she has no family near her - hence, we are her be all and end all. we see her about once a month and she is lovely BUT very overpowering with DS. she's been like this since he was born (he's now 9MO) and used to just take him off me the whole time to cuddle). as soon as we get to her house he's whisked off and i feel really jealous of this. we've let her baby sit a couple of times when we've had a night out and she's been fine, followed my every instruction to the T so i'm not worried about her changing him or whatever, she just really annoys me when she's all over him! - my mum is the same, but for some reason i don't mind that and would happily let DS stay with her for days.
don't know why i feel like this except that i should explain that MIL is indian and i'm white and there was a bit of an issue about us getting married although that is totally in the past and now she thinks the world of me - could i still have issues with the whole non acceptance thing? - also my dad suggested that maybe deep down i'm worried she'll 'indianise' DS (although her own son wasn't).
my parents live even furthur away and MIL is moving down here soon to be nearer us, and i know my mum feels left out so maybe this is the problem? - also when the 2 grans get together, MIL completely dominates DS and this really annoys me! we have a social function to go to soon and i'm really dreading it as i know DS will be whisked away to be shown off the minute we arrive - but if my mum did that i wouldn't mind! - i have serious issues as my mIL really is sweet, i just feel jealous of her for some reason and don't want her spending loads of time with DS - I am a total bitch!!
what are my issues?? and how do i overcome them? any counselling would be gratefully received as i feel like i'm going mad!
DH doesn't know any of this and it would totally break his heart. why can't i let myself like my MIL?

OP posts:
bubbly1973 · 22/04/2005 21:11

jaybird, my mother is indian and my mil is white

this is the first time i am putting this down in writing (even embarassed and feel guilty for saying this)..but, id much rather my mil have my ds than my own mother!

my mother smothers him far too much, it must be an indian thing, she doesnt and never has let ds come around to the environment, soon as i knock the door, she is in his face, which makes him not want to go to her

as for the social gathering, ride this one through, i know he will be whisked off, but you just wait and see, when he is older he will be overwhelmed by it all and not want to go off to all these strangers...he will cling to you

it wasnt long ago that i was panicking that ds would be whisked off (indian social event) im indian and know how they can be!!....it turned out ds clung onto me like there was no tomorrow, he is 3 in june

so even though your ds doesnt look like you and more like your dh, soon your ds will be expressing what he wants when he talks, and trust me, you will know he is your son even if theres a million indians around!

i think the fact that originially your mil didnt accept you, yet accepted your ds (her grandchild) straight away is still playing in your mind....i feel like this with my mother, she never accepted dh (white)at first but accepted our ds when he was born...obviously i wouldnt change a thing, im glad they accepted ds, but i can see where u are coming from

jaybird · 27/04/2005 17:37

thanks bubbly, it's lovely to ahve another perspective - the whole smothering thing is what annoys me most and i know you're right about the acceptance issues too. i don't have a problem going to indian social events and i love the whole dressing up in a sari etc, but it's just so annoying that she treats him as if he's hers to show off, and i know he is partly, but sometimes i feel a little left out of the loop.
sphia, thats so awful about your inlaws, i know i should be grateful for what i have as she doesn't interfere and always looks after him as i ask, and i know once he gets older he'll do what he wants.
we're leaving him with MIL for a night at the weekend, so she can smother him to her hearts content when i'm not around (which doesn't bother me if i can't see it!) and i intend to have a few drinkies and chill out!!
will prob be back here on monday ranting about her, but for the time being i'm trying to relax!!
thanks all
xx

OP posts:
moneytree · 28/04/2005 13:02

Boy, this discussion really did hit home with me. I too feel very possessive, on best behaviour and take any comments my MIL makes to heart (me looking terrible..too skinny etc) In the 2nd week of having a my 1st and completely knackered she wanted to book in a visit every 3 weeks in our diaries for a year and 2 look after him on her own...she is blind and that coupled with my all the rest of my feelings almost pushed me over the edge. Thought I was going mad. Good to hear Im not on my own on this one.

jaybird · 29/04/2005 10:18

you're so not moneytree - my MIL was exactly the same when i first had DS. she stayed with us for 3 weeks and i was ready to kill someone by the time she left. If DS so much as whimpered she was there peering into his crib and i swear to god if she could've breasfed him she would! she watched me like a hawk the whole time i was feeding and kept asking if he was finished if he so much as came up for air! - the minute i took him off to wind, she pounced on him and whisked him off - i used to cry sometimes.
wish i could tell you you'll feel better about it, but 9 months on and i still don't, hence this thread. still, like me, take heart from everyone who's posted. i feel so sorry for all those poor MILs out there and even worse that one day i'm going to be one too!!!

OP posts:
abc123 · 28/05/2005 12:04

Not just me then!! I too have in law issues - they expect to see DD at least once a week, while I think once every 2/3 weeks is plenty. DH has never met any of his grandparents or relatives (never found out why) but now MIL thinks she should be the centre of DD's world and that as grandparents they have the right to see her when they want to. Have tolerated them up to now but they are moving less than 1/2 mile away to be nearer to DD. They live approx 20 minutes away now (too close), and have lived there happily for 25 years, but want to be walking distance "so they can see DD every day!!". I have already politely mentioned that we are planning on moving away next year, we weren't but I am working on DH now as I refuse to have them on my doorstep! I would love to tell them what I feel like inside but DH would be devastated, I can't believe he is related to them half the time, he is nothing like them. I tolerate them for his sake, as he means the world to me and I would never hurt him, but sometimes I would love to be honest about how I feel.

jampots · 28/05/2005 12:12

My inlaws dont really have any time for our children (their only grandchildren) although they do favour ds over dd (dd was first) so I really cant understand how you feel about a smothering MIL. However I will say that it would be nice if for once dh and I could go out for birthdays/anniversaries/occasionally/ Valentines day but as no one will babysit we either take the kids or stay in. Truly make the most of it.

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