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UPDATE on MIL stops by unannounced

(161 Posts)
Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 02:54:31

I'm updating on my situation (at my peril, I know. Some posters seem to strongly dislike this story..). The unannounced visits have stopped since posting...except for today.

I wouldn't have found it strange, except that my FIL came round at noon to do some gardening (he has vines on our property that he doesn't want to get rid of even though they aren't producing anything) and I pretended not to notice he was there (it's a large property, so it's easy not to spot him from the lower level). He never came to the door. As soon as I spotted him, I stayed upstairs just to see if he'd come to the door so that I could safely ignore it, as we've asked them to just call us before coming.

When my husband came home, he pointedly (and aggressively) told his dad not to peer into the windows and to call if he was stopping by. Apparently, his dad acted like a bad dog who had been hit over the nose with a newspaper (his words, not mine). My husband comes in for lunch and doesn't mention anything to me. As far as he knows, I have no clue his dad was even around. I didn't mention anything to my husband either.

My husband leaves for work.

At 4pm, my FIL comes back, finishes up his gardening and comes up to the house, peering in all the windows. When he gets to the last set, we lock eyes and I was a bit startled. I let him in and we talked for a few minutes. He holds the squirmy baby, trying to wriggle out of his arms as she's shy and then leaves.

He says "oh you only want your mom! Well your mom is your best friend. Then it's your dad. Then it's your grandparents." I find this commentary strange, because this hierarchy is universal, and it's a given...but they always tell the baby some variation of this...

He asks me how baby is doing and tells the baby he hasn't seen her in four days. They also always count the days and comment to the baby about time passed). Mind you, I invited them over 2 days ago, but he didn't come with MIL and MIL has been sick, so she's staying away at my request until 100% better....she said she got really cold the other day and started vomiting at night (she says it was drafty). I told her she probably caught something from someone else and that it could be contagious, so please wait a few says, as baby has taken a week to get over a cold that she still has).

FIL left and I was okay with the unannounced visit, as he hasn't ever done that before unless his wife is around. But when I mentioned his dad coming around later, my husband was shocked that he hadn't called. I too, was then disturbed by the reiteration of a request, ignored by FIL. It's bizarre behaviour, as FIL at noon knew he hadn't finished and was going to come back. He ignored his son's pointed request and peered through the windows anyway. Is this normal?

DH wanted to go and tear a strip off his dad, but he's not great with words and his parents are obviously bad listeners. I'd rather wait it out, but I do think of leaving Italy every day and moving back to Canada and tell my husband this (so he'll follow me...). Writing this out, it all seems crazy and ridiculous. I must be hormonal. Please advise me on this situation and not speculation of my mental state smile.

I was upset about this unannounced visit because it seems like his parents just don't care about reasonable requests and I feel that when I have to go back to work, they won't respect our wishes (putting baby in a carseat/watching English DVDs we give them rather than Italian cartoons). I feel like leaving every day and tell my husband that we shouldn't live around the corner from the in-laws. He said we can pick up and move house to a place outside of walking distance, but I think that's OTT.

Am I being unreasonable?

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 19:20:16

jura2 I know we are so fortunate. Can I not request privacy too, though? I am happy to help and be helped. I just ask for compromise.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 19:21:52

ExperiencedNotO thank you. I'm feeling better with every response.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 19:22:39

GagaJo Thank you for your vote of confidence.

Hithere Fri 17-Jan-20 19:22:41

Naty,

It is very simple.
They want what they want and nothing will stop them.
Pil do not respect you, you are not adults to them, just kids that they need guidance.
They don't care what you say, they will run you over.

They break a rule, you give them consequences, they will know you are serious.

You must get rid of your "nice girl" mentality.

This is your family, your child, your life. You are not taking anything away from pil if they choose to disregard your rules.

Your MIL is not sweet. She is a wolf disguised as a sheep. Your fil is not nice either.

Nice people do not treat others like this

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 19:24:32

Eglantine21 yes, you are right, right. All of it.

ExD1938 Fri 17-Jan-20 19:26:55

Naty, I don't understand - you say "Hi BlueBelle. The unannounced visits did stop."
So what's the problem?

Please explain. You seem confused and depressed, you clearly don't like your in-laws, but if the visits have stopped you should be rejoicing.

GrannyLaine Fri 17-Jan-20 19:38:08

Naty no, I'm not saying that, merely expressing gratitude for my own family bonds. Please Google DWIL, I'm sure you will find it helpful.

crazyH Fri 17-Jan-20 19:39:05

Hang on a minute Naty.....your F.i.l. comes over to help with garden work, and then 'peers' through the windows looking for his little grandson? Which grandfather wouldn't do that?
Just be grateful he's there to help you ...the least you can do is take the baby over into the garden to interact with his granddad, unless of course it's baby's nap time.
My daughter and daughter in law are only too glad when I pop round. I don't do any gardening but I play with the tots, while she gets on with chores.

ExD1938 Fri 17-Jan-20 20:19:32

I'm with CrazyH - There are people who "pop" and obviously, people who don't. There are people who "peer" through windows looking to see if you're at home - and people ........ ok you get it.
I'm sure your inlaws understand by now that you don't like unannounced visits, and as long as they try to respect your requests - rest tranquil.

Shelmiss Fri 17-Jan-20 21:00:27

Shelmiss if it were my own mom, I'd have yelled at her by now. With a mother, you can tell her to back off. A loving in-law? That's so much harder

No you can’t always tell your own mother to back off Naty. I was actually on your side and sticking up for you.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:30:31

Shelmiss I wasn't going against you. Maybe the text format seems aggressive.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:30:56

Ok, I'll google DWIL

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:31:43

CrazyH that's great if it works for you.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:34:06

ExD1938 the unannounced visits stopped but then FIL decided to peer in the windows yesterday. So...they stopped and we'll see if they continue. I was just very upset yesterday going into a negative thought pattern.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:35:33

Hithere I agree with you saying that we're just kids to them. I know that it takes a while for some grandparents to get on board with the shift.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:39:24

Eloethan no, it's not a spoof. But funny thing is, I AM biracial! Haha. I am very close to my family. I have a large extended family we've spent a good amount of time with. We will be going to Canada next month as well. I enjoy company when I am not overwhelmed or tired or unprepared. I like notice, even if it's 15 min.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:41:26

Eloethan yes, you're right. I think it's OTT to move house to somewhere within Italy and just outside of walking distance, but a decent idea to move to Canada.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:45:34

glammagram I think I'm being suffocated too. But MaaYBE we're making progress. I took the baby over to them for an hour today and for the first time MIL isn't insisting we have lunch there this weekend. I'll have DH take the baby over tomorrow, though. It obviously hurts them not to see her as often as possible.

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:49:01

M0nica
Yes, I'm used to just asking for help if and when I need it and not being expected to hand my kid over for the grandparent experience. I wasn't aware of how big of an obligation I would feel.

mcem Fri 17-Jan-20 21:49:59

So.....feeling put upon by the attitudes of DH's family?
Restricted by their traditions and customs?

The alternative is to take off and head to Canada where you'd feel more at home.
Déjà vu anyone?

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:50:57

"Your world is too tight, too enclosed with baby, husband, in-laws."

Englantine yes!

Naty Fri 17-Jan-20 21:53:41

mcem I'm seriously considering the move. Just talked to my family today. They are supportive. They know the in-laws well and they think they are lovely, but know that I'm ultimately unhappy.

Maybe this is a just in my own head. I'll investigate PND.

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

mcem Fri 17-Jan-20 21:59:25

Well you're not alone in your thinking!
Inheritance from wealthy family notwithstanding- it's "not working for you" so instead of adapting and compromising you just opt out and depriving your child of grandparents counts for nothing?
Another young couple who can't tackle the reality of the life they willingly bought into?

Hithere Fri 17-Jan-20 21:59:55

I am shaking my head, naty.

Your MIL is happy because she is back to seeing the baby daily.

daily! What are you thinking! This is such a you problem. Smh.

You are rewarding her bad behaviour, not giving any consequences for her actions and on top of it, you care too much about what hurts pil, not your core family.

Hithere Fri 17-Jan-20 22:03:36

When you have npd you know something is off.

Npd is no joke, I hate how it is named to justify a family disagreement and invalidate the mother.

Go to the doc to make sure you don't have it. You have a huuuuuuuge case of nice girl syndrome and wanting to vent vs fix the problem

When you hit rock bottom and do want to do something to fix this, reread your threads and take action.

Til then, best of luck. You are making your own bed, enjoy it.