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Advice needed its my Bro and Sis Inlaw

(36 Posts)
Oldwoman70 Fri 17-Feb-23 08:01:20

I agree your best course of action is to avoid seeming him but if you have to meet with him try to have some clever put downs ready.

I have a friend who always seems to have great come backs against rude people, some I have heard are
Jealousy is a disease hope you get well soon
Are you normally this obnoxious or did you take classes
You have your entire life to be an idiot why not take a day off
Being a dick to me won't make yours bigger

LRavenscroft Fri 17-Feb-23 07:58:16

Sounds as if your husband knows what his brother is like and has always taken the line of least resistance just to brush along with 'family'. Is your husband a very easy going person and have you always had to wear the trousers in the relationship i.e. sort out difficult situations etc? This may be the only way he knows how and also part of his personality. Secondly, your Bil and Sil are really not worth socialising with. I take it from your post that you are the other side of the pond. I get the impression that at the US is so large visiting relatives and friends takes days and people stay overnight. This does not contribute to the situation. Also, from reading your post, and quite understandably so, you are taking a lot of the 'detail' on board, which long term is not healthy for you. It is good that you stand up for yourself but with people like your relatives you will never break through their impenetrable wall as that is what they are like and WILL nor change so you have to respond differently. I would start by having a firm conversation with my husband about the situation and how it makes you feel. If he does the man thing and disappears or doesn't respond tell him in no uncertain terms that you will arrange your own visits to your children, make your own Christmas and organise with your own relatives what gives you joy. It will then be up to him to take action. You can't go on like this and why should you? People like those you describe simply are not worth giving the time of day. When my parents died I offloaded a whole load of drama relatives and my life was free for the first time in 60 years. It surprised me how quickly they disappeared as people often don't really care about us as much as we care. Good luck and stay strong!

Poppyred Fri 17-Feb-23 07:27:11

These people are vile! Go NC.

BlueBelle Fri 17-Feb-23 07:19:16

I agree with others avoid them and their company and expect more from your husband he should be supporting you and telling them to shut up if they are bothering you
Don’t put yourself in the situation stay away tell you husband he can visit when he wants but you won’t be going any more

MercuryQueen Fri 17-Feb-23 06:35:55

They clearly enjoy tormenting you, so I simply wouldn’t be around them again. And I’d be absolutely furious with your husband for sitting there while his brother bullied his wife!

Palmtree Fri 17-Feb-23 05:57:23

I have sympathy for you and can see how upset you are, especially now they have moved so near to you. You need to avoid this pair and their bullying behaviour. I too feel it is your husbands role to stand up for you and not allow you to be treated this way. Perhaps he can have a word privately with his brother, although that will only work if they are reasonable people. If they aren't then I certainly wouldn't be looking after their key, meeting up for Christmas etc. Its time for your husband to put you first in my opinion.

Hithere Fri 17-Feb-23 01:06:35

Why do you let your husband treat you like this?

He doesn't stand up for you!

Why do you put yourself in these uncomfortable situations?

Please say no, tell your dh to treat you better and stop contact with those people

VioletSky Fri 17-Feb-23 00:59:14

I think leaving the situation isn't enough and you would be fine from now to stop entering it.

welbeck Fri 17-Feb-23 00:51:27

make your own arrangements if you wish to see MIL, at her house, when they are not there.
if they turn up, leave immediately.
you seem to letting them push you around.
and your husband is doing nothing to protect you.

welbeck Fri 17-Feb-23 00:47:58

well MN would say you have a DH problem.
why is he continuing to put you in situations where you are insulted by his brother.
silence means assent.
why were you looking after their house for them.
why have anything to do with them at all.
just go NC. and stick to it.

Doodlebug Fri 17-Feb-23 00:27:55

I have a brother inlaw who over the years, continues to try to embarrass me or bring up inappropriate subjects with me in front of other people.
His wife just sits there with a grin on her face, so to me, they contrive it together.
One time, he asked me when my bday was, he knows the date and im 6 yrs older than my husband, but to embarrass me in front of others he kept harping on it until i walked away. I dont care that im older but he seems to want me to! He followed me out of the room and kept asking me, i told him to stop as he was now on the verge of harassment.
Then a few weeks ago, we had visited their home to get keys to their house while they were away. During coffee, out of the blue, he looked at me and said "so do you like $ex?" I almost choaked and my husband tried to change the subject but again to no avail. He kept on going no matter how much i told him to mind his own business and he was being inappropriately disgusting. It got to the stage that I lost my temper and told him to F mind his own business and he was being an A Hole! I then told them i was leaving.
I was surprised that my husband sat there and didnt tell him brother to stop.
I felt dirty and embarrassed.
At home, my husband agreed that his brother was inappropriate and doesnt know why he does it.
I said I will now be limiting my time with them. I'll never stop my husband from visiting, but I no longer want to associate with them.
Last Christmas, I told my bro inlaw and wife, I hadnt seen my daughter for 3 years and had Christmas arranged for us to spend time with her and her husband.
Next minute i get a message saying, the other brother is coming up for Christmas with his partner and the Mother inlaw is also coming up, in other words christmas was at their place with their children and grandchildren but visitors are staying with us!! The mother inlaw has given us scares recently and we thought we'd go along with it as it might be her last Christmas.
However, i said to my husband, why bring her on a 6 hour drive if she was sick? We already had intended to spend time with her over the holidays.
We went along with it to keep the peace, but i told my husband the this will never happen again as we have our own children and grand children that we need to spend christmas with and not with other peoples children and grandchildren.
After Christmas, we find out that the bro and sister inlaw arranged Christmas at their house because it was easier for them to spend it with their own family.
Im fuming!!! And as Ive already told my husband what we'll be doing during future Christmas's, i intend on sticking to it. I will not bend!
If my husband gives in to them, he's free to, however I'll be visiting our family.
Christmas was disgusting btw, the bro and sister inlaw discussed what they do together behind closed doors, then their daughter inlaw and son carried on as well..all in front of their grandchildren, aged 5 to 14.
I removed myself from the room and then left.
Please note, both bro and sis inlaw have had numerous affairs while married, they broke up at one stage, but apparently they forgive and forget.
They then moved around the corner from us!!
Any ideas on how I can deal with this?
Im not an angry or loud person, but when pushed do verbally put someone in their place in a quiet manner. Should i be more conservative or more loud?
I feel like i want to wipe the smirk of his face with a slap, but then im sure he would charge me with assault... they both seem to be getting a high from all of this.