How to handle a mother in law

My mother in law is always hoping my son won't be close to me... since young until now he is two. She really constantly saying hurting words like your mummy walk away, you smile. Then yesterday my son didn't wait for me and walk away with my father in law, she will make comment like see he left.... and give a smile like very happy he left without me.... I really don't know what's wrong with her. I don't even know how to trust her with my son... its to the point I don't want to see her..... I really feel so stress being around her.#advicepls #firstbaby #firstmom #pleasehelp

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For me, when she does it for the first time, I will ask my husband to either go handle his mother or I will. If I have to step in, she can forget about her grandchild until she changes. How will my kid think of me when she keeps saying all those nonsense. I was damn timid before I have a kid, so everytime my mil do funny or say hurtful things I just keep quiet. Now, no chance. I remember packing all our stuffs and we ignored and cut her off for 3 months until she came and say sorry. From then on, way better and don’t dare to anyhow. You give me 1 I give you 100. Kids are very smart, they usually know who (grandparents especially) will give in to their 1001 requests regardless while we parents will limit. She is welcomed to babysit her husband 24/7 at her place since he is her child but don’t come and talk nonsense to or snatch my kid. It is MY kid. And tbh, you’re just my mil. I respect you as my husband’s mum but it works both ways. Stand up for yourself 💪🏻.

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1y ago

Let her cry lor.. She heng she kena soft hearted DIL, for me, don’t give me dramas, you want to cry or what go cry to your husband or son.. As if my life not enough problems 🤷‍♀️. From what I see, she’s just victim playing. She’s the one hurting you with her words, trying to brainwash nonsense to your son so I definitely won’t let her have her way. Imagine she goes on with this for 5-10 years what would your son think of mummy?

i feel u mummy .. i am in a similar situation as u .. my mil loves to interfere in my way of parenting and she will always try to snatch bb away frm me if she hears bb crying .. there was one night bb was having night terrors, and she just barge in e room (bb is co-sleeping w me & hub) .. i just tell her off and say she make it look like we cannot handle our kid .. then she just keep quiet .. she has been interfering in our marital affairs since i came home from hosp day 1, take bb away from me to a point i cannot bfeed my bb and in e end, my supply dip 😪 .. from pestering me to switch fm brand (which we have tried a few and bb is not suitable w it), to hvg to buy all my kid neccessities .. my mil has been living w everyone nids to listen to her n will listen .. but sadly she got a daughter inlaw who doesnt likes to listen .. thr r multiple events tht it became an issue btwn me n husb ..

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1y ago

same here. she barge in when i am breast feeding... and she keep pestering me to pump out so she can do the feeding.

Do you stay with your in-laws? Or is your son closer to them? Because I recall my girl doesn’t like to be left alone with my in-laws and would stick close to me before she was 2yo. So the remarks my mil left was “okok, go find your mummy, I don’t touch you.” But I can also understand maybe they have preference over boy so… if I were to hear such remarks, I’d sarcastically question her if her mil used to say that to her son (your hubby) when he was a kid. Ask how’d she feel if someone said the same thing behind her back. Try to be open minded. After all they are your son’s grandparents and we’ve to respect them so that your son learns to respect elderly too. You have plenty of time to bond with your son. Every kid would love to be around their parents. Don’t think of the bad, think of the good.

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1y ago

Haha it’s not a bad thing for your mil to want your son to get closer to her. Maybe she misses those days when her son was a toddler. From time to time I would look back at my daughter’s younger photos and reminisce spending time with her. My mil now stays with us. Whenever she wants to play with my daughter, I just leave them be and treat her as babysitter. Rather than thinking she’s seeing you as a maid, think of the other way round 😉

if it's me I will ask her why she has to make such comments. and if her answer is anything along the lines of trying to prove my son isn't close to me, I will ask her why she thinks like that. must dig further. maybe she dont want you to be close to your son cos she doesnt like you? or maybe she wasnt close to her son (your husband) so she hopes you'll not have a good relationship with your son? if after telling her I hope for her not to do that, and she still continues trying to make me feel bad or sabotage my relationship with my son, I will limit her from interacting with my son. I rather hire a helper to take care of my child and have a bad relationship with my in-laws than to let them ruin my relationship with my child

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1y ago

Sorry but your husband needs to grow a pair when it comes to defending his wife. Yes mother is like that but the wife is clearly unhappy and he doesn’t do anything??? You and your husband need to sit down and talk.

Don't take it seriously. Just learn to ignore. Some elderly tend to make such random comments just to poke people. If you get affected, then you are poked indeed. Learn how to let it go and not be affected and believe in yourself. As long as you put in the heart and effort towards your son, your son will feel it and love you too. Just believe in yourself and your son.

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you should stay away from such toxic family members for your own mental health and the well being of your whole family dear.

1y ago

I also have in-laws from hell and it took many years before my husband finally sees it and steps in for me when necessary. Still annoying when I have to spend family time with them but I limit my interaction with them and let whatever they say one ear in one ear out. If your husband values so much, he can go visit his own mother himself, for them to spend mommy-son time. As a mother, you also can bring your own son out and spend mummy-son time. If husband insist must bring child along can ask him for his reasons? Why so important to bring your child when he is his mum’s child so he can do his duty as the child but you and your child not obligated to. If your husband cannot protect you and your son from his own mother, then he shouldn’t be forcing you and your son to spend time with his family.

Get your husband to handle her nonsense. I would blast at her when I’m at the peak of my temper

1y ago

he did... but she continues her actions and words... or cry. Say she is trying to help me to the whole family...

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