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Eefing Mil!  

post #1 of 15
Thread Starter 
SO she is sweet women but I CAN"T STAND HER for long, or when tired, stressed.. blah blah blah, she drives me batty.
My mom is going to try and come right before the babe and stay MAYBE a week.( she is coming reagrdless just trying to time it so she is her right before so she can help with e during the birth) MY mom, the women who birthed ME, is coming to help ME after MY birth physically and around the house and with e. I want my mama for about a week ( and she feels the same) and then I am going to be ready to really dive into having two, bonding further with MY new family. I am going to be bedding in for as LONG as I can, like a month at least if DH can work that out. I want to adjust and bond and nuture my family.
Well dh told me yesterday that his mom was coming in March for a long weekend with his step dad to see the baby.ummmm HELL NO! then he said it wouldn't be until the middle or end. ( I am DUE the 22 but I am thinking I will go over, reagardless if I go today that is still only a month PP) I don't watn ANYONE around me, this is a very private and special time for me and my children and dh if he so chooses. having his mom's selfish wants put over my maternal needs is NOT the way to go on this. all she wants to do is see the baby because we were in Germany when I had e and she didn't get to see him until he as about 2 monthes, (I still think there is nothing wrong with that.) SHe doesn't want to come and help and bringing her second husband is not helpful either. I was out of commison for almost 6 weeks with e and that was an uncomlicated deleivery, I do not want her here for a while, sorry call me a bitch but my house, my birth, my baby, my family, my call. I then offered ( with eunthisasim that is so fake but to make him beleive it as truth) that she come at the end of Apr for e's third birthday and she could be a part of that and see the baby then and it would be great. he got all pissy and wouldn't talk about it anymore saying it is only becayse it is HIS family and not mine and that if it were my family I would be saying something different but that is not true at all.
Well MIL calls me tonight and brings it up and I staright up told her that March is not going to work for me but E's birthday would be perfect and was KINDLY telling her my reasoning and she was STILL ramroding her way in. Then she was trying to say that just won't work because her husband can only get off in March ( they would take a long weekend, thrus thru monday and she just can't drive by herlsef 7 hours and I told her nicely then she is going to have to talk to them about trying to make it for April because march is not doable and is out of the question. Dh is going to be sooo pissed at me but I don't care. ughghghgh thanks for reading if you made it though I just had to vent it.
Am I the only one out there feeling this way?
post #2 of 15
Hmm. This is a hard one for me to understand, 'cause I love my MIL. I guess I can see both sides - you're the one physically recovering from childbirth...but if my dh somehow had a babe and then told me that my mother couldn't come visit (after his own had done so), well, I admit - I'd be angry and hurt.

I dunno. Would it be better if they stayed in a hotel during the visit? I don't think it's unreasonable at all to request that. Why do you think she's selfish for wanting to see her new grandbaby? I'm not being snarky here - I'm just trying to understand, since I don't know her/what kind of person she is. Do you think she'll just be a PITA the entire weekend?

I have two (soon to be 3!!) sons. If their wives didn't let me visit simply because I didn't birth *them* and it was *their* birth I would be absolutely crushed. She's still a mama; just not your mama. Is there something more to the story that I'm not getting?
post #3 of 15
my mil was at the birth of ezra and she is not welcome at this birth. unfortunately, she is pushy, too and more of a guest than a helper at times. she has good intentions but lacks the motivation to do stuff we would need and so just sits around whenever she visits. she would try to visit every weekend (2 hours away) if we would let her. so, yeah, i can totally understand! it's just not healthy or what i/we need post partum. and, it's been harder with her since ez was born for some reason. my mom, OTOH, has become a better person to be around since i was preggo. it's like they swapped or something.

it's hard for Dh sometimes with how intensely frustrated i get with his mom. he knows how she is but he can just handle her better than i do. he has more grace with her, you know, since she raised him, i guess. we had serious drama around christmas time this past year with her and it was way harder on him b/c he tries to make things work out well. but we did have a long heart to heart with her about her craziness and she actually started seeing a therapist to talk through stuff! so, maybe there is hope after all...for you and me and our crazy MILs!

sorry it's hard now, though!
post #4 of 15
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by operamommy View Post
Hmm. This is a hard one for me to understand, 'cause I love my MIL. I guess I can see both sides - you're the one physically recovering from childbirth...but if my dh somehow had a babe and then told me that my mother couldn't come visit (after his own had done so), well, I admit - I'd be angry and hurt. I told them they are more then welcome to come, just not a week or two after I have had the baby and on the heels of my mom leaving, I want to be left alone to bond and get into our own groove, her being here is not easy on me even with just e and not preg, she is very irratating and I am going to be VERY hormanal and not in the mood for it. Plus I don't want to think that it is going to be hard physically after delivery but I had thrush from hell with e and who knows if I will have to go through that again, I am taking precations this time but still I am going to be recovering for at least 4 weeks I don't want anyone but dh here for all that

I dunno. Would it be better if they stayed in a hotel during the visit? I don't think it's unreasonable at all to request that. Why do you think she's selfish for wanting to see her new grandbaby? I'm not being snarky here - I'm just trying to understand, since I don't know her/what kind of person she is. Do you think she'll just be a PITA the entire weekend? Hotel is out, they couldn't afford it and we couldn't afford to but them up either. I think her timing is selfish. To not be willing to wait until the baby is another month older and I am MUCH more up to her being here AND she could share a birthday with E, something she has always wanted. And if you knew her you would know that this is a selfish move on her part.

I have two (soon to be 3!!) sons. If their wives didn't let me visit simply because I didn't birth *them* and it was *their* birth I would be absolutely crushed. She's still a mama; just not your mama. Is there something more to the story that I'm not getting?
I guess I see the bond thing twistedly. I know for pretty sure that when my son gets married one day that his wife's mom and family will have a different type of bond with our grandkids. I think that it is normal for women to want to be around there moms after childbirth, not there IL's, I will not be surprised if she takes after how she was raised more than how my son was raised, and I am already accepting that. I guess I am wierd in thinking that way but that is just how I see it and what makes sense. I don't think it is weird for a mom to prefer her parents in such a personal time over her IL's. They are more than welcome to come, just not within weeks of me giving birth. There was a great article in mothering awhile back about bedding in and it made so much sense. The post natal period here is really not givin the respect and space that it deserves. That is all I am asking for.
post #5 of 15
Wince. I'm horribly conflicted.

You deserve to be catered to and loved and protected and nurtured. The fact that you're having such an intense reaction shows without a doubt that this is a NEED you have, not a whim that can be dismissed.

But this baby is also your husband's, and this baby is part of a family tree with several equally important branches. Saying your mom can see the newborn baby and your husband's mom can only see the baby at three months doesn't seem fair to me.

If she were abusive in some way it would be a no brainer, but it sounds like the issue is that you do not feel close to her and you don't want anyone you're not close to in your nest at that time. Totally understandable!!! But your partner does feel close to her. She's his mother. He wants to share this time with her. That too is understandable.

Man, I just don't know what the right call is.
post #6 of 15
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunter View Post
my mil was at the birth of ezra and she is not welcome at this birth. unfortunately, she is pushy, too and more of a guest than a helper at times. she has good intentions but lacks the motivation to do stuff we would need and so just sits around whenever she visits. she would try to visit every weekend (2 hours away) if we would let her. so, yeah, i can totally understand! it's just not healthy or what i/we need post partum. and, it's been harder with her since ez was born for some reason. my mom, OTOH, has become a better person to be around since i was preggo. it's like they swapped or something.

it's hard for Dh sometimes with how intensely frustrated i get with his mom. he knows how she is but he can just handle her better than i do. he has more grace with her, you know, since she raised him, i guess. we had serious drama around christmas time this past year with her and it was way harder on him b/c he tries to make things work out well. but we did have a long heart to heart with her about her craziness and she actually started seeing a therapist to talk through stuff! so, maybe there is hope after all...for you and me and our crazy MILs!

sorry it's hard now, though!
thank you! that sounds about right! DH has a big problem of thinking that he HAS to please everybody, whcih we all know is not always possiable! And what really peeves me ( this came up around christmas time to) is that he had a tendancy to choose his parents and family memebers WANTS over OUR NEEDS:
um honey we are your family now as well and we come first, just like him and e come over my parents as hard as that is sometimes. I think I am so made because they won't respect my reasonable time table, it is all about them.

Yes I know I am making this all about me but umm who just grew and nurtured for nine monthes and then birthed? NOT THEM!
post #7 of 15
Namaste- ME TOO!!!! EXACTLY what you are going through, we are going through. My mom lives with us, and is a HUGE help. She cooks, cleans, and plays with dd1 (who will be 3 March 31, so about your ds's age). Plus, she is MY mom, and of course, we get along and parent the same way and believe the same thing about birth, breastfeeding, AP, GD, ect.


For the past 6 months, dh's parents have been coming every 2-3 weeks for the weekend and staying at our house. I have been MORE than welcoming. While dh goes off to work, it's MY job to not only cook and clean house for them, but basically to babysit them, take them places, ect. I would love it if they actually PLAYED with dd for any length of time, but 3 times now, MIL has read dd ONE book and turned on a movie/tv for her. She knows how I feel about it...blah, blah, blah. And she is a PRESCHOOL teacher?!?!!?!?! She can't even play with dd for more than 10 minutes without falling asleep or passing her off to me, while I am trying to get everything else done.

The last time they were here, (2 weeks ago) I told her that after dd2 comes, they would need to find alternative plans for when they visit. It's just too crowded. We are a family of 4, going on 5 in a three bedroom home. When they come, they occupy one room, and leave a mess. They don't help me with ANYTHING. Well, she just called me and said she would be here this weekend. I am 38 weeks on Saturday and have a strong feeling I'll deliver between 38-39 weeks, so it could be this weekend. I explained that to her, and she didn't get it. I finally had to tell her that dd1's birth wasn't pretty, and since I would be delivering at home I wasn't comfortable with them witnessing me walking around half naked should I go into labor while they were there. Geez, can't they just leave me alone in the last few weeks of my very tiring pregnancy??? Just give me a freakin break already. I also had the no visiting until at least 2 weeks pp talk with MIL. She doesn't get it. She thinks everyone on earth would just love to have people parading in and out of the house and doesn't get the whole resting/laying in concept. Neither does dh. He was really offended when I brought it up to him, but of course HE isn't the one babysitting them when they are here. He is at work, and comes home to a clean house, a hot meal and his doting mother. He doesn't get her at all, she is perfection in his eyes. Isn't it like that though with men and their mothers? It's been quite an issue for our entire marriage, but definitely worse since we had dd.

The worst is that they constantly say (to him) all they ever want to do is help. Yeah right. NEVER have they actually done anything to help. And yes, I have asked. They want to take dd somewhere by themselves, (NO way in hell that's gonna happen) or have me leave dd with them and go somewhere. That's their idea of help. Same with the babe, their idea of help would be to hold the babe while I 'rest'. Yeah right.
Seriously, I COMPLETELY get where you are. I don't know what will make them understand, but I decided long ago, my MIL was never going to like me anyway, and I was never going to like her. Oh, we get along, but it's tense. SO I stopped beating around the bush and go honest. Totally honest, while remaining respectful. But I tell her what I want/don't want. She still doesn't like me and I still don't like her, but at least I don't have to put up with things I don't agree with, you know? HTH
post #8 of 15
Thread Starter 
Natalia, first of all, LOVE your name, it is one that I tried to get dh on board with, seconf E would have been an abigail. ( start twilight zone music)
yep you got it worse because you see them more! It is not like I HATE the women just don't want her around during such a delicate and private tiem, is that to much to ask, oh wait, yeah anything is to much to ask when dh's PRECIOUS mother is involved.
DH has a WONDERFUL relationship with my parents and has even said more than once that he prefers to stay with them and be around them. SO it is not like he is pissed my mom and dad ar egoing to be here for the birth to HELP!
post #9 of 15
Ahhh...I'm gettin' you better now - it appears there's some history not only with your MIL but also with your dh. I would hate to feel like my dh always choice his "growing up" family's needs over *our* family's needs. *hugs*

It's too bad (ok, maybe not!! ) that she doesn't live closer - if it weren't a 7-hour drive then an afternoon visit would be appropriate. With coming that sort of distance though, it really does call for a weekend.

I hope you and your dh are able to work this out. Sorry you're feeling so stressed - that's the last thing you need right now.
post #10 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by NamastePlatypus View Post
SO she is sweet women but I CAN"T STAND HER for long, or when tired, stressed.. blah blah blah, she drives me batty.
My mom is going to try and come right before the babe and stay MAYBE a week.( she is coming reagrdless just trying to time it so she is her right before so she can help with e during the birth) MY mom, the women who birthed ME, is coming to help ME after MY birth physically and around the house and with e. I want my mama for about a week ( and she feels the same) and then I am going to be ready to really dive into having two, bonding further with MY new family. I am going to be bedding in for as LONG as I can, like a month at least if DH can work that out. I want to adjust and bond and nuture my family.
Well dh told me yesterday that his mom was coming in March for a long weekend with his step dad to see the baby.ummmm HELL NO! then he said it wouldn't be until the middle or end. ( I am DUE the 22 but I am thinking I will go over, reagardless if I go today that is still only a month PP) I don't watn ANYONE around me, this is a very private and special time for me and my children and dh if he so chooses. having his mom's selfish wants put over my maternal needs is NOT the way to go on this. all she wants to do is see the baby because we were in Germany when I had e and she didn't get to see him until he as about 2 monthes, (I still think there is nothing wrong with that.) SHe doesn't want to come and help and bringing her second husband is not helpful either. I was out of commison for almost 6 weeks with e and that was an uncomlicated deleivery, I do not want her here for a while, sorry call me a bitch but my house, my birth, my baby, my family, my call. I then offered ( with eunthisasim that is so fake but to make him beleive it as truth) that she come at the end of Apr for e's third birthday and she could be a part of that and see the baby then and it would be great. he got all pissy and wouldn't talk about it anymore saying it is only becayse it is HIS family and not mine and that if it were my family I would be saying something different but that is not true at all.
Well MIL calls me tonight and brings it up and I staright up told her that March is not going to work for me but E's birthday would be perfect and was KINDLY telling her my reasoning and she was STILL ramroding her way in. Then she was trying to say that just won't work because her husband can only get off in March ( they would take a long weekend, thrus thru monday and she just can't drive by herlsef 7 hours and I told her nicely then she is going to have to talk to them about trying to make it for April because march is not doable and is out of the question. Dh is going to be sooo pissed at me but I don't care. ughghghgh thanks for reading if you made it though I just had to vent it.
Am I the only one out there feeling this way?

I so 100% understand your frustrations. I am living the same situation, except I don't want my mother here either, but I do understand why you want yours. I didn't read all of the responses because I wanted to reply myself. I did glance and see that some mothers of boys were upset and didn't think it was fair, (although they understand now?) Anyhow my rationalization to my husband is that I married him, not his family, and while he gets the pleasure of seeing me naked and healing, I don't want to be physically uncomfortable around his family. I want to be mostly healed before I have to go through the stress of having them here, and they are stressful. They are energy sucks and wear me out whenever I see them. I want them to be active grandparents in my children's lives, but I need some space initially. I can see how that seems unfair, but it's how I feel, and I can't change it, and I think it's unfair that they should assume that they are just welcome into my personal space when I need privacy and need to feel protected, and I don't feel that way around them.
Anyhow I ramble. I understand your plight. It's an ongoing discussion in my house, and i think we're coming to a resolve.... I hope you can too.
post #11 of 15
I understand where you're coming from I have had 2 interesting mother in laws, but I'm also the only daughter with 3 older brothers. I have seen where my sil's don't want my parents around and how hurtful it is. My brothers don't want to upset their wives so they let it go on. I had my first mil in the labor room and absolutely didn't want her there, but I understood how much it meant to my husband and to her having seen the other side with my mom and my brothers. To this day my parents walk on pins and needles just to get to "help" and spend time with the grandkids from my brothers.

Special time yes, and difficult to have them there yes, but it is important to your husband also and while you may have many of hours with the new family they just want a short time. Of course they want to see the new baby and see the birth and be part of it. Maybe my opinion isn't popular but having seen both sides I would swallow hard and have them come and just find a way to enjoy it. Just as much as I'm sure your mom wants to be there so does your husband's mom. I found once I let go the not wanting them around and just accepted it, they were actually helpful with the older children and with cooking, etc. also... and dh was happy not to have to be in between.. I agree with the prev. poster my parents are crushed everytime they are kept from being part of special once in a life time events like this.
post #12 of 15
I personally can't stand my in-laws, (if they ever actually MADE the effort to see my children I would die from shock...I say this with a 2.5 year old who hasn't met either of them), and if they tried to barge in after I had a baby, I'd tell 'em to take a flying leap. I also just went through the absolute worst year of my life, and have learned to stand up for myself and do what's best for ME every once in awhile. So I'm not against you on this one.

I put my foot down when it came to my in-laws awhile ago, and my stress level has dropped immensely.
post #13 of 15
I hear you and am sorry. It can be more stressful having people around you just don'r want around. I didn't read other replies yet, BUT my MIL isdoing the same thing. Coming no matter what I say. She is coming to "help" and "see" the baby. THAT translates into = I just want to sit and hold the baby all day for a week. With DS she asked if I needed any help withthe house, I said yeah sweep the kitchen floor - she said "oh it looks fine to me!"

NICE. You could really ignore her. That is my plan. Lock myself in my room with baby and DS. Come out to refill water etc etc.. Just make it awkaard and hope she leaves. It mgiht seem mean to some people but it is an important time for US to bond. SHe is more than welcome to visit some Sat or Sun in late March.

HUGS HUGS HUGS
post #14 of 15
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lincap View Post
I hear you and am sorry. It can be more stressful having people around you just don'r want around. I didn't read other replies yet, BUT my MIL isdoing the same thing. Coming no matter what I say. She is coming to "help" and "see" the baby. THAT translates into = I just want to sit and hold the baby all day for a week. With DS she asked if I needed any help withthe house, I said yeah sweep the kitchen floor - she said "oh it looks fine to me!"

NICE. You could really ignore her. That is my plan. Lock myself in my room with baby and DS. Come out to refill water etc etc.. Just make it awkaard and hope she leaves. It mgiht seem mean to some people but it is an important time for US to bond. SHe is more than welcome to visit some Sat or Sun in late March.

HUGS HUGS HUGS
That is soooo what I told my mom and dh I am doing, you wanna come when I am not ready fine, but it will be wasted because I will be locked in my room with my children doing ehat I would have doen regardless of you being here or not.
post #15 of 15
Oh, I understand. I think it's your right to say you need space during that time. And of course you are more comfortable with your own mother coming! I know some people might disagree, but being a grandparent is a privilege, not a right. You have to respect the parents wishes at all times. (Of course that doesn't mean the mom and dad are on the same page. The ONLY thing my husband and I fight about is his mother. But after 6 years of it I told him I'm no longer letting her walk all over me. I don't care if she thinks I'm a bitch.)

Maybe if I had a decent MIL I would feel differently....but I agree with you. This is your special time!
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