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The Inlaws left!

Steptococci's picture

Ugh well they finally left, after 8 days, most of which I have been completely confined to the house. Mil and I did have a conversation finally yesterday morning and "made up" in a sense... I aired my grievances - she was so reluctant to admit a single wrongdoing on her part or really accept that my feelings have any validity, and I did apologize for the way our relationship had deteriorated and for her feeling uncomfortable about it. She finally apologized eventually though for assuming she could take my kids and the car midweek without even running it past me or informing me where she wanted to go or when. That I guess felt like a small victory. We got along much better over the past 48 hours.

Fil couldn't resist making small snide remarks at me today and yesterday, like a sarcastic, "can we borrow your car?" After I already told them specifically they could, yesterday afternoon.
And DH wrote me an email midweek saying he "had my back" but wanted to "make sure we didn't jeopardiaze the grandkids' relationships" with his folks. That sounded supportive but in practice he actually meant, "honey just be nice to them no matter what." So his actions never conveyed anything but that he was looking out for them. I think no matter what he knows he can't have them out here for 8 days again, and I asked him to take a couple days off work when they come so it's not just me entertaining and hanging out with them.

The weird thing now is that SD has been crying on/off and sulking since 11 am this morning when MIL started packing her bags. Their flight was at 530 pm. So she went with DH to take them to the airport and has been crying and making comments about how sad she is and how the "rainstorm came for her" when they dropped mil off... she's been known to cry about this for days in the past when mil leaves. One time mil and SD cried for a good 45 minutes at the airport, with mil following us almost all the way thru security crying and bawling and saying "I'll miss you so much!" To SD practically until we got to the gates. So of course SD cried the whole time then too. I find this really odd, and kind of unhealthy.

Mostly I guess I find it annoying. SD told me earlier when we were talking about making race signs for my sister whose triathlon were going to tomorrow, "good, you'll need to find something to distract me with after nanny leaves because I'll be so sad" and I said "I think you'll survive." The pity party attempts continued during the time we were coloring and she said she couldn't eat anything but cereal for dinner, and finally I said to her, "this isn't something you need to fall apart over, nanny is someone you love and miss and that's a good thing, there will be much worse types of sadness in life..." and DH did NOT like this. Now he's giving her lots of extra attention and coddling her and is reading to her upstairs, while she sits sulking.

What do you think of this? I guess I feel like if he doesn't agree with me saying that okay maybe he could've said something else productive to her in the moment, without blatantly making it seem like I am this cold unsupportive witch. It almost seems like he nurtured this weird thing where SD falls apart when his mom leaves, I guess because he loves that mil is so needed? I don't relate because I don't want my child to sob uncontrollably at my absence or over missing their grandparents... this isn't sickness or death.

But I'm also feeling especially like an outsider in my family right now, though, so DH encouraging this mourning period (of someone who basically dislikes me and shows me no respect) is maybe rubbing me the wrong way.
Anyway I think next week I'm scheduling a therapy appointment for couples counseling or individual. Our marriage feels like crap lately. Hope others are having a better weekend.

Comments

Steptococci's picture

Oops no I think maybe something came across wrong in the paragraph actually- my SD and I are fine. Her sobbing over a woman who treats me like persona non grata in my own home for over a week is like salt in a wound. Of course she doesn't realize that mil treats me like garbage but that's because mil is so doting and loving to the kids (which is I guess her best quality.) the fact that DH doesn't remotely stand up for me with my mil even though he knows how awful it makes me feel is also hurtful, but he did coddle SD when she acted sulky and dramatic after mil left. Kind of felt like DH was willing to emotionally protect SD and mil but not me. That's what I was trying to say.

mro's picture

Sometimes it's difficult for those of us who are more restrained emotionally to deal with people around us who are not. Unless it is extreme in either direction, I don't see it as right or wrong, just different ways of coping. I also saw my grandparents infrequently. I loved going to see them and missed them when I had to go home but was not overly demonstrative about it. So what happens is the emotional ones are seen as being histrionic and the Mr. Spock types as cold and uncaring.

So I do not think Steptococci is unsympathetic. On the contrary I think she was very sympathetic and wanted to help. Unfortunately what we would tell ourselves (in a nutshell, get over it already) doesn't go over well with someone like SD. She may have felt her feelings were not acknowledged (they weren't). That's something we need to learn to do.

Add that to a probably overprotective dad. I can totally see your POV but do you think your response may have sounded unsympathetic?

Funny I was doing the exact same thing last night. SD23 ran into a major flight delay on a trip, which of course snowballed into missing her connecting flights and being rerouted all over the place. They're texting back and forth all day and he's on the computer going nuts looking up alternate flights, saying there's a flight at this time and that time, or she could go through this city or that city and I'm saying I'm sure the airline will get her there eventually, and she's young, she can take it, and things like that. TBH I finally had to go do something somewhere else.

So I'm sure I sounded unsympathetic too rather than validating his feelings but really it was getting on my nerves. So I can definitely see it from both angles.

By the way she did get where she was going, 18 hours later, and all's well that ends well.

Steptococci's picture

Thanks for your perspective- I think my comment may have sounded unsympathetic in that moment yes. I felt bad that it probably did sound too close to "get over it." Others had already consoled her all day and I have given her plenty of sympathic hugs. But I don't think she should spend an entire day and all of tomorrow sobbing and not being able to participate in normal family life or meals just because of this, and the fact that my narcissistic MIL eggs it on seems Icky to me. But maybe this is how some families say godbye.
I've never seen anything like if before in my life, other than when BM drops SD off for her time with us... (50/50) sometimes they are both sobbing/crying as I'm literally opening the door to let her in. I understand SD needs to express herself and feel her feelings but I don't like being put immediately in the position of consoling shoulder to cry on. When it happens with BM I hug her and find myself saying things like "I know you miss your mom, it's hard, I'm sorry, we're here, etc" This goes on and on and eventually I mm thinking "sorry I'm not your mom? Sorry you have to be here?" And I need to tend to other things and move on with life.
SD needing me to invest time and energy entertaining and distracting her just so she can cope with my rather awful MIL leaving after another too-long visit is just a tall order. I dont actually resent SD herself tho it's annoying- rather mil for making these visits so painful for me and then DH for defending everyone's feelings except mine.

mro's picture

Oh I totally agree. I would also feel uncomfortable and think coddling the child at that point is unhealthy. And to see so much worry and concern when my own feelings don't get the same attention. I totally get it. I think I was feeling a little bit of that the other night. I've written here before about my DH/SD23 dynamics so it's nothing new. I suppose a lot if it is reacting to one another - Dads go overboard with concern and we "compensate" by being a little harsher than we might tend to be? Or vice versa? I was really going nuts with him freaking out over this. She wasn't missing, or ill, or anything like that. But I must admit I did completely disregard his feelings, which he is entitled to like anyone else. I don't know if I "helped" or not saying the things I did.

Anyhow the best we can do is listen, validate, and move on. Something along the lines of "I know you're sad cause you miss your Grandma. Let's write her a nice letter telling her what a nice time we had." If you can keep your breakfast down. LOL

ntm's picture

I would validate your SD's feelings, and then move on. "I understand you feel sad that Nana had to go back home. I remember how hard it was for me when we moved away from my Gramma," or whatever way you can show empathy. Then go back to living your life

blayze's picture

Peace out MIL! Smile Pop a bottle of champagne girl. Haha I get what you're saying about DH protecting SD rather than helping his wife get over being dumped on by his annoying, over-stepping mom. Instead of getting too upset with him about coddling sd, this is the perfect time to TELL him (sweetly and innocently) that his mother is not ever welcome to stay in your home for long again...because she hurt YOUR feefees and he didn't protect you...and get him to commit to some sort of agreement for future visits. Get him to sign something, in blood. Lol SD isn't the only one who is sad right now. You've been hurt. Make him put on his cape and come to your rescue. Wink

JustAgirl42's picture

Sounds like a bit of attention-seeking behavior to me. Crying is fine, but dragging it on and on and on? Nah.

So happy for you that they are gone now, and hopefully you can relax in the coming days. Smile

Steptococci's picture

One thing I really appreciate about this board is the honesty of different points of view. Thank you for seeing my side. Merry, thanks for validating what I personally believe is a selfish and narcissistic behavior on the part of MIL, the grandparent, who should be modeling healthy attachment behavior. Like I said I would not want my child to feel that way upon missing me. I hate seeing my toddlers cry when I drop them off for daycare, I want them to transition smoothly and happily and know that their attachment is secure. I think this behavior is extremely manipulative of SD especially since her personality is just naturally more needy and pleasing (I doubt my DD3 will fall into this pattern because she is a less approval-seeking kid, but we'll see,)

To Echo who questioned how I handled the situation with SD, thank you also. I gave that some real thought and decided I owed SD an apology. I'm glad I did speak to her about it, because I messed up in conveying the message to her that her feelings weren't valid or that I didn't want to hear them. She was kind and accepting (as always) and I think my honesty about screwing up came as a relief to her. She was very loving and more open today.

My problem really is with DH and not feeling supported or validated by him. Those are the really hard conversations ahead, since I'm sure we're only 3-6 months from he next painful visit from my in-laws. And yes if it doesn't improve I'll be heading out of town for that one.
Thanks again, all.

Wild Rose's picture

WooHoo- it's over! Glad you made it through!

Good for you on insisting on some counseling with DH. Time to set boundaries with him and the out-laws! Wink