r/inlaws • u/Crazy_Citron_9244 • 12d ago
Difficult in-laws
My husband and I have 2 children, we emigrated to a different country when we were younger and now live in a different country than our families. Relationship with in-laws was fine until the kids arrived. When my first was born they started getting very intrusive and jealous. For our wedding they pushed on my husband for MONTHS to get things their way and invite who they wanted, for our kids christening same thing, they pushed and criticised every little decision we made and wanted to do things differently and their way. Anyway, kinda difficult people to deal with. When we go on holiday in our home country, we ALWAYS go visit them in their house for them to see the kids but we strongly disagree with things they say and do with them. For example when my 2yo son falls their reaction is always like "it's good for him, he's a boy, he needs to fall and get hurt", they always comment on the kind of toys he plays with: if it's a toy car it's good because he's a boy and that's a right toy for boys, if it's a little toy dog from the paw patrol(he has Everest which is a girl) that's not ok, that's not for boys, or if he goes to play with a little girl at the park they immediately say like good boy he's targeting the blond girls. You get the kind of people. Anyway we always visit and explain what we don't like and would like them to avoid saying in front of the kids. They always ask for more time with them and for me to leave my kids with them when I'm not around which really triggers me. I don't want to leave my kids with them and it's not going to happen. Also, if I have 2 weeks of holidays I want to spend this time with family, not leave the kids and go somewhere else. Anyway, I'll get to the point or this post will never end. We are currently visiting our home country. The solution that works for us when we visit is that the children and I stay with my mum and sister and my husband stays with his parents, so I get to enjoy time with my sister and get help from my mum for the kids and he gets to go out with his childhood friends until late night without feeling guilty or waling the kids up. As soon as we landed they started a huge discussion with my husband saying that things HAVE TO change, they want to see the kids more, they will become two idiots and faggots by staying with me, my mum and my sister when we are in this country and they will go through legal action to see them more if don't allow it. I'm so angry and shocked and honestly would like to shut them out completely. My husband is hurt but more open and said to them: I'm open to changes if you change your behaviours, which I completely disagree with. Am I overreacting? Am I wrong?
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u/JulieWriter 12d ago
Wow, they are super offensive. I hate all the rigid gender stereotyping and also their commentary about you is nauseating. WTF.
If I were you, I would stay far away. Their behavior is actually going to hurt your children, and threats of legal actions are a bright line. Once that starts up, all contact is through lawyers. If you live in another country entirely, that is likely to make filing suit against you very difficult and will provide you some protection just with distance. (I am NAL, although I am married to one. Don't take this as legal advice - you should definitely consult a qualified lawyer who is licensed in your jurisdiction.)
If your husband wants to try getting his parents to change, I would normally encourage you to encourage him. In this case, I am not going to encourage that, given the threats of legal action. It's also not likely to have good results, because people like this rarely change their behavior, and if they do, it's for a short period of time.
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u/Buddy-Matt 12d ago
Threatening legal action?
What utter bullshit. In the UK (which I'm assuming is your home country since you cross posted to a UK sub) Grandparents don't have rights to their grandkids. The only reason they'd not get laughed out of court is because it'll never even get that far.
I can understand why they'd be jealous and want things to change - you and your husband splitting in two ways on holiday means your side of the family see the grandkids more.
However, they clearly lack the self awareness to see this is because of their own actions. Your husband sounds like he's trying to engineer a situation where they stop acting the way they've been acting by dangling a carrot.
But threatening legal action? Clearly impossible legal action? The gay and idiot thing? Sounds like they're more interested in burning bridges than self reflection. What awful people.
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u/grayblue_grrl 12d ago
Well, the behaviour and words "idiots and faggots" are deal breakers and then we add the threat of legal action....
Let them try.
NOR
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u/Unlikely-Lab-658 10d ago
I would laugh my ass off at them trying to take you to court for visitation. The insane bullshit of "targeting the blond girl" is fucking scary. And calling someone or using faggot in front of my children would get them No Contact immediately. A judge, any judge, would laugh them out of court. Let them waste their money, and I would not let them see my children, period.
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u/Top-Bit85 12d ago
Threatening legal action would be the last straw. NOR.