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Moms and Maids

Fmil help needed - really long - mog's may be super helpful :)

ladies I need some advice.

My fmil and my fi have been very close his whole life. I came along and she does not hide the fact she does not care for me - and now that we are wedding planning she trys to make every little thing an issue and it's starting to cause major issues between her and my fi. To the point where he got really upset last night and told me since him and I became serious seeing how his mom behaves towards me and some other people around me (like my family) has made him not like her as much - really a heartbreaking statement.

To summarize, she started out not liking me because we are so different. She is a very religious, quite, and conservative woman from the Midwest who stayed home, had dinner on the table everynighy by 6, cleaned everyones room, did all the laundry etc etc. I grew up back and forth between Miami and new York city so I'm not going to try and pretend I'm quite or super conservative. I'm also an attorney and I love to cook but I'm not about to iron all my fi's shirts for him - that's what the dry cleaner is for. (this is actually a huge issue for her - that I don't iron). She's also called me and told me I should convert to Catholicism for her family - to which I Sao thanks but no thanks. I'm okay with us being different, I don't need or want everyone to be like me - my sister is more like my fmil and we still have a fabulous relationship.

The conversation last night started because she called my fi and said we needed to order two sets of wedding invitations because she refused to have her family receive invites with my fi's stepmoms name on them. She has been married to his famther for over 20 years and is a wonderful woman, plus two sets of invites is expensive - I basically said that's not happening. She then started yelling saying she guessed she could deal with it but that her daughters wedding two years ago was so much better and she already knew she would never have as good of a time at ours. (they ordered two sets of invites for that wedding). There was more to it - she's mad my fi's brother (half-brother) is in the wedding and was yelling she knows that had to be my idea to make him a groomsmen and he's not a real brother because he's half and shouldnt be a part of it). That also upset my fi because they are brothers and talk. Anyways I know this is an issue my fi should work out with his mom but I hate that he feels since weve been together he doesn't like his mom as much - I would never want to be the cause of something like that - family is the number one most important thing in my world. Anyone have some advice of how I can try to make this better??
BabyFruit Ticker

Re: Fmil help needed - really long - mog's may be super helpful :)

  • edited December 2011
    Oh and he says he does not blame me for it - that he blames his mother - so I'm not worried about our relationship - mainly theirs
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  • maelicmaelic member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Honestly, this is his problem to deal with. Nothing you can say to her will help. Let it go, be there for your FI if he needs to talk to you about it, but let him sort it out.
  • edited December 2011
    I'm presently the MOB. But I have 2 adult sons and hope to someday be MOGs. Because I had a difficult MIL, I decided a long time ago that I would find a way to like whoever my children fall in love with. It's in my best interest, as well as everyone else's.

    Your Fi is the person who can solve your problem with your FMIL. He should tell his mom that unless she treats you with respect, she won't be seeing much of either of you because you are a package deal now. If she is like my MIL, she will pout and allow some time to pass. This will be like a little vacation for you. Then one day she will call, as if nothing has happened and all will be good. Not perfect, but good.  She will do this because her son is important to her and she wants to be a part of his life and possibly her future grandchildren's lives.

    When the occasional snide remark occurs, your husband can remind her, or you can choose to ignore it, confront it, or laugh it off. I recommend humor, unless she is being vicious.

    Assuming your FMIL is not paying for your wedding, you don't have to consult her about the details. And you never have to put up with screaming from anyone. Just hang up.

    Good luck.


                       
  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    edited December 2011
    You need to let your FI deal with his Mom.  It is great that he is backing you up and siding with you!

    On another note...who is paying for this wedding?  Is your FMIL paying for the invites?  If not then she really doesn't get a say on what is written on them.

    I am sorry you have to deal with this...just limit wedding talk with her to the essentials.

  • edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies - I know you're right I just hate seeing him sad. She's paying for the church only because it was important to her and out of out budget - my dad is paying for 80% and his dad is covering the rest. Thank you for your advise and support :)
    BabyFruit Ticker
  • soozy87soozy87 member
    Third Anniversary 10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_fmil-needed-really-long-mogs-may-super-helpful?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:953d3fe6-6b53-4d3d-a7a8-cd2da95063ffPost:1747dea9-c8ee-481f-aeb7-9bac8afa2869">Re: Fmil help needed - really long - mog's may be super helpful :)</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'm presently the MOB. But I have 2 adult sons and hope to someday be MOGs. Because I had a difficult MIL, I decided a long time ago that I would find a way to like whoever my children fall in love with. It's in my best interest, as well as everyone else's. Your Fi is the person who can solve your problem with your FMIL. He should tell his mom that unless she treats you with respect, she won't be seeing much of either of you because you are a package deal now. If she is like my MIL, she will pout and allow some time to pass. This will be like a little vacation for you. Then one day she will call, as if nothing has happened and all will be good. Not perfect, but good.  She will do this because her son is important to her and she wants to be a part of his life and possibly her future grandchildren's lives. When the occasional snide remark occurs, your husband can remind her, or you can choose to ignore it, confront it, or laugh it off. I recommend humor, unless she is being vicious. Assuming your FMIL is not paying for your wedding, you don't have to consult her about the details. And you never have to put up with screaming from anyone. Just hang up. Good luck.
    Posted by MairePoppy[/QUOTE]

    This is pretty good advice.
    ~May 21,2011~
  • epona225epona225 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Sorry you have to deal with this!  I agree with PP that this will be mostly your FI's problem to deal with.  And I would try to be supportive of him without bad-mouthing his mother in front of him (not that you are!).  I've found that I'm sensitive when FI says things about my family even if they are true and what I've been thinking myself.

    To be fair, your FMIL may be bringing up the different religion thing partly because that can be a source of disagreement among married couples, and partly because you may have to promise to raise any children in the Catholic faith if you have a Catholic priest marry you (not sure if that's what you're doing).  I say this as someone who's been there - my FI is Catholic, I'm not, and I'm not converting.  However, we had a lot of conversations about this, so we know now that we're on the same page.  And you may have done the same thing, but your FMIL may not know that b/c I doubt she was there for those conversations!

    As for the invites, this seems like the perfect situation for "Mary Jones and John Smith, together with their families, invite you to" blah blah. Nice and neat, everyone's included, and you only have to order one set of invites.
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  • AiobheannAiobheann member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You need to just be supportive of your FI and let him deal with FMIL. My MIL is an absolutely pain, but I let my DH deal with her. The best thing you can do for your relationship is to support him (just as he is supporting you) and let him deal with her. If he wants to cut her out-let him, she is his mom. It's very hard to do and can be troubling-esp if you are very family oriented and it's important to you. I am this way (huge huge family), but have learned to let DH deal with MIL-without changing who I am.
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  • edited December 2011
    FWIW I'm an attorney too (well, hopefully I will be one once my July bar exam results come back) and FI's parents are incredibly irritated with me because I don't aspire to sit home make italian food and have a horde of Catholic babies.  (But in my case I am from the Midwest and they are from NYC!  So maybe that plays less of a part in your situation than you think it does) 

    FI is the only one in his family that has a college education (and a masters degree) - but is their champion, their golden child.  Unfortunately my JD and I are something to be challenged and disagreed with at every possible oppurtunity.  They are the biggest bunch of contrarians I have ever met, but FI doesn't see a difference in the way they treat him versus the way they treat me... so be thankful you have a FI who gets it!

    My FMIL was trying to tell me when we visited them over Labor Day weekend that boys and sons shouldn't have to do housework and girls shouldn't have to mow the lawn and she gave me a very disapproving look/sound when I told her that I was raised cutting as much grass as my brother folded laundry AND that any children I have will be raised the same way  (FI and I have already talked about this and he's cool with it).  

    I, like you, enjoy cooking and after a long day at the office I actually enjoy making dinner - but we send our laundry out because I don't enjoy it and, frankly, (and I'm trying really hard not to sound elitest right now) I bill my time at $90/hour so it makes more sense to me to drop it off at the laundromat and pay by the pound for clean, folded laundry, than it does for me to spend 2 hours doing it myself!  I guess I'm just going to have to get used to them disapproving of me!  Good luck!


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  • edited December 2011
    Yankee - that sounds just like my fi family! I honestly thought being from different areas may have been a factor but they are the only people I've ever really known from the Midwest and honestly I realize that was kinda dumb for ne to think - people have their thoughts and beliefs and it doesn't matter where they are from and I never meant to imply girls from other areas aren't as tough or independent - even though I realize I may have sounded that way so I'm sorry about that. It's nice to know someone else is dealing with the same thing though! It's really comforting in a weird way! Good luck with the bar results - I couldn't sleep the entire night before they were released and made my brother check the results for me - so nerve racking! Epona - we actually have talked about the religion of our children and that will one day be another issue because my fi has said he does not want them to grow up with the strict catholic teachings he did. The church his mom is paying for is non denominational because we were having issues with the rules of the catholic church near our reception site - beautiful just not for us personally. Thank you again to everyone for the support and advice I trully appreciate it!
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  • edited December 2011
         I am in a very similar situation.  My FMIL got irrate on one of her visits to our place because she found out that her baby boy has to do chores (dishes to be exact).  She bad mouthed me and threatened to never come back.  When he stuck up for me I think she realized that he wasn't going to take her side and said she would "play nice" with me.  Since then my relationship with her has been very rocky. 
         My FI has made a very similar comment about his mother.  He said he never realized that she was like this and to sum it up that she doesn't have to be apart of our lives.  Family is important to both of us so that was a huge statement for him.
         I try to make it easier by still making an effort to have a positive relationship with her.  I ask her to lunch, to get manicures, etc.  I also completely ignore her snide comments.  I don't even try to politely comment back.  I simply ignore the behavior hoping she realizes that I will not play that game with her and stop.  In addition, should she decide to pout over something, my FI will ask what is the matter and if there is something we could help with...when she says no and continues to pout we ignore that as well.  We haven't told anyone details about the wedding so comments about that are probably just around the corner.  He thankfully fields all of her calls so he will handle those issues.
         I am hoping one day she will come to realize that although we are very different and that her son and I have a different relationship than she has with his father that it is okay.  If not, I can take comfort in knowing that I did what I could and he appreciates my efforts.  We would like her in our lives as well but I can't make her be nice to me nor would I want my FI to say that it is okay for her to treat me that way. 
    I hope this was helpful.  I kno w it can be difficult.  Best of luck to you guys!
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