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Just wanted to say.....

Started by allthatmatters, April 04, 2014, 01:18:41 PM

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allthatmatters

Thank you for all the advice from all the wonderful ladies on this site. 

I have never posted before, just a long time lurker but I have learned so much from you all!!  I am a DIL with a wonderful DH, 1 DS and 1 DD.  Adjusting to my inlaws has been difficult for me at times and being able to come here and see the wise wisdom of the ladies here as helped me to understand my MIL and her point of view.  My DH's family and mine are so different that it is a struggle for me sometimes to understand she means well.  We actually see my DH's family more than mine, I know it is not as much as they would like but I believe in spending time with just my immediate family (DH, DS, and DD) so we see them every 2 to 3 weeks for a couple hours.  Does that not seem like enough?  They also get alone time (which I never understood but allow) with them during the weekend day time only except for DS.  He is 10 so old enough but DD is 2 and does not like to be away from me.  That is difficult for her to understand when I would say no and she kept asking.  I finally followed some advise I read on her and laid it on the table (respectfully of course) that DD is just to young right now, I do not feel comfortable and neither does she.  Whenever I pick her up she rushes me and will not let go for hours, she will not even go to DH.  To be it seems normal for a 2 year old to be clingy to their parents but not to my MIL.   :(  However talking to her seemed to work, she understood and stopped asking.

Again I really just wanted to post and say thank you.

Pen

Allthatmatters, welcome to the site! I hope you will continue to read and post. You have wisdom to share as well. It's so helpful to get a current, young, DIL's point of view. We tend to be "older" DILs, lol. I hope your MIL appreciates the effort you've made. I'd be overwhelmed if my DS & DIL saw me every 2-3 weeks!  I'm lucky to see them once every 2-3 months, if that.

If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to read the pink-highlighted items under Open Me First on the home page. We ask this of all newbies to make sure the site is a good fit and everyone has a grasp of our policies, history, vision, etc. Thanks!



Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlieb

allthatmatters

Thanks Pen I hope I can help someone someday like you ladies have.  I do have to admit you are one of my favorites your advise is always so helpful.

I did read what you mentioned.

luise.volta

Welcome, A. It is so rewarding to know that we are there sometimes for old friends we have yet to meet. What a journey you are on! And good for you for tiptoeing thought the mine field! Sending hugs...
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

allthatmatters

Thanks Luise, I am trying my best to tiptoe will ensuring we are respected as well.  I have read such horror stories on here about DILs not allowing the inlaws to see the grand kids.  It seems to me if both sides can be respectful and not cross boundaries both sides can be happy.  While what people expect most likely will not happen, ie being around the grand kids all the time, and adjust accordingly then everyone can be happy. 

luise.volta

My take is that you are right on target. The sticky-wicket is that many of us don't know how to set and maintain boundaries, don't you think? Much less communicate when in conflict. They are  skills we aren't taught, we're wired to expectations. At least my generation. (I'm a dinosaur, born in the 1920s!  ;D )
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

allthatmatters

Haha Luise I don't see you as a dinosaur rather someone wise with wisdom.  I totally agree with you people cannot seem to discuss the boundaries instead they just punish people when they are crossed which is so unfair.  I established boundaries with my family back when I was 20 (I'm 34 now) and once they realized there was consequences if crossed we found a happy medium.  It was a bit harder for me to lay them out for the inlaws but we got thru it and for the most part everyone is happy.

luise.volta

That is so awesome. My generation can't even spell bounderyes! :D
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Lillycache

Boundaries are important... however, more important is communication.  SO many of us have not been told we were crossing boundaries until so much resentment had built up the entire relationship was unsalvageable.  You hit the nail on the head.  Each FOO is very different.  What is a boundary not to be crossed in one family, may be of no importance in another.  Keeping communication open rather than harboring resentment is so important.  It would have certainly helped in my case with my DIL.  It's not good to store up things to be released in one enormous explosion.  Figuring out how to have open dialog without anyone being insulted or hurt is difficult for sure.. but it can be done.  You have shown that ATM..

allthatmatters

Thanks Lily, how right you are about communication if a DIL just communicated with her laws so many issues would be nipped in the bud.  Now with me I realized after reading many posts in here that I was not being as fair with my inlaws as I was with my family so now all boundaries are the same across the board.  True I am going to prefer time with my own family but how is that fair to DHs family?  It's not and I finally saw that.  I was doing what a lot of DILs were doing pushing my MIl away if she crossed boundaries that she didn't know were there causing anger and hurt feelings cutting her out of updates and being around the kids.  She wasn't trying to be their mom she just wanted to see them.  They both love spending time with her and they love her as she does them.  Shame on the DILs who put their own selfishness before their children's happiness.  Now granted there are overbearing MILs out there that need to realize that their are not in charge anymore and the grandchildren are not a right but I'm sure as seen on here most are not that bad and just want to be a part the their grand kids life's.

Pooh

Welcome and thank you for sharing your experience.  I would give my eye teeth to have a DIL like you.  Every 2-3 weeks for a couple of hours?  I find that more than reasonable and I think you're awesome for taking the time to include them.  I'm glad you were able to communicate with your MIL.  That speaks highly of you both.
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

Footloose

Welcome allthatmatters!  You are wise already!  Setting clear limits on your DD and her need to be w/mommy?!  Absolutely perfect!  You told MIL what and even why and in a nice way!  We can be a bit pushy at times and it helps for you to be honest and direct and help us understand reality.  Noone knows these kids better than the day to day parent.  You are def giving more time than I'd expect!  Just keep it to the frequency that fits your family first. 

I have seen so many times where ppl complain and vent with others and never bring it back to the perceived offender.  We offenders may not know that we have that name or anything is wrong until a big bang, leading to hut feelings and cut offs.

For me, i just want to know what the rules are so I can follow and not get into grudges....I respect my DIL and DS's decisions even when i may not agree.  I trust that they love their kids and are finding their own best way to raise them and my way is mine alone.  Who really cares about that when the focus is providing the very best for our young and small friends and family.

It may take a village to raise a child but the parents are the CEOs and we must follow their direction and not ours in the raising of THEIR children;)

Please jump in and give your impression on any thread as it will help us to know a DIL's point of view because some of our DILs may not feel comfy nor have time and energy to be direct.....

allthatmatters

Thanks footloose and pooh I plan on posting more as well as asking for advise.  Believe me when I say I have followed a lot of the advise on here even though it was not directed at me.  To get the MILs perspective has done wonders for me :)

Lillycache

Quote from: allthatmatters on April 07, 2014, 03:26:01 PM
Thanks footloose and pooh I plan on posting more as well as asking for advise.  Believe me when I say I have followed a lot of the advise on here even though it was not directed at me.  To get the MILs perspective has done wonders for me :)

Thank YOU..   I will be the first to admit that I am biased when many DILs post.  It's due to my own personal experience and I am aware of that and try not to respond negatively.     Yes.. we are all different.  MILs are from a different generations as well as a different family structure.  We are just mothers of sons who have grown up.  We feel no differently about our sons as DILs feel about theirs.  We want what WE think is best for them, and we want to help. We want to feel included in our grandchildren's lives.    Perhaps we become to wrapped up in that mindset to notice if we are crossing boundaries.  Most of us never even heard the word boundaries as it pertains to our sons, DILs and GKs.   Then again.. some DILs seem to make it a game of "let's give the old bat enough rope so she can hang herself"..  How fair is that?  The vast majority of  us don't even know we are being graded.. and even if we did, we are not told the rules.  One cannot be expected to follow them if we are not even told what they are until we have racked up so many infractions it's too late.   You offer a refreshing insight.  I will echo the sentiment as others have....  Please keep posting. 

Ditty

Dear allthatmatters,

Wow what I wouldn't give for a dil like you. Yes grandparents, like me, are important in a child's life but its a parent/family life now. They passed the torch so to speak. I would die for the time you describe. And yes two year olds are clinging, it's the nature of the beast. Lol

One thing only, although I completely understand that its a family, to me family isn't one generation only and discarding the rest. I completely understand you wanting your family time, but to me, and I know subsequent posts disagree, maybe his mother doesn't want to be in control, maybe she does want her own life now, but also wants a family.

I sadly don't have a dil like you that gives me anytime at all, but I have to be honest and say it really does sound like you begrudge her being in your life.