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Expert May 2021

Fiancé vs Mom

on March 16, 2019 at 2:28 AM Posted in Family and Relationships 0 22
My fiancé proposed in December. He asked my dads permission and the whole nine yards. My dad cried whereas my mom told me that night that I “shouldn’t start planning too much because we’re not paying for a thing”. Okay, I get it, we’re 32 and you don’t need to pay for a wedding but there was a better time and nicer way to say that. My sons have asked my fiancé to adopt them so he’s their “real dad” (their wording). I guess my fiancé mentioned that or they did, to my mom. She’s been awful since then. Wants no part in the wedding and then a few weeks ago said she won’t attend and is going to try to get my (step) dad not to walk me down the isle. She’s being so mean and hurtful. All because my fiancé is adopting my sons. She (and really my dad too on occassions) are the type of people that think only they are right. She is a hypochondriac and is constantly telling me my oldest son should see a doctor for this and that and treats my youngest like a second rate citizen half of the time. Even if he didn’t adopt the boys she would not be who I would choose to keep my boys if something were to happen to me. This is the huge fight btw. If I die in the next 5 years before my oldest son is 18 my parents won’t get him my fiancé will if he adopts them. Well, it all came to a head this evening and I had a big blowout with my parents about the adoption and told them that we won’t always see eye to eye but I’m going to do what I believe is best for my children and my family. My fiancé and I have been together 7 years. He is the only father my youngest son has ever known and my oldest was 5 when we started dating. To make matters even messier, my (step) dad recently retired. He owned a construction business his entire life and always said he wanted to build my house before he stopped working. So, we broke ground on the house this year. The plan was for my fiancé and I to take out a loan to pay for the home after it was built. Construction is at a hault and they’re threatening to “take the house”. Obviously, we would just buy a different home but this would damage my relationship with my parents. Well, my fiancé is done. He said he can’t do this anymore and he thinks we need to distance ourselves and the boys from my parents until they stop. My mom is telling my oldest (who for some reason she is much closer to) that we are lying to them and are going to change their last names. She is putting him in a horrible position and making him feel like he needs to “choose”. They have my (step) dads name because he raised me and when I named them I didn’t want to pass on my fathers name who I hardly knew. We aren’t going to change their name, because it’s important to my boys to keep that. My oldest and sometimes my youngest stay at my parents house on the weekends and go do homework over there if I’m working. They’re a huge part of our lives. I feel like I’m being put in the worst place. I don’t want to tell my sons they can no longer see their grandparents because I know it will hurt them but my fiancé says that’s what we need to do. Has anyone else been in this sort of insane situation before?! I feel like no matter what I do someone is hurt or angry and I just want to lock my parents and fiancé in a room together until they all work this out!

22 Comments

Latest activity by Danielle, on March 18, 2019 at 3:56 PM
  • Wendy
    Super August 2021
    Wendy ·
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    Wow!!! I am speechless right now...this is very awful and I’m sorry you’re going through this.. is there a reason why your parents are acting this way? Besides the adoption??? I agree with your fiancé, you and your family needs to distance yourself from your parents for a minute because it is definitely unhealthy.. specially for your mom to be putting ideas on your sons head. She should know better. You are the mother and know what’s best for them.. plus is not like you just started dating some random guy and is doing all this too soon you know.. you have been with him for 7yrs!! And he wants to adopt them!! Someone else would be happy to see this happen for their daughter.. I don’t know.. if I was in your shoes I’d have a serious conversation with my parents, tell them how I feel, and how it’s not right to give your son negativity and so on.. and if they still don’t listen then I’d distance myself for a while.. I understand that your son might be hurt because he won’t be able so see the grandparents for a minute but it’s in his best interest..

    good luck!
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  • F
    Beginner March 2019
    Futuremrsainsworth ·
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    Could it have anything to do with you guys using the term "real dad" when saying your fiance wants to adopt your sons? This jumped out to me when you said that he is your step dad. If he didn't adopt you, your parents could be feeling that you don't see him as your "real" dad. I could understand why they might feel hurt and are acting out about it.
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  • KiwiDerbyBride
    VIP May 2015
    KiwiDerbyBride ·
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    Your parents are doing major damage to your children. Favouring one over the other, telling them lies about your fiance, trying to alienate them from your fiance. Listen to him and distance yourself. Find new childcare. Go over to the DWIL forums for more advice - they've seen it all before.

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  • Iris
    Expert May 2019
    Iris ·
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    Wow! I’m speechless... I think the tension in your writing transferred to me because I’m livid! I have to agree with your fiancé in that you need to distance yourselves for a bit of time. A conversation if you with your mother and (step)dad wouldn’t hurt, but just you because you need to address all the issues that you pointed out here (favoring one kid versus the other, the reluctance to attend the wedding, the trash talking about your fiancé to your kids, and most importantly your relationship with them). I don’t know the backstory, only you are aware of how your mother was with you before all this, but in a non-confrontational manner I’d try to ask her since when she stopped caring about you and your family’s happiness, because she seems to be ruining it at this point. Moreover, maybe you guys would benefit from therapy of some sorts. I don’t say go straight to the psychologist but some kind of mediation might help, maybe done with a counselor as a neutral third party.

    ’m so sorry you’re going through all this, I hope it all works out for the best, and finally you can have your big day with all the people you love and all the problems being past you.
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  • M
    Super November 2019
    Melissa ·
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    I think your fiance is right. You and your family should distance yourself from your parents. Especially with all the manipulation that's going on.
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  • Tara
    Master May 2020
    Tara ·
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    I agree with the fiancé. Distance yourselves from them.
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  • Monica
    Devoted July 2020
    Monica ·
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    They - especially your mother - are toxic.

    No need to keep them in your lives if they insist on bringing such negativity.
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  • Amanda
    Master December 2020
    Amanda ·
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    I agree with distancing even if your children are hurt because it is whats best for them. Being a parent isnt always easy and choosing things they hate because it is good for them is part of it unfortunately just hoping they understand when they are older! I' so sorry to hear about your frustrating situation! I would be livid!!! Hopefully time and space will wake your mom up to be better and you guys can reunite quickly and be better, she has no right telling your children that you are lying to them
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  • Iva
    Super September 2019
    Iva ·
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    This is a good point. Also you said your fiancé asked your dad to marry you. Did he ask your mom too? It seems like all problems started with proposal & adoption, so something about that really triggered your mom & would be good to know what exactly that is. Parents have their insecurities & fears around children. Was your mom primary childcare for your kids (besides you, of course) before adoption talk? Does she feel threatened you won’t need her anymore now that you’re officially creating your new family unit with your FH?
    None of this, of course, justifies your mom’s hurtful & toxic behavior. I’m just thinking it would be helpful to know what’s causing it.
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  • Expert May 2021
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    I put the step in front of dad because I figured it would be hard to follow otherwise since I gave my sons his last name, and not my maiden name which is my birth fathers. I’ve never called him my step dad. The “real dad” thing is mostly my oldest. He was 5 when his biological father signed over his rights and decided he had moved on. It hurt my oldest a lot. I had been with my fiancé for right at a year at this point. My oldest started saying after that he didn’t have a dad and he wanted my fiancé to be his dad but he wouldn’t be his “real dad” until we were married. I think he just has it in his head that you’re not real family unless you’re married. We’ve talked with him about this and they both already call him dad. My oldest will go back and forth between his name and dad because, once again, my mom told him it “wasn’t right” to call him dad. The reason they’re upset is they don’t want to “go through any hoops to see their grandchildren if I die” and don’t “want anyone else to control them and what they do”. It’s just a huge mess. My mom has a come apart anytime she loses a little control. When my older brother moved across country she decided she hated his fiancé because it “was her fault”. Last night my oldest was told he could stay the night at my parents and come home in the morning for a haircut before we leave for our mini vacation and after the blowup I didn’t make him come home. My youngest came home with me because he rarely stays there. My fiancé was livid that I didn’t bring him home with me.
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  • Expert May 2021
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    My parents have always been a huge part of mine and my sons lives. I had them at 20 & 22 so I was a very young single mom. My mom has felt threatened by my fiancé for a few years now. When he was promoted and then I got a good job she was upset. Not happy that we had finally “made it” but upset. I think she had it in her head we would just move away because now we financially could. We have lived within 5 minutes of her my entire life. We actually have lived right next door for 5 years now. She does have a real fear of us leaving. She can’t seem to be away from my oldest son for any extended period of time. This is the same person who lashed out when I sewed a button back onto my shirt. Lol. She was angry that I had taught myself how to sew and patch things up because “now that’s not one more thing you don’t need me for.” It’s so strange though because when I would ask her to repair a broken bottom or whatnot she would act put out. So, I started doing it myself and that upset her too. I think she definitely battles with some mental health issues but my dad will just go right along with some of her insane ideas. It’s exhausting. I don’t want my boys not to see my parents and I don’t want to lose the relationship with them. They just don’t seem to understand they can’t say and do these things. They’re not ok. It’s so odd though because if this were my dad and my mom in this situation with their parents they would have written them off years ago. My parents do NOT handle others opinions well, at all.
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  • Iva
    Super September 2019
    Iva ·
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    Ok now I completely understand it. This is a known (although not healthy) mom/daughter dynamic where mom still wants to be in control, she wants to keep “mom” role even after her daughter has children of her own, the mom is typically petrified of not being needed anymore. All her reactions are explained by this, she sees your FH as a threat to her not being needed & in control & you moving away. That’s why the issue with getting married & even more so with adoption.
    It helps setting boundaries of your own life & what her role & limitations are & sticking to it (ex. don’t cave in & let your older son stay at her place just because she’s making a scene). It also helps to have a firm but reassuring conversation & tell her that she will always get to see your boys & maybe set a schedule when or how often; and also maybe tell her that after adoption you’ll make a Will, so in case anything happens to you, she will still get regular time with the boys (whatever you want that time to be). Do not participate in any irrational discussions, listening to her saying mean things. If she crosses a boundary with your children (telling them inappropriate things you asked her not to), cut down her time with them. You cannot let bad behavior go without consequences. This way she will realize she has to respect you as a parent.
    Lastly, in my opinion, I think you would all benefit for moving away a little bit further away, if possible.
    Good luck!
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  • Halea
    Dedicated November 2019
    Halea ·
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    I completely agree with this!
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  • Fwbride
    Super July 2024
    Fwbride ·
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    She has hit the nail on the head. I would not want my kids spending a bunch of time with people who act like this whether it’s family or not. I have a grandmother who is very negative and talks about death and gossips a lot. I will not be letting my children stay overnight at her house at all. Sotheby’s can visit and that’s it. FH and I have already talked to his mom about her not being able to see our children if she doesn’t change her behavior. Her husband is already on thin ice with me and the rest of the family so my kids definitely will not be seeing him at all. You have to keep in mind that children absorb everything they see and here. At this point IMO you should have a very serious conversation with your parents and let them know you will not be dealing with any more of their 💩 and if they don’t straighten up they don’t get to see the kids or you. They then can choose to Shape up and have a relationship with you and the boys or to keep acting the way they are and not have a relationship with you.
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  • Sherrie
    Expert August 2019
    Sherrie ·
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    First, I almost teared up when you wrote about your fiance adopting your boys. That is beyond precious. Second, I am sooo sorry you're going through this. Your mom sounds very manipulative and my concern, if you don't distance yourselves, is what damage she would do to your boys by the time you get married etc. She's lying to them and manipulating them, trying to manipulate you and your fiance. Distance, as hard as that is, honestly sounds like the best choice, at least for now. Manipulators manipulate. And she will until she's not allowed to do so any more.
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  • Danielle K
    VIP June 2019
    Danielle K ·
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    ABSOLUTELY DISTANCE YOUR SELF FROM YOUR FAMILY.

    I have learned through wedding planning just how much stake I was putting in my family just because they are family. I have learned to be a lot pickier about the quality of people I allow to take my time and energy.

    Your FH and your children are the most important people in your world right now and your parents are hurting them all.

    Maybe try spending fun times with your kids in the time they would normally be with the grandparents or find them a fun after school activity to take that time. This way it doesn't feel like a punishment for them.

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  • MIWM
    VIP June 2019
    MIWM ·
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    Stay no contact from your family for a bit if you can. You do not need the stress or negativity

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  • Courtney
    Super September 2019
    Courtney ·
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    I agree with your fiancé, it sounds like the relationship between your parents, you, your FH and your kids is unhealthy. Your kids may be close to their grandparents but I wouldn’t consider their relationship positive if they are lying to and manipulating them. I’d set boundaries like not relying on them to help with building the house, limiting communication between your parents and kids and maybe only having them spend time together when you’re present. It’s unfortunate that you can’t trust your family to do right by your kids and new husband but distancing and yourself and being cautious of what they say to your children might be best.

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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    I would not allow your mother to see your children, and not involve her in wedding planning at all. She is toxic.

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  • Jordan
    Expert September 2019
    Jordan ·
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    It does appear that your mom is toxic and that distance may not be a bad thing for your own sanity, however...that is a decision that YOU have to make on your own and I would not allow your fiance to make that decision for your. That has to be a very personal choice. If you want to continue your relationship with your mother, maybe look into family therapy to try to work through some of the issues between the two of you.

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