How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months?

8 posts
coralreef
Options:
Share this post on:

How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months?

Postby coralreef » Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:59 pm

Hoping that any expats on this site might be able to offer some advice. My husband and I have been in London for nearly 7 years and have twins who are rising 3 this year. Prior to COVID both sets of parents visited each year for 3 or 4 weeks. Mine were helpful especially with the twins and made sure to give us our space. My MIL however was the opposite, arrived tired, looking froward to her holiday and wanting to be waited on hand and foot. She has just announced this week that she is planning a 3 month trip at the end of the year over Xmas.

I am in the 'no way' camp, my husband obviously wants to accommodate and it's causing some unpleasantness. Fellow expats, daughter in laws, how do negotiate this? Do I have to grin and bear it or can I take a polite stand? I feel it is a recipe for disaster all round.

 
Post Reply
coffeepod
Posts: 33
Joined: Apr 2020
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months over Xmas?

Postby coffeepod » Fri Feb 26, 2021 4:54 pm

blimey Xmas woes already!  :roll:
Post Reply
crashbang
Posts: 27
Joined: Jul 2019
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months over Xmas?

Postby crashbang » Fri Feb 26, 2021 5:36 pm

I sympathise. My sister is married to a kiwi and she has in laws who plan way ahead and come for the lengthy periods of time. She often laments that she should have heeded the advice of friends who told her to start as she meant to go on regarding long stay visits. I guess this is a re set of sorts, 3 months is a very long time. Not sure where your MIL is coming from but there is so much to get through before now and the end of year it might not even be viable for her to visit.  Vaccination passports, quarantine hotels and costs.  
Post Reply
Ramaboo
Posts: 82
Joined: Dec 2017
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months?

Postby Ramaboo » Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:32 pm

I suggest forcing your husband to suggest a compromise - either it's one month max, or you offer to find her a local airbnb.
I find it very odd that she would assume it acceptable to stay for so long (and my own mother lives in Aus)

Manage her expectations early before it goes any further. ie, don't have your husband nodding along politely when she mentions it, as she'll assume it's already agreed.
Post Reply
ClaphamParent154
Posts: 19
Joined: Aug 2017
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months?

Postby ClaphamParent154 » Sun Feb 28, 2021 7:36 pm

I’d highly recommend paying up and getting an Airbnb for her. We did this and it worked out very well.
Post Reply
https://www.edwardjameslondon.com/
https://edwardjameslondon.com
https://www.thesmartclinics.co.uk/
https://paintthetowngreen.biz
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-enterprise-day-and-awards-2024-tickets-797829438327?aff=oddtdtcreator
http://www.ayrtonbespoke.com/
https://www.thecrooshhub.com/
https://maroconstruction.co.uk/
https://theluxurytravelboutique.com/offers/
https://nappyvalleynet.com/wellbeing-guide
https://visitclaphamjunction.com/
https://www.hurlinghamdevelopments.co.uk/
https://www.jesseshouse.co.uk/
wildatheart
Posts: 34
Joined: Oct 2013
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months?

Postby wildatheart » Mon Mar 01, 2021 9:02 am

The only option is to speak up now while it's still far enough away.
I agree that 1 month (or 3 weeks) sounds ok and the rest in an Airbnb.
Post Reply
stevehall
Posts: 28
Joined: May 2019
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months?

Postby stevehall » Mon Mar 01, 2021 9:49 am

I lived in Spain for 20 years. On the Med, La dolce Vita etc.....BUT both of us were working long hours and with regular travel across the country. 

It very very quickly became clear that we could have guests staying with us 52 weeks of the year. My ex came from a huge/enormous family with, l think, nine sets of cousins etc. The only way to save the situation was to say politely that we would put them in a local Airbnb and that we would be able meet up most evenings around 8pm. In almost every single case it worked well. We explained that normally they would not need a car but a friend had an agency so they could expect to pay a maximum of 100 euros a week. 

Sometimes we paid, often (especially the younger nieces) they volunteered (and even brought friends!) l have to say the arrangement worked well. We met up most evenings and they spent the days on the beach, in bed or sightseeing. We managed to work, they had fun. Nobody was embarrassed by their failings in English, French, Spanish, Swedish etc. Win-win. 

I am absolutely sure that your MiL will be much happier in a local BnB. Money? Pay, if necessary, it will be much cheaper than a divorce. 

Good luck. Tricky decision 

 
Post Reply
stevehall
Posts: 28
Joined: May 2019
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: How do I stop my MIL coming to stay for 3 months?

Postby stevehall » Mon Mar 01, 2021 9:50 am

I lived in Spain for 20 years. On the Med, La dolce Vita etc.....BUT both of us were working long hours and with regular travel across the country. 

It very very quickly became clear that we could have guests staying with us 52 weeks of the year. My ex came from a huge/enormous family with, l think, nine sets of cousins etc. The only way to save the situation was to say politely that we would put them in a local Airbnb and that we would be able meet up most evenings around 8pm. In almost every single case it worked well. We explained that normally they would not need a car but a friend had an agency so they could expect to pay a maximum of 100 euros a week. 

Sometimes we paid, often (especially the younger nieces) they volunteered (and even brought friends!) l have to say the arrangement worked well. We met up most evenings and they spent the days on the beach, in bed or sightseeing. We managed to work, they had fun. Nobody was embarrassed by their failings in English, French, Spanish, Swedish etc. Win-win. 

I am absolutely sure that your MiL will be much happier in a local BnB. Money? Pay, if necessary, it will be much cheaper than a divorce. 

Good luck. Tricky decision 

 
Post Reply

Start a conversation
To create a new post and start a new conversation, please click on the button.