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Just Said Yes May 2020

Major fmil road bump long

Brittany, on May 29, 2019 at 3:00 AM Posted in Family and Relationships 0 9
I need advise on how to handle a major issue that just reared up regarding myself, fh, and his mother. The background is this... she lived in Florida and was hit very hard with Hurricane Michael last oct. Me and fh flew out that day, saw the conditions and offered for her to move to Vegas with us. She did and within 2 months she got a job, new car, and an apartment in our complex. The apartment came days after fh and her fought about her gambling which was nearly daily. She moved into her place and we see her less and less... now it’s at a point that we saw her for on hour or so every other week. We would ask if she could watch her grandchild and she would if we gave her money to go to the casino and put our daughter in the childcare there. When we drive home we pass her parking spot and her car was rarely home. Mother’s Day she complained she was in pain and was staying home so me and my daughter walked over to take a gift to find out she wasn’t even there. FSIL has her on gps and told us she was at the casino. She has been planning on going back to fl for a month now stating she can’t make it financially here. Her income is PLENTY to live off of with extra to spare. But she literally gambles every day now. Fh is very frustrated with her and she is constantly asking for money. She pulled her entire 401k at around $43thousand and it is GONE! My daughters birthday just passed and we called her for dinner and found out she was at bingo and when she arrived here she said how she doesn’t have money for a gift and fh credit card declined. Yet the very next day she is at the casino again. Fast forward to yesterday. It was planned that we make dinner at our place and my daughter stayed the night with her the night before. So Monday I cleaned the house and she called telling me her husband said she can go gamble so we have to go to the store quickly. I immediately called fh and he was highly irritated and told me to just get our daughter, tell her to go to bingo and we are doing something else. So I went and I did. And what happened from there has me highly upset and in tears. I walked in, told her I’m just getting dd and we aren’t doing dinner we’re doing something else. Her only remark was... fh was going to make her go to bingo and I responded that she told me her husband said that... she got highly upset and cussed me out under her breath and cursed me and fh and saying how we just make *crap* up, and the moment I’m out the door with my daughter she slammed the door. I immediately called fh to explain what happened and he told me he told her no money for gambling. She proceeded to tell him he is marrying me and not choosing her and I am a *beach* and will never be her family. Today fh told me to call her and patch it up and I did and she hung up as soon as she herd my voice. So I went to her place and she went off on me. Saying she doesn’t like me as a person. That I lied to her face when I said she told me her husband said go gamble. That I’m making her son choose between me and his own mother, and he chose me instead of her his own flesh and blood, and how she is going to fl to be with family because she doesn’t have family here, and how when she asked about dinner I said no. I didn’t say no I said we’re doing something else so she can go to the casino. She also tossed in how I said she kicked me and my daughter out, and I told her I never said that, I told fh I was already out the door and as soon as my daughter exited she slammed her door. I told fh he needs to go own up to his part and calm this mess down. I was only a messenger and did what he asked and he said I need to own up to what I’m in because I can’t always be the victim. He said if he goes to talk to her it will only look like he is defending me. I told him I don’t need him to defend me. As I’m crying I’m explaining it puts me into a bad situation if she now hates me because we’re family. And how will vacations be? How will it feel? How would it work for me and him if he is with the person his family hates? How would he feel if his mother didn’t show to our wedding? Etc etc etc. he said I need to just leave it alone, but she leaves to fl in 48 hours!! I fear if I don’t fix it now she will have no reason to get over a grudge when she is 2k miles away. I love her and I hate that she doesn’t like me right now, because before this we had no problems. I am so hurt and I don’t know what to do.

9 Comments

Latest activity by Brittany, on May 30, 2019 at 5:02 PM
  • Rebecca
    Master August 2019
    Rebecca ·
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    It sounds like she is in the throes of a gambling addiction and is lashing out at everyone close to her.

    I'm so sorry.
    I hope her moving back to FL will help all of you.

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  • Formerbride
    VIP June 2019
    Formerbride ·
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    I agree with Rebecca. I doubt this has anything to do with you. It's probably best for her to leave. If she continues her behavior in FL maybe that will be an eye opener.
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  • Summerbride77
    VIP July 2019
    Summerbride77 ·
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    As others have said, it sounds like she has a serious gambling addiction. Moving back to Florida is for the best. Give this sometime and for everyone tempers to cool. From your post you didn’t do anything wrong, if her behavior, especially the gambling, continues in Florida your FH should talk with her (and possibly her husband and any other close family she has).

    There are lots of resources online to help get you both started in learning how to help someone with a gambling addiction get help.

    And honestly, from this post your FH owes you an apology too. You got caught is a crummy situation that was not your fault, he needs to step up and defend you if it happens again.
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  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
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    I agree with PPs. Also, you should make it be known to your FH that you & him are the "primary" family now. That doesn't mean he has to choose between his mother and you, but that does mean he needs to stick up for you. You aren't "playing the victim." What happened, happened, and pretending it didn't and refusing to help fix it isn't going to resolve anything, and he needs to know that. I had a similar falling out with my FMIL, which caused a big fight between me and my FH. His mother straight up screamed at me, in front of other family members, because I wasn't getting along with her other DIL over something stupid. My FH tried to "stay out of it" and that just wasn't going to work...especially because FMIL was trying to shift the blame to me to make herself look better. Anyways, it's important moving forward that your FH treats you respectfully as his primary family now, and becomes the peacemaker with his mother. That is his job, so don't let him cower out of it. Sorry you are going through this. With time, I'm sure things will get better. It took a couple of months, but me and my FMIL are doing better now. Luckily there is still time before your wedding for things to settle and y'all to work on your relationship.

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  • Mrs. H
    Master September 2019
    Mrs. H ·
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    This woman has a serious addiction, and she needs to seek help immediately. Unfortunately, this will have to be on her own terms, and there's not much you and FH can do. I wouldn't allow her visitation with your child anymore, and I certainly wouldn't continue to give her anymore money, as she is very clearly gambling it all away. If she isn't able to attend the wedding due to her own problems, that's on her. I know it's going to suck, but she needs some tough love right now

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  • Furture Mrs. G
    Expert September 2019
    Furture Mrs. G ·
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    First off I agree with everyone's posts. This is not your problem to fix. She is the problem. Your FH doesn't by no means have to choose you but as you being his soon to be wife and the mother of his child you do come first. You are his family now, whether she likes it or not. She does seriously have a addiction. My mom has a drug addiction since I was a kid and I am close to being 30. & it doesn't matter how good of a day she is having- If she needs her "fix" she will curse us all and take off walking and we won't hear from her for days, weeks, or months. If she doesn't kick this addiction in the butt- I hate to say it but, this is what you have and your FH have to look forward to. Don't leave your daughter with her. She doesn't seem like she appreciates the joy of a grandchild anyhow.


    Good luck!

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  • D
    Dedicated December 2019
    DIY Bride ·
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    I agree with what others have posted about your MILs gambling addiction. Hopefully once she goes back to Florida she will cool off. Maybe once she is there she will get help with her addiction. I think it would be helpful for you and your FH to go to a counselor to try to work out some of these problems. I think a counselor might help both of you to be on the same page and know how to handle your MIL in the future.

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  • S
    Devoted September 2019
    Sara ·
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    You and FH could also benefit from reading up about having a loved one with a gambling addiction. Find some peace, learn how to set specific boundaries, etc.
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  • B
    Just Said Yes May 2020
    Brittany ·
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    Thank you all for your kind input. Her husband flew in yesterday and we all went out for dinner. She apologized by saying she is good now and asked if I was good, she then went on to say that we are family and sometimes we say hurtful things to each other but family sticks together. In my head my response was... so I can go scream at everyone I want at anytime I choose and with zero regards to who it hurts, because we’re family and that’s appropriate. They left back to Florida this morning and her nearest bingo hall will be nearly a two hour drive. So I’m thankful for that, however she does not realize how bad her addiction is and that terrifies me, and her husband said he will take her to town to bingo because it’s what she enjoys but it won’t be often. Fh and I will be having a discussion tonight, I have already told him I will no longer be a messenger for anyone. But I do believe in times like that he should have owned up to his doing. Not to defend me, I did no wrong, but to at least clear the air.
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