Why don't people mind their own business?

@soccermom (3198)
United States
August 28, 2007 3:52pm CST
The question says it all. My husbands family has been butting into our business for the last two weeks and it has done nothing but start arguments between me and hubby. Our house had some serious water damage and we had to take out a loan to fix it, so they were all concerned about us and this loan, what were we supposed to do? Let the house rot and mildew? Then they're on my case because I'm going to bartend part time for a friend of mine at a club he owns. Are they paying our bills? last time I checked they weren't. Then it's stupid things like when are we getting this done or getting that done? I'm ready to friggin snap!! How do I handle them? Why don't they worry about their own problems and stop creating more for my household? Things are stressful enough without arguing with each other over stuff that comes out of his parents mouth!
3 people like this
17 responses
@men82in (1268)
• India
29 Aug 07
Herein india we have been habituated of gogging or seeing others. But entering with others business or family, eventhough within their family or relative especially me don't like. The reason is we have to face each and evry conflict and fights or poverty within ourselves is my task so i donot liking others to interference. I want everybody to follow this due to becoming a self controlled family and relations with each others.
2 people like this
• Philippines
29 Aug 07
I also hate those people who can't even mind their own businesses especially those who meddle with others' afffairs.If you're losing your patience on these people,why don't you go and let them feel your fatal fury?I did that to this guy and he finally stopped.I'm avoiding and ignoring him as well so as not to make things worse.
2 people like this
• Canada
29 Aug 07
This could get stressful not to mention irritating . Have you tried talking to them and politely asking them to mind their own buisness ? If this doesn't work them maybe you need to sit down with your husband and have a good talk with him about how this is affecting your marriage and maybe he could talk with them . It seems that others always feel they have the right to stick their nose in other people buisness but how would they like it if you were doing this all the time to them !!
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
29 Aug 07
My hubby has told them to mind their own business several times. They just turn it all on me and don't say anything to him. The biggest thing has been since we had water damage to the house we put all my oldest daughters stuff in the dining room and she is sleeping in my 4 year olds room. It's working out okay, but apparently my daughters stuff isn't organized enough for my MIL. She keeps telling me I need to get organized, and offering to come help do it, she doesn't seem to understand we have a bedroom and a rec room that's not in use right now, there's contractors in and out and we have other priorities to take care of. The weather is noce, I'll be cooped up all winter to organize my house, I'd rather be working on my yard right now. But she just won't let it go. Where does she get off? I'm like "Hello! 3 kids, 2 jobs, a soccer team to coach...I'll get to it when I can, it's not a huge issue!" Craziness..
1 person likes this
• Canada
29 Aug 07
The next time they bug you about the loan, tell them that you have thought about it and if you cancelled the loan (you won't really) then you have come up with a system where they (your inlaws) will contribute this much and that should solve your problem, LOL!!! People's nosiness get cured fast when they have to put their money where their mouth is! If your MIL offers to organize stuff, make up a list of do's and dont's and tell her she has to keep to a deadline to get the job done by a certain time, to make sure everything gets labelled so you guys can find everything easily, etc., etc. I think you will experience a sudden drying out of offers to help, tee-hee! I have found that turning the tables on people who bug me by letting them do what they are offering (even though it's only in words not in actual deeds) but according to my supervision/guidelines will get them off your case fast. Good luck with it, SM, just keep your cool. You're doing a great job...and don't let anyone get your goat! Baaaaa.....;-D
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
29 Aug 07
Ya know sea, I thought about letting her have at it and making an unbearable list on how I wanted it done, but here's the sad part, she'd do it. She'd not only do it but she'd be sweet about it, because after all, it is my home. (eye roll) My MIL thinks money grows on trees, and the reason we don't ask them for help is because it is important for my hubby and I to handle our own problems, she just doesn't get it. I was raised that problems in the household stay in the household, and thank goodness hubby agrees.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Aug 07
I had this problem with my husband's family and with my own. I found a perfect solution to it. I moved 900 miles away and did not have a phone for the first two years. I only talked to them when I wanted to. LOL!
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
30 Aug 07
The way it's been going lately if we could afford to move 900 miles away and only live on one income I'd do it in a heartbeat! LOL I'm not even sure my side of the family would miss us! With my like the in laws would follow us!
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
31 Aug 07
Is there by some chance that they're worried for you all and are asking because they care? I'm just guessing here so I don't know. It may be that the way they're saying or asking things is coming out wrong or maybe you're really stressed out about everything and the over load that you're taking them wrong? Like I said, I'm just guessing. I do agree though that people do tend to butt in when they shouldn't and maybe you could tell them so in a nice way or if they don't get it from that then be out right and forthright with it.
1 person likes this
@jeanena (2198)
• Bucklin, Kansas
29 Aug 07
I have to say that my mother and father in law are great and really dont get into our business very often. The one who makes me crazy about stuff like that is my husbands old maid aunt. She asks questions that is in no way her business and then gives you an opinion she was never asked for. lol I really wish people would stay out of things that dont concern them in a case like that.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
29 Aug 07
Oooh...I've been there. It's so frustrating that they question every decision we make. My mother in law actually asked my husband if she could discuss something with him without me there. It was about something that cost 3k a year, it was to be his only, and because I was the only one working, I would be paying for it. But she was upset that he was cancelling it. The only effect it had on her was that she had paid for it when he was a child - but for children, it cost 300 dollars a year, not three thousand. Parents often get so caught up in worrying over things that they forget that it isn't up to them any more.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
29 Aug 07
you might some how politly tell them to but out that y'll know what ya have to do and if taking on another job helps it not thier worry or ya can say to them give me the money we need to get this fixed and we wont have to borrow it! good luck
1 person likes this
• Philippines
29 Aug 07
Can you have a heart to heart talk with your in-laws and tell them in a polite way that their being nosy. I'm married myself, and my wife sometimes have a hard time dealing with my mother. What I did was talk to my mother and then we have a 3 way open forum no holds bar talk (no foul language ok). My mother acknowledge her mistakes and understand what my wife is going thru. And they made an agreement that if my mother is going too far in meddling in our affairs then my wife had a go ahead to tell her she is being nosy again. Sometimes communication is the answer. It puzzled me sometimes that a man/woman can open up to a friend and has this freedom to say anything. But when it comes to the in-laws there is this atmosphere of indifference and you can't say what you want to say. Indifference in my book is a modern term for the word hate.
@sandwedge (1339)
• Malaysia
29 Aug 07
People do not mind their own business is because their life is wreck with problems why cannot deal with. It is easier to comment about other people's problem. In your case your husband needs to pick, you or his parents/siblings. If he refuse, go to work and do overt-time and do your best to stay out of his way since he "knows better".
1 person likes this
@tuffy999 (794)
• Philippines
29 Aug 07
don't mind them. go on with your life. if you show that you're stressed the more they will meddle in your affairs. give them the cold shoulder treatment, you would be surprise, it really works.
1 person likes this
@Daelin (683)
• Brazil
29 Aug 07
I kind of learned how to deal with this. I just don´t give any info about what I am doing. I was talking with some friends another day and I was saying how bad it was to be unemployed and how I was doing to pay my bills. One of my friends asked me about my bills and started to say the bills I should not pay by cancelling the service, like my cable TV. I really got angry and I started to tell him that that bill wasn´t the biggest one. Then I realized that I didn´t have to tell him anything. I stopped and asked him to not give me advices if he didn´t know my real situation. I tried not to be rude though.
1 person likes this
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
29 Aug 07
Since you said that your husband already spoke to them about it, all I can advise is to ignore them as best you can. When My MIL was in our business all the time, my husband finally snapped at blew up at her over the phone (we live far away). He hated doing it, as he loves his mom but she was causing so many problems he just couldn't deal with it anymore. She hasn't meddled since...but now he wants to move right to where they live. Kepping my fingers crossed that it lasts!! :)
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
30 Sep 07
Just ignore them! Tell your hubby to ignore them too- I know easier said than done- I argue over my FIl also- he says the craziest things from time to time. I don’t know why they don’t just mind their own business— Of course you are not supposed to let your house rot! I hope you enjoy the job!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
28 Aug 07
My daughter has inlaws like that. For some reason it's a power issue. They still need to run someones life because they don't have one. I don't blame you for almost snapping. You are doing the best you can under the circumstances. How about telling them that? We are doing the best we can!
1 person likes this
• India
29 Aug 07
yeah! man! knocking with other's businees is more fun then own's... approx. all do dis! so y gotta serious! handle litli......... be happy! enjoy........!