MIL consistently refers to self in the third person. With tweens.

[Anonymous]

Sounds bizarre and annoying, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents do this, and grandkids in the family are 13 through 20. It's not a referendum on their character that they say something like "Grandpa's going to use the bathroom now, I'll look at your essay in a few minutes."

What is weird is that you would think that they have a personality disorder because of this. Weird, and a little hateful.

+1

Everything that someone does that annoys you does not have to be a symptom of a personality disorder or a larger character flaw. Unless your MIL is narcissistic in other ways, this is just a weird tic of hers, just a habit that she hasn't broken from when her grandkids were younger or something. I don't think it's a sign of anything at all.

[Anonymous]

Having worked around Bob Dole for many years I don’t think I would even notice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My MIL does this and I think it is just part of her being a quirky old lady

This. My grandmother does it for emphasis sometimes. So does one of my colleagues! I can see why it would be annoying if she does it all the time, but in the grand scheme of things it is not a big deal. Let it go.

My mother in law, whom I love, refers to my father in law as "Daddy" when talking about him to her grown (40 year old) children. Whatever.

[Anonymous]

George is getting angry!

[Anonymous]

I do it. It’s a habit. If it bothers my kids, they haven’t said anything.

[Anonymous]

I do it and the grands still do it. I remember being old enough that my mum used "I" but times she was guiding, explaining or being gentle with me she'd use "mummy" and I can still remember how comforting it was that someone was "in charge" of my life, security and decisions at that time.