Had the extended family vacation yet this summer? Tell us the worst!

[Anonymous]

We're back and it seemed to go OK, but I'm waiting for the inevitable blowback. Usually MIL/FIL were offended or upset about something that doesn't come out until weeks afterward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- I was taking a shower and my MIL wandered into the bedroom, poked around my dresser and then tried on almost all of my jewelry and then proceeded to WEAR IT ALL DAY. This includes my engagement ring.

- On the night I was in charge of dinner, I made a meal I had been confident was a favorite of MIL's (she's made it herself several times when we'd been over, raved about it, and both DH and FIL have said separately how much she likes it). She sat down and looked at the meal before saying "Oh, I don't eat that. I only eat ... organic meat." I replied, "It is organic." She then said, "Oh. I ... don't eat meat." So I said "Oh, you've stopped eating meat? Okay, well there's plenty to eat with all the sides." She shook her head, "Oh no, that would make me too full." Too full for WHAT? Dinner? I gave up at that point.

-FIL farts and acts like it didn't happen because he thinks nobody can hear it.

- FIL pulled DH aside and quietly suggested it was inappropriate of me to wear a bikini when we went to the beach. Luckily I trained DH to be a feminist so he was able to properly defend me, but it wasn't enough to stop FIL from looking at me over his glasses, pursing his lips, sighing and shaking his head each time he saw me in a bikini. Had to resist the urge to say "Why don't you just come right out and call me a harlot?"

Your husband is an idiot. Prancing around in a bikini around older relatives is weird. Why would you do this esp if they are uncomfortable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're back and it seemed to go OK, but I'm waiting for the inevitable blowback. Usually MIL/FIL were offended or upset about something that doesn't come out until weeks afterward.

Yup this is us too. Sometimes things seem to go find and I find out months later that my MIL is offended about something.

We leave this week. I can't wait to spend the next 4 days with my self-absorbed sister in law and emotionally manipulative mother in law! I plan to drink boatloads in the afternoons, eat dinner with the family, and go to bed as soon as it's dark...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of you should be arranging & paying for your own vacation home rentals - for just your immediate family. Stay near family if that happens to work. Otherwise- moochers have no right to complain - ever

How on earth do you assume the PP's aren't paying for the vacation home?

Soudns like someone is jealous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you should be arranging & paying for your own vacation home rentals - for just your immediate family. Stay near family if that happens to work. Otherwise- moochers have no right to complain - ever

How on earth do you assume the PP's aren't paying for the vacation home?

Soudns like someone is jealous.

+1

There is absolutely no pleasing some people. One is damned if they do, and also damned if they don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- I was taking a shower and my MIL wandered into the bedroom, poked around my dresser and then tried on almost all of my jewelry and then proceeded to WEAR IT ALL DAY. This includes my engagement ring.

- On the night I was in charge of dinner, I made a meal I had been confident was a favorite of MIL's (she's made it herself several times when we'd been over, raved about it, and both DH and FIL have said separately how much she likes it). She sat down and looked at the meal before saying "Oh, I don't eat that. I only eat ... organic meat." I replied, "It is organic." She then said, "Oh. I ... don't eat meat." So I said "Oh, you've stopped eating meat? Okay, well there's plenty to eat with all the sides." She shook her head, "Oh no, that would make me too full." Too full for WHAT? Dinner? I gave up at that point.

-FIL farts and acts like it didn't happen because he thinks nobody can hear it.

- FIL pulled DH aside and quietly suggested it was inappropriate of me to wear a bikini when we went to the beach. Luckily I trained DH to be a feminist so he was able to properly defend me, but it wasn't enough to stop FIL from looking at me over his glasses, pursing his lips, sighing and shaking his head each time he saw me in a bikini. Had to resist the urge to say "Why don't you just come right out and call me a harlot?"

Your husband is an idiot. Prancing around in a bikini around older relatives is weird. Why would you do this esp if they are uncomfortable?

Wife here. I really wish I thought of prancing around in my bikini. Maybe, if we are lucky, we would not be asked back. I know for sure I would "conveniently" not be included in the photos. LOLZ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We thought we were staying at the family house, when we got there my MIL informed us "oh wait, there isn't room for you here, you have to stay with (crazy raving alcoholic gun toting right wing mess of a man) Uncle Joe" who had a shit shack nearby.
We get to Uncle Joes and he shows us the "guest room". The only thing I could accurately take in was dirty (and I mean poop streak dirty) underwear lying all over the unmade bed.
Garbage was on the floor, it reeked.
I told my DH there was no way on earth we were staying there.
There are no hotels nearby.
We had flown across the country
We ended up going back to the Inlaws who we were furious we were so "uppity" and they begrudgingly allowed us to sleep on couch cushions on the floor of the living room.
For 3 nights
They get up at 530 am and wanted to sit on the couch.

Oh that is so disgusting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We thought we were staying at the family house, when we got there my MIL informed us "oh wait, there isn't room for you here, you have to stay with (crazy raving alcoholic gun toting right wing mess of a man) Uncle Joe" who had a shit shack nearby.
We get to Uncle Joes and he shows us the "guest room". The only thing I could accurately take in was dirty (and I mean poop streak dirty) underwear lying all over the unmade bed.
Garbage was on the floor, it reeked.
I told my DH there was no way on earth we were staying there.
There are no hotels nearby.
We had flown across the country
We ended up going back to the Inlaws who we were furious we were so "uppity" and they begrudgingly allowed us to sleep on couch cushions on the floor of the living room.
For 3 nights
They get up at 530 am and wanted to sit on the couch.

Oh that is so disgusting!

I would have carried my ass back home, changed my ticket, no freaking way I would have stayed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We thought we were staying at the family house, when we got there my MIL informed us "oh wait, there isn't room for you here, you have to stay with (crazy raving alcoholic gun toting right wing mess of a man) Uncle Joe" who had a shit shack nearby.
We get to Uncle Joes and he shows us the "guest room". The only thing I could accurately take in was dirty (and I mean poop streak dirty) underwear lying all over the unmade bed.
Garbage was on the floor, it reeked.
I told my DH there was no way on earth we were staying there.
There are no hotels nearby.
We had flown across the country
We ended up going back to the Inlaws who we were furious we were so "uppity" and they begrudgingly allowed us to sleep on couch cushions on the floor of the living room.
For 3 nights
They get up at 530 am and wanted to sit on the couch.

Oh that is so disgusting!

I would have carried my ass back home, changed my ticket, no freaking way I would have stayed.

What did DH say do!!!????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We thought we were staying at the family house, when we got there my MIL informed us "oh wait, there isn't room for you here, you have to stay with (crazy raving alcoholic gun toting right wing mess of a man) Uncle Joe" who had a shit shack nearby.
We get to Uncle Joes and he shows us the "guest room". The only thing I could accurately take in was dirty (and I mean poop streak dirty) underwear lying all over the unmade bed.
Garbage was on the floor, it reeked.
I told my DH there was no way on earth we were staying there.
There are no hotels nearby.
We had flown across the country
We ended up going back to the Inlaws who we were furious we were so "uppity" and they begrudgingly allowed us to sleep on couch cushions on the floor of the living room.
For 3 nights
They get up at 530 am and wanted to sit on the couch.

Oh that is so disgusting!

I would have carried my ass back home, changed my ticket, no freaking way I would have stayed.

Same here. How could you possibly stay three days wth these people?!?

[Anonymous]

I hate family vacations. My mother is a nightmare to be around when she is not occupied by work or regular activity. She becomes completely unable to do anything on her own (including making coffee or walking down the street) and won't leave me alone for a single second.

Now that I am getting divorced, I will not have to deal with my passive-aggressive in-laws anymore! Its gotten 50% better already...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you should be arranging & paying for your own vacation home rentals - for just your immediate family. Stay near family if that happens to work. Otherwise- moochers have no right to complain - ever

How on earth do you assume the PP's aren't paying for the vacation home?

Soudns like someone is jealous.

+1

There is absolutely no pleasing some people. One is damned if they do, and also damned if they don't.

If you are paying for the rental that means you have some say as to how big the rental house will be, who will stay there, etc. If you are just showing up as a guest you have less room to complain - nobody owes you your own private suite. If you want your own space, you rent your own place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We thought we were staying at the family house, when we got there my MIL informed us "oh wait, there isn't room for you here, you have to stay with (crazy raving alcoholic gun toting right wing mess of a man) Uncle Joe" who had a shit shack nearby.
We get to Uncle Joes and he shows us the "guest room". The only thing I could accurately take in was dirty (and I mean poop streak dirty) underwear lying all over the unmade bed.
Garbage was on the floor, it reeked.
I told my DH there was no way on earth we were staying there.
There are no hotels nearby.
We had flown across the country
We ended up going back to the Inlaws who we were furious we were so "uppity" and they begrudgingly allowed us to sleep on couch cushions on the floor of the living room.
For 3 nights
They get up at 530 am and wanted to sit on the couch.

Oh that is so disgusting!

I would have carried my ass back home, changed my ticket, no freaking way I would have stayed.

Same here. How could you possibly stay three days wth these people?!?

Next time bring a tent. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

My worst:
A month ago we came to visit my Dad in Coastal NC. One DC was sick and on prednisone (low dose) and ended up mot working and we had to try again with a bigger dose when we got home, which worked. (Other DC had the same issue for the first three weeks of summer "vacation) We spent zero days at the beach as a result. Dad was not up to walking more than his cardio- rehab requirements. When we got back, the dog has a hot spot and was also put on prednisone and had to wear an e-collar for a month. My sister had a mastectomy.

I am back, alone a month later. Dad is in the hospital and I expect about to be transferred to hospice. My sister started her chemo this week, so it will be me for the duration.

I'll take passive aggressive alive and healthy relatives any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We thought we were staying at the family house, when we got there my MIL informed us "oh wait, there isn't room for you here, you have to stay with (crazy raving alcoholic gun toting right wing mess of a man) Uncle Joe" who had a shit shack nearby.
We get to Uncle Joes and he shows us the "guest room". The only thing I could accurately take in was dirty (and I mean poop streak dirty) underwear lying all over the unmade bed.
Garbage was on the floor, it reeked.
I told my DH there was no way on earth we were staying there.
There are no hotels nearby.
We had flown across the country
We ended up going back to the Inlaws who we were furious we were so "uppity" and they begrudgingly allowed us to sleep on couch cushions on the floor of the living room.
For 3 nights
They get up at 530 am and wanted to sit on the couch.

Oh that is so disgusting!

I would have carried my ass back home, changed my ticket, no freaking way I would have stayed.

Same here. How could you possibly stay three days wth these people?!?

Next time bring a tent. Seriously.

PP here. There will be no next time!
I think I was in such shock and still in the "honeymoon" phase of my relationship, in addition to being young and still trying to make the crazy better, to answer why the heck I stayed. It was 15 year ago.

I didn't even add the part about getting yelled at for leaving to get iced coffee and a sandwich "we have perfectly good split pea soup here." " we bought instant coffee" . It was summer in the desert of California.