MIL just spent a weekend at our house criticizing us, not fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Oh Betty. All the folks in the family have been teachers for so long that I don't think they even understand how exciting it is for XYZers! Dave has a much more exciting day-to-day work life and his hours really suit our family life. And it's such a relief not to worry about money! It's too bad everyone else just followed the family status quo without really looking into other options."

(Family full of teachers here but it's by no means for everyone! let's just jerk her chain.)

Not to mention a state pension is not a bad thing. My husband will have 2 and one from a union trust. You are probably doing better then a lot of your friends who are in different careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she's at your house then you just turn to her and say "We have a rule in our house that we don't say mean things to each other" or "We have a rule that we don't say unkind things" or "we have a rule that we don't say critical things" Call her out for her behavior and label it as what it is.

NP here. I LOVE these ideas. I'm always stuck trying to figure out how to respond to my rude family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she's at your house then you just turn to her and say "We have a rule in our house that we don't say mean things to each other" or "We have a rule that we don't say unkind things" or "we have a rule that we don't say critical things" Call her out for her behavior and label it as what it is.

NP here. I LOVE these ideas. I'm always stuck trying to figure out how to respond to my rude family.

This is great advice. If she is going to act childish and small minded, I'm allowed to treat her like a small minded child! We (as a nuclear family) work really hard to be kind to each other. I feel very comfortable explaining to any guest that we expect the same of them. Kind,
Firm, direct.

[Anonymous]

OP, did MIL become an "x-profession"? Does she hold herself to the same high standard?

[Anonymous]

Well you now know she can never come stay with you again. Like ever. Tell your husband to call her out on her rudeness. I hope you don't have kids in the house who heard grandma talk like this all weekend.