how would you respond if your MIL KEPT repeating how large your house was?

[Anonymous]

I've tried, "we really like it here," but the comments keep coming and coming and coming...

[Anonymous]

Why does it matter? She's proud of you and your house.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you are right. It feels, however, really gauche to me.

[Anonymous]

OP again- I think comments about how it's nicely decorated, or comments about how it's comfortable or has a nice feeling would be one thing. But the comments about how it's so enormous really feel like we're supposed to respond, "you are right! DH makes loads of cash!" but I'm not going there (yes, there is abackground here).

[Anonymous]

My parents keep talking about how our house is too small for us when our next kid (I'm pregnant with #2) is born. I just keep telling them that every house on the street is full of families with two kids, so it definitely isn't impossible. I would just keep pointing out how many families live in similar houses nearby and how happy everyone is with the arrangement. Clearly it is working for more people than just you.

[Anonymous]

Some people are really overwhelmed when their children purchase a lot of square footage especially if they live in much smaller housing. If your house is noticeably large, she is just exclaiming the truth and she probably won't be the only one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents keep talking about how our house is too small for us when our next kid (I'm pregnant with #2) is born. I just keep telling them that every house on the street is full of families with two kids, so it definitely isn't impossible. I would just keep pointing out how many families live in similar houses nearby and how happy everyone is with the arrangement. Clearly it is working for more people than just you.

So you think OP should justify by saying "this is what everyone does"?

[Anonymous]

Is your house fully decorated, yet, or is there still a lot of empty space? Not having window treatments up, many pictures up or a fully furnished room can actually make the house feel cavernous - it echoes! It feels very - BIG. Even if the decorating that you have done is very nice and tastefully done, you still might be dealing with that echo chamber effect.

Not saying that is the case with your house. But having recently dealt with something sort of similar myself (we moved from a small house into a bigger house) I figured that I'd toss that possibility out there.

[Anonymous]

Confront her. "You keep saying that each time you visit, multiple times. How come?" Say it gently with a smile. Maybe she's uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Confront her. "You keep saying that each time you visit, multiple times. How come?" Say it gently with a smile. Maybe she's uncomfortable.

OP here... maybe I'll do this. It feels really confrontational though...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your house fully decorated, yet, or is there still a lot of empty space? Not having window treatments up, many pictures up or a fully furnished room can actually make the house feel cavernous - it echoes! It feels very - BIG. Even if the decorating that you have done is very nice and tastefully done, you still might be dealing with that echo chamber effect.

Not saying that is the case with your house. But having recently dealt with something sort of similar myself (we moved from a small house into a bigger house) I figured that I'd toss that possibility out there.

OP here. I don't think this is the case, but even if it were... I'm really more wondering how to respond to her

[Anonymous]

I would probably wonder if I had bought an obnoxiously large house and why I did that.

[Anonymous]

Just ignore. She is not trying to get a response from you.

[Anonymous]

Potential responses:

"yes, it is a lot of work"

Or

"Do you think it's too big?"


Or

"The way you say it is making me feel self conscious about it, haha"


People say the same of my home. MIL included, with a history too.

My response: I just smile and say nothing.
Absolutely nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your house fully decorated, yet, or is there still a lot of empty space? Not having window treatments up, many pictures up or a fully furnished room can actually make the house feel cavernous - it echoes! It feels very - BIG. Even if the decorating that you have done is very nice and tastefully done, you still might be dealing with that echo chamber effect.

Not saying that is the case with your house. But having recently dealt with something sort of similar myself (we moved from a small house into a bigger house) I figured that I'd toss that possibility out there.

OP here. I don't think this is the case, but even if it were... I'm really more wondering how to respond to her

I would look at her with a big smile and say "Yes! It is BIG, isn't it?!! We love to finally have some space, it is soooo nice! We love it!"