So frustrated.

[Anonymous]

MIL. Ugh.

DH decided to give working with his family a shot (they've been asking him to for a while). MIL is just horrible about it. She's now holding money over our heads, calling us poor (he had to take a big pay cut, but we have savings and I'm bringing in some money). She keeps buying us crap, like ALL the time, and then getting upset if we're not effusive about it. I realize I should send a quick text and say thank you, but I think seeing her a few days later and thanking her should be sufficient. We even made cards for her. She still bitched about how I wasn't thankful enough. I don't want all this crap anyways. I tell her that (kindly). DH really wants to help the family business and wants to stick with it. I'm supportive but I don't think I can take her attitude. I'm in grad school, and working on the side (mostly from home), and she makes it sound like I'm stupid that's why i have to work so hard. He tries to compliment me and she says that he's being too nice to me. WTF? I'm quite sure she wants us to split up.

She has helped us a lot in the past, but I wouldn't have let DH accept it if I knew that she would behave like this. She literally seems to want to bring us down. It's awful. I cannot believe people are like this. To top it all off, she wants to make us take all these vacations to see her - but we can't afford it, she doesn't even seem to want to pay him for what he has done. I'm happy not going, but I know in the end she'll offer to pay and DH will feel guilted into going without me. I think she wants us to beg her for more. I'm too proud for that and know that we can get by on less but DH wants to impress her. Meanwhile we know she spreads rumors about us to SIL and her family.

I'm so done with this crap. I'm fine living off of school loans if that what it takes to get peace of mind (with a good salary at the end).

[Anonymous]

I got as far as the family business. Bad idea.

[Anonymous]

This is not going to work.
Period.
In the very best of family dynamics, working in the family business is rough.
In your situation it will be untenable.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes. I know. I just have no idea what to do. And the hours I spend stressing about this takes me away from my work and studies.

[Anonymous]

It's time for DH to go back to whatever he was doing before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's time for DH to go back to whatever he was doing before.

Sadly it's no longer an option. We are in a real bind .