Why does MIL make fun of everything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do folks really have cloth napkins for everyday dinners? That’s just odd to me.

We do. Everyone has a napkin ring and we switch the cloth napkins out every few days.

I hate paper napkins.

Ewww. I think it's gross that you reuse cloth napkins. I try to be environmentally friendly but I will not go there.

Each individual reusing their own dinner napkin for a couple of days for normal (not BBQ ribs) meals is “gross”?

Not to me it isn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I take it most of you people don't have garbage disposals?

Garbage disposals are useless and if you read about them, there is very little you should be putting down them.

Disagree. I've never had a problem in 30 years with a garbage disposal and I put all kinds of things down it. I'd never have a sink without one.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like she is cognitively rigid, kind of boring, doesn't have very good social skills and is unsure how else to interact.

Paper towels vs napkins is not a thing worth mentioning. It's the kind of thing boring people talk about. Same with making the same "cartoon room" joke over and over.

I would just ignore and maybe try to steer the conversation toward things she can talk about. I'm going to guess she doesn't have a lot going on in her life if these are the conversation contributions she is making. Maybe ask her to reminisce about when she was a little girl?

Also, when all else fails I get my MIL to stop bringing up something by pretending I think she is developing dementia. "Yes, Larla, these are paper towels. Do you remember that's what we had a lunch time as well? You commented on it then, too. Do you remember that? Are you ok?" I only break that out when necessary, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do folks really have cloth napkins for everyday dinners? That’s just odd to me.

We do. Everyone has a napkin ring and we switch the cloth napkins out every few days.

I hate paper napkins.

Ewww. I think it's gross that you reuse cloth napkins. I try to be environmentally friendly but I will not go there.

Each individual reusing their own dinner napkin for a couple of days for normal (not BBQ ribs) meals is “gross”?

Not to me it isn’t.

It is truly news to me that people reuse cloth napkins since I've only ever used them at restaurants or one-off fancy dinners where they all just get washed and put away after. The thought of reusing a cloth napkin the next day really grosses me out and I am the least germaphobic and messiest person I know. I'm frankly surprised to be the one grossed out about something other people think is normal for once. Good for you for being eco-friendly though, for real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like she is cognitively rigid, kind of boring, doesn't have very good social skills and is unsure how else to interact.

Paper towels vs napkins is not a thing worth mentioning. It's the kind of thing boring people talk about. Same with making the same "cartoon room" joke over and over.

I would just ignore and maybe try to steer the conversation toward things she can talk about. I'm going to guess she doesn't have a lot going on in her life if these are the conversation contributions she is making. Maybe ask her to reminisce about when she was a little girl?

Also, when all else fails I get my MIL to stop bringing up something by pretending I think she is developing dementia. "Yes, Larla, these are paper towels. Do you remember that's what we had a lunch time as well? You commented on it then, too. Do you remember that? Are you ok?" I only break that out when necessary, though.

LOL I thought I was the only one who used this tactic when my dad is being a PITA about something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do folks really have cloth napkins for everyday dinners? That’s just odd to me.

We do. Everyone has a napkin ring and we switch the cloth napkins out every few days.

I hate paper napkins.

Jesus that is disgusting

[Anonymous]

Just give her a cloth napkin

[Anonymous]

Using paper towels instead of napkins when you have guests over is tacky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Using paper towels instead of napkins when you have guests over is tacky.

Mothers aren’t guests, they are family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using paper towels instead of napkins when you have guests over is tacky.

Mothers aren’t guests, they are family.

If you aren't living there full time then they are in a different category. Maybe go big and give someone a paper napkin over a paper towel, even if they are family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using paper towels instead of napkins when you have guests over is tacky.

Mothers aren’t guests, they are family.

If you aren't living there full time then they are in a different category. Maybe go big and give someone a paper napkin over a paper towel, even if they are family.

That’s fine for you, but my mom would not want to be treated with formality or as a guest. Neither would I in her home. We don’t use cloth napkins for the every day, so so we wouldn’t do something different just because mom is here. We may have a more formal meal, like thanksgiving, but not for an every day visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using paper towels instead of napkins when you have guests over is tacky.

Mothers aren’t guests, they are family.

If you aren't living there full time then they are in a different category. Maybe go big and give someone a paper napkin over a paper towel, even if they are family.

That’s fine for you, but my mom would not want to be treated with formality or as a guest. Neither would I in her home. We don’t use cloth napkins for the every day, so so we wouldn’t do something different just because mom is here. We may have a more formal meal, like thanksgiving, but not for an every day visit.

I don't really consider a paper napkin a formality. It's pretty easy to buy a big pack at Costco and dole them out once in awhile, especially if it's not just the household inhabitants at dinner. I don't mind handing my kids a paper towel but seems pretty weak to hand one to an adult over for dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using paper towels instead of napkins when you have guests over is tacky.

Mothers aren’t guests, they are family.

If you aren't living there full time then they are in a different category. Maybe go big and give someone a paper napkin over a paper towel, even if they are family.

That’s fine for you, but my mom would not want to be treated with formality or as a guest. Neither would I in her home. We don’t use cloth napkins for the every day, so so we wouldn’t do something different just because mom is here. We may have a more formal meal, like thanksgiving, but not for an every day visit.

I don't really consider a paper napkin a formality. It's pretty easy to buy a big pack at Costco and dole them out once in awhile, especially if it's not just the household inhabitants at dinner. I don't mind handing my kids a paper towel but seems pretty weak to hand one to an adult over for dinner.

Fair enough! If you invite me over I’ll be happy to use your cloth napkins. If I invite you over, you better hope I don’t like you too much, because I treat my close friends like family, too. But if you’re the type to be insulted because it never even occurred to me to bring out the cloth napkins, then we probably don’t need to worry about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is being a passive jerk like PP noted, but from what you said, I kind of like her.

Same. Passive aggressive, but also hilarious!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using paper towels instead of napkins when you have guests over is tacky.

Mothers aren’t guests, they are family.

If you aren't living there full time then they are in a different category. Maybe go big and give someone a paper napkin over a paper towel, even if they are family.

That’s fine for you, but my mom would not want to be treated with formality or as a guest. Neither would I in her home. We don’t use cloth napkins for the every day, so so we wouldn’t do something different just because mom is here. We may have a more formal meal, like thanksgiving, but not for an every day visit.

I don't really consider a paper napkin a formality. It's pretty easy to buy a big pack at Costco and dole them out once in awhile, especially if it's not just the household inhabitants at dinner. I don't mind handing my kids a paper towel but seems pretty weak to hand one to an adult over for dinner.

Fair enough! If you invite me over I’ll be happy to use your cloth napkins. If I invite you over, you better hope I don’t like you too much, because I treat my close friends like family, too. But if you’re the type to be insulted because it never even occurred to me to bring out the cloth napkins, then we probably don’t need to worry about that.

I'm clearly talking about paper napkins, not cloth. Did you mean to reply to someone else?