Reply to Mother criticizes me for taking family on vacation. How would you respond

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You sigh loudly and then say "thanks for your concern mom, how's Aunt Marcie doing?"

And then in the future, just tell her less about these trips.  What information does she actually need to know about it?  Only tell her that.  "We'll be on vacation from X to Y".  If you are sending her photos, stop.  If you are telling her about your activities and accommodations, stop.  Just tell her "we are doing here" or "we just got home from here" and that's it.  If she starts a rant you say "ok" and change the subject.[/quote]

+1 to all this.

It's a good formula, OP, to acknowledge ("Thanks for your concern" or maybe preferably, "We plan well for trips") then immediately distract and deflect ("How's Aunt Marcie doing?"). If acknowledging even in a minimal "I hear you, mmm-hmm" way only eggs her on -- then move right to deflection. Every. Single. Time.

OP, I"m so sorry that she does this and that it wounds you even a little. I get it. My mom did not do this with trips -- she was glad we traveled a ton -- but she could do it sometimes with other things. It's a defensive mechanism, in part, where the parent wants to defend that they raised you, the adult child, right; but I think it also can be a way some aging parents express their worries about your being financially secure. You know you're secure, and can tell her that, but she may still needle and carp about expenditures. She may do the same, OP, when your kids get a little older and start getting involved in $$$ extracurriculars, or when your kids are much older and college tuition talk gets started. Don't be surprised if she pushes the subject of "why would you let Sally look at such an expensive college?!!" etc. It's likely NOT born out of meanness or pure criticism; it's often coming from a place of genuine, but misplaced, worry about you as her adult child -- and an inability to express her worry and fear in any way that's not criticizing. I"m NOT excusing her criticisms! I'm saying this is a generational thing and she's likely not self-aware enough to understand that you Really Are Fine and your kids are being enriched, not spoiled.

Minimal information, acknowledge, redirect. Don't engage otherwise. But I would not hide travel from her--that puts you in the position of hiding your life and no one should have to do that! [/quote]

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