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[quote=Anonymous]My mother does this sort of deposition/interrogation/loaded question thing --

How did you choose your pediatrician?
What sort of camp is this?
How good is the neighborhood school?
Are you proceeding with XYZ testing for Larla this year?

There is never a right answer and the answers do not satisfy her.

You need to opt out of the question game.

"That's an interesting question, MIL.  I wonder why you are asking that question."  Pause.  SAY ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the silence.  If your husband chooses to speak, fine.  Get up and leave the room.  Go read a book, go garden.  The burden has to be on her to explain why this is an important question to raise.  Because it's not a question -- it's a harangue in the form of a question.

When she switches to harangue mode -- telling you why Larla has to go to a certain pediatrician, have certain testing, join the swim team, whatever, sit quietly again.  Tell her something like "Well, you've given me a lot to think about.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts."  Period.

She will then start up again with the same arguments.  Again silence.

Clock ticking.

You've got to maintain this because debating or answering her questions is useless.  She doesn't care about your answers.  She cares about her opinions and beating you into submission.

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