Wow, OP. The only thing on the list that might irk me in the slightest is the putting dirty dishes back. You should check yourself, you sound like one of those people who at 65 will be so set in her ways that she won't leave the house because she's such a miserable person. I don't even understand why most of the things on your list are supposed to be bad.

Holy cow you sound like a snot. The rinsing dishes thing is the only part of your post that's remotely reasonable to complain about.

The tipping and the air line drying are two cultural differences that you should dismiss, OP.

The dish thing is gross.

The rest? I think you just don't know them very well, to know what they might or might not enjoy. How involved was DH in making plans for all the activities? I wonder if you put in so much effort and were disappointed when it didn't please them--sounds like DH ought to take charge when his parents visit.

my lord, my mom was just here for two days and i would be thrilled if that were the extent of my issues. she doesn't even make an attempt to wash her dishes and usually put cans in the compost and food in the recycle bin and can't get the tv, coffee machine, front door key to work. fell asleep with the vcr on in the living room and left "sister act II" playing at a very loud volume all night (she's hard of hearing these days but doesn't want to admit it), asked me for different sheets because she doesn't "like" white ones, spilled the entire bag of ground coffee on the floor by mistake, locked herself out of the house and i had to come home from work to let her in....i could go on.

but it is hard to have anyone around....

The only *real* issue I see is the rinsing of the dirty dishes and putting them in the cupboard. The rest of the stuff really makes it sound like YOU are a real *peach*.

Who cares if she likes to hang her clothes outside to dry? Why is that an issue???? 90 minutes is more than enough at the air and space museum for me. Why do you care how much time they spend there? Not everyone knows what is done at the Capitol. Sigh. Try dealing with my FIL who YELLS at total strangers....then tell me about your IL issues!!!

Anonymous wrote:I can only imagine what they are posting on the UK Urban Granny (and Gramps) forums. Some gems:

- Our young American DIL put this ridiculously large bottle of soap to try and convince us to do her dishes.
- Touristy stuff was so dull and boring, but she kept insisting that its the most interesting, as its the capital city of the most powerful nation in the universe. Geez after 90 minutes of it, you'd think its enough already!
- Americans and their need for dryers... pshah. And then they claim to be environmentalists.

Take me back to world that makes sense. At least we'll have the excuse of being "too old" to make another trip. Thank God (and long live the Queen).

You are funny!
I think this could be the case...... if my inlaws owned a computer or had email/knew how to use the internet, but they don't! LOL

OP

I can only imagine what they are posting on the UK Urban Granny (and Gramps) forums. Some gems:

- Our young American DIL put this ridiculously large bottle of soap to try and convince us to do her dishes.
- Touristy stuff was so dull and boring, but she kept insisting that its the most interesting, as its the capital city of the most powerful nation in the universe. Geez after 90 minutes of it, you'd think its enough already!
- Americans and their need for dryers... pshah. And then they claim to be environmentalists.

Take me back to world that makes sense. At least we'll have the excuse of being "too old" to make another trip. Thank God (and long live the Queen).

I prefer to take my dirty clothes home with me too. If I'm not going to wear something again on a trip, why bother washing it and then stuffing it in luggage where it will wrinkle? It drives me crazy that my parents do laundry every day when they stay at our house.

10 days with any guests is very hard. Not a vacation at all. Anyone would be relieved when that is over.

Not everything you describe is that bad. Not drying your clothes is energy efficient. Maybe it is a remnant of living in post- WWII Britain. My parents do the same thing.

I only wish this was the extent of the "poor behavior" of my inlaws when they come for a visit.

life=lift

Anonymous wrote: I left the largest size of dish soap next to counter

At their age it may have been too heavy to life.

Bitching and moaning? You sound like the bitch.

Geez OP, as someone who lost one parent at 63 and another (to dementia) in mid-70s, I think you're being wildly unrealistic and overly demanding. They act old because they are old. So they didn't want to do tourist stuff - what's the big deal? They may find it tiring, or they may just want to enjoy spending time with their (rarely seen) family.

So they don't wash their coffee cups sufficiently - again, what's the big deal? Just throw everything into the dishwasher after every use. If these are the biggest complaints you have about your inlaws, consider yourself very lucky.

Awwwww, they sound really cute to me! (I know it's easy to say when you haven't been through it.)

90 minutes in the Air and Space Museum is like torture to me...I find that place so boring!

They were here 10 days and honestly, I felt like I had a 10 day long migraine. I was exhausted with all the moaning/bitching and driving around....
We had not seen them for 2 years (they live in UK) and they came to see our new home. They have been here 4 times but they act like each time is the first time. They are only 70 and 65 but act like they are 100 years old.
I understand not everyone has the same levels of hygiene, education or common sense, but seriously?

Some of the gems from last week:

- "Rinsing" mugs and plates with just water and putting them back in cupboard. Apparently butter and coffee stains on your dishes is a-ok. Especially when FIL has a cold sore! I left the largest size of dish soap next to counter but MIL said those only needed a rinse.
- Seeing the Capitol and asking what they do in there. My husband said its the american version of Parliament and that seemed to satisfy.
- Spending only 90 minutes in Air & Space Museum b/c "they saw everything"
- Asking why we tipped so much at restaurants
- Even in the capital city of the most powerful nation on earth, buildings / exhibits of global importance are less interesting than a homeless woman living in the cemetery behind the house and would ask me every day if I had seen her yet
- MIL: Please don't do any laundry for me, I prefer to take the dirty stuff back home and do it when I get there
Me: why would you do that?
MIL: I don't like drying clothes in the dryer, I like to leave them outside (where it takes hours to dry?!?)

Its over for another few years, but probably by then they'll be "too old" to travel (their words).