Anonymous wrote:Who pays attention to what their MIL says? I nod, smile, and make my grocery list or think about what color I want to paint the guest room. I don't think I can tell you one thing she said during the 3 hours we spent with her over the Christmas holiday.

Ditto!

OP i can relate. I have MIL that sounds similar. She thinks she just having a conversation with you but it comes across to me as criticism. She also uses whatever she learns during her visits to complain about our family (and me more specifically) to other family members.

Unfortunately I've decided that if i don't blow up at her during her visit, it is a success. I give her a welcoming hug and a good bye hug and inbetween i don't initiate any conversation and keep almost all answers to minimal response. Its like being a prisoner in your own home.

MIL is a drug... just say "no".

Wear headphones with your music blasting whenever you're around here.

Who pays attention to what their MIL says? I nod, smile, and make my grocery list or think about what color I want to paint the guest room. I don't think I can tell you one thing she said during the 3 hours we spent with her over the Christmas holiday.

You need to cut it to 4 days. This is the max.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, yes? Um? Um hum. Interesting. Really? Huh. Wow. etc. etc.

That's what I do.

Anonymous wrote:How on earth can you assume that she had nothing to do with how great your DH is? Without her, there would be no him. Make visits shorter from here on out. I really like my MIL but 1 week is plenty.

Are you the same person who comes on here and constantly criticizes anyone who finds anything wrong with MIL out of policy? From the little the OP wrote, the woman sounds difficult. IS there any scenario in which a DIL is not an ungrateful bitch in your world?

Oh, yes? Um? Um hum. Interesting. Really? Huh. Wow. etc. etc.

Talk to DH about shorter visits in the future. 9 days is too long for people you like, let alone can't stand. You also need to tell how MILs actions effect you.

How on earth can you assume that she had nothing to do with how great your DH is? Without her, there would be no him. Make visits shorter from here on out. I really like my MIL but 1 week is plenty.

yeah yeah yeah.

Shut her down with every comment. Tell her that you are done with her constant criticism. If she doesn't stop, walk away from her.

just reply, "your comments are not wanted. they come off as criticism of me."

I have zero respect for this woman. Zero. I tolerate her because I love DH.
Thankful to have missed the holidays with her this year, but unfortunately we have to make up the visit now.
She is so flighty and disorganized and has a comment for everything I do as a mother. Let them do XYZ blah blah . I don't understand why this is needed.
She was much more relaxed as a mom blah blah blah and DH came out ok.
Yes so relaxed and high on whatever that DH spent his childhood wandering the globe while you bedhopped and partied, married any guy that blinked at you two of whom where pedophiles.
I would love to tell her Yes DH turned out lovely inspite of you not because of you.
Maybe I should go out of town.