Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What a psycho your SIL is, calling you up crying over a day trip. You need to have sane boundaries. The minute people pull this nonsense, you say, "I don't want to hear it. This is not my problem." And hang up. No more responses. Shut it down.
The people who always bring up boundaries are the biggest control freaks and don't understand how boundaries work.
You can't control another person. The OP can't prevent her SIL from flaking on plans or calling her when she's in tears. The OP can only control her attitude toward the SIL or screen her calls. OP, in the future, tell the SIL in a nice way to make her own plans up front so that you're not inconvenienced. Yes, she's ridiculous. Better that than mean or nasty.
Anonymous wrote:What a psycho your SIL is, calling you up crying over a day trip. You need to have sane boundaries. The minute people pull this nonsense, you say, "I don't want to hear it. This is not my problem." And hang up. No more responses. Shut it down.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ok so DH and I invited his parents to come with us on a little trip. (Only 2 hours away) SIL decided she wanted to go too. That's fine, I decided to arrange that we get family pictures taken as a surprise to MIL. SIL just texted me and said "We have to be back by 4:00 so that I can be home in time to make my husband dinner before he goes to work". MIL and FIL aren't able to leave out until 11:30. DH texted SIL and reminded her of that and she just says "nope, sorry. I want to go and have to be back". She's always like this. DH text back and says "then plan your own trip or drive yourself. I think your husband is perfectly capable of grabbing food on his way to work." So now she's calling me crying.
Lucky you have a DH that puts her in her place. I hate bitches who try to emotionally manipulate by crying. Pathetic.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I just said "it's obvious you need some space to handle your feelings. I hope your day gets better". And hung up the phone. I know not to engage. Something tells me MIL will call into work for that morning. Then we will be expected to be home by 4.
Wait -- OP, is this you? So your problem is not just SIL (who, yes, is being selfish), but MIL as well?
You say "MIL will call into work." Do you mean she will BE called in to work by her boss? Or she, herself, will "call into work" to see if she is needed?
If she works a job where her employer can call on her in the morning to work later that same day, she shouldn't say yes to plans that are on any day she is officially on call at her job. And you and DH should be crystal clear that she arranges a vacation day well in advance for any day you want to take her somewhere.
If she, herself, would somehow "call into work" on her own and see if she is needed when she does not have to do so -- well, DH should talk to her about how that's not a thoughtful thing to do if she has been part of plans made specially as an outing to please her.
You said this is a two-hour drive, the in-laws can't leave until 11:30 and might need to be back by 4 if MIL works -- If I read it right. If this is a day trip (not clear to me that it is or isn't, I'm assuming it is) you would drive two hours, then pretty much have 30 minutes at the destination before coming home for 4:00--? It's all pretty confused now, and in your shoes, I'd just drop the plans and say you can reschedule when MIL can give you a date that is a firm, fixed vacation day that doesn't involve calling in to or being called in to work.
And don't ask SIL. If she invites herself, even if next time it would work, your DH (not you, him) should tell her, "We'd like to spend some time alone with mom and dad on this one. Later this summer we could all go to Place X as an extended family." Then do just that, go as a larger family later when everyone can PLAN around MIL's job and SIL's fixation with her husband's dinner.
Be glad DH has your back. You're smart not to engage.
Anonymous wrote:I just said "it's obvious you need some space to handle your feelings. I hope your day gets better". And hung up the phone. I know not to engage. Something tells me MIL will call into work for that morning. Then we will be expected to be home by 4.
Anonymous wrote:Ok so DH and I invited his parents to come with us on a little trip. (Only 2 hours away) SIL decided she wanted to go too. That's fine, I decided to arrange that we get family pictures taken as a surprise to MIL. SIL just texted me and said "We have to be back by 4:00 so that I can be home in time to make my husband dinner before he goes to work". MIL and FIL aren't able to leave out until 11:30. DH texted SIL and reminded her of that and she just says "nope, sorry. I want to go and have to be back". She's always like this. DH text back and says "then plan your own trip or drive yourself. I think your husband is perfectly capable of grabbing food on his way to work." So now she's calling me crying.