Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is so weirdly naive "I discovered a place where they will both cut your hair AND wax your eyebrows!" And strangely easily impressed "I recently met someone who grew tomatoes in a pot on their patio!" And I find it almost impossible to have a conversation with her without getting really snarky. Like, she believed in Santa clause until she was like 15. Also, she infantilizes my kids. She is very impressed with very mundane successes "I met someone who knows how to drive a car in traffic!" And I think she's a little senile. She talks about herself and her home renovations 100% of the time but never asks us anything about ours (we are well into redoing most of our house ourselves). Her comments about window shopping "one vendor gave me a price that was $200 different than the other!" Omg, please get off the turnip truck. The woman has the life skills of a third grader. I'm incapable of dealing.

Wow, this seems mean. She seems harmless and not even particularly annoying. The only real negative is that she doesn't ask about your own home renovations.

Yep. It does seem a bit petty for a holiday rant. So she chit chats about inoffensive, boring things. Some may actually find that nice.

NP here. Maybe she does that on purpose -- like she purposefully talks about innocuous things with enthusiasm so as to avoid any kind of conflict. I know someone who is like that. And for years, I though the person was naive/dull, but then I realize that it's their small-talk coping strategy. And I realized it is actually brilliant.

Yes, my own mom could learn this. Instead of spouting her Fox News doctrine to my Democrat husband (and I couldn't care less just want them to STOP.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is so weirdly naive "I discovered a place where they will both cut your hair AND wax your eyebrows!" And strangely easily impressed "I recently met someone who grew tomatoes in a pot on their patio!" And I find it almost impossible to have a conversation with her without getting really snarky. Like, she believed in Santa clause until she was like 15. Also, she infantilizes my kids. She is very impressed with very mundane successes "I met someone who knows how to drive a car in traffic!" And I think she's a little senile. She talks about herself and her home renovations 100% of the time but never asks us anything about ours (we are well into redoing most of our house ourselves). Her comments about window shopping "one vendor gave me a price that was $200 different than the other!" Omg, please get off the turnip truck. The woman has the life skills of a third grader. I'm incapable of dealing.

Wow, this seems mean. She seems harmless and not even particularly annoying. The only real negative is that she doesn't ask about your own home renovations.

Yep. It does seem a bit petty for a holiday rant. So she chit chats about inoffensive, boring things. Some may actually find that nice.

NP here. Maybe she does that on purpose -- like she purposefully talks about innocuous things with enthusiasm so as to avoid any kind of conflict. I know someone who is like that. And for years, I though the person was naive/dull, but then I realize that it's their small-talk coping strategy. And I realized it is actually brilliant.

We are driving 90min to see SIL and BIL this weekend for hot chocolate because apparently "we never invite them over" and "they can't afford to have us over for an actual meal". MIL guilted DH into it.

They're a dual income couple, each pulling in 6 figures, no kids, just bought a new car and they're spending 2wks in Australia this winter. We make 75K combined, with a 6yo, and we invite them down at least once a month. They consistently say yes and then never show up (with no notice), even to things like birthday parties or dinners where 2 no shows make a big difference.

I'm just glad they're not coming to Xmas this year. Last year they told DH that he should have made "better choices in life" in front of me and DD (who is mine from a previous marriage) bc we couldn't afford to do some ridiculously expensive outing (that was not kid friendly) with them. I'm sure they'll have LOTS to say when we tell everyone that I'm pregnant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is so weirdly naive "I discovered a place where they will both cut your hair AND wax your eyebrows!" And strangely easily impressed "I recently met someone who grew tomatoes in a pot on their patio!" And I find it almost impossible to have a conversation with her without getting really snarky. Like, she believed in Santa clause until she was like 15. Also, she infantilizes my kids. She is very impressed with very mundane successes "I met someone who knows how to drive a car in traffic!" And I think she's a little senile. She talks about herself and her home renovations 100% of the time but never asks us anything about ours (we are well into redoing most of our house ourselves). Her comments about window shopping "one vendor gave me a price that was $200 different than the other!" Omg, please get off the turnip truck. The woman has the life skills of a third grader. I'm incapable of dealing.

Wow, this seems mean. She seems harmless and not even particularly annoying. The only real negative is that she doesn't ask about your own home renovations.

Yep. It does seem a bit petty for a holiday rant. So she chit chats about inoffensive, boring things. Some may actually find that nice.

Seriously are you own parents perfect? These threads are so tired.

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is so weirdly naive "I discovered a place where they will both cut your hair AND wax your eyebrows!" And strangely easily impressed "I recently met someone who grew tomatoes in a pot on their patio!" And I find it almost impossible to have a conversation with her without getting really snarky. Like, she believed in Santa clause until she was like 15. Also, she infantilizes my kids. She is very impressed with very mundane successes "I met someone who knows how to drive a car in traffic!" And I think she's a little senile. She talks about herself and her home renovations 100% of the time but never asks us anything about ours (we are well into redoing most of our house ourselves). Her comments about window shopping "one vendor gave me a price that was $200 different than the other!" Omg, please get off the turnip truck. The woman has the life skills of a third grader. I'm incapable of dealing.

Wow, this seems mean. She seems harmless and not even particularly annoying. The only real negative is that she doesn't ask about your own home renovations.

Every single time my 6 month old eats, my FIL comments on how he's a big eater and a big boy. He's 50th percentile for weight and eats 5-6 oz at a time so pretty normal. Every single time, the same exact comments. I'm out of responses.

My MiL has chosen to focus on their output rather than their intake, so I'm getting graphic descriptions of both the baby's and our 3 year old's poop. Unless it's bloody or on fire, I don't need to know!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL told my 7 year old she was proud of him for clearing the table. Then she turns to my 4 year old and states "I'll be proud of you some day." WTF? I don't expect him to be praised, but don't say things like that.

Oh my god, that's TERRIBLE. She couldn't have found another thing to be proud of? Like, I'm proud of you for eating your green beans?

No. She couldn't. She was praising the first child for doing work and encouraging the second child to also do work.

The kid isn't a snowflake. Really. He will survive.

And know that his grandma is a witch. He's 4. He didn't need praise. But he didn't need the opposite. He had done nothing wrong. He's 4, not 14.

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I drove 6 hours to his parents' town today. They are divorced and consequently there are 2 of evetything for the holidays. Plan, as set by mil, was tgiving lunch at her house and tgiving dinner at his dad's. Dh calls to tell her we will be arriving in 20 min. She tells us to stop by Burger King for her to get her lunch, and to get something for ourselves too if we are hungry, bc she doesn't have food at her house.

My jaw dropped. Burger King. After we've been on the road for 6 hours. And it's thanksgiving.

WOW. I'd find a restaurant. That is crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is so weirdly naive "I discovered a place where they will both cut your hair AND wax your eyebrows!" And strangely easily impressed "I recently met someone who grew tomatoes in a pot on their patio!" And I find it almost impossible to have a conversation with her without getting really snarky. Like, she believed in Santa clause until she was like 15. Also, she infantilizes my kids. She is very impressed with very mundane successes "I met someone who knows how to drive a car in traffic!" And I think she's a little senile. She talks about herself and her home renovations 100% of the time but never asks us anything about ours (we are well into redoing most of our house ourselves). Her comments about window shopping "one vendor gave me a price that was $200 different than the other!" Omg, please get off the turnip truck. The woman has the life skills of a third grader. I'm incapable of dealing.

I'll take dumb and sweet over smart and bitchy any day. Your poor MIL.

Not me. Sweet and dumb is great for 30 minutes, but after that? No way. Plus, bitchy can change but dumb is forever.

Anonymous wrote:Sibling (my own and in laws) We are all grown, all have kids, but they never host! Every single holiday my husband and I are expected to wine and dine everyone. They will descend on the house, let their children smear stuff all over, But not A ONE ever EVER offers to host.
Next year, it's the Bahamas for this family. And no, we will not fed ex a turkey to your house.
It's not hard people, get a turkey, some wine and some paper plates. I'm not picky, I am just sick of doing it all myself and expected to be happy that you are taking advantage of me

Open your mouth and tell your siblings that you are tired and it's their turn. Tell them in July. Stop being such a doormat.

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is so weirdly naive "I discovered a place where they will both cut your hair AND wax your eyebrows!" And strangely easily impressed "I recently met someone who grew tomatoes in a pot on their patio!" And I find it almost impossible to have a conversation with her without getting really snarky. Like, she believed in Santa clause until she was like 15. Also, she infantilizes my kids. She is very impressed with very mundane successes "I met someone who knows how to drive a car in traffic!" And I think she's a little senile. She talks about herself and her home renovations 100% of the time but never asks us anything about ours (we are well into redoing most of our house ourselves). Her comments about window shopping "one vendor gave me a price that was $200 different than the other!" Omg, please get off the turnip truck. The woman has the life skills of a third grader. I'm incapable of dealing.

I'll take dumb and sweet over smart and bitchy any day. Your poor MIL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL told my 7 year old she was proud of him for clearing the table. Then she turns to my 4 year old and states "I'll be proud of you some day." WTF? I don't expect him to be praised, but don't say things like that.

Oh my god, that's TERRIBLE. She couldn't have found another thing to be proud of? Like, I'm proud of you for eating your green beans?

No. She couldn't. She was praising the first child for doing work and encouraging the second child to also do work.

The kid isn't a snowflake. Really. He will survive.

My MIL is so weirdly naive "I discovered a place where they will both cut your hair AND wax your eyebrows!" And strangely easily impressed "I recently met someone who grew tomatoes in a pot on their patio!" And I find it almost impossible to have a conversation with her without getting really snarky. Like, she believed in Santa clause until she was like 15. Also, she infantilizes my kids. She is very impressed with very mundane successes "I met someone who knows how to drive a car in traffic!" And I think she's a little senile. She talks about herself and her home renovations 100% of the time but never asks us anything about ours (we are well into redoing most of our house ourselves). Her comments about window shopping "one vendor gave me a price that was $200 different than the other!" Omg, please get off the turnip truck. The woman has the life skills of a third grader. I'm incapable of dealing.

I make a macaroni and cheese that ppl in my family love, MIL included. She asked me if I would make it for thanksgiving dinner. I said ok. Asked her if I could make it at her house and she agreed, and even offered to get the groceries needed for it. Dh and I get over to her house, she tells me that "the groceries are over on the counter, but the mixing bowls, casserole dish etc are dirty and You should wash them."

I found this incredibly rude. I'm Not your maid!