Anonymous wrote:It sounds like MIL is just more formal and less casual. Toys in the family for display purposes and paper towels as napkins is probably tacky to her. She should just keep it to herself, but it shouldn't be a shock to OP, who should be well aware they are very different people.

So? You don’t walk around harping on other peoples harmless choices unless you’re a dick.

It sounds like MIL is just more formal and less casual. Toys in the family for display purposes and paper towels as napkins is probably tacky to her. She should just keep it to herself, but it shouldn't be a shock to OP, who should be well aware they are very different people.

Anonymous wrote:Your paper towel thing IS weird. Why can't you use the silverware to scrape plates and thus have less waste? It's a bit trashy to not use napkins.

Lol! I use paper towels, too, b*! It’s because I have a life, and so does the rest of my family and we don’t waste time on that trivial nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:I love your MIL.

She'd fit right into my family. We always say things like that. Never to hurt anyone, but to point out the infallible absurdities of life. We don't do this with acquaintances, of course, but with people we know well, who understand that humor is the only means of survival.

You're definitely finding accusations where none are intended.

And I'd love to have a cartoon room! She must be so tickled! I really don't think you appreciate her, OP.

I love your MIL.

She'd fit right into my family. We always say things like that. Never to hurt anyone, but to point out the infallible absurdities of life. We don't do this with acquaintances, of course, but with people we know well, who understand that humor is the only means of survival.

You're definitely finding accusations where none are intended.

Anonymous wrote:It’s weird and rude to use paper towels when you have guests. I use them for family dinners too, but not when we have company.

It is weird to have Lego sets in the living area.

OP here. We use napkins at formal dinners. We will use them tonight when we host, and again on Thursday.

We have a formal living room, and the family room.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do folks really have cloth napkins for everyday dinners? That’s just odd to me.

I went through a cloth napkin phase, but they got so dirty with little kids that I decided having to wash them all the time was not any better environmentally than using paper. So now I buy paper napkins, but will happily use a paper towel.

NP. I also tried cloth napkins but they piled up and became one more chore for me.

Anonymous wrote:It’s weird and rude to use paper towels when you have guests. I use them for family dinners too, but not when we have company.

It is weird to have Lego sets in the living area.

That's what I thought at first, but maybe OP's family doesn't have a playroom and the living room is the only place to have toys.

Anonymous wrote:Classic DCUM: OP posts about her MIL making rude, passive-aggressive comments and the thread devolves into an argument about what constitutes an appropriate use of paper towels and cloth napkins.

Keep on keepin’ it real! 😂

Yes, but what is there to say. MIL is passive aggressive and awkward. There. Done. But OP and her family have some habits that are . . . noteworthy, and not in a good way. And while I don't think people care a lot about the Lego thing, the paper towel thing instead of napkins and wiping plate thing with the paper towels is odd.

And frankly, there are things that I have done (mainly said) that never occurred to me were off until I read other people posting about the same thing and reading the reaction. I personally find it helpful.

It’s weird and rude to use paper towels when you have guests. I use them for family dinners too, but not when we have company.

It is weird to have Lego sets in the living area.

Classic DCUM: OP posts about her MIL making rude, passive-aggressive comments and the thread devolves into an argument about what constitutes an appropriate use of paper towels and cloth napkins.

Keep on keepin’ it real! 😂

OP, I don't know why people are commenting on paper towel use. Who cares?

My mom is the same. I don't know why but it drives us nuts. She's socially oblivious. I think it's because she doesn't know what else to say. I try to ignore as much as possible.

I have pushed back occasionally, like say something like "you keep mentioning the paper towels, do you have an issue with them?" and it always turns into a thing. She can't handle any time of commentary on her rude commentary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do folks really have cloth napkins for everyday dinners? That’s just odd to me.

We do. Everyone has a napkin ring and we switch the cloth napkins out every few days.

I hate paper napkins.

What do you mean you switch them out every few days?

They get put in the laundry and we put new/clean ones in the napkin rings.

Table linens are part of our normal laundry routine.

Right but you don’t use a napkin more than once right?

We sometimes use paper towels as napkins, but I know it's not exactly nice. I have paper napkins as well and only use those when other people are out. It's a notch above the paper towels even if they mostly serve the same purpose. The paper napkins are softer, though, so not exactly the same unless you're getting the cheapest ones you can find. It's like arguing all toilet paper is the same, clearly it's not.

Just stop whatever you’re doing and ask her point blank: Why do you have to make that comment every time? Are you okay? Then just stand there silently. If she says she’s just joking, respond with, “It’s rude.” Then go about your business.