Another Reason Why My Mother In Law Isn't My Favourite Person

[poliphilo]

They came round yesterday. They do. Every thursday afternoon. It's a fixture. This past year I've been trying to be nice to them, really I have.

My father-in-law is an OK bloke. He's not well but he's good humoured about it- and a whole lot less racist than he used to be. In fact, hardly racist at all. 

But my mother-in-law....

They were talking yesterday about how long a pair of family friends had been married and Ailz said, "Well they were married a year or two before I was- and if I'd stayed with Terence we'd have been married 30 years."

And my mother in law said, "Why ever did you leave him?"

She said this in our house. 

In my house.

(She has a tenderness for Terence. Terence had a tenderness for her. They're still in touch. My mother in law could always control Terence. She likes controlling people. )

I wasn't there when she said it. Pity really. I'd have enjoyed showing her the door. 

Comments

[oakmouse]

Good heavens, what a piece of work. I'm glad her nastiness doesn't work on Ailz anymore. My own MIL (the biological one, not the stepmother, who is a peach) is pretty much of the same make, and I'm intensely grateful she's no longer a part of our lives. My DH outgrew the ability to be hurt by her fairly early, but it's still better for him not to have her around, sniping and scratching.

Maybe you should try letting her know that you hear about her nasty comments whether you're within earshot or not, and that she'd better not try it again in your house. Since you've given her the bum's rush once already, that might keep her in check a bit.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ailz says she just ignores the comments now. Water off a duck's back. And maybe that's the best way of handling things.

Ailz's dad is old and frail and may not have much longer to live. We're agreed that it would be nice if we could get to the end of the line without a major upset.