In-Laws on Facebook

My relationship with my SIL and her adult children has been strained for years. However, because we are all adults, when the SIL and one of her children requested to be friends with me on Facebook, I accepted. I figured they made the effort so could I.

Several months went by and while we rarely reciprocated with each other, I made sure to filter any of my updates they may find offensive. Again, for the sake of playing nice.

I just noticed that they have both now unfriended me. If it had been one of them, I could have seen it as a possible glitch. Both though has me wondering what the hell I did wrong this time to offend them.

I’m torn between asking them which I would hope cause some embarrassment; to not asking because I want to pretend I don’t even notice or care. It’s not like we interacted with each other. The only thing we have in common is that they are related to my husband. I’m angry, upset and even a bit humiliated since I knew it had to be a joint decision where I was the topic of a back-stabbing. And not knowing why makes my stomach clench.

Driving Me Nuts

My FIL believes that garage door openers need to be hidden in the car, not left out in the open. He says that if thieves can see the opener, they will break into the car, try to get the code for the opener and then break into your house.

This is from the same guy who when he went to church, would leave the keys in the car and shift it to neutral. This was supposed to prevent the ruining of the drivetrain in case “some asshole” ran into his car while he was in the church. Supposedly he has stopped doing this.

After the election of Obama to office, he went out and bought himself an insanely expensive, gas-guzzling SUV because he was convinced that once in office, Obama was going to ban all but electric cars. Two years have passed and that SUV has less than 1,500 miles. Yes, that comma is in the right place and no, no zeros are missing. He can’t drive it. It’s too complicated to run and too hard to get in. Did I mention that my FIL will be 90? He shouldn’t even have a driver’s license because he can’t see!

Now he has to come to grips with the realization that since he can’t drive it, he’ll need to sell it. If someone has the kind of money he wants for that ridiculous vehicle, they sure the hell aren’t going to spend it on a ”used” car, and he doesn’t get that.

Lord, give me the strength…

Via a Daughter-in-Law:

My Place or Mine?

My husband’s sister (SIL), his niece (NIL) and the niece’s daughter (NILD) are coming to visit for the first time in over a year. They are staying at his other sister’s, (SIL2) who lives locally. Since I’ve recently become a SAHM and have a daughter the same age as NILD, I was expecting NIL to bring NILD over to our house to play one of the afternoons she is here…just because. I mean all my daughter’s toys are here and it would give NIL and myself a chance to catch up…

I found out that if I want to see NIL or NILD, I “have to go to her house”. I find this rather rude since my daughter is afraid of their dog and I’m allergic. I know I’m being self-centered since NIL and her daughter did travel to our city, but really? Why does SIL2 seem to think that her home has to be the hub of any interaction? I resent it.

It’s Her Birthday and We’ll Do What I Want

My MIL’s birthday was recently and for family birthdays, the birthday-girl or -boy gets to pick the place to go out to eat. My husband, her son, talked to her on the phone and since she wasn’t sure where she wanted to go, he made  several suggestions based on what she’s liked in the past. She decided on a casual evening at a pizza place.

A couple of hours later, SIL calls and says that MIL would really like asian food instead and asked her brother if he would be OK with that since my husband really does not like the food and neither does my son. He told her such, but said if that’s what MIL wanted then I guess we would make do somehow. But, he asked, I thought she wanted pizza? No, she doesn’t, was the SIL’s response.

Knowing how SIL can be, my husband called MIL to find out why she changed her mind. MIL told him that she didn’t tell her daughter that she wanted asian and she got angry about it. MIL then called SIL and said they were going for pizza. SIL responded, Fine! We’ll just drop off your present and cake and leave because WE don’t want pizza!

She must have thought my husband would never question her because she normally always gets her way. She was totally busted this time. Oh, and she did show up but stayed and ate with the rest of us and acted as if it was in their plans the whole time.

Let me count the ways…

My inlaws, all of them, drive me insane! They are so not a normal family. My husband comes from a family of eight children, I will give you a short synopsis of each one….

 

First there is my MIL. She is a total pushover, and I swear she is brainless. Our daughter will never be equal to my SIL’s children, she has no interest in her what so ever. 

 

The oldest brother is an alcoholic living in a homeless shelter. He wants to live with my husband, my daughter and I. I said no. Absolutely not. Now he bad mouths me and calls me a bitch.

 

The next in line is the only SIL that I like. Thank God for her.

 

Next, my BIL and his wife. They live in filth. They smoke..constantly..in their house, around their children, who have no clothes and do not go to school. Nice, right?

 

Next…My Gay BIL, the only normal one in the family. I love him, dearly.

 

Oh, my favorite SIL (notice the sarcasm) that back-stabbing, two- faced, horrible person. She takes the cake. Lies. Cheats. Steals. Has a royally bad attitude. She is on the verge of wrecking my marriage. It’s funny to me that she calls everyone white trash–she is the queen of it!

 

Next are the twins, they party. Have no responsibility what- so- ever.

 

My husband–he’s not too bright. He doesn’t see any of this behavior. Nor does he do anything productive in our marriage. I WANT OUT!

Family Fun!

I’ve added a new category to help fill the voids (because your in-laws are SO boring!). I’ll include links to posts I happen across that are in-law related. A good way to find new blogs to read AND get confirmation that in-laws have a universal ability to make just about everyone nuts.

Thank you, blaugra at The Peevery.

Don’t Want To Start Off On The Wrong Foot

I am up in the middle of the night stressing about my baby shower.  I am 7 months pregnant.  My husband’s ex co-worker thought it was important for me to have a shower as my close family live in another country and won’t be able to throw one for me.  I thought that was sweet of her, and because I have met her only once, told him I would accept – but would like to keep it very small, inviting only the friends I have made whilst living here for the past 3 years.  Also I thought I could keep it smaller because my sister in-law offered to throw me one – only the in-law family who live in another town not too far away.  That way 2 smaller showers instead of one bigger one would have been better. 

My husband is receiving calls and emails from his family with their emails to forward to his ex co-worker so that they can be included in the guest list.  This is includes the mother in law, sister-in-law, brothers’ girlfriends, cousin, aunt and step-grandmother.  That is quite a few extra people, and I really do not know his ex co-worker very well at all and it would be a bit gaudy to put this budget and organization on her shoulders.

My sister-in-law had also in the past offered us the use of her baby things she is not using anymore, but then sold them.  It looks like she promises one thing, but does another.   

I can’t really say anything to my SIL because I do not know her that well.  Her father paid for her shower at an expensive country club, and I feel if they would like to attend this shower – who someone I really do not know well has been kind enough to offer to host it, I somewhat feel that he too could contribute to the expense, but yet again, it is not for me to say so. Also if they all come, and I am inviting some of my husband’s female friends, it will be 75% his friends and only 25% mine.

I have not seem my own family for years, as I have spent the past few years helping him through graduate school.  His sister and mom I feel often put their feelings ahead of mine. I understand it is her grandchild, and I would not mind having her there, but I would prefer it if they knew their place.  I just feel that they could contribute to the shower, but how do I go about letting them know how I feel?  I would prefer 2 smaller showers, as was first the plan, but they seem to be shifting responsibility and expense on someone I hardly know.   

I need to show how I feel as they will keep on walking over me.  And as my own mother lives on the other side of the world, I will not have the pillar of support like most new mothers have and it makes me a little sad.  I don’t always like going to my mom for advice because I don’t like her to worry if I am feeling stressed.  I miss her so much and I am tired of family in law.  I am going to see my own family in December in my homeland and I am so excited about it.  I just need a break. 

Well, I will try to get back to sleep. I think I just need to rant to someone out there.

Strike (the MIL) While the Iron Is Hot

My in-laws, without asking if my husband and I had other plans or not, booked and paid for flights and a hotel for their son only to join them on a holiday.

The night before their flight, they insisted that he and I come over for dinner and because he had left some clothes there that they think he should bring.

When we arrived I find that he had not left any clothes there at all and MIL began going through his bag to see what he had packed. 

MIL: “Why are you sending my son with his bag packed like this?”

Me: “He packed his own bag, what’s wrong with it?”

MIL: “Look at it, his shirts aren’t ironed”

Me: “They’re T-Shirts, why would you iron a T-Shirt?”

MIL: “I can’t believe you’d send him like this, what if someone I know sees him?”

Me: “I don’t iron T-shirts, he doesn’t ask me to. But if he did I would laugh and tell him to do it himself”

MIL: “I’m surprised you even bothered to WASH his clothes for him, or did he have to do that himself too?”

MIL then emptied out his bag, placed a towel on the table opposite where I was eating my dinner and ironed every single T-shirt in his bag, as well as his pajamas  and re-ironed anything that I had obviously already ironed.
She actually carried on so much that night that I started thinking that most people may actually regularly iron their T-shirts. I asked all of my friends if they had ever met anyone who ironed T-shirts and not one of them had. 

I am so glad I was not asked to join them on that holiday. I am sorry if she is jealous that her son now lives with me, but she does not need to try to make me or him feel that I am not looking after him well enough. 

She also comes in to where he and I work together to drop off hot cooked meals for him to replace the meals that I prepare and pack for him daily. She asks what I made him, and it’s not as boring as plain sandwiches but obviously not a cooked meal because I work and don’t have time for that, and says “oh, good thing I brought this”- that’s just rude. And you know what?Ffrom those meals you can tell why her husband and other kids are so obese!

(In laws are crazy!! I am so glad I have found your site, to know that I am not the only one dealing with the crazy all the time. It’s not something you can talk about with most people!)

A DIL’s Work Is Never Done

When my future MIL had to go overseas for work she asked if I would mind HELPING FIL with the two younger children whilst she was away. I knew she was worried about her kids, so I agreed that my fiancé and I could come and stay for the 3 nights while she was away. FIL took this to mean that while she was gone I was his slave. He went out each night until morning and did not help me look after his children AT ALL. I was expected to drive them around, cook, clean inside and outside of his house – this included sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, wiping and washing clothes daily. I was never asked to do anything I was TOLD to do EVERYTHING.

Because he lives like an absolute slob leaving anything he touches anywhere he wants and because I am not used to looking after children myself I got a little behind with everything. When he got home there were dirty dishes on the sink that I was planning to get to once hanging some washing. FIL saw dirty dishes and, instead of asking if I needed some help, told me that there were dirty dishes in the sink. I told him I would get to them. He then actually had the nerve to ask me if I was actually a female (no, I look nothing like a male), because a REAL woman will never let anything be dirty. 

The whole time that she was gone, he insulted me, tried to shame me, ordered me around, complained that I didn’t do things good enough and told me I was not a woman. When his son was around though, he acted extremely grateful for my help.

One night my man was working, FIL invited all of his friends over to drink, which his wife does not allow. They were there until early morning, being loud and keeping the young boys up until early morning on a school night. Atop of this he continued to treat me the way that he did whilst my partner was not around in front of his friends and encouraged them to ask me if they needed anything. All night I was expected to fetch drinks, ice, snacks, MEALS. urgh 

I will never subject myself to that again. I am very glad my partner has no sisters, because I see how females are treated in that family. When we have children, he will be thoroughly outlined the way that I believe PEOPLE should be treated, and if he sees differently, will not have any contact with them.

Who’s Fooling Who?

Oh I know we have all said it before. I have been on this site today and read a ton of posts. I have laughed so hard and been angry at the nerve of some of these people!  I am so glad to have found a place like this tho!  Glad that it isn’t just me! 

I have been married to my DH for 5 years, been together 9. We have 2 children. His parents are the most vile, awful people that i have ever met in my life!  I wish I could narrow it down to a single event but that is impossible so i am just going to vent here. Hope that is okay! 

My MIL and Step FIL AND FIL are all alcoholics. I have the most issues out of my MIL tho. This lady has severe issues. She has hated me since the very first day that I stepped into her son’s life, even tho at that time she was smoking crack!  She is continually cheating on her husband and drinking, smoking, doing drugs. All while going to church, somehow fooling the ENTIRE congregation, most of her extended family and herself!  It disgusts me to get phone calls at 3 a.m. from her trashed out of her mind, telling me that I am the devil and she is praying for me!  She has gotten a DUI with my kids in the car!  She wants to rule every single aspect of my life with my DH. She has somehow managed to convince her family that there is something wrong with me, because all they ever see is me exploding on her, not visa versa. 

She does stupid shit, like post things on my FB, then delete them, so people only see my ugly responses and the whole family teams up on me!  it is beyond insane!!! I with a passion wish this woman to fall off of the face of the earth and never return!!  Just earlier today I received an email from her that tells me how I should be in a mental institution and how dare I keep her son away from her, and her grandchildren!  I’m like lady, you are the biggest hypocrite psycho that I know and you are ruining my life and sending me down the path to insanity!!  GO AWAY!

GAHHHHHHHHHH!

COMMENTS?

Shit My FIL Says II

My FIL said, “So, I wonder when Hussein Obama’s going to come take away all my guns! I’d rather melt them all down rather than let that sonufabitch have ‘em!”

Our response: “If you’re so worried about that happening, sell them and get your money’s worth and call it done.”

What I wanted to say: “Wow, you sure are full of yourself, aren’t you? Do you seriously think President Obama has interest in your collection from the Civil War, WW1 and WW2? Luckily, at 90, crippled and extremely obese, you’ll easily fly under their radar when they’re out looking for terroristic arms dealers, mmkay?

Crazy Cat People

When we moved, our FIL and MIL agreed to take our kitty to live with them because my allergies were getting so bad. They adore her, but in the past few years their health has been failing. With that, they aren’t as physically able to get into the basement to change the kitty litter as often as they should (our cat joined their cat, so there’s actually two).

Since they can’t change the cat boxes as often, the cats have started pooping elsewhere. One SIL came over and her “solution” was to add a third cat box. Which they can’t change either!

My BIL came to visit from out-of-state and he and his wife locked the cats in a small dark room in the basement for three days, “TO TEACH THEM A LESSON!”

Another SIL called my husband to tell him to come over…to change the kitty litter! She was right-fucking-there!

WTF??!

Shit My FIL Says

From my conservative Republican FIL:

Time for Obama to blow up that pipe again. It’s not leaking anymore.

Asshole.

Why Not Just Say, “Not Tonight, I Have To Wash My Hair.”

I have two sisters-in-law. One (Betsy) lives several states away and just got into town this morning. The other (Bat), lives in the same town as we do.

Betsy had stopped over at our house and as the afternoon progressed, we started making plans for supper. How about some pizza? Sounds good! So my husband and Betsy head out to pick up the pizzas as well as a couple of other things. While on their errands, they call Bat to find out what they are doing for supper. Bat doesn’t have any plans and before the pizza idea is shared, Bat suggests going to a nearby ‘burb to get a burger.

Betsy interrupts to tell her that she and her brother (my husband) are on their way to pick up some pizzas and bring them over to our house.

“Oh,” Bat says. “You know, I’ve got laundry to do and a bunch of things I need to get ready during this upcoming week. I’ll pass this time.”

So, she was fine taking a trip to another town and sitting in a crappy bar to eat a burger, but the idea of coming over to our house is too distasteful of a thought to her? Even worse is that she actually thinks I’m too oblivious to realize it.

A Grim Future for These Daughters-In-Law

This comment was left here recently. It doesn’t matter what post it was on. I just want to wish this woman’s future DILs much love and luck. What leaves me scratching my head is “logically”, I would hedge my bets that SHE (yes, it’s a woman) is a DIL herself. It’s enough to give me a headache.

I really really hope my kids- particularly the boys NEVER get married. I hate women. I so much will prefer a son-in-law over a dil. Women are so evil and controlling. I don’t fear getting a sil- I’ll love him to death. I DO NOT want dils!

My kids are all under 7, but I already dread this. What you women do not understand is that you will never ever ever love my child as much as I do. I will lay down my life in a heartbeat form my sons! You women will never do that. How many of you send your men off to Iraq to die while you sit on your asses. You force your men to do all the work. If there is something dangerous to be done- you send the men to do it. I send myself, never would I send my son because i rather be the one dead or injured or in pain – not him. So you will never love a man and take care of him like his parents will.

Women abuse and control men and try to push them away from their families. It may not be physical abuse- but constant nagging is abuse.

Stop being control freaks and realize that your husbands have another family that is not YOU!

I really really hope my kids- particularly the boys NEVER get married. I hate women. I so much will prefer a son-in-law over a dil. Women are so evil and controlling. I don’t fear getting a sil- I’ll love him to death. I DO NOT want dils!

My kids are all under 7, but I already dread this. What you women do not understand is that you will never ever ever love my child as much as I do. I will lay down my life in a heartbeat form my sons! You women will never do that. How many of you send your men off to Iraq to die while you sit on your asses. You force your men to do all the work. If there is something dangerous to be done- you send the men to do it. I send myself, never would I send my son because i rather be the one dead or injured or in pain – not him. So you will never love a man and take care of him like his parents will.

Women abuse and control men and try to push them away from their families. It may not be physical abuse- but constant nagging is abuse.

Stop being control freaks and realize that your husbands have another family that is not YOU!

Past its Prime

I came across your site (for obvious reasons I’m sure you will understand) and noted that you were short on stories.  Well, it only took me a moment to compose one of many many stories regarding my own relationship with a MIL from hell. 

I guess it’s not hard to already discern I have little or no relationship with my current MIL.  The love was not there from the start, as I married a Mamma’s Boy and shame on me for taking away her pride and joy.  Not as the old saying goes- gain a daughter, lose a son – in this case.  There were problems from the get-go but I was young and naive and thought it would all get better AFTER we were married.  Yeah, ok, that never happened, it only got worse. 

I don’t have much of a relationship with my MIL, or SIL for that matter.  I have very little contact with either of them, as I’ve learned staying away helps keep me sane.  But after not visiting with them for over a year, my husband felt the “need” for them to come over to our house and spend Christmas Day.  I was smart enough to have a house full of other guests as to make the situation a pleasant one for me.  We exchanged gifts with the in-laws and what did I get from my doting MIL?  A gift card for the local grocery store along with a “recycling grocery bag” filled with multiple household food items……………………..a mish mash of things to say the least.  But the kicker? The items placed in the bag were all EXPIRED!  Not one item could be used as many were as old as one full year past their expiration date.  There was whole wheat pasta, maple syrup, bisquick mix, teas and cakes…………..all well past their prime and not fit for anyone to eat.

 I hadn’t noticed the items’ expiration dates until the day after.  I had mentioned to my husband that the items were not of use and expired.  His reply:  Well, I’m sure we have items in our cabinets that are expired too.  However, my point was I’m not handing them out as Christmas gifts! 

My husband saw nothing wrong with his mother’s gift to me.  He was quick to explain that his mother has given his sister expired items as well and that it is no big deal.

 I tried to impress upon him that I didn’t know which was more insulting: the fact that she did her Christmas shopping for me via her kitchen cabinets or the fact that they were all expired!  In either case, it doesn’t give you a warm fuzzy feeling, does it?!?

 Needless to say she is the apple of his eye and will never have an unkind word to say about the woman who brought him into this world.

Can you explain to me why this is?

Buttinsky

I have had a pretty up and down relationship with MIL since the very beginning. As long as I am doing what she thinks I should be doing we get along fine. 

Our first ever huge argument came about because my back outdoor area wasn’t clean enough, after me telling her that it really had nothing to do with her she told me “You will never be good enough for my son”. That was nearly 8 years ago and it has been a rollercoaster ride ever since. 

So the latest ‘discussion’ came when DH and I decided we would buy a new house. So we found a great place and put in an offer which was accepted. So, full of anticipation we decide to show the in-laws and my Mum. We took two cars as Mum and I wanted to do some shopping after. Anyway all went well and we all headed in different directions, DH and in-laws back to our place and then supposedly home. Mum and I did what we had to and about 4hrs later went home. 

As we pulled into our driveway I see the in-laws car still in the drive. I knew straight away that there was trouble brewing!! 

So once inside it starts.

MIL: ”I didn’t like that house and FIL and I have been talking and decided it isn’t right”

ME: ‘Well too bad MIL DH and I HAVE spoken about it and it is our decision to make not yours”

DH: “Mum back off – it has nothing to do with you – Dad and I have been talking and done some figures and we really will have to struggle to pay that place off”

ME: “Well DH I really wish you had decided to discuss this with me in private as it is our business and nobody else’s”

MIL: “He is OUR son and anything that happens in his life is OUR business”

ME: “Well if you feel that way MIL why don’t you all go and buy a house together and leave me the hell alone, now as I own this house and have worked my darn arse off to pay for it I would like you to leave before I say something I may or may not regret”

MIL: “Hmmppff well I suppose it’s time we should go anyway – see you tomorrow night then”

ME: “Probably not”

FIL: “Get in the car you silly old woman”

DH: Silence 

Now I don’t mind that FIL and DH did the figures, it’s that MIL thinks she has the right to decide what DH does in his life – the man is nearly 40 for crying out loud!!! 

So the next night we head to BILs house for FILs birthday dinner. Everything was fine and MIL was civil. So DH decided to bring up that we had decided to go to my sisters place for Christmas. 

DH: ”DW (me) and I have been talking about Christmas and DW told me to make the decision on what we would be doing, so I have decided to go to DWs sisters place”

MIL: “Yeah right I bet YOU made that decision, you always do what SHE tells you to do, I can’t handle this I need a smoke”

DH: “We really want to see the nieces and nephews on Christmas morning opening their presents, it so nice spending Christmas with the kids”

MIL: “Well if your wife wasn’t so useless and could give you children you wouldn’t have to go away to have kids at your Christmas would you.” 

Now I am infertile and we have been going through treatment for nearly ten very long years. So I didn’t actually hear this whole conversation just DH say “That’s it you have over stepped the mark this time, DW we are out of here!!” 

So MIL – Whatever – I am over your crap.

Apron Strings

My Fiancé and I will be getting married in August 2010. I have been with him for over four years and we have been attached at the hips ever since day one. When we began to go out in high school his parents were still married. His father is an alcoholic and his mother was threatening for 3 years to divorce him before a physical altercation involved the police and she finally filed for divorce.

I have never gotten along with his father. The man is very stubborn and opinionated. I have been raised to speak up for myself and to think for myself and future FIL doesn’t care about anyone’s opinion but his own. He makes it clear that I annoy him with my opinions so I try not to engage him in conversation anymore. He then tells my future SIL, an 18 year old with a thing for gossip and letting cats out of bags, that he doesn’t think I like him. It’s difficult to like and enjoy the company of a person who cuts conversations off when you try to join them.

I would not care as much but he treats my fiancé like a child. He will only call his son if he wants him to do some sort of chore for him. It is not uncommon to cut our evenings short because his father has decided to move a piece of furniture yet again. It has been this way his entire life, when we were 16 my fiancé had most of the chores his father should have done because he was too drunk/passed out to contribute.

This brings me to my future MIL. My fiancé has been doing everything for her most of his youth and early adult life that she comes to expect him to change or cancel his plans if they conflict with something she wants him to do. Our last anniversary (yes I know it’s not a wedding anniversary but we still feel they are special) she told my fiance she had planned a night out and he had to be there to give his sister her medicine, first at 6pm and then at 830. So there was no way for us to continue with our plans. She is trying to keep the umbilical cord tightly attached and gets upset the more time he spends with my and his family. Just this weekend for thanksgiving (Canadian) she refused to sit at the ‘adult table’ and instead sat at the cousin table with us because she ‘never gets to see my son’ anymore. The next day we were at her ex’s family for another thanksgiving and she did the same thing.

When we first got engaged she was gave her ‘blessing’ only on the condition that it would be a long engagement. Initially we agreed that we should have a long engagement because he was still going to school. We decided we could work around this issue and want to get married as soon as possible so now we are in the wedding planning stages and my future MIL is upset because we have decided to push the wedding date up and move into my parent’s house until we have more money for a down payment and my fiancé can finish school. She has lamented that she is not ready for my fiancé to move out.

Her opinions surrounding the wedding are to spend as little money as possible, go cheap cheap cheap. Now I am the last person to say screw the budget, I am a very frugal person. But I want to have the best wedding I can afford and make the day special. She seems to think that anything we plan is over the top. I am Italian but it is over the top to add the traditional antipasto to the meal. If I served cheese and cracker out of the local elementary school gym wearing my best skirt I would make her happy. But it wouldn’t make me happy.

Also, and I am really just venting now, she has mentioned on numerous occasions her expectation to retire and move in with myself and my fiancé. Now I have been to her family functions, as I mentioned before, and I have seen how she acts in her sister’s and SIL’s kitchens, her quickness to criticize assures me I would never want to share a kitchen let alone a house with that woman. (p.s. I think its rich for someone with such bland cooking to say anything about how other people make their dishes). My fiancé always makes it into a joke and moves on to another topic, but she has said on more than one occasion how she was going to live with us, and be a built in babysitter.

My final issue has to do with my future SIL. She isn’t the problem, but she creates the problem. She has a form of autism that manifests itself as a severe social disorder and is very difficult to get along with. I do not agree with the family’s plans for her. MIL wants to put SIL into a home and then move in with us. I come from a very close family and my nephew has autism and I could never imagine abandoning family like this. MIL says repeatedly that she doesn’t want to take care of her disturbed daughter for the rest of her life. Needless to say this as not helped my trepidation when it comes to her.

Anyways I didn’t mean to go on for so long, I am not even married into the family yet!

Can You Hear Me Now?

My MIL is in the nursing home recovering from orthopaedic surgery. Her room has absolutely no amenities, so Husband brought her TV from home and hooked it up. We replaced our old cell phone we kept at home for emergencies with a newer, easier to use cell phone and loaned it to her. We just got the bill for the upgrade.

When Husband and I went in to update our phones this week, we were a bit upset to find out that the phone we had just replaced a month ago wouldn’t work on the new plan. But we sucked it up and got yet another phone, which is very similar to the one MIL already had.

She was fine with it.

But then my SIL1, who was visiting from out of state, decided to mess with the phone by creating shortcuts, and filing numbers under odd names, plus she forgot to include the area codes of “local” numbers since “her plan” doesn’t require that. MIL calls Husband, upset because she can’t work the phone. Husband calls SIL2 and asks what happened, then SIL1 calls US back and tells us it’s our fault in the first place for getting her a new phone. “Why did you have to change plans?! *I* didn’t have to change plans! It’s all YOUR fault! You fix it!” (I’m paraphrasing.)

Husband calls  SIL2 and asks what the heck is up SIL1′s SIL1′s butt, and starts to tell her how SIL1 messed with the phone, but SIL2 interrupts and said that SIL1 didn’t do ANYTHING to that phone…and why did you have to get a new phone anyway…?? Broken record…

I told my husband if I hear one more damn word about that phone, I will tell the daughters (SIL1 and SIL2) they can go out and get their mom a phone of THEIR choosing, and that they should be grateful that we are loaning MIL the phone we normally keep at home for my mom when she comes to visit the kids in case of an emergency …AND that WE paid for – twice – and are paying the monthly usage for!