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Classic MIL Moments From The Weekend

Posted : 3/26/2007 8:22:33 AM

I had my baby shower this weekend back home and of course my MIL was in rare form. Keep in mind that I am at the point of ignoring what she says and how she says it. I am also getting braver and getting mouthier with her...it probably helps that my sisters are backing me up when I say stuff.

I practiced my come backs all week and hopefully it paid off. Some background - she and my FIL live in northern MI about 4 hours away and she completely refused to invite anyone to the shower - even though my mom asked her about 10 times. The shower was quite large (Italian families you know - and my DH's family was only represented by her). Amazingly enough she actually really likes me, but is a complete snob and her comments show.

#1. She walks into the shower and immediately complains to everyone that my home city that it "does not impress her". Keep in mind that 99% of the people at the shower live there. My reply, "well then it's a good thing you live so far away then isn't it."

#2. She is adamant that I am having a boy, "I know what everyone is saying but I want a boy so I still think she is having a boy no matter what anyone says". My reply, "believe what you want but I will love the baby regardless" This one left her speechless

#3. She says, "you know I am missing my rehearsal for my choir concert tomorrow for this shower". My reply, "if it was that more important, than you should have gone...in fact, if you leave now you might still be able to make it"

#4. When my girlfriend from Milwaukee asked her where she and FIL are originally from she replied, "oh, we are not from here, the east side (of Detroit), we are from the west side...that side of town is a little more well, "wealthy"". My girlfriends reply, "well does that mean you are going to give Lisa and Todd more money?"

#5. When I asked her if she had any of the chocolate fudge cake (YUMMMMY), she replied, "no, I am watching my weight you know, and you probably should have too much either. What you put on, you have to take off." My reply, "Well, isn't that a rude comment." (I couldn't come up with something better), but the effect was still good.

espencer

Posted : 3/26/2007 11:57:52 AM

ORIGINAL: mrstjohnson

#5. When I asked her if she had any of the chocolate fudge cake (YUMMMMY), she replied, "no, I am watching my weight you know, and you probably should have too much either. What you put on, you have to take off." My reply, "Well, isn't that a rude comment." (I couldn't come up with something better), but the effect was still good.

"I assume you are going to start next week" would be a good comeback for that one [

], what your husband thinks about all those comments?

Michelle

Posted : 3/26/2007 12:15:33 PM

First off, let me say my evil twin, Catty Woman, is HUGELY impressed!

ORIGINAL: mrstjohnson
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#5. When I asked her if she had any of the chocolate fudge cake (YUMMMMY), she replied, "no, I am watching my weight you know, and you probably should have too much either. What you put on, you have to take off."

Catty Woman says : "Hmm. You must have just started that. You'll have to let me know when it starts working so I can see how well it does for you!"

mrstjohnson

Posted : 3/26/2007 12:29:16 PM

Actually, DH laid in bed last night thinking of even better ones. He is pretty fed up with his mom (this is just the touch of the iceburg). She has shown zero interest in this grandchild because its a girl and it upsets him. He was mostly embarrassed that she said those things to begin with in front of my family. Overall, he laughed!!

"I assume you are going to start next week" - This one is perfect!!!

g33

Posted : 3/26/2007 12:34:46 PM

Everything will change once that baby arrives, and she'll wind up eating her words. She doesn't sound like the type to come clean with any of her crap though. If it were me, I would give her a bit of grace. Stand up for yourself when you feel hurt, and do so with love, regardless of her behavior. Being right in this situation will do no good for you other than to foster a seed of bitterness. JMHO

cakana

Posted : 3/26/2007 12:36:27 PM

she and my FIL live in northern MI about 4 hours away

Well thank goodness for the distance [

]. My previous MIL was a bit catty like that too and it didn't hurt my feelings, but it sure did make me shake my head in wonder a few times. Don't let it get to you though. You have the greatest gift possible coming with this new baby, and if she doesn't want to share and enjoy the blessing, then it's her loss.

Cheryl

Posted : 3/26/2007 12:43:20 PM

#4. When my girlfriend from Milwaukee asked her where she and FIL are originally from she replied, "oh, we are not from here, the east side (of Detroit), we are from the west side...that side of town is a little more well, "wealthy"". My girlfriends reply, "well does that mean you are going to give Lisa and Todd more money?"

I LOVE this one!!!!!!!!!! They're all good though and I think you definitely sent her a message.....

I feel your pain...when I was pregnant for the second time and we found out we were having another girl my MIL asked my DH if he was upset...WTH?

mrstjohnson

Posted : 3/26/2007 1:26:17 PM

Here's the topper I almost forgot (DH just called to complain about it again). I mentioned to her that after the baby comes maybe DH and I could bring her up to see them for the 4th of July...her reply, "we'll see, that tends to be a busy weekend for us." Amazing isn't it!

Michelle

Posted : 3/26/2007 2:59:14 PM

ORIGINAL: mrstjohnson

Here's the topper I almost forgot (DH just called to complain about it again). I mentioned to her that after the baby comes maybe DH and I could bring her up to see them for the 4th of July...her reply, "we'll see, that tends to be a busy weekend for us." Amazing isn't it!

ROFL!!!! And I thought my MIL was bad. When FIL went in for surgery for what we thought at the time was pancreatic cancer (read: almost certain death, not a high survival rate for that one) her first question to the surgeon was "Will he be able to travel by fall?" They always go to FL for a few months a couple of times a year and she didn't want that interfering with her plans! Luckily it turned out not to be cancer, but he was in the hospital for ages with a staph infection, and she still dragged the poor man down there!

It's good that your DH is on the same page as you, same as us here. We end up laughing about it most of the time. It truly is their loss. It does get harder shielding the kids from it though, when they're older. THAT is something I don't fool around with her on.

Freereign82

Posted : 3/27/2007 2:06:04 AM

ORIGINAL: mrstjohnson

#1. She walks into the shower and immediately complains to everyone that my home city that it "does not impress her". Keep in mind that 99% of the people at the shower live there. My reply, "well then it's a good thing you live so far away then isn't it."

ha I liked that one! Good thing for you too huh?

mrstjohnson

Posted : 3/27/2007 7:47:43 AM

It's good that your DH is on the same page as you, same as us here. We end up laughing about it most of the time. It truly is their loss. It does get harder shielding the kids from it though, when they're older. THAT is something I don't fool around with her on.

Yeah, actually I was the one who originally defended her for a lot of years, then about a year ago she started acting like this and I realized that it was her, not her sons that were nuts.

You mention the kids, my BILs' kids are getting older now and they see how she is. My one niece "confided" in me that she doesn't like the way grandma talks to my SIL so she doesn't like her. What do you say to that? I didn't say much, but man when a nine year old picks up on stuff, what do you do?

labcrab

Posted : 3/27/2007 9:21:44 AM

#3. She says, "you know I am missing my rehearsal for my choir concert tomorrow for this shower". My reply, "if it was that more important, than you should have gone...in fact, if you leave now you might still be able to make it"

LOVE this one! She actually sounds exactly like my mother. I grew up in Farmington Hills and my mother is a total F'ing snob. All of your responses are great. Have a laugh, live your life!

Michelle

Posted : 3/27/2007 9:31:55 AM

ORIGINAL: mrstjohnson

It's good that your DH is on the same page as you, same as us here. We end up laughing about it most of the time. It truly is their loss. It does get harder shielding the kids from it though, when they're older. THAT is something I don't fool around with her on.

Yeah, actually I was the one who originally defended her for a lot of years, then about a year ago she started acting like this and I realized that it was her, not her sons that were nuts.

You mention the kids, my BILs' kids are getting older now and they see how she is. My one niece "confided" in me that she doesn't like the way grandma talks to my SIL so she doesn't like her. What do you say to that? I didn't say much, but man when a nine year old picks up on stuff, what do you do?

Yea, out of the mouths of babes right? I just tell my DD that you can love people in your family but not always like the way they do things, and that now she knows how NOT to act, since she sees the things that Grandma does that are hurtful. BTW, I showed your post to DH, he LOVED your responses!