received nasty email from family, need support - Page 3

[Sasha_girl]

honestly, no offense, but is your MIL a jewishMIL by any chance? a PolishMIL? I'm just asking because *my* MIL is a Jewish Polish mama, and she can talk like that sometimes. :

She does sound Eastern European, doesn't she?

[GoodUserNamesTaken]

She's Russian. Did I mention that somewhere? Can't remember.

Anyway... is it that obvious?

[Sasha_girl]

My family is Russian and I could see your MIL's inflection as she wrote the letter. I could see her long fingers waving as she searches for the words to write.

[GoodUserNamesTaken]

[TigerTail]

Originally Posted by EVC

LOL, I was just going to ask if she was Eastern European--this kind of nonsense sounds so familiar to me! (My crazy in laws are Ukrainian--MIL used to hide safety pins in my sling to ward off the evil eye--but, you know, pins and babies are a safe combination ).

I just smile, nod, and ignore....You can NOT change her mind.

I am afraid I was thinking along the same vein (Lithuanian relatives here); just tell her to chill out or you will take your chicken-leg house & walk out of the forest. OK, I'm sorry, I wouldn't laugh if it was me, I'd be ripping my hair out, but she is rather droll.

Honestly, I don't know what you can do but laugh & take this as coming from a lady who thinks you are putting spells on her son. I'd be tempted to give her The Evil Eye, but I'm sure she already has an amulet to protect her. I shouldn't make fun, really. It's a cultural thing & I do respect it.

But she really is crazy, which has no nationality.

[cchrissyy]

that letter sounds like my MIL! I remember when we were planning to get married, she sent DH an email with remarkably similar tone... the language, nuttiness, and illogic... amazing how much your letter is like ours, considering the diferent subject matter (don't ruin your life by getting married!)

and she's ALL about having strong opinions on our life when she's not even IN it and doesn't even know what we're up to, much less the reasons why we do what we do!

so, sympathy! My advice- physical and emotional distance, and in your mind just dismiss her as not knowing what she's talking about- or "crazy" if you prefer