Post your most excruciating IN-LAW story...may we bond in misery.

[mamatoady]

I've posted most of my story in another thread, so I won't recap, but would like to bond with all the rest of you with equally bad or worse stories of your own.

might I add this. For xmas, MIL bought dd ballet slippers, headband, dance pants and said "I was going to put a schedule in, but forgot." Then FIL said, "If you think she'd like classes, we'll pay for them. I think they're $120 for 16 weeks...they're 1/2 hour classes."

So, I took dd to library, we got ballet books and a dvd to watch. She got totally into it. I took her to the dance school and she didn't want to leave. she loved it. I called MIL on the phone and said, "dd loved the school and is really excited."...silence....."FIL said you guys would pay for classes." To which MIL replies, "Oh really...you don't even know if she's going to like it...how much is it?...welll........" so I saved face in the conversationby changing the subject and got off the phone.

nice, huh?

[redhotmama]

When we told MIL that we were expecting dd #3 there was a lengthy silence then, " This is a bad time for me!" (for what? I'm the who carried, nourished and birthed the child: )

Now we called to tell her we would like to Christen Chloe and could she let us know if she was planning to come visit any time in the next year, so that we might plan the event around her attendance. Her answer? "I have to go, I'm really distracted by my new 1000 piece puzzle....)

She makes DH
She makes me

[wombat]

mamatoady, that's so sad. I can imagine my dd getting all excited about something like that.

My ILs are nice enough people but their lives are so radically different than mine. MIL is a no nonsence, devout Catholic. After an u/s during my first pregnancy, 2 soft signs of chromosomal problems were found and I had an amnio. The concerns were for Trisomy 13 or 18. While awaiting the amnio results which took 2 weeks to get back, we had to visit the ILs. MIL had arranged with my SIL to go visit a baby shop. I told her I didn't want to buy anything because if we were having a baby with Tri 13 or 18 we're not going to need any baby supplies. MIL's response was 'oh well, it's in God's hands or something like that, we're meeting SIL at .. am, it's all organised'. When I met SIL at the shop, MIL hadn't even told SIL any of it. MIL pranced around the shop intent on buying a crib. I couldn't believe how insensitive she was.

[hipumpkins]

this was mother's day...

We started off at brunch with IlL's...1st big mistake. I swar I avoid conflict with them but MIL looks for trouble and today was no different. At brunch we made small talk about the kids. Out of the blue MIL asked when we had to sign Johanna up for preschool. I said we weren't sending her to preschool. Honestly this didn't seema big deal to me as MANY kids don't go to preschool and for all she knew we weren't sending DD b/c of money. Preschool isn't free. Than with a tone to her voice b/c she knew answer she asked, "Well is she going to kindergarten?" Right then and there I should have said, "Oh no she's much too young for kndergarten" But what I said was, "Actually we are considering homeschooling" My mil flipped out. Than called a end to the conversation screaming to FIL that they were moving FAR FAR AWAY (Oh if only that were true) That she couldn't bear to see her grandkids being raised like freaks. All the kids she knew who are homeschooled are weirdos. (I doulbt honeslty if she even knows any) She thought telling me that my children will not be mainstream was an insult. I said I was glad they wouldn't be. Truthfully in the beginning I remained calm and tried to explain the beefits of homeschooling. I tried to keep it light but she started yelling and then saying how was ruining the kids and she knew this was coming since I wouldn't circumcise HER grandson. Than FIL jumped yelling at me and saying that I was not the only one who gets to make decsions about the kids. Insinuating they have some sort of say. I fought back!! I yelled and told hom to never speak to me that way. He was curins and shouting (I am sure all the other people in the restaurbnt had a good show) Anyway, I toojk my kids and left with DH. I didn't cry though until I was outside so I have that going for me.

[Throkmorton]

Mine aren't as bad as yours, but my In-laws still drive me nuts.

They offer to watch DD while we are at the hospital with DS. They wait in the waiting room with her (that's good)
I walk out and say "well, DS will need joint injections in January and you guys might as well take off because we have an hour until we need to see the occupational therapist. Besides, DD loves the OT because we just goof off and play."

they say nothing.

5 minutes later, FIL picks up the info sheet for joint injections and says "do, DS needs a joint injection?" I just said that!

20 minutes later...

"How long until you see the OT? We need to do stuff this afternoon."

Arg! And they like to give me nice obvious advice. No kidding, while DS's arthritis is in the acute phase, I shouldn't sign him up for soccer? Really? Why I had no idea! And wow! I too can read at a 5th grade level, i really don't need the info sheets (which i already reviewed with the nurse) read back to me!

[lindberg99]

Wombat - So what were the results of your amnio?? Was the baby okay??

My in-laws aren't that bad. They just could care less about seeing our kids. They aren't mean about it, they aren't anything about it. We live in a different state from them but last year DH did a sabbatical and we lived 1 mile away for a year. I thought maybe being closer would have some kind of effect on them but it didn't. They still completely forgot all 3 of their birthdays, never came over to see the kids unless I specifically asked them to babysit (and even after asking, they forgot several times) and they never interacted much with the kids even when they did come over.

But at least it's not just my kids, they are that way about all the grandkids. I went over to SIL's house and her dad was there and he was more interested in our kids than their own grandparents were. I used to get upset when the in-laws routinely forgot birthdays, etc. but after the last round of forgetting, I decided I'm not going to waste my time getting upset with them. If they remember and want to do something, fine. If not, whatever. It's their choice.

[cdmaze]

Oy, in-laws.

I dont even know where to begin.

The biggest problem is dh's sister has a son the same age as my son. He is favored beyond belief. He has mild Asbergers syndrom and he needs some special care on things- but they think special care means getting him absolutely everything he asks for in everyway.

That means my son gets in trouble whenever they play together. Even if my nephew takes something from him and pushes him (for example)- the only interevnetion is "oh, he doesnt understand- you need to let him have this." Well- he's five years old and they are doing him a HUGE diservice by treating him this way.

My son is a pleaser and gets his feeling hurt by this. He'll "Say- why dont grandma and Aunt (wont say her name now) ever believe me? I try so hard to be good."

It breaks my heart. NOt to mention that they never remember any of our other kids birthdays- every thing is about my nephew.

[Literate]

OK, I think I might be in the running for worst IL moment. Maybe.

So, I'm in the hospital. I gave birth. I'm just a bit exhausted and incredibly hyped and excited about my New Baby Girl.

They come in. MIL tells the story about giving birth to her stillborn son, 45 years earlier.

I would be fine with listening to her story some other time. But I just gave birth. Maybe, just perhaps, it could be about the baby and me? Just this once?

[Literate]

Oh, wait, I'm on a roll. The runner-up story.

So DH and I tell them we are expecting our first child. MIL says "Now you are really part of the family."

Since I had totally been expecting that comment, I said "I thought you might think so" very politely.

Gee, thanks. So, NOW I'm part of your stupid family? No, really, the honor is too much.