Mother-In-Law ?

[A Karenina]

My son has been dating the same girl since high school. She lives in Chicago, and he lives here in Oregon. Somehow, young as they are, they've managed to hold it together. I'm amazed at it myself.

She is visiting Portland for the first time. They will be over to my house later today for dinner. I've never met her, and apparently she's terrified to meet me. Cause I'm so scary and all that.

I don't know if they will marry or not. He talks about it, but he wants to get his life in order first. I respect him for taking it all so seriously. <~~~Proud mom!

I thought it might be fun to hear those dreaded mother-in-law stories. After all, I might be one some day, and I'll need some tips! LOL

[BabyRider]

Ah. The infamous mother-in-law. My MIL to be is a total head case. I managed to alienate her the same day I met her and am actually relieved. She lives in Georgia (we are in Michigan) and she came up over Thanksgiving to meet me and spend 5 five FIVE FIVE long days with us. In my house. I was terrified also, and Matt had told me some rather "odd" things about her. So I was on pins and needles for the whole two weeks before she got here. WELL. The first day, Matt had to work, and "Pam" and I were left to ourselves. NOT a great idea. She is a Jehovah's Witness and was hell-bent on getting Matt to come back to the church. When I discovered this, (by her beginning to preach the damn religion to me) I told her in no uncertain terms that she was NOT to put that kind of pressure on him. He's 35, got burned by the church, and we have decided to make our life without the "help" of any religion. Especially not the 2 we were each raised in. Well, Pam did not take well to being told her efforts would be unappreciated, and we got into a rather heated argument about what was right for Matt. She got pouty and stomped off to the guest room and wouldn't come out. Fine. No problem. The next day was Thanksgiving, and she was coming with us to my dad's first and then my mom's. She did not speak a single word to me the whole day, and once we got to my mom's, she parked herself on the couch and then decided an hour later that she wanted to go home. So, Matt had to take her back to our house, pack her up, and take her to a hotel because she refused to spend the night in my house. She went back to Georgia the next day, and has not spoken to Matt since then. This was the day Matt and I announced our engagement to my family also. He was mortified. Now, I can see her being upset with me, and that's fine. I'm not some teenager meeting my high schoool boyfriend's mom. I'm not much on making nice and bending over backwards to make an impression. This is me, like it or lump it. Maybe that's a bit abrasive, but again, it's me. I don't bite my tongue, I don't sit by and let things happen that I see as wrong. And if Pam doesn't like that OR me, so be it. But someone please tell me HOW this crazy broad justifies writing off her own son, because she doesn't like me???
So, there ya go AK. My horror story about MIL's. Tips? I don't know, but if you find yourself in a similar situation, I highly doubt you'll write off YOUR kid!!!

[capt_buzzard]

I love my Mother in Law. I really do

[Peg]

The first time I met my MIL, my sister was with us. Out of the clear, blue sky she says, "Peg can't use a vibrator. She chips her teeth on it." I was embarrassed as heck, my MIL loved it. I still think to this day her son had married my sister instead of me. LOL

[capt_buzzard]

Originally Posted by Peg

The first time I met my MIL, my sister was with us. Out of the clear, blue sky she says, "Peg can't use a vibrator. She chips her teeth on it." I was embarrassed as heck, my MIL loved it. I still think to this day her son had married my sister instead of me. LOL

Poor gal, your sis,that she actually needed one of those things

[minks]

I wrote my MIL off a few months ago when she blew off my oldest daughter and accused her of being the cause of the ex's drinking problems. So **** on her. Sorry I have nothing nice to say about the old bat.
I am sure the girl will be just fine once she meets you. You know at my advanced age (40+) meeting the BF's mother was dam scarey. I have to admit she still thinks he is a virgin even though he was married for bloody 16 years prior to us meeting heheheh. No not true, she finally admitted to him last week that she thinks he spends nites over at my house. Yikes I am betting she thinks of me as corrupting the prodigal son ahahahahaha Nevah!!!

[A Karenina]

Ouch! Some of these MILs are from hell! Sheesh! I'm so sorry you guys have had to go through this kind of stuff.

Well, they didn't come over after all. Between watching the SuperBowl, and her nerves (bless her heart) it got to be so late that I postponed it. They are supposed to meet me for lunch tomorrow instead. That might be easier for her - shorter, anyway.

This girl has done a lot for my son. She stood by him while his dad was dying, and that's not an easy thing to do - especially when you're 16/17 at the time. Mostly, my son says that he feels wonderful when he's with her. Good enough for me.

But, even if I thought she was the worst person possible for him, I can't see writing him (or her) off. Wow...that blows me away, how cold some people can be. Thank god your men have you guys to love them!

[minks]

On a plus note here I must add when I was married the ex quite like my mother and I will brag a moment as she is the kindest person around and sould not say **** if her mouth was full of it. She gives everyone a fair chance. Now my dad on the other hand wooooo weeeeee he is a tough nut.

I love my MIL.. She is the best.. Her and i talk a lot. She lives in Chicago with dad (FIL) I am so exited BC she told me last week that they are going to come here.. That was the best news i have heard in a long time! Besided my wedding date.. LOL

[kookieq]

Hi, y'all. I'm new to garden but love all the input I've read from folks all over the world. I just couldn't help but answer to this one as I have had both types of mil. The first one was the mil from hell. I was only married to her son, also spouce from hell, for only 4 years. I was single for 4 years, then married my loving husband now of 26 yrs. I now understand why he is such a wonderful person. His mom was the kindest most loving, understanding person. I loved her and she taught me how to be a good mil, not perfect, mind ya.
I am now a mil myself and have a wonderful relationship with my daughter-in-laws. Currently, I have two and next year we will have another one come into our circle of close knit family. We love them and would do anything to help them. They in turn have blessed us with wonderful grandchildren and step grandchildren. So, not all mil are a nightmare, dil's, too. My first son was married to the wife from hell. So I have had both types of dil. Darn, I hate to call her dil, she doesn't diserve this title. While she was married to my son I always refered her as my son's wife, my grandson's mother, never my dil. She lost custody of my grandson because of her abuse to the child starting at the age of 6 months. This all happened while my son was away and living in another town 5 hrs away because she refused to move away from her parents house and be with my son. When she finally moved in with him she threw him out and told him to "take your child with you". So, ya see folks, it's not all mil's fault and they are not the only in-law from hell. It takes love and understanding and not intruding from either il's.