Lets share some of the comebacks we have for MIL's in different situations, you never know when this knowledge might come in handy
When MIL tries to imply that she is better than me because she spoils DD.. "I'm sure it's fun to get to be the good guy all the time but I can't do that MIL, DD's health and safety are more important to me than being the favorite"
When she says, well this is the way I did it with my kids when they were young... "I'm sure you did MIL, I'll bet it was nice being able to make your own parenting decisions, tell me what that feels like"
When my kids were young they spent time with ALL of their grandparents... "DD spends time with all of her grandparents too, but she also spends time with other children her age and unlike you, I have a job, and unlike you and FIL when you were married, DH and I have a life. But DH, DD, and I are all happy and we think it balances out really well, do you want us to be unhappy just so you can get your way?" (We all know she does, but she'd never admit to it)
When she forces a certain brand of clothes or toy or whatever... "Wow, MIL, you know a lot about baby/kids stuff don't you? Maybe you should try for another child so you can put all that knowledge to good use"
She doesn't really bother me about housekeeping or financial things, she only harasses me when it comes to DD and faaaaaamily stuff.
So what to you all have?
The best one I have went to my husband's grandmother.
She had called us to complain about our wedding invite list, and it ended up with her bitching about how horrible I was, I was keeping her family from this event, etc. She went on and on about how wonderful her family was, and I said,
"Sure, you're all so great...that's why your oldest son lives as far away as he can get from you people without leaving the continental USA."
Boy, did that shut her up.
I dont usaully think of something until after the fact. And this pisses me off to no end. She did write us a letter once and said "You four are all the family I have left", I sent a card and I replied "All five of us wish you sympathy". I do need to get better at this because her catty remarks are (sorry to say) starting again. I was up most of the night sweating over some things she said.
There was a remark that some member here posted that I just loved tho. I cant member who it was but she had said to her mil "I will show you pussy in the yard right now, or whenver you want to go".
The best one for me is when MIL calls after a problem or argument and says “I was having a tired moment”. MIL never out right says “I am sorry”. She is on medication for depression and I know this because she has told me a million times about forgetting to take her meds. So one time when she called and gave me her “I was having a tired moment” I said “well you must have been so tired you forgot to take your pills that day too” in an instant MIL hung up the phone and didn’t call for a week. When she did call back I could tell she wanted an apology. So before I hung up I said “oh about our last conversation, I was having a tired moment” hehehehe it was priceless!
ROFLMAO Sprout!!! That is PRICELESS!!! I have been sitting here giggling for a few minutes about that one!
I was never allowed to respond to my MIL! Ugh. . . and I would brew over every conversation wishing I could say what was on my mind. Now I do say something. I am always polite but one thing I have discovered that really works when a MIL is putting you down, is to address it head on by saying: "Does it make you feel better to put me down infront of others?" Or whatever the case might be.
My SIL writes some mean letters and says even worse things. One time she wrote me saying I was fake and started drama, a week later BIL's girlfriend came up to me saying the same thing after SIL told her I said something I didn't. Well first I wrote SIL back asking her if she can name one time I said something about someone to her? about her to someone else? If she ever heard out of my mouth something negative? If I ever told anyone anything she's done or said?
I didn't say it that nicely lol
Then I was like NO I DONT I dont get involved in your lives I dont care.
least to say she didnt write back.
When the BIL's gf confronted me I went off on everyone (it was at a family event in front of everyone) and asked everyone those same questions. No one had anything to say. And the thing they did say was NO we haven't.
yea ok yet they still find things to make up.
If they ever say "i'm talking to my brother, son, etc..., so stay out of it" has happened to me, I didn't respond but I should have said "no you are talking to MY HUSBAND".
"wow your life must be amazing to give such advice all the time"
"damn if I could be anyone I would want to have no friends, talk shit, start drama, have a crampy relationship, not to mention be in debt, no future, not have my own place, LIKE YOU!"
Im going to keep these things in mind this year when we have to visit for holidays. Four years ago there was a huge blow up with the inlaws when they accused me of saying something nasty and mean and I hadnt. So for the past four years whenever we have to visit(luckily DH makes the visits short) I have been basically hiding. I dont talk to anyone but my kids and DH, stay out of the same room and so forth. Well this year I decided Im dont with that. Im sick of not being able to be outgiong and talkative like I should be. Im going to talk laugh and get into the holiday. Im sure I will have to remind DH that if he hears me getting nasty at any point that I am protecting myself and not starting anything. I told him I would when the nastiness starts back up so Thank you Ladies for your responses. Thank you for the few times Ive vented and Thank You for posting the problems your having so I can work through some of the problems Im having with inlaws.
Heres to being myself and coming up with smart alecky comebacks when she starts in on me again. Hopefully I will be able to come up with them right then and there instead of days later.