Meep. Meep.
Do you like THE SATELLITE SISTERS radio show? I do! These ladies are hilarious! (Also, they’re originally from my hometown, Fairfield, CT.)
I was on their show today. Just before my interview, I was feeling:
Thankfully, post-interview, I learned that they have like a *million* listeners! What-what-what? I’m happy that I didn’t know that beforehand.
Callers phoned the show with in-law questions! One Satellite Sister asked me to interpret her bizarre in-law gifts! I used the phrase: “I’m possessed.” Good stuff.
Here’s a link to their show to download the podcast:
http://satellitesisters.com/audio.php and the show date was 07/09/07
Also, I woke up this morning to my Earl Gray Tea and a 2-page spread in NEWSDAY featuring the book. Hello!
I ran out my front door and screamed. And then had to come home again. It was hot outside.
Anyway! Send me your in-law stories. I’ll post them so we can start chatting about them. Love!
July 12th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Hello, like the blog so far. Haven’t gotten to see the book yet, but I’ll look for it next time at B&N. So here’s an in-law quandry. What do you do with a mother-in-law who’s slightly on the obsessive-compulsive side, particularly when it comes to carefulness with personal items and grandchildren? I’m fortunate to have a mother-in-law who I’m pretty sure is not trying to be at all malicious, but unfortunate in that she drives me up a wall nonetheless. I’m about to have her as a houseguest for 6, count them, 6 weeks. (My husband is foreign and so she comes for extended visits.) Maybe this is stupid, but my main concerns with her are the fact that she’s constantly asking, “Do you have your wallet? Where are your keys? Zip up your purse or a pick-pocket will get you. Don’t put your money in your pocket, it could fall out.” These are reminders I feel are too personal for one adult to constantly make to another. She even did these things to my 50-year-old father for 3 weeks straight. My husband says that it’s just advice and if I don’t like it, I don’t have to follow the advice. But it drives me bananas. And nowhere is it worse than with my daughter. We live in Texas. Where it’s hot. Yet if my daughter goes out at night, MIL wants her to wear a sweater. If it rains literally a drop outside, she won’t go out and then goes on and on about the “deluge” that fell later on to anyone who will listen. She also believes that said drop will give my daughter a cold, and does not want us walking on tile without shoes or opening the refrigerator (also because we’ll catch cold). Is this just a case of grin-and-bear-it? Is it reasonable to expect her not to treat me like an eight-year-old on my way off to school? Help! The visit is fast approaching.
August 9th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I would grin and bear it. She sounds like a dream. Mine has called me a “F……g Wh…” and always likes to tell my husband that I don’t do enough for her. Surprise. My husband and I have been together for 23 years (married 10) and she only gets worse. It’s your MIL’s way of being part of the family and even though it drives you crazy, at least she cares about you and she’s gone in six weeks! I would listen, smile and do what you want. I’m sure that will drive her crazy but you live the way you need to live. Good luck!
January 11th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I totally sympathize with Michelle, seeing as my MIL is very controlling as well. The one thing I hate the most about my situation is that my MIL is SOOOO nice and very well intended…I feel so guilty getting mad at someone that is rot your teeth sweet. We recently went through a situation and I feel that I handled it quite well. My husband agreed so I’m sharing my story with the hopes that it can help you or another reader in some way. My MIL is a huge “tag-saler” and has been buying my husband and I things for our children…our UNBORN children. (We were married in October 2007) She has began stockpiling clothing, furniture, stuffed animals…even maternity clothing for me. Everytime she scores a good deal, she has felt inclined to parade the merchandise in our faces. Combine that with the constant mention of “grandbabies,” (when are you going to give us grandbabies? we want more grandbabies. wouldn’t it be nice if Madison had a cousin?) it’s very hard for me not to feel a deal of pressure coming from my in-laws regarding grandchildren. And we really want children but unfortunately, I had surgery on my girlie parts and the doctor recommended that we avoid pregnancy until my 6th month check-up. My MIL even drove me to the surgery 6 months ago, knew the procedure and was present when my post-op instructions were given, even the part including no babies. Plus, I have been forced by their hand to remind them several times since then that we’re still waiting for the green light from my doctor. After arguing with my new husband about this countless times and him dismissing it to “oh, well that’s just the way they are,” I finally took matters into my own hands.
I wrote my MIL an email (because they live a few hours away and I hate talking on the phone). I brought to her what she was doing and how it made me feel. It was to the point without being rude and I focused more on how I felt…like: “When you ask us ‘when are you having grandbabies?’ it makes me feel guilty because your son and I want children but I am unable to give him that at this time.” The email was a success and it has made our relationship so much better with a lot less tension. I still find myself annoyed with all of her quirky habits but by opening the doors of communication, it seems that we have a much better relationship.
It still won’t excuse the fact that she harasses me with things like “I CAN’T BELIEVE that you don’t like ice in your drink!!! EVERYONE likes ice in their drink,” then giving me a glass with ice in it even though I specifically asked for none or insisting that we have ham everytime my husband and I visit, knowing that I can’t stand fat saturated, nitrite infested meat. Oh well! Some things are never going to change but if it’s a big issue or one you find yourself getting sincerely upset about, it’s best to tackle it head on.