Mil and lockdown

[TylluanBach]

Honestly at the end of my tether trying to get MIL to listen. She phoned yesterday in a strop because BIL hadn't phoned first thing in the morning to let her know about taking her in the car to a local garden centre.

She lives alone, we all pop there with groceries/home cooked meals/cut grass etc. She shouldn't be demanding lifts here there and everywhere from members of family in other households? She also walked into our house unannounced a couple of days ago. Only into the hallway but for God's sake! She phones every day quoting numbers of Covid19 deaths/cases and how the figures have risen shockingly in our area.
I know she's feeling lonely, we phone her almost daily so speak to her twice a day, other two sons do the same.

Does anyone else have a family member quite clearly flouting guidelines?

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Genuine question here - how do garden centres fit into the guidelines? I know they're open, but they don't fit into any of the reasons why you can leave home - they're not exercise and for most people they're not on their way to a food shop.

[BumpBundle]

urrrrrgghhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I feel your pain. My MIL is being a complete nightmare but luckily I don't have to deal with her. I feel so sorry for SIL who is stuck with her. SIL is a doctor in a hospital but MIL is still insisting on seeing her, getting lifts, being brought things... my MIL is only in her 50s so no excuse.
Not sure what you can do other than bluntly tell her that she's not special and should be following the rules like everyone else.

[SunbathingDragon]

She’s bored, lonely and probably scared which is why she is quoting figures. As an outsider it’s easy to have sympathy for her but I can imagine it’s very tedious for you.

[OnlyLittleMissOrganised]

Garden centres are to help mental health and therefore are classes as essential. Also all the plants will die if people dont go and buy them. However MIL should go on her own. Having a lift is not part of the guidelines.

[Bringonspring]

What sunbathingdragon said

[Devlesko]

What's she doing wrong. If you weren't allowed to go they wouldn't be open.

[CallmeAngelina]

Also, I suppose gardening is a form of exercise too.

[HathorX]

yanbu. She is "doing a Cummings" (making a lot of noise about how awful it all is and then expecting to be allowed to break
the rules with impunity).

[TylluanBach]

@Devlesko she's demanding lifts from Bil who lives separately in the same town as us. He works a few days a week travelling around the UK with his job. Jumping into a car with people from different households is what's wrong. Along with just opening front door and walking into our house.

I understand she is bored, lonely and probably scared. She can actually drive and has her own car which I didn't mention in original post. There is no excuse for her behaviour really.