My MIL.,

[Ilythia]

My MIL was fantastic.
I met her when I was 17 and dressed in a scuzzy trackie while working backstage on the school play. My hulking 6 foot BF introduced me to these 2 tiny skinny women, MIL and GMIL, who inspected me from head to toe and then grilled me for about 10 minutes before turning to BF/DH and saying 'She's good this one, well done son'

She had a wocked streak a mile wide and when we got married I knew she would try and get us somehow (she put a pack of opened kippers under the carpet in her sisters car just before they drove to blackpool on their honeymoon...) so I packed 2 suitcases for our honeymoon, one real one that I hid in the spare room with the best mans stuff and another that I packed with stuff I didn't want to take and left it under the bed but slightly peeking out. She found it and filled every spare inch with so much confetti I am still finding it 5 years later.
I thought I had won, much smugness on our part, but then we got home and realised that she had also filled all the clothes in our wardrobe with confetti as well, pockets, lining, the lot Still finding that too.

When we found otu we were having a DD1 she was thrilled, she already has 2 DS's and 2 GDS's so this was first girl, lots of dresses etc got dug out for her.
Even though she was weak on one side and had a teeny bladder she woudl sit for hours on teh sofa holding DD1 so I could sleep when she was going through her 'put me down and I'll make you suffer while daddy is at work phase'

She had a mad dog that no-one could control but her. Completely crazy, I hated it, but she was so soppy over this insane ball of fury and I took the piss mercilessly that the dog only loved her because bitches get on with bitches

When I was pregnant with DD2 and in slow early labour she walked with me for hours, so much so that she slept for 14 hours as she walked with a stick. And took great pleasure in telling everyone we passed that I was in labour and could give birth right now just to freak them out.

She wasn't the greatest cook in the world but her jam is legendary, and no-one makes a better hot toddy.

When we stayed she would sneak into our room at 5am when she woke and steal the children before they woke up so we would get a very rare lie in. Many a morning I woke and freaked out as my children were MISSING to find them downstairs merrily eating toast and watching cbeebies.

I love my MIL. I just wish I could tell her that once more.

[purplearmadillo]

That is such a lovely description of her - she sounds amazing.

[CharCharGabor]

Oh no God, I'm so sorry. You are who I think you are, right? You've written a lovely post there, it's so obvious how much you love her.

[Ilythia]

Thanks purple, she died last night with her DH, her DS's, step dd, sister and niece at her bedside.
I'm going to miss her.

If I saw anything funny, or a good AIBU thread in the making I would call her first, she was always much better than my mum for a good bitching session.

[Ilythia]

hi char, yes, it's me. Thanks.

[laloony]

See now that is how a mil should be, you are so lucky to have had such a person in your life.

Wish SO much that i could say the same about mine.

[5inthebed]

She sounds like a lovely woman.

So sorry for your loss :(

[withorwithoutyou]

She sounds amazing.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[CharCharGabor]

Give me a shout if you need a chat or anything. So sorry, lots of love xxxx

[tibni]

What a fabulous tribute to a very special lady.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Those are lovely memories to hold. I'm sorry for your loss.

[shoshe]

So sorry for all of your family, what a lovely lady.

[Ilythia]

thanks guys.
Dh still at FIL's helping sort stuff. We are home for a few days to give them some space, then to my mums for a break and then the funeral.

One good thing is Idiot BIL, DH and I have mostly made up, even though he announced MIL's death on FB within about 20 minutes...

DD1 cried herself to sleep tonight because she misses her daddy, but I think she is so thrown by what is going on, she doesn't get it really.

TOrn between big day out tomorrow or leisure centre and dvd day, all we have done is play in the garden and watch dvd's for the last week though!

[Ilythia]

I have just shown this thread to DH and will be reading my OP more or les intact (maybe minus the tiny bladder thing) at ehr funeral next monday.

[CharCharGabor]

Ah that's lovely, a great tribute :)