To call out my SIL for saying she preferred children when they are weakened by illness?

Oh… when my husband has man sniffles it makes me want to take him to Dignitas. Am I wifing wrong?

My SIL has always been a bit strange. She has 1 child, which she had later in life..

WTF have I just read?

Are you my daughter? I still tell the story of the pre chicken pox day-long cuddle I got when she was a toddler because it was so out of character for her. Thankfully she grew up into a very cuddly teen.

Did she actually say ‘I prefer children weakened by illness’ 🤨 or was it more ‘Billy’s had a virus this week and slept loads in the day, it’s been absolute bliss’ - which is something I’d say to my sister and we’d have a good laugh

She was clearly joking with her relative, not sure why you interrupted their private convo. Was it your way of joining in.

Also, toasty warm to sit under while saying’I wish I could help’

God, you're one of those po faced people who take every joke literally and judges people for it.

It is very common for parents to say they like their children best when asleep, or their favourite child keeps changing, or that they love going to work because nobody watches them pee there etc etc. People make jokes to cope with difficult situations and parenting is hard. Particularly when idiots judge you all the time.

And what's with the 'later in life' remark? Why is that relevant?

Crumbs, she was saying something relatable and you sound like you are judgy and way too literal.

She has 1 child, which she had later in life

What's having an only child got to do with anything?

My mum always said she preferred me ill as that’s the only time I cuddled her.
make of that what you will!

We all say things from time to time that unintentionally come across slightly strange. Why on earth do you think she needs to be ‘called out’ for that? She’s not a public figure causing widespread harm to marginalised groups.

Using language like that makes you sound very haughty and self-important. Also, if you’re so sure of your moral righteousness, why are you posting about it on Mumsnet in search of validation? You’re simply trying to draw strangers into a conversation with you about how weird your SIL is. This is deeply strange behaviour on your part and I’d encourage you to reflect on that.

Isn't that the Calpol advert, where parents curse the Calpol because their little darlings are suddenly running at full pelt again?
I'd see it as just a joke.

I have a very hyper, attention grabbing GD and as much as I adore her, the best Christmas day was when she had a sickness bug and lay quietly on the sofa drifting in and out of sleep. It's a family joke that it was the best Christmas ever

People have different senses of humour

When your child is relatively energetic or independent and you get that rare snuggled up cuddle, it can be lovely. I say this as someone who has a child who has died.

Nobody actually means they prefer seriously ill children and I think it’s both argumentative and disingenuous to twist a situation to suggest that.

My teenager was weakened by raging tonsillitis last month, and 100 times more pleasant and easy to live with. She’s now reverted to her usual moody, opinionated and ungrateful self.

I enjoyed the fact her tonsillitis impeded her opinionating.

Don’t ever listen to Tim
Minchin singing ‘lullaby.’ You’ll be enraged.

I love that stage where they're sick where you're not worried about them, they're over the truly unwell bit, but they're still tired enough to want to cuddle all the time. And then comes the horror phase where they can't properly assess their energy and they zoom around like wound up ties and swiftly are spent and on the floor and complaining until they've enough energy to race around again. Obviously I'd rather they were never sick at all.

Well I’ve been known to say that I love it when my kids have colds because that means I can properly mother them like when they are little. It’s the only time
My teen boy allows me endless cuddles. I don’t mean them any illness of course but goodness I love love looking after them when they are poorly.

Sounds like a joke. Sounds like you have a stick up your arse.

It was a joke. You sound difficult.

I love kids when they’re sleepy or tired - I think they’re so cute.

I really like when men are poorly and they’re walking around all sniffly in their dressing gowns.

I think it’s our natural instinct to want to care for people when they’re sick or need a hug, it does something inside us.

She didn’t meant she wants them to be poorly.

Sounds like a joke in really bad taste to me.

All the fight and backchat goes out of my two when they're sick, which is a pleasant change. Obviously I don't wish them to be ill however.

YABU.
There was a Calpol advert based on just what your SIL was saying. I'm sure it's all just lighthearted and no one really wants their child to be ill but it can be easier cuddling a poorly toddler on the couch rather than chasing them around when they're full of energy.

Sounds like a joke. She maybe has a very dry sense of humour which has gone over your head. How are you planning on calling her out exactly?