It's twofold: I'm not a huge chatterbox, and I'd rather not use the time/energy I do have on a one sided relationship/conversation. I feel a bit guilty too, that she loves me and it's unrequited. She's not good for my mental or emotional health. I think the right person could get on with her well, but I'm not that person. I am willing to tolerate her as MIL and I want my baby to grow up loving her without knowing that I can't stand the woman, but she wants me to be Daughter-BFF. I wouldn't even be in contact with her except she's MIL and there's a baby involved now. We're friends on Facebook. Things used to be better when she had more friends and I was more naive. (I was 21 when I got married---and I waited a lot longer than the majority of my uber-religious peers. Ten years on, I think the husband and FIL was a good choice.)
So how do I reply to the six GIFs, three messages and five paragraphs she sends every time I send a picture/short video of the baby? And very little if you is about the baby. I just started a chat with her, FIL, and my husband so that the baby news and photos can be shared easily and equally. I'm hoping to basically stop chatting privately with her. Is this beastly manners?