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Original poster

My MIL has folded all my thongs into a pile of teeny tiny triangles and I think it may be the straw that makes me lose my shit...

249 replies

Loveatthe5anddime · 31/12/2021 12:40

Light hearted, kind off...

In-laws arrived on the 26th, they hired a cottage near by (their choice) but have so far spent all day every day with us...

MIL doesn’t really get the art of discussion and likes to speak about her childhood in monologue a LOT, quite often we can have good 20 minute stories where no one else is able to speak and with 3 DD’s it makes it tricky.

She also likes to re tell stories...

Mil “did I tell you about the time”

Every else “yes you told us about that”

Mil “retells the story which last 25 minutes”

Every story begins a very small throat clear and then a pursed lip pause for dramatic effect which makes me want to stick a knife in my eyeball!!

She is only late 50’s so can’t even blame it on being old and dithery...

Today she has take it upon herself to go into our washing basket in our bedroom,while we had nipped out, has washed all my delicates and I’ve came back to a thong tower, all folded into identical triangles...

Please tell me I’m not the only one on the edge with having relatives staying?!

OP posts:
BeMoreGoldfish · 31/12/2021 13:59

@duvetdayforeveryone diagnosing her as autistic is one hell of a leap! 😳

CaMePlaitPas · 31/12/2021 14:00

Can we get a pic of said tower OP?

Seedandyarn · 31/12/2021 14:00

I find the sort who love to interfere in other peoples homes despise others over stepping in their own private space.
When they settle into a long winded story slip away to their cottage and re-arrange all their underwear if it's perfect (it will be) then re-pair socks in a mismatched manner.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 31/12/2021 14:01

@ElvisPresleyHadABaby

Luxury, mine had to walk 35 miles every day just to get to school and the teacher would punish them with a cattle rod.

School? School?!. We were down t’mine and grateful fer it.

OP, I think you need to freak her out. Remind MiL that, if she’s going to do your laundry, latex and rubber can’t be tumble-dried, and that the leather needs to be hand-oiled, if she wouldn’t mind. Please could she also ensure that the whip thongs are folded carefully as that cat o’nine tails gets tangled really easily.

Crinkle77 · 31/12/2021 14:03

My FIL is the same. There's no conversation but a series of monologues about when he worked in the middle East that I've heard a million times before. It's just so boring.

TwoAndCooPlease · 31/12/2021 14:04

[quote BeMoreGoldfish]@duvetdayforeveryone diagnosing her as autistic is one hell of a leap! 😳[/quote]
Thinking the same

Ellie56 · 31/12/2021 14:13

I’ve came back to a thong tower, all folded into identical triangles...

Wonder how long that took her? Longer than telling a story? Grin Grin

GoofyIsACow · 31/12/2021 14:17

See, I am just pleased that the consensus is that this is overstepping the mark! I thought I was over reacting, MIL has no qualms about going in our bedroom and commenting about underwear in the wash etc. I feel much better!

CharityDingle · 31/12/2021 14:18

@Ellie56

I’ve came back to a thong tower, all folded into identical triangles...

Wonder how long that took her? Longer than telling a story? Grin Grin

Might be an idea for future reference. Every time she starts winding up to a story, take out the tower, and knock it over. Grin
MrsJBaptiste · 31/12/2021 14:18

[quote BeMoreGoldfish]@duvetdayforeveryone diagnosing her as autistic is one hell of a leap! 😳[/quote]
I took it as a joke...? 🤔

CharityDingle · 31/12/2021 14:18

@GoofyIsACow

See, I am just pleased that the consensus is that this is overstepping the mark! I thought I was over reacting, MIL has no qualms about going in our bedroom and commenting about underwear in the wash etc. I feel much better!
I would lock the door. She must have little to be worrying her!
Juletide · 31/12/2021 14:20

Perhaps she's been watching the clip about folding Ocado carrier bags into triangles before you return them. It's my latest obsession.

Bagelsandbrie · 31/12/2021 14:20

She’s wrong to be creating thong towers. It’s weird.

But yeah I enjoy re-telling stories too. Just let her. When you get a bit old the good memories and stories are all you have and it’s nice to share them. Humour her and just nod and smile. My family have probably heard my stories a million times but they’d never say “yeah you’ve said that before” to cut me off.

Itsnotdeep · 31/12/2021 14:20

I'm in my 50s. I really can't imagine ever washing any of my (future, imaginary at this stage) DILs knickers.

When I was married my mum washed, ironed and folded (and made a neat pile too of) my H's boxer shorts. He had never seen the like. (and never saw it again).

Luredbyapomegranate · 31/12/2021 14:23

I am Grin imagining her pausing and pursing her lips for dramatic effect while building the thong tower…🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻perhaps she will turn into festive thong bunting for next Christmas.

Can you reduce the visit next year? More than 3 days and any guest stinks like fish.

MiddleParking · 31/12/2021 14:24

Why do some people think it’s acceptable to treat autism as synonymous with objectionable personality traits?

Clovacloud · 31/12/2021 14:28

My FIL LOVES to talk about himself, and tell the same stories over and over. It’s been 20 years now and it’s gone from 20 mins in his mid 50s to well over an hour and a half in his mid 70s. You just can’t get a word in edgewise and he’s not interested in anything anyone else has to say.

My advice is invest in some in-ear noise cancelling headphones and a long haircut Grin

TillyTopper · 31/12/2021 14:29

Can't believe she was that intrusive! That's shocking -but love "thong tower".

On a different note, I am going to have 4 suitcases of washing later this week, could you send her over? It might solve both our problems?!

MiddleParking · 31/12/2021 14:31

It’s pretty bad-mannered to make people listen to the same thing over and over if you know you’re doing it.

limitedperiodonly · 31/12/2021 14:36

Maybe she can't stand you but is too polite to say so does these dreadful things in the hope that you will stop inviting her round.

Whatamesssss · 31/12/2021 14:36

@ShirleyPhallus

I’m just impressed you wear thongs, I think I last wore a thong circa 2002 and since then have firmly been in the granny pant camp
🤣🤣🤣

That would be a great name for a ladies spa, The Granny Pant Camp.

BaseDrops · 31/12/2021 14:37

Thank her and suggest she puts them away. In with the rest of your DH’s pants.

Dixiechickonhols · 31/12/2021 14:40

Can you direct her if she’s wanting to be busy? - gardening, cleaning skirting board etc. How old are DC can they chat to her whilst you do other things. They won’t have heard stories before and may actually enjoy stories about when she was a child.

SarahJessicaParker1 · 31/12/2021 14:40

@BaseDrops

Thank her and suggest she puts them away. In with the rest of your DH’s pants.
Xmas Grin
Ratonastick · 31/12/2021 14:44

Oh God, my Dad does the relentless story telling. The same stories over and over and over and over and over and over only now they have an overlay of how brilliant Brexit and Boris are. Oh, and my DB1 has developed a habit of monologing in an incredibly loud voice and with no recognition of social cues (or indeed anyone else’s ability to get a word in edgeways). It was so bad that DM and I were actually chatting about whether he is developing a hearing issue. It was a winning combination.

Of course, it’s a funny story to tell people when they ask how Christmas was, but the truth is that I spent it on eggshells trying (and failing) not to piss either of them off, DS spent most of it in his room for some peace and quiet and DB2 sloped off at the first available opportunity. As for my poor mum, I noticed that she was virtually silent except when the pair of them were outside for an hour or so. They have expanded to take up all the space so, guess what, the older woman has to give way.