I know...another MIL one. I'm just in an awful situation that I don't really know how to handle.
Without going into too much detail, I'm struggling to know how to support my DH at the minute. Basically his mum has started seeing his dad again recently (behind the back of his dying wife might I add) and it's killing him. His dad had numerous affairs (which he blamed on DH as he found out and told his mum), left his mum in thousands of pounds of debt (which DH worked his arse off to pay back for her so she wouldn't lose the house) and he also beat the shit out of my DH for his whole childhood, to the point where he was hospitalised on more than one occasion. He only did this to DH, not to his brothers or sisters for some reason. This obviously left my DH with a hell of a lot of issues which I've tried to help him deal with. Now he's seeing his mum again he just doesn't know what to do. He wants her to be happy but he hates his dad (in my opinion with good reason) and can't help thinking she's just going to end up getting hurt again. DH basically put his life on hold to help his mum piece her life back together after he left (on her birthday). I just don't know how to handle this at all.
I know I can't really get involved, but she seems to be desperately seeking the approval of her son, and I don't think it's fair to expect it. Surely if she wants respect as an adult in her decision, she should respect DH's right to not be very happy about it.