The recent thread about being less close to/more irritated by one's mum as time passes really struck a chord with me - our relationship has gone down the bidet since arrival of DD, now nearly 1. On the 1000 candlepower bright side, though, my MiL - with whom
I have never had a particularly close relationship in the past, and whom I secretly thought would get on my last nerve when DD turned up, has BLOOMED into the Grandmother of Grandmothers, the One Nan to Rule Them All.
She rushes down to visit whenever the welcome mat is out, but never uninvited
She races to the rescue when we're ill, and has caught at least two virulent baby-bourne bugs to date as a consequence
She takes DD on epic, three-hour strolls (oh, the warm melty blissfulness of the door closing behind DD and DMiL when my bed is calling after a six-wake-up night!)
She is never offended if I ask her to do something my way. In fact, she asks in advance how I like things done, does research, and is now a passionate convert to some parenting methods which she initially viewed with suspicion
She will catch herself mid-telling-me-what-to-do and say the golden words "I don't know what I'm telling you for - you know better than me."
Most of all, though, she praises and supports me, telling me how well I'm doing with feeding, weaning, coping with a bad sleeper and bringing up a happy, smiling child. At a time when I sometimes feel lonely, angry and sad because my once-fond mum no longer has any interest in me, or in my DD, this makes up for so much.
Sorry if this seems like boasting to anyone who has a dire time with their MiL - I know there are a fair few on MN who don't have anything like my luck, and I wish more people shared it. But I thought I would anticipate the pre-Christmas PIL-bemoaning rush and buck the trend by declaring undying love and gratitude to mine!
Anyone else found themselves much closer to their MiL than their own mum, especially post DC?