DP is not talking to his parents (he's an only child) which meant that we spent Christmas Day at home with DS, which was actually absolutely lovely and what I would have preferred anyway. However, unflattering lies have been told by PIL* about DP to his extended family members to explain why we have not/will not be present at various get togethers over the festive period - most significantly the fact that his parents went to MIL's sister & family on Christmas Day, rather than stay at home.
The reason for the fracture is that DP mentioned to his mother last Thursday that Christmas presents were going to be less extravagant this year compared to previously as I was on paid ML this time last year and am now a SAHM, so our income has been depleted by 50%. MIL then said, "well, I don't know how you have no money, you earn more than your Aunt - she couldn't believe that you were struggling on your salary." To which DP said, "why did you tell her what I earn?" Answer: "she asked".
DP then, as is his wont, got a little het up as MIL also revealed that her friends all know his wage, as, "we all know what each other's children earn". I tend to agree with DP that salary disclosures are up there with Very Private Things and not to be traded about without the approval of the salary earner. Or, if she can't help herself broadcasting his wage, MIL should have been a little more circumspect and not mentioned telling anyone.
This particular argument was fairly heated and FIL kicked DP out of their house and took his set of keys off him - taking MIL's side as he always does, no matter what, against their only child. PIL and DP are very short fused and bicker a lot.
The lie that was told to DP's aunt about Christmas Day was that DP had been drunk and aggressive (he wasn't drunk, he says, he had been Christmas shopping and gone to theirs for a cup of tea afterwards) towards MIL. We don't understand why PIL went to their house on Christmas Day other than they wanted to be dramatic and get their story as the offended parties firmly "out there" in the family - DP isn't interested in having the family referee this situation, but is horrified that there are 15 people having lunch at PIL's round the corner now, hearing a very skewed (and no doubt casting MIL in an entirely innocent and victim-ish light) version of events and another lie about why we are not present and nobody can call round to see us and DS.
DP feels very alone - we took DS round to PIL's yesterday for a bit and MIL spent the whole time ignoring her only child and trying to engage me in conversation about my family, which is a topic she knows I don't like to discuss with her as she's a judgy gossip anyone.
So, if you've made it this far, does anyone have any advice on how DP goes about sorting this out? DP's head is all over the place and my instincts - based on my own, fairly negative family experiences - are probably not the most conciliatory as I feel PIL have behaved childishly and unfairly (as I think they frequently do).
*I know they aren't my PIL as we're not married, but for ease of typing, have used the usual acronyms