To ask for some assertive, not rude, responses to M&Sil's likely comments tomorrow?

[lecce]

I am rubbish at this sort of thing and end up mumbling something and then feeling resentful, something I would like to avoid.

Likely isssues are:

• commenting throughout the day that the dc have far too many presents and being sulky when the dc play rather than making small-talk (they are 4 &6 and very polite, just likely to spend more time playing than chatting.)

• ignoring the way the table has been laid and pushing decorations and settings aside to make way for the carrier bags of crackers, humous, etc that sil tends to bring.

• giving the dc their present while I am in the kitchen, so I don't get to see it opened, or know exactly who has given what etc

• Mil walking around the house and garden and commenting on everything that needs doing, how expensive it will be, how the house will fall down if it's not done immediately, how we may have taken on too much etc etc

I know they are all minor issues, but, added together, they grate on me, especially since dh always bangs on and on about his family didn't really care about Christmas, commercialised rubbish, blah blah, but then they have to come to us each year and, imo, get a bit sneery about the way we do things. I just want to stand up for myself without causing offense, but, as I said, I'm crap at it .

This thread is very hummous. Sorry, i mean humorous.

Always a winner is:
"You might be right." Said with a mild but wry smile (and do nothing about it).

Every time they say anything ask for another cracker and hummus

And you're having them over because???

A simple way of avoiding your children opening presents when you are in the kitchen is by always taking one or both of them with you to help out! They can't open presents if they aren't there!

I'd say that 'Fuck Off' would answer most of those...