Perhaps it's the holidays; But does anyone have in-laws, especially MILs who are NOT a total PITA?

[FargoFGS]

That's basically it. Does anyone have normal in-laws? Does anyone have a great mother-in-law? Do women change when they become a MIL?

Why all the angst and anger toward them? Surely no family is perfect. I can't understand why MILs get such a bad rep on here.

I have a brilliant mil and fil..In fact all my in laws are great..I love them just as much as my own family.

Mine are great, occasionally a bit too perfect but really lovely, caring, thoughtful people who will do anything to support their children and grandchildren.

Yes. I have 2 really (DH step-mum). They have their lives and are attentive yet suitably "detatched". They're wonderful.

Yes, me.

Mine are nice people, have a few quirks but don't we all?

My MIL is broad minded, young at heart, a laugh riot and great company.
My own mother on the other hand is an epic dickhead.
No luck DH.

My mil was the best best ever. Kind funny and gentle. She died far far too soon.

My dil says I am one of her best friends and I do all I can to support her and love her.

I will soon be a grand mum and hope to help/support my dil in any way I can. And my ds of course

I've had two MILs. The first was, well, a handful. Emotional (to batshit levels), selfish (jaw droppingly), narcissistic and manipulative. I would not have had anything to do with someone so screwed up if she hadn't been my husband's mother.

Second (and current) MIL is lovely. A brilliant grandma to her gc, considerate, gentle, loving and never interfering or domineering. All round lovely. A better mother in law than I have to offer DH, too.

Some people are extremely damaged individuals. Some of these people nevertheless have children who grow up to be lovable and get married. These children then have to continually apologise to their wife or husband for the behaviour of their parent. My first MIL was very damaged (so was her son, actually). I love the MIL I have now, though.

My MIL is fantastic, as are the rest of my in laws.

My mil decided she didn't like me the first time she met me. She told Dp so many times over the years and even had screaming sessions about how awful I am (I'm lovely I can assure you).

When our children came along she would invite only Dp and the kids to stuff, including a week in a cottage holiday saying there was no room for me.
through it all I have been an absolute Saint and denied her the big confrontation she wants.
I never asked Dp to choose, and tried never to make him feel stuck in the middle. She however did and ended up losing her son and hardly seeing the kids as she never wants me around, just wants her son and grandkids 'to herself'.
I have sons and have learned so much from her about how not to behave when I'm a mil.

My MIL is a sweetheart. She's kind, loving, fun, bakes fab cakes, and refuses to butt in on anything. Adores her grandkids and always gives them really thoughtful gifts.

I love mine! I'm NC with my own mother so I'm very grateful for a wonderful mil. She's been a great support particularly since I had ds.

My relationship with MIL has had its ups and downs as she was a single parent for years and had got used to DH being around for her, so she found it hard to adjust to me being in his life. It is complicated as she tends to use him as a sounding board/whipping boy if she's having a bad day which upsets him, but he stands up to her now which he never used to (though I think she silently blames me for making him more confident ).

That said, while she can be overbearing, she's incredibly kind and has done a lot to help us. Like my mum, I think she would prefer it to be like the old days when families lived next door to each other and were in and out of each other's houses all day long.

My MIL is kinda alright, we don't clash but we do parent differently. I wouldn't ask her for advice, but we are quite friendly. I think she feels the same about me, she's happy for me to be her son's partner, but she wouldn't necessarily have chosen me.

My ex-partner's mother is nice too, we have a lot in common, but after spending too long together I start to get stressed out. If I had to see her regularly I'm sure that we wouldn't get along! But we see each other once a month, and I kinda like that.