To want to tell my MIL that I am not a complete numpty and understand the concept of gluten free food!

[IsabellaofFrance]

Because if not I am going to hit her with a brick-like loaf of gluten free bread!

SIL is a Coeliac. I have invited everyone over to celebrate DH's birthday tomorrow.

I have had five, yes 5 phone calls today from MIL about the menu, do I understand what gluten is, what am I making. Do I know that flour isn't gluten free/ Am I sure the gluten free flour that I am using is actually gluten free and so on and so on.

I should add that DS1 has an egg/nut allergy, so I have 15 years experience of dealing with food allergies!

I know she means well but arrrrgh!

Eh, she probably has had experience with people thinking they know what a gluten free means but getting it mixed up with wheat free or something. I wouldn't worry.

YAB (a bit) unreasonable. If you've been dealing with allergies for years you'll know how often very well meaning people get it wrong.

I'm coeliac and have had lots of very near misses, and been made sick on several occasions. My lovely FiL has had to snatch my plate away on more than once when my equally lovely MiL has used the wrong stock, or thickened a sauce with flour or, on one memorable occasion, cooked and extensive and lovely gf meal (sauces and puddings all correct) only to stuff the lamb with breadcrumbs during a mental blip. I would also add, in er defense, that MiL was always fine with milk, nut and celery allergies - she just really struggles w gluten.

I've been coeliac for 16 years now, and you wouldn't believe what people have thought would be gluten free. I've been served noodles, couscous (on more than one occasion), lots of offers of cornbread, rye bread, spelt bread and so on. And stuff with beer in.

So cut your MIL some slack, annoying as it is

I know i'm being unreasonable, I know.

However I have cooked for SIL on at least 10 occasions before and I haven't got it wrong yet.

I think MIL is projecting her own insecurities onto me (SIL is her DIL so its relatively new to her). It will be fine as it has been on every other occasion.

Just tell her that you will liaise directly with SIL about the menu, there's no need for MIL to worry herself and then refuse to discuss it any further. Keep the packaging handy of anything that you use and you can just silently hand it to her if she questions you when she's there.

No, YANBU! Just don't answer the phone to her. What a waste of time.

Yanbu to be annoyed that she keeps ringing. But I can understand her worry. My Dsis is gluten Intolerant (is very sensetive, probably coeliac but refuses to eat gluten in order to have another round of blood tests, doctor won't send her for a biopsy until another round of blood tests have been completed.) I don't like my DH cooking for her as he is a mental blip-athon. But agree with black Americans saying tell mil that you will liaise directly with sil if need be.