To ask you to describe your relationship with your in-laws in three words

[QueenE27]

This was asked of me today and i'm curious to hear other peoples answers!

Much tongue biting

Alcoholic enabling messes

Lovely in short-bursts

Totes amaze balls!

Kind Respectful Perfect !

Loving, fun, equal

Smoke and mirrors

Pity they're dead

(My late DFIL was one of my favourite ever people and he was a superb Granda to my DDs)

Fantastic Wonderful Supportive

Sadly both passed.

Better than ever.

Lucky to have ILs who are caring and supportive. Had a few teething issues in the beginning but have now found our stride!

Tense
As
Fuck

But also

In
Another
Country

(thank god)

Distant
Unreciprocated
Strained

(Not FIL, he's dead but was lovely and not SIL although there are things that I don't agree with that she does, which I'm sure there are things she's abit about me about, I'd honestly say our relationship is like sisters)

Limited, duty, visits - MIL only now.

Our relationship was much warmer when FIL was still alive.

Bunch of c*s!

Speaking on behalf of my DH about his PIL (my parents):

Confusing (they have weird boundaries and I know they're confused why we push against it)
Unequal (they don't respect us as parents)
Civil (despite the above we still respect them even though they are exasperating at times)

...basically they're abit bonkers and lack boundaries!

Our relationships with both our parents actually makes the relationship between DH and I closer - we have to be a team because we can rely on anyone else.

There for us

They're a bit wrapped up in themselves on a day to day basis, lots of hobbies etc which in fairness they are entitled to as they have more than earned it but the slightest hint of an emergency or need and they will drop everything for us. It's hard to explain, they'd never offer to babysit to let us out for a night in a standard week but after a bad miscarriage and tough time they took DD for a whole week while we went on hols. When my Dad died 200miles away they kept the 3 kids for the 10 days it took him to pass and then drove eldest down for funeral and really helped out. It's like they need to be needed and always step up. Love them to bits.

My PIL are divorced:

FIL: distant but friendly

MIL: never met, thankfully! :o

Non existent thankfully

Friendly. Respectful. Fine.

Talk about damning with faint praise

Dysfunctional, invasive, loving

ExMIL toxic harpy

My true family.

My dad is dead and my relationship with my own mother not great, she is a bit bonkers and I was neglected for most of my childhood. DMIL also had bonkers mother and was closer to her own DMIL, so I seem to be continuing the family tradition

MIL is dead now but before:

Just bare toleration

really fucking awful.

Or if I do it properly

Dysfunctional (MIL)
Distant (FIL)
Non-existent (BIL)