Petty War with MIL

[KaceyLacey]

Slightly Lighthearted so don't crucify me

I like my MIL, she's an interesting & engaging woman but she's also quite controlling, I similarly have issues with control so without even trying we've ended up in a war of one upmanship, this has lasted for at least the last 10 years.

Examples

When DH & I first moved in together, she replaced a painting on the wall when I was at work because it was ugly. Instead of doing the reasonable thing, I went out & bought 2 matching ugly paintings & gave one to her as a gift in front of everyone. With a very painful smile she hung it in her bathroom where to this day it still stands.

When we decided that DH would be a stay at home Dad, she was very upset and stopped taking DCs out, instead she took out DNieces/Nephews & posted the pics all over FB tagging everyone. So of course my solution was to convince my own parents to take out the DCs far more then they usually did, post the pics on FB, tag everyone & then write how brilliant it was that DCs now had more time to spend with their favourite grandparents. She quickly stopped excluding them.

We do this with everything. If she goes on a nice holiday, I have to do something even better. If I buy something then she has to top that.

Right before Christmas, I signed up to a gym membership as it was bloody Christmas and it's just what you do, I never actually planned to properly use it, she then went out & got her own gym membership, so now we're in a game of chicken to see who quits first. I hate the gym I want to quit, I'm not even that unhealthy, but my pride won't let me.

I know that I'm a petty person, you don't need to scream it at me. Does anyone have any ideas on how to quit this gym madness without losing face, I can't even pretend to go as we both log in on Facebook to show our damn location.

[Papergirl1968]

Slightly lighthearted? Sorry, not seeing it. If even half of your original post is true, you sound like a nightmare DIL and need to grow up.

[RandomMess]

I would ask MIL how the gym is going, then with a huge smile say something along the lines of "you do realise I never really went, I just wanted to know how far your competitiveness with me went - we are such a pair of loons!!!"

[madamehooch]

Mapp and Lucia 😀

[KaceyLacey]

DutchCourage, it worked, Thank you!

Now I just need to make sure that I check in when DCs are sleeping so they can't dob me in.

And if MIL does start showing results, it'll definetly be time to invite her over for lots of cake & tea.

[Plaintalkin]

Just stop the competition.

It's a choice you make so don't say you can't . But you don't want to do you?

You're enjoying it far too much.

But think of all the effort you're using up that you could be using for your kids or your husband .

[WellErrr]

Right before Christmas, I signed up to a gym membership as it was bloody Christmas and it's just what you do, I never actually planned to properly use it, she then went out & got her own gym membership, so now we're in a game of chicken to see who quits first



No idea but cheers for this.

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

This thread has made my day.

Start posting lots of weed-related pictures on Facebook. Not pictures of you smoking weed, just those cringeworthy posts people share about legalising marijuana, the excruciating nicknames they use for it, thinly-veiled hints that you're doing it. Say how your running has gotten so much better for it; it's proven to improve speed and you're loving the results.

Then please report back the results

Although if she starts doing meth/speed to try and one-upmanship you, that might be the time to stop.

[NeedACleverNN]

Enter a pie eating competition

[completecliche]

Love this thread

Check in somewhere really exotic, Great Wall of China or seedy like Spearmint Rhino
Then a just giving site for your ultra marathon across the Kalahari

[DoWhat123]

Wow you are quite hilarious! I wish I had just a quarter of the energy that it must require to keep this up OP. Honestly this is the kind of thing that sells books.

No real advice from me, but why don't you let us in on your secret to the energy reserves you must have?

[YorkieDorkie]

This thread is fantastic! I hope you don't quit because I'd love instalments for your next MIL contest!

[AlpacaLypse]

This is (mostly) very funny...

But taking my usual position that everything on MN is true until proven otherwise - just stop! It's really rather pathetic.

[Borninwrongdecade]

I think you both need to decide to grow up. Crikey do you have nothing else in your lives to worry about? Like the relentless bills and demands pouring through the door every day.

[KaceyLacey]

DoWhat it's anger & pride that fuels me, I wouldn't advise acting like me, it can get very draining.

NeedACleverNN, we did go through a period of out baking each other once, I just bought my cakes from bakeries & pretended that they were my own 😅😅

Most family members just roll their eyes & get out of the way, SIL doesn't understand it at all & thinks we're both crazy and very petty and to the pp's telling me I need to grow up, I know I do.

[chocolateworshipper]

Your MIL is my best mate so I know for a fact that she doesn't really go to the gym - she just worked out how to "check in" on FB from home before you did

[Fomalhaut]

No idea what you should do about the gym but 😂 At the picture. Fabulous... Well done

[pasturesgreen]

This has been the comic highlight of my weekend .

I'd fake an injury if I were you

[YorkieDorkie]

Aaahhhhhahaha! Buying your cakes from the bakery I am howling! Please continue OP

[KaceyLacey]

Chocolate, that would actually explain why she's lasted as long as she has 😳 I put it down to her just walking past her gym.

I can just see us both checking in for the next couple of years without actually setting foot in a gym 😓 I may need to fake an injury to get out of this.

Yorkie, she knew I was buying them she just couldn't prove it 👌🏾 It drove her mad

[QueenLaBeefah]

Why not drive to the gym, check in then go home. Do this a lot - 2 or 3 times a day. Act like you are properly addicted and then fake a horrific based gym injury culminating in you being warned, quite sternly, by your doctor to never exercise again.

[Mysterycat23]

Makes me happy to hear you are fully standing up to your MIL OP. Carry on

[RestlessTraveller]

You both sound vile, I don't know how you have the energy.

[abbsismyhero]

sounds like your both having a bit of harmless fun

[KanyesVest]

My lovely sil has no idea we're caught in a similar dynamic. Or maybe she does and is double bluffing me....

[1frenchfoodie]

OP I have a competitive streak I recognise in you though no MIL so it is not being tested. Is there any chance she is not keen on the gym either and that via FIL and DH you can both quit. Sadly it is just too late to pass it offas a 6 month trial you never intended to keep up.