I’ve posted about MIL before, so apologies, but these last couple of days have been a joke. MIL is 70, but I swear to god, she doesn’t look a day over 50 (mostly natural) and she has no health problems. For weeks, I have taken her here, there and everywhere to do her Xmas shopping and the woman has more energy than me (I’m 44), walking up escalators unphased. In fact, some people have asked if we’re sisters and they’re probably not joking.
My problem is, and I’ve had years of this, is that as soon as DH is anywhere about she does the “woe is me act” - ie. acts anxious, frail and walks at the pace of a snail. This is how ridiculous it is - the other night when DH and BIL went out for a drink, MIL was doing “Strictly Come Dancing” around the house inc showing the DC samba moves, spins, the whole thing. She’s an ex dancer and she’s still got it at 70. Today however, we went for a walk and she did the whole blatant act about not being able to get in or out of the car, then, as usual, walked at the absolute pace of a snail, through Hyde Park, gripping into DH’s arm for dear life and monopolising him. It’s really difficult to walk super-slowly like that when you have 4 DC. If you walk off, she will think it’s rude. I’m not expecting much, just for DH to try and encourage her to act normally. It’s so obvious, but he doesn’t get it.
Another instance of how she monopolises people is that she won’t fly alone so DH or BIL always have to fly with her. She is soon to fly back with BIL and family to their home country to stay into the New Year, but then DH will have to make the 7 hour flight to collect her and bring her back in Jan. He travels enough anyway without this.
She also still has “panic attacks” about burglars in the night fairly frequently and calls DH to go down the road to her place in the middle of the night, even though he’s put her in a very safe apartment with security. Pre-Xmas she did this twice in December. She has no mental health problems diagnosed.
I think she’s a very manipulative woman. This is my gut instinct and even the DC were 
in the park earlier and I can tell SIL is dreading taking her back with them, but DH and BIL don’t see anything untoward. Firstly, AIBU that this is stressing me? I’ve eaten 3 tons of Rescue Remedy pastilles since the weekend. Secondly, how can I get DH to realise what his mother is like?
Sorry this is so long, but this is the bare bones if it. AIBU and please help if you have similar situations.