SIL laughed at the damage

[ThunderDC]

SIL brought her son down today (he’s 6) and he knocked a cup over which spilt coffee on my tablecloth. I picked it up and it was dripping coffee and SIL was practically crying with laughter. I asked what was funny and she said “that hideous table cloth! Where did you get it?” !!! So basically it’s ok that it was damaged because it was “hideous” to start with??

Bitch

Tablecloth or it never happened.

return the favour at her home

Why are people asking to see the tablecloth?

Obviously sil was rude whatever it looks like but I'm nosey interested to see what her opinion of a hideous tablecloth looks like. Embroidered with life size faces of Take That, or an acid psychedelic print?

SiL is rude and out of order.. .. time to pay a visit and reciprocate in kind. And be ready to mock her taste. She will not find it the least bit as humourous when the shoe is on the other foot.

We don't need to see the tablecloth. It's irrelevant. SIL was very stupid and rude...childish also. The OP likes her cloth and that's all that matters.

We don't need to see the tablecloth

We most definitely do!

Well what did you say back to her?

I have a tablecloth that some people may think is 'hideous'. But it was my Nana's (from the early '60s) and when I use it I have so many wonderful memories of meals shared at her kitchen table.

So fuck your SiL with her rude comments.

How does that even make sense? Surely the tablecloth had already been visible for some time, and yet she had managed to control her laughter at how HILARIOUS it apparently was. But the moment her kid spills something on it, she suddenly starts cackling like a hyena? What the fuck?

That's very weird, as well as being utterly rude.

It was a minimising tactic. Tho not a very mature one. Soak in cold water & washing up liquid, that gets most stuff out.

When the SIL next has a birthday, gift wrap the cloth and give it to her with a smile. Make her open it in front of you?

(that was a stupid idea but it just came to me so I posted it)

Ok we do need to see the tablecloth.

Definitely rude - who comments on other people's possessions? Obviously if it's on show or being used you like it so other people don't need to comment - bad manners.

She was rude, unquestionably.

But you’re being quite dramatic! “Damaged”. It was a spilled drink. An accident. It’ll wash!

You both sound as bad as each other

I’d be mortified in her (SIL) position.
Her reaction was very rude.

An apology and the offer to clean/ pay for the damage would have been in place. YANBU.

I'd definitely want to see the tablecloth before passing judgement too. It really could be hilariously ugly.

Very rude. Doesn’t matter what the tablecloth is like. That is nothing to do with it. You like what you like and laughing at something being spilled on someone else’s stuff is mean and tactless.

She’s rude and immature.

Use this knowledge wisely.

^ this

Although I do find your op dramatic. Table cloths stain and usually wash up just fine. If it is a handmade lace heirloom, it was unwise to put it on your table with a 6 yo around. Are you coming back?

I’m dying to see the tablecloth.

And yes @ThunderDC she was rude. You should have told her to bog off 😂

Can’t you just wash it?

Of course her response was rude, but you are also being very melodramatic about some coffee being accidentally spilt by a small child. Unless the tablecloth is Valenciennes lace or something, in which case why would you put it on the table when there’s a six year old in the vicinity?

Very rude but it's only a knocked drink - v common for a 6 year old to do accidentally

She was rude but damage is overreacting. The whole point of tablecloths is that when stuff gets spilt on them they are easy to remove and clean. Think of them as decorative bibs for furniture. An unwashable table cloth is as pointless as shoes you shouldn’t walk in (I’ve been there!) or a bikini that you shouldn’t get wet.

How did you respond when your nephew spilt the drink? Just wondering if your response could explain her laughing out of nerves or something?