To refuse to let my MIL bring her own kettle when she visits?

[BiscuitHammer]

Bit of a silly one maybe but it’s causing actual rows so here goes.

MIL is coming to stay for the weekend (joy) and she’s announced she’s bringing her own kettle because apparently ours “tastes funny”. I genuinely don’t know what that even means?? It’s just a normal Breville one from Argos. She says she can “taste the plastic” and it “ruins tea” which is ridiculous because we’ve had it over a year and no one else has ever complained.

I told her she’s being dramatic and she got in a strop. DH is now saying I should just let her bring it to keep the peace but I think it’s rude. Like sorry but turning up at someone’s house with your own appliances is a bit much isn’t it? What next, her own toaster? Portable shower?

I get she’s particular about tea (she only drinks loose leaf and swears PG Tips gives her headaches) but still. We’re not a bloody hotel.

AIBU to put my foot down and tell her to use ours or not bother?

(For context she also once brought her own pillow and sugar. Make of that what you will.)

Where is the laughing emoji??

OP I think you’re over reacting to be honest.

Oh, I think I might be like your Mother in Law!

I like my tea weak and black. I have a really good sense of smell and taste (hearing and sightt are rubbish) If water has been boiled in a plastic kettle it tastes weird, if the kettle's scaley, the tea gets a kind of scum on top. I also can't bear it when the water has that bleach taste and I don't like PG. Generally, I just say that I don't drink hot drinks because I'd rather not have one at all if I can't have it how I like it.

If I took my kettle to my DIL's house it wouldn't be to be rude or annoy her, or as any kind of kettle snobbery. It would just be so I could enjoy a cup of tea how I like it.

Same with pillows, I know what I sleep best with.

We all like different things, why can't you just live and let live. Not everything is meant to be a personal insult.

YABU, it won’t harm you to use her kettle while she’s staying.
Pillow obviously is perfectly sensible. As to the sugar, maybe she’s visited other people who don’t use the stuff.

And while PG tips may not give me a headache it really isn’t very nice - not quite as bad as Tetleys but I can’t imagine many tea lovers being happy with it.

I’d offer to make a tea, make hers using your kettle but tell her you used hers. Then when she says “Yes I can taste the difference” tell her you used yours and that just proves it is all in her head!

“Let them” is just another way of telling women to be a doormat and to ‘let’ people walk all over them like good little girls.

Sure. Or you could just insist everyone does everything your way and refuse to compromise ever, all the while insisting you are a strong woman.

Agree with others - it’s bonkers and I would definitely roll my eyes internally but would say nothing. I have recently lost my own mum and it’s made realise that family really matters - don’t fall out over something silly, you might regret it

I’d let her bring it but make her tea using your kettle. Just for fun.

I get the impression you haven’t listened to the podcast and are just making up your own narrative

How about trying her kettle and see if you can see from her pov?

15 pages in and OP hasn’t been back. I could have guaranteed that would be the case when I first read it at lunchtime. What’s happening to MN these days?

My mum used to bring her coffee when she came visit me, and bought her own thermal mug that Ikeep here. I used to bring my tea and buy my own bread when I visited her. We are just specific about some tastes, it doesn't mean we hate each other. (And life is too short to drink coffee or tea that we don't like)

That's cute 😊

Is he 2 or 75? It's cute whatever age tbh!

I've got one of those expandable kettles! God they're amazing, don't take up much space in your case and really quick and quiet to use. I've got a travel thermos coffee cup with lid and internal filter too, these things have made travelling a joy, not exaggerating!

No more rank hotel kettles or miniature cups for me!

No it's not. You have no idea what it is, do you?

I am a pretty chill person and would have zero beef with this. I love this sort of bonkers but harmless behaviour as it gives me anecdotes to laugh about (I include being a bit of a gossip as one of my many flaws).

I don't like plastic kettles either. The tea does taste funny.

I don't get how you would forbid her, nor how she's treating your house like a hotel. The reverse if anything.

Oh. One of those one-post threads.

I replaced our stainless steel kettle with a plastic one when it broke about a year ago. I really regretted it as the water has a really strong plastic taste to me. It really spoilt my hot drinks - I have had to replace that one with another metal kettle. It’s definitely the kettle, not the water.

So, I am with MIL - let her bring her own kettle !

What’s an expandable kettle @pinkyredrose?

This is similar to the one I have. I love mine it’s perfect for light use/travel.

Amazon link

Plastic kettles make the drinks taste horrible. You are probably used to it and don’t realise

You sound nasty.

FFS op. THIS is the hill you want to die on?! Over a KETTLE? I despair.😫

Well I never !
You learn something new every day.
Thank you @saltinesandcoffeecups