UPDATE: MIL HAS REPLACED THE HAIR PRODUCTS!!
MIL popped round for coffee today (shitty, own brand instant coffee, don't worry), and we were chatting about the Holiday etc, when the subject of the binned hair products came up.
MIL and DH both found the subject amusing and at one point MIL said "I would have expected YOU to have been a bit more organised, don't you know the rules about liquids at airports" the "you" referring to the fact that I am generally joked about within the family as being very anal and precise about a lot of things, meticulously planning my budgets and my schedule, planning trips down to the minute, saving coupons etc. When they helped us move house they saw my extremely well organised socks drawers and found them hilarious etc etc, and I usually take the ribbing about my "analness" with good humour.
However they seemed to be quite smug and enjoying the fact that I had somehow been caught out and the titters and smug little glances to each other were severely getting on my tits.
So, (and I know I will get flamed as a nasty and ungrateful MIL hater for this next bit) I did pipe up and say "well, you know, you DID say that the suitcase was going in the hold, and it also said so on the itinerary you gave me, so actually that's why I packed full size in her suitcase and not in her backpack" and she just smiled and said "oh yes, well, yes, I suppose we did say that".
Mumsnet, you know I didn't intend to say anything, and I totally wasn't going to but none of you were there, her and my DH sitting there smugly laughing at me was so good damn annoying. The kids had been driving me mad and I was really wound up. I was hot and bothered and had been running around the house like a madwoman getting it in a respectable state for her visit and I just wanted a nice coffee with my MIL (who I do actually like, very much) without being patronised and made to feel stupid and that smile when she admitted that she DID say the back would be checked in, was just a tad too smug and self satisfied for my liking.
And I'll tell you something else, that whole family is chaotic and disorganised as fuck and I really don't mind, I even love them for it, but they know full well that I am the organiser and that they can rely on me to be the one to cook Christmas dinner for a massive crowd of relatives, or be the one that has the wet wipes or the extra water bottle someone needs on a day out. She's not like that, and I think a part of her feels a bit inadequate (she's not, she's perfectly nice and normal) and was enjoying having one up on me a little bit too much.
And I'm sorry, but I'm not a saint and I couldn't let that slide. If I was at fault, I'd have admitted it, and laughed along but you know what mumsnetters? It bloody well wasn't so I went further. I did. I said this next bit and now I feel bad but I said it and that's that.
I said "and actually they weren't cheap products".
I said it as I was going back into the kitchen with the cups so I thought I'd just sort of let that land with her and that the subject would be changed when I got back.
But no, she starts spluttering and saying "oh.. sorry... I didn't realise.... what were they? What products were they? I'll get her some more..." wind taken totally out of her sails
And I immediately felt guilty and the wind was also taken out of my sales and I spluttered back "oh no, please don't worry, it doesn't matter, I was just saying..."
And we just sort of spluttered back and forth awkwardly, me brining up rhe fact that she'd done so much for DD, and her brining up that no, no, it was her fault really, both clearly feeling awkward and guilty while DH, the dick, just sort of sat between us and looked awkwardly back and forth.
But I went to the kitchen, and when I came back, the subject had indeed been changed by DH, who can apparently do something useful, and the rest of the visit passed pleasantly enough, we looked at more photos and chatted about this and that.
And then when leaving she said, "do please let me know what that hairstuff was, I'm off to Tesco now so I can pick them up" and I said "no, no don't worry"
Anyway, she bloody video calls DH while down the hair stuff aisle without my knowledge as I was in the garden, and he tells her he doesn't see them on the shelf (she shops at a different supermarket to us) so she bloody drives over to our usual supermarket and she video calls him again and she gets him to point out the products on the shelf to her and she buys them and brings them over.
Mortified. Absolutely mortified. But it would also be a massive lie to say I am not relieved and pleased to have them replaced. And so are my kids who were bloody starving having not had lunch, which I totally couldn't give them until the products were replaced, apparently.
So there you are people. I hope this has been a satisfying conclusion to this rather mundane tale that I honestly didn't expect to get more than 10 or so replies.
I shall leave you all to debate whether or not I am a MIL-hating entitled brat, speculate about whatever tiny detail I no doubt missed out, and await children's services knocking at my door to collect my lunch-deprived children.
Thank you all for your participation xx