To expect MIL to get a taxi to hospital appointment

[cheshirekitty]

MIL has numerous hospital appointments. Ususally she gets a volunteer car or my SIL takes her. I live 100 miles away and work so it is difficult for me to help.

She has a hospital appointment on a Saturday in a few weeks time. SIL will be away for the weekend on that day, and I have to take dh to airport as he is going to Brussels for a week. Volunteers do not work on Saturday, so SIL suggested she get a taxi and she blew up on her. AI (and SIL)BU in expecting the old cow to take a taxi once in her life? She is mobile and has all her facilties (but is a hypochondriac and suffers from 'nerves'.

Why does she think she cant get one? Is money an issue?

YANBU Does she have a friend who could go with her (its probably more to do with the company than the transport)

Maybe she just likes having someone she knows around because she's a bit nervous?

No, I don't think you are being unreasonable at all.

My MIL does this kind of thing all the time - she once asked DH to take a day off work & drive over 100 miles to take her to an appointment & reacted in much the same way as your MIL when he pointed out that she could get a taxi.

Is she a control freak and wants SIL at her beck & call?

No YANBU. My mother tries this trick sometimes too.

YANBU. My MIL would do this. It is completely maddening. If you offered both to organise the taxi and pay for it would she accept the idea?

Message withdrawn

It depends what it is for, I think, If something serious I can understand her wanting not to go alone. If it is just a routine appointment or for something not in any way really health or life threatening,she is the unreasonable one, I think, FWIW.

Just tell her the cost of 200 miles of fuel and say it's that or ~£10 for a taxi, but then she would have to wait till past her appointment if she still wants to pay for 200 miles of your fuel so you can drop your husband off first.

What does your husband say about it?

Who was the MNer who was being pressured to pick up her inlaws from an airport, something like 100 miles, to take them & their luggage on a 10 mile journey. It was a hilarious thread about these unreasonable inlaws who were always making demands like that (I wonder whatever happened)?

YANBU, btw, to OP!

Flack - was that the thread about someone's friend making the MNer go and pick her (the friends) parents up from the airport miles away or something??

OP - no i don't think you (or SIL) ABU, although as others have said if its something serious then maybe you could sort something out and if its not serious could she no re-book for when SIL is back from holiday or as you have said just get a bloody taxi!!

There is no problem with money, MIL spends loads of money on silly things but will not phone her grandaughter (my daughter, only grandchild) because grandaughter only has a mobile (she is at uni) and the cost will be too much.

I think it is a control thing. My SIL is not her daughter - MIL has 2 sons who really can't be bothered with her. It is usually SIL or me who do things for her, but then she will turn nasty and try to get us into trouble (especially my SIL who is a saint).
I think she is just jealous of us because we are younger.