I do actually like his mum and sister (she is single and just turned 40) but it's the same every year, and in fact the same everytime we go out together. His mum and sister argue over everything, and such ridiculous things like, "you used to make me tidy my room when I was little - why did you do that?". We just came back from a birthday celebration meal for our 1 year old dd, and mother and sister in law went too. Firstly we had to change restaurants and move from our booked decorated table at Strada because m-i-l couldn't walk down the steps (not her fault, I know). Then she complained at the next restaurant we found, after a walk in the cold rain with 2 little ones, because she doesn't like Italian food ("ciabatta - what's ciabatta?"). There was faffing at the table over everything, and arguments between s-i-l and m-i-l as usual. It wouldn't have been so bad but DH was so stressed out by then that it spoiled it for me. is the same shambles at Xmas. It is my favourite day of the year, especially since we have 2 little ones now, but I can see it's going to be another stressful day if they are there too. My husband doesn't relax, and I end up with a headache and a feeling that it shouldn;t be this way.
Am I being selfish - should I welcome them into my home, especially since they'd be on their own otherwise. To top it off, mil doesn't even celebrate Xmas as she's a Jehovahs witness, and makes everyone aware of that several times throughout the day.