To expect MIL to NOT read my family calendar?

[WednesdaysChild]

She came round with FIL then under the pretence of checking which day a family birthday will fall on (it was only 4 days away FGS!) she pulled out my family calendar and stood reading it! Felt a bit

I do not have the most fascinating life to warrant that kind of interest but I do have one or two personal entries on it, which is why it is not pinned up on the wall.

[WednesdaysChild]

Edam: Got it now! For summer hols projects kids will be making nice paintings or scrapbooks while I get down to creating the perfect calendar.....

Front page an inocent enough M&S calendar style, followed by American Firemen with Hose type pics! Also attach an Anne Summers catalogue cut-out here and there.

OR Is there a trade magazine that produces a calendar of retirement homes?

MB: Think mine kind of assumed I would become a daughter too. FYI they are lovely in many ways but....

[spiralqueen]

YANBU. This could have something to do with my ex DP's mother who used to come round and go through the kitchen cupboards and make a list of what we needed so we could go and get it. (Never asked what we were planning to cook or if we minded for that matter)

Edam That's brill - I'd definitely go with the fake calendar on the wall and the proper one (locked) away.

[motherbeyond]

my ILS are SOO nosy, my FIL once read a text. i was fuming .
they are always snooping and see it as their right.they are of the mind dh is their child,so when we married I became their child too,and my business is their business!!! they definitely have read opened letters in envelopes...and i know they've had a look in the bathroom cabinet!

i've already told my dh the next time they come i'm planning to buy the biggest dildo i can find and put it in there.makes me pmsl just to imagine MIL as she came face to face with it..i might turn it on just before she arrives so she goes in search of the humming sound!
i think she'd call the priest to have me exorcised!

[Fanjita]

The gasman started looking through my calendar when he came to repair the boiler I'm liking the idea of putting down interesting appointments and little messages on the calendar for other readers

[Hormonesnomore]

Ok, I'll admit, I'd read any calendar or card, but I wouldn't comment on it. It would really piss me off though if it was cryptic.

Secret names? Ooh, are they rude?

[pointydog]

Instead of a calendar, face down, under a pile of rubbish, you need a diary. To keep safely in your bag

[WednesdaysChild]

Spose I could make cryptic entries refering to MN threads of the day....

wine every night.

Forbidden.

BumSex...AGAIN! lol (FYI: Never been there)

[pointydog]

I love readin g other people's calendars.

[edam]

Lynette, you have to share!

[Hormonesnomore]

This is why I took my calendar off the wall.

My mum would casually glance at it, then ask 'why are you going to the doctor on Thursday?' Ok, I'd probably have told her anyway, but I did feel it was an intrusion. I know it was on public display, but only so DH & DCs could be reminded of appointments etc.

I would suggest writing cryptic things in code or another language perhaps? Hmm a diary entirely in French - very educational

[LynetteScavo]

I'm not getting the not reading cards thing. I usually do it when I've been left alone in the room while the other person puts on the kettle. Am I being really rude?

Actually, reading MIL's birthday cards I found out her and her husbands secret names for each other. DH and I were narly crying when she came back in to the living room.

[Nappyzoneisabeetrootrunner]

oh i would defo do the calendar thing - you can print a sheet of t'internet and go for your creative life . In fact i am inspired to do one myself for when mil ever babysits!

[edam]

I'm sure between us MNers can come up with an eye-opening list that will either teach MIL a lesson or give you all a real laugh. Love 'nice arse'.

If you get a month to view, you could write '9.30, windowcleaner, remember change sheets' every Friday...

[belgo]

Stealth - I agree - looking at birthiday cards is showing a polite interest, had no idea some people would consider it rude.

[WednesdaysChild]

Edam: LOVE the idea! God, you're good! Particularly the ones about DH and the final entry.

Diary not good idea for me, I needed calendar size so I couldn't misplace it and tend to avoid google type ones because I really only log on a few times per week. (For MN fix).

Should I add detailed notes on all visitors?.... 10:30am Male visitor, nice arse!

Problem is that, at the time, I tend to give her loads of benefit of the doubt that I really wouldn't have given my mum. Need to have some pre-prepared response for future reference.

[StealthPolarBear]

I wouldn't read someone else's calendar, but mine is hanging up so I expct other people to glance at it (know the OP's wasn't).
I do read birthday cards etc that are on display - thought it was polite to show interest

[moondog]

Another example of strange assumption that others are fascinatedby your personal life.Believe me-they're not.

[SlartyBartFast]

perhaps you need a diary, or would she look at that as well.

[SlartyBartFast]

good one edam

[edam]

Oh, and make the final entry: 'Tell MIL I know she's been snooping...'

[edam]

Weds, buy a new calendar and write lots of entertaining things on it, such as 'STD clinic 10am Thurs' or 'MIL coming :-(' or 'dh to police station' or 'dh to lawyers - power of attorney re. MIL dementia' and pin it up just before she's due to arrive next time.

If she wants something to snoop at it's only right that you provide some entertainment!

[belgo]

use google calender instead.

[WednesdaysChild]

Do I now want to start retaliation actions of equal measure?

Should I start commenting on MIL's overdue library books or the frequency of her visits to certain "Docs" & ask how she knows when the boats are due in and is it still profitable? lol

[WednesdaysChild]

Again.... The calendar wasn't OUT, she had to move a Ship-Load of stuff to get it out to read it.

Really I am no saint. I admit that if I saw something pinned up on a wall with loads of big red writing all over it, then I would probably go and have a read, but then I would be very open about it.

She knew it wasn't quite right to read it so used an excuse of working out a birthday which was only days away. AIBU?

[belgo]

@ wednesday's child yes my mil has the key to my house, and I have the key to hers.