Sister-in-law..grrr

[CinderellaRach]

I have a sister-in-law who is 10 years older and very patronising towards me.
She's recently retired as a teacher and is only in her mid thirties so she has alot of time on her hands.
I have a 22month old and expecting in a few weeks my second son.
She tells my toddler off constantly about silly things for example he is not to sit on her lawn whilst eating his snack he must do as the adults do and sit on the chair in the garden.She'll shout at him and when he cries she'll say 'look at him having a tantrum'.
I was too shocked to say anything in all honestly.
She then tells me how she is going to 'teach' and 'help' me discipline my son.
She also says very patronising things to me.
I always tell my son off when he's naughty cannot stand bratty children!
Dh has never liked her but as I'm a stay at home mum(for the time being)and she is retired now we agreed a while ago to meet once a week.I do not drive yet still having lessons so we go round her house(we're in the middle of moving from apatment to house)and while at her's her rules apply.Her partner is also there as he's double her age and retired.I hate the fact that I haven't passed my driving test yet and therefor don't have the freedom to go when I want.
Anyway sorry for boring you!!Just don't know what to do in these situations!
Sick of putting up things like this,especially while heavily pregnant.
Meant to be meeting her tomorrow.Dreading it already!!She cancelled me last week shall I make an excuse for this week??
Last saw her at a family event and she kept on staring at me so in the end I asked if she was ok and she replied 'I could just put you in a little bag and spin it around'!She's a condescending cow.She has never had children and yet thinks she can 'teach' me parenting skills.

I thought that Ragwort, strangely I recognised it was old when I saw that odd sentence about putting OP in a bag and spinning it round.

Lifestory, Start your own thread!

My sister is like this - no children and yet highly judgemental of people's (mine) parenting, she makes up ridiculous rules - must sit down for snacks, not to run on certain areas of the garden and just generally looks horrified at my toddler DS.

Just wish she would have kids so she would realise what parenting is really like!

My advice is if you don't want to go, don't go. Life is too short

Arghh zombie thread!

Oh she's so jealous she could explode isn't she? I would maintain a calm, dignified distance if I were you. Good luck with your driving!

A bit harsh, Ragwort.

lifestory, why not post your problem again, on its own thread. I'm afraid you may now get lots if people responding to this problem, and not yours!

You don't have to go full on with your refusal to see her - just say 'I understand it's your house and your rules, but they don't really work for us and the way we are raising our kids, so it's probably best we don't come over.'

If you are feeling particularly bold, you could add '...until they are old enough to understand how set in your ways you are about the way things are done - perhaps it's because you have already retired and they are used to more youthful influences.' And if you're really pissed off, you could conclude with 'One of the problems is that we are teaching them that it is mean to treat people the way you treat us, and it's confusing to them to be around you saying nasty things and deliberately hurting people's feelings when we are bringing them up to know better than that.'

Oh crap - where's the zombie thread alert when you need it?