MIL is being horrible atm. I know why and I feel for her

[OrmIrian]

but I am not looking forward to christmas day with her and without my mum and dad

She had a knee op in May and it's still uncomfortable and she has a bad back problem too. So I know she's in pain and not sleeping well. But we visited yesterday and she snapped and snarled at the kids the whole time. She refused to let me help get lunch ready but made it quite clear she found it hard work having us in the house. I got a bit of a telling off because I hadn't sorted DH's christmas present for her (she never knows what to get) but I did sort out the DC gifts for her. She didn't ask after my dad and when I mentioned he was out of hospital she basically said that it was crazy that he had to be in hospital so long as a heart bypass was no big deal these days.

DH has to drive 20 miles to pick up this little ray of sunshhine on Christmas day. Lunch has to be later than we'd like so she go to both morning services and stay to meet and greet.

Wish we didn't have to bother

Perhaps I should just keep her plied with sherry....

For someone in pain herself, that was a horrible thing to say about your Dad.

I can teach your how to ignore people in your house if you like .

Hope your Dad keeps well.
Good luck.

Poor you.

Defo give her sherry and drink some champagne yourself. I'd also just laugh everytime she says something nasty.

Is she staying over?

Yes probably tracey. She says it's because it's easier for us so we don't have to drive her back - but she's always stayed in previous years even when my dad has offered to take her home.

Normally she's fine - a bit annoying but no more than I can put up with.

Give her loads of sherry and she'll be fine.

She is obviously acting up because she is in pain and grouchy, or has got to that stage of old ageness when you can say and do what you like.

I cannot wait for that, personally.

In terms of the knee op pain, my mum had a knee replacement after a moped accident and saw a sports therapist - he worked wonders and she went from not being able to walk almost at all to being back to her normal self.

But for Christmas Day, keep topping up the sherry and hopefully she'll be so tipsy she'll disappear off to bed early.

Might it be worth your DH having a tactful word with her? Being in pain is shit and does make a person ratty, but it's no excuse for prolonged rude behaviour towards people who are looking after you. Especially when those people are also having a shit time.

Right! A large bottle of amontillado is the top of my shopping list

thanks for the input my dears. I am feeling better today as she rang DH and apologised.