Easter with MIL - will I cope???

[thechocolatemonster]

How am I going to get through an Easter with the whole of my husband's family??? MIL thinks that my children are really hers and I'm some kind of interloper. Seriously! Sometimes when my children (aged 3 and 1) say 'Mummy', my MIL answers 'Yes'. She gives me the creeps, is overbearing critical, bullying and rude. But cries at the drop of a hat if anybody even whispers a suggestion of anything that might be event teetering on the critical. She's got her family under her thumb and being around them makes me feel lonely and isolated.

Okay - so that's my rant. What are my practical strategies for getting through a week with them? Usually I find myself behaving like Kevin the teenager. I withdraw into myself, I'm silent and moping. I hate myself when I'm like that but find her so difficult to stand up to that 'Kevin' behaviour has become my default mode. Would love some top tips....

Choc - I wouldn't visit them. I wouldn't let other people come in the way of my enjoyment of my kids.

Hmmm - sadly you can't just write your in-laws out of your life though.

Choc - if you are not prepared to do that then you need to assert yourself once and for all. Women that cry as a way of manipulating are hard to deal with coz they make others back off. What about on day one sitting down with her and your DH and say I feel very uncomfortable visiting you coz of X & Y. Can we agreee some ground rules going forward? If she crys then say something like you are up-set lets talk again when you have calmed down. And make sure you do talk again. If you can cope with your kids then you can cope with a MIL crocodile tears!

i have to agree with las vegas .try talking to her before the event and let her know how you feel calmly and rationally.if decides to turn on the tears dont be put off , some women just see crying as a get out clause for everything dont let her get away with it.