We just came back from a weekend trip to my PILs. Usually I come back and have a rant on Mumsnet, or just swallow the frustration, but this time - I can't believe it, even dh said that it was a good visit! And instead of MIL dropping hints to dh that maybe we ought not to visit again fro a while (because FIL gets so stressed by our visits) she was encouraging him to bring us all again because it had cheered FIL up so much!
And to my utter astonishment FIL put his arm around me and gave me a kiss when we left. This is the man who, when we part, hasn't even looked at me let alone shaken my hand for nearly 5 years.
I have done my best to be a good daughter-in-law, even though I have lost respect and liking for them, is it paying off at last? Has he finally realised that while I may not be the woman he would have chosen for his son, I am nonetheless not the spawn of the devil?