Hi everyone
I need help on how to feel more comfortable with my boyfriend's family. They're lovely, lovely people who have gone out of their way to make me welcome and have spoilt me endlessly while I've been dating my boyfriend as they're really well-off. I've done everything I can to show them how grateful I am, especially as I'm not used to such treats (I'm from a rather disadvantaged background). My boyfriend is very shy and even quite awkward around his own family and still lives with them until he gets a job.
Recently I've moved in temporarily into his parents' empty flat so that we can be together and, while I enjoy living with my boyfriend, the fact he's so shy and can't help me feel more comfortable with his family is grating on me. I don't feel comfortable living there rent-free and of course have offered to pay, but that's not the real issue - I'm more scared of his mother and her explosive temper! Like I said earlier, she is very lovely but the fact we're from such different backgrounds is something I just am finding difficult to live with and I've been on the wrong end of her temper before accidentally.
Any advice would be great, especially those with experience of being a MIL, as I just can't get over the feeling that I'm an awkward stranger butting into their oh-so-different family life!