He does and he can't believe that he let her get away with it for almost all of his life.
Yes - the waterworks are a particular favourite when things don't go her way but he can deal with that. It's the viciousness she spews that he finds difficult and hurtful - but he's getting there.
When we first started our relationship - he warned me but it took me to really see for myself, just what she was capable of. It was comical - she really does clutch her pearls :) it went like this -
She was losing her baby (he was 28 FGS) :)
I was taking him away from her (I wasn't, we live close)
What did I want with him (I could have spelled it out but I think that would have sent her even more over the edge)
Why did he chose me when I was a divorced mother of 3 - yes,really.
(It was true but I was 31 and had escaped an unhappy awful marriage 1 year before - She had me painted as some middle aged black widow)
It will never work(it still is 5 years later) My kids will hate him (they didn't and don't) He shouldn't have kids with me (we are ttc but she won't know until it's done or else she'll probably be on the phone every 10 seconds to make sure we can't have sex)
She continues to try and tell us what to do - for example if we say we're going to buy a black sofa she'll launch into rant about how white is better, white will last longer etc..etc.. She can't be wrong and has to be in control :) She knows she can only say so much to me before I say something and basically tell her it's none of her business and when we'd like an opinion we'll ask for one.
I could write a book, there's so much but I mostly just do the head tilt and make MmmHmm noises.
FIL is nuts and deserves a medal for putting up with her.