I have a lovely, lovely MIL. And as I've got all boys,I'm glad to know that it's possible

[Bubble99]

She is fab.

I have warmer relationship with her than I do with my own mother. I can talk to her about pretty much anything.

She will pick the boys up from school at a moment's notice (she is self-employed) and hassles to babysit.

She buys lovely clothes for the boys (and me!) and will also buy school shoes/PJs and other necessary stuff if I ask.

FIL takes the boys for haircuts, which is something we struggle to find the time to do. AND they have offered to take us all away for a holiday later in the summer.

So. Either she is trying to take over my family or she's lovely.

I too have a fab mil (and mum). She gives us so much help with the kids and teaches them the piano and has got them into gardening and all sorts of arty/crafty stuff that I wouldn't have thought of.
I hope I'm a lovely mil/grandma like her!

sorry guys now very definitely

my MIL is cool too. she thinks im the best thing since sliced bread! marvellously insightful woman imo

WTMIB.

Don't worry. There is an (albeit small) cloud.

Last time she babysat, DH and I arrived home at midnight to find DS3 and 4 (who were asleep at 7.30 when we left) covered in chocolate and riding around on a toy tractor and trailer that she'd sneaked in from her car when we'd left.

I took us ages to get them back to sleep.

That is her only failing. She sees a lot of the boys but is prone to acting as though she sees them once a year (ie. toys etc)

We have had to ask her many times to not buy stuff for them all the time as it makes it impossible for us to reward them with a toy if we want to and DS2 in particular gets quite 'grabby' when he's been with her too much.

Ah now,

No, I refuse to comment on the w stepmama.

Wabbit

You are too shiny. Even for my shiny, shiny thread.

i dont really have a stepmum... but my dads longterm gf is LOVELY. i like her muchly (as opposed to the last two who were horrors )

My MIL IS fab, but there is no comparison, my mother is mentally ill and has been in sheltered care for a long long long time, so for me, MIL is the mum I have never had!!!!

In fact, she may have been the reason I married DH (altho he is pretty fantastic of his own accord anyway)

i think it very much is your ttitude too - hence you are a lovely person also

quite right custy, i am bloody lovely, me

Having a rubbish MIL, it really is nice to hear that some people do have nice ones, it makes me smile and feel kinda jealous in a nice way

I wish I knew ur secrets? It's refreshing to know there are nice ones out there. Maybe we should start a 'how to be a nice MIL' thread and i can pass the tips onto my hubbys mother.....

I met my in-laws at DH's sister's wedding, we'd only been going out a couple of months. First thing MIL said to me was that her DS was so happy and it must be all because of me.

I was blown away that she would say that before getting to know me for herself and that her son's happiness was more important than her own opinion.

She is still as lovely. I'm also close with my Mum and they get on well. Both sides get together for Christmas etc and have a great time.