Gah - the in laws are staying - please can I vent....

[Daffodilly]

So far they have:

• Worn their muddy trainers all through the house, including upstairs on my cream carpets where DS is learning to crawl
• Enjoyed 4 home cooked meals that I have strived to prepare whilst also feeding and putting to bed a toddler and a baby, and NOT ONCE offered to help, set table or wash up.
• Drunk Coke for breakfast! DD thinks this looks like a great idea....
• Used all the hot water
• Made a huge scrape down wall on the stairs when taking their luggage up
• Upon finding me juggling breakfast for the children and general chaos of trying to get DD to pre-school, have sat down at the table and announced "A coffee would be nice"!

Oh well. DD is happy with the extra audience and I am sure I am earning credit somehow with someone. Will bite my tongue, tis only 4 more days.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest rather than moaning to DH about HIS mother.

Keep on moaning. When did they come?

Is asking them for help not an option? It sounds like hard work ...

"A coffee would be nice"....

Response: "Oh, yes, please. The kettle's just there and mine's two sugars..."

There's being a guest, which one thing, and then there's just being chuffing rude. A comment like that is over the line.

Grit your teeth, they'll be gone soon. (And then you can plan your return visit to their house and let you DC's make all the mess they want!)

"A coffee woud be nice" How on earth did you manage to bite your tongue at that?

Sounds like my Mum and Dad TBH. You are not my SIL are you?

Now they have set the standard just behave the same way in their house. Cheeky fuckers.

Yours make my in-laws sound saintly, and I thouight they were hard work! Keeping smiling and demand sexual favours from DH when they are gone!

You must set ground rules before their next visit but I would actually suggest they stay in the nearest hotel next time. They are actually disrespecting both you as a couple and your property here. Bet you they would not take too kindly to you trampling on their carpets with muddy trainers.

What is your H's opinion on his parents behaviour?. Have you talked to him about what has happened?. Its his house too and you are seemingly the only one who is cleaning up after them.

And as for, "a coffee would be nice!" these people have a brass neck.

Do not be a doormat. Be polite but firm with them.

This is why I insist on weekend only visits. Things are fraught enough in the week without adding a good reason for murder!

'A coffee would be nice' That's the sort of thing DH says to me when he's 'avin' a larf!!

Shoes off in the house is a rule everyone follows here,. as I am too lazy to want to vacuum more than absolutely necessary. Have you spoken to your DH about them?(in a calm and rational manner, of course, rather than a full-on rant)

Is it only in UK that people don´t take shoes off?

I cringe when I watch programmes of people looking at houses & they trail in and out with shoes on-around the garden, back inside-it´s so rude.

Ah - thanks for all words of support. Glad it isn't just me on the shoe thing. DH thinks I am being picky on that one. They are American and apparently it is "different there".

Fortunately they only visit and stay once VERY rarely so most of it isn't worth addressing. But it is nice to let it out to those that understand rather than simmer in silence.

They are actually nice people, just very different to me and obviously don't spend much time socialising or in other people's houses. Still the kids seem to enjoy having them here at that was the main purpose of the visit.

Vent away - you have lots to rant about....

You're doing well to keep biting your tongue. Keep going, they're not here for very much longer...

Definitely pull them up on the coffee though - the response that ginnybag suggested sounds a good one!

This reminds me that one of my ds's said recently "GrandDads have to keep their shoes on indoors, don't they?" I bit my tongue and said something along the lines of yes, they are not able to bend down easily to take them off

aarrgghh-i feel your pain! My MIL always says when she come to visit " i don't have to take MY shoes off do i?2" Bearing in mind that they live on a farm and we live in a very new house with beige carpets, is a bit bloody cheeky if you ask me. and she always says "have you no biscuits?!!?" when we just serve up coffee on its own... "OOOh, i just can't drink diet coke, it's awful". "Ohh, not semi skimmed milk, it tastes like water...."

Not horrendous in comparison to the things some people have tp put up with, but still p'sses me off!
You have my every sympathy!!

Mine cut no slack for anything - even having only got out of hospital with a premature baby the night before and trying to establish breastfeeding. Also have a toddler and said newborn and they turned up to stay as house guests AND DID NOT BRING ANY FOOD WITH THEM . Surely this must be against the law or something? At every mealtime they just sat there and waited for me to cook and serve up lunch and dinner as normal. Dh was looking after toddler and doing everything else.

They actually did this both times I gave birth and I still hold it against them. Especially as MIL lived in the era where she had two weeks in hospital post birth being waited on hand and foot. And yet if FIL has the most minor medical ailment the world comes to an end. His tinnitus is talked of in hushed tones.

KERALA, I had the same, a visit straight after birth followed by demands for tea and being told I was lazy for getting takeaway. I refused to let them visit until 3 (3!!!) days after the birth second time around and they were NOT pleased. I've never forgotten.

I've packed them off for a day sightseeing today - ah the relief. Just me and two over-tired, over-stimulated, snotty children...bliss!

Except that I just went up to put something away in their room (guest room) to find the lights have been on ALL day - blooming yanks adding to global warming everywhere they go