Think I offended the MIL

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

You know how sometimes you just forget that other people don't hang out on here and think the same things, on occasion?

I am going to get myself in trouble

We are going on a self-catering holiday soon with lots of the in-laws (don't ask, it was not my idea) MIL rang me this week to tell me her latest plan. Apparently, when we get there, all the women are going to go to the supermarket to stock up for the week.

I said Bloody hell, where are we going on holiday, to the 1950's?

Ooops. And I will have no internet while we are there and she will drive me bonkers. If anyone else has some verbal diarrhoea stories to share then please do.

I wouldn't put up with that either

She is not that bad as MILs go, I just don't want to go on holiday with her really. I don't want to go on holiday with anyone who doesn't live in my house.

I must be antisocial too then. Holidays are stressful enough without adding extended family into the mix

I may have to take notes and report back
We don't go until the Whit holidays.

She is really looking forward to it

Another antisocial person here- we have booked holiday accommodation for August that has 4 bedrooms, and we only need two. (Really good value student accommodation that is let out for the summer). DSD has been coached to tell all extended family that we only have two bedrooms as BIL and DH's aunt are apparently coming on holiday to the same destination at the same time as us-joy! I will have a nervous breakdown if they stay with us! You are a saint op.

Maybe you could suggest the men iron all the creased clothes the suitcases while you are out?

How long is the trip? I'm sure it'll be okay.

It's a week, somewhere sort of isolated ish, ie near a small village. It could be worse, one of the ILs was campaigning for a remote Scottish island but luckily we found something marginally less dreadful.

It's going to be a long week.

JojoCK, the student accommodation sounds like a great idea for a holiday! Do you mind me asking where it is?

Sounds like hell.

I'd be infectiously very ill and unable to go.....

Don't tempt me, Fairylea.

The children have already had chickenpox so that's out...

Look on the bright side, it will be a lot cheaper healthier week if you don't involved the men folk in the shopping.

(My DDs much prefer to take DH shopping due because he buys biscuits and doughnuts.)

Just make it very clear that those males who know how to cook do and those who don't wash up and hover at the end of the week.

Beatlegirl, I have sent you a pm as the destination outs me!

Don't go. Can you break your leg?

what would she/they do if you just stayed with the menfolk when they left for the supermarket? you know as if you were a man, pretended you never even considered going to the market just because you have a vagina? would there be a commotion?

You must be a saint as no way I could do that .

Id just give her a list of things to buy for you guys & pass on going to the supermarket!

I was about to say, just pretend you've grown a penis for the week! deciding who goes to the supermarket based on genitalia, rediculous idea!!

What will the "menfolk" be doing while you are all at the supermarket - something involving fire or heavy machinery presumably?!!

We had a holiday like this once, the women did the shops and cooked all teh food, the men did the cooking on the day we had a BBQ...

only the meat obv not the salads and bits that went with it

Now that all depends can you leave any dc with the men folk and then have long coffee while shopping

Broken leg, growing a penis...I think I need something that won't involve surgery or a cast. She would promise to look after me for the week

Arf@ BBQs, they are planned too. Not DH's forte really, as a non-meat eater. He must have really let her down.

Now make sure you put on a nice frock and some lippy

Thank fuck my MIL is a feminist.

I wouldn't leave the DC with a bunch of menfolk if there's barbecues involved. MIL did that with her DS1 (my XH) when he was small. He was lucky: not only did he survive, but after extensive surgery he recovered the full use of his hands. (Could have set him up for a successful life of crime actually, as he no longer had fingerprints.) MIL never quite recovered from the guilt of not being there to prevent it. FIL, who was there, didn't seem all that worried.

Disclaimer: not all menfolk, obviously. But if the OP's MIL exemplifies the family culture, I'd say it's a risk not worth taking.

Annie, presumably the OP's DH is one of the "menfolk" and is a reasonable human being.

Please say what TeWi said about the ironing.

Well yes, he is a pretty decent human being actually and perfectly able to supervise the children even without having any ovaries

In fact he is out with the DCs now and I have no idea what they are doing.

I might make myself some MIL bingo cards to keep myself amused while we are away. She reads the Mail and has a 'thing' about benefits - she wouldn't last 5 minutes on MN. I think I need to see it as a challenge.