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    In-law problems?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Relationships
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    • K Offline
      kiasimom
      last edited by

      When I was in USA with my MIL, the trick of self-defence I learnt is to SHUT UP. I only talk when necessary.


      Till today, I still feel very much pressurised being in the same room and breathing the same air as her :faint:

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      • W Offline
        winth
        last edited by

        kiasimom:
        When I was in USA with my MIL, the trick of self-defence I learnt is to SHUT UP. I only talk when necessary.

        Yup. I learnt that trick too over the years.
        kiasimom:
        Till today, I still feel very much pressurised being in the same room and breathing the same air as her :faint:
        U know I develop headaches when I'm due to visit her. It might be self-inflicted cos I can't stop thinking about her. There is also high intensity in my breathing too and I will lose my temper easily and I vent my frustrations on the boys unknowingly. DH's face gets real red and hot when he is driving over and the usual smiles he has disappear whenever he deals with his mum. It's only when the whole event/dinner is over, then we are back into our usual behaviour.

        It's worse than going for the exams!!!

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        • M Offline
          mummy of 2
          last edited by

          At least my ILs are ok. I don’t mind going on holiday with them. We have gone on a few together, and the holidays are enjoyable.


          Can’t say the same for my SIL’s MIL. She’s also the kind who keeeps talking and is really loud. What I can’t stand is she commented that it’s very troublesome to bring my DS1 along :x Excuse me, at no point did I ask you to help look after him on the trip, and neither did you offer so pls do not make such comment. Anyway my DS1 is very well-behaved by most people’s standard, so I can’t imagien what prompted her remark. i just smiled at her and did not say anything. Also it was meant to be our family trip, but YOU wanted to tag along.

          But I did comment to my MIl that I did not like hearing that from her. Do not know if she passed on the message to SIL.

          Anyway that’s the last trip I will ever take with her. Thank goodness it was only a day trip.

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          • A Offline
            Andaiz
            last edited by

            kiasimom:
            When I was in USA with my MIL, the trick of self-defence I learnt is to SHUT UP. I only talk when necessary.

            winth:
            Yup. I learnt that trick too over the years.
            Yeah, I TRY to but very difficult. I'm literally sick when I see her and SIL fawn over one another although they hate each other. 😛 I dunno how people can get this fake loh! :roll:
            kiasimom:
            Till today, I still feel very much pressurised being in the same room and breathing the same air as her :faint:
            winth:
            U know I develop headaches when I'm due to visit her. It might be self-inflicted cos I can't stop thinking about her. There is also high intensity in my breathing too and I will lose my temper easily and I vent my frustrations on the boys unknowingly. DH's face gets real red and hot when he is driving over and the usual smiles he has disappear whenever he deals with his mum. It's only when the whole event/dinner is over, then we are back into our usual behaviour.

            It's worse than going for the exams!!!
            That's psycho-somatic and you know something??? From this year on, it seems that DH and I are really exhibiting these signs too! 😐 I always need to practice lamaze breathing :stupid: :stupid: :stupid: in her presence and yet TRY not to sound as if I'm sighing. Aiyoh!

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            • MMMM Offline
              MMM
              last edited by

              Similar with kiasimom, the approach I take with my mil (staying under the same roof) is to "shut up". I rarely talk to her although we are under the same roof. From day one, I’ve analysed her as someone who appears to be easy going but in fact, she is not that easy going. It’s like she likes to say "shui bian" but she is infact not shui bian at all.


              Till today, my mum still gives me credit for identifying this trait correctly. Not sure if it is due to our "lack of communication", she is really wierd. When hubby and I went for our shorts in dec without the kids (we deposited the kids with my mum), she would call my mum to ask when are we going and when are we coming back… It’s wierd because hubby told them the information so what is she trying to fish from my mum??? Then she also commented that why are we taking hols again as we just came back from the family holiday. My mum told her that when the school reopens we will be very tied up with the kids again so it’s a good time for us to relax now.

              Then during our recent absence, she called my mum to say things like :
              1) I am very concerned about the kids’ studies, etc… (Reason being that I am very very strict with the kids. They need to be in my room by 8pm to start their homework/ study. If they don’t, I would scold them as I want to build that discipline). I think my sils are more lax as compared to me. So my mum just told her that of course must be concerned if not how can the kids catch up etc…? You know sometimes I feel that after doing so much (eg. setting nitely revision time and investment in time and $ on their enrichment) I hope the kids don’t fail me and can get decent results when they have major exams. This probably signifies to my mil that yes, what I am doing is fruitful.

              2) We engaged a tutor for the kids. I pay the tutor on a per lesson basis. As we are not home, we would pass the $ to pils to handover to the tutor. My pils are financially independent and historically the thrifty type. On seeing the amount I am paying to the tutor, she went to make the remarks to my mum again that wow… the tutor so expensive dunno effective or not,etc… I feel that their heart ache for the $ rather than the effectiveness. This tutor has a track record with my kids and that’s why we got her. My mum knows the tutor as well and so she rebutted her.

              3) Last sat, my K1 started her class with LW. So we were preparing to go out in the morning. Again, she was pestering my hubby like… wow she needs to go for class??? How much is it etc…??? I am quite irritated as it’s obvious that it was very $ focus. We are not asking them to pay a single cent and neither are they "suffering" as a result of the kids’ enrichment lessons expenditure we’ve. They still get the allowance and my hubby pays for the household stuff so I don’t understand why she has such a response. What is wrong with sending the kids for enrichment classes? When my kids started pre-nursery she also made comments like dun need to go to school until 5 yrs. Start so early for what???

              4) She "complained" to my mum that why do I need to travel for my job. I was like, I only try to travel once a quarter and during hols when it don’t affect the kids. It’s not as though it’s extensive and she rarely see me at home. Then my mum told her it’s good that I’ve my own career and it’s good to travel once a while to gain exposure. It’s a good thing and nothing wrong with it. I feel that just because my sils don’t do it doesn’t mean I cannot do it as well?

              In my case, I am thankful for my mother who "can communicate" with my mil. As usual, I will just take a bochap attitude. Haha so much for the grouses I’ve with my mil. I just feel better after complaining and life goes on as per normal. 😎

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              • O Offline
                ooptimizer
                last edited by

                Don’t worry, a lot of in laws are like that…

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                • A Offline
                  Andaiz
                  last edited by

                  MMM:

                  In my case, I am thankful for my mother who \"can communicate\" with my mil. As usual, I will just take a bochap attitude. Haha so much for the grouses I've with my mil. I just feel better after complaining and life goes on as per normal. 😎
                  Well-said MMM, that's what this forum is for.

                  I'm glad that your mum can actually help you communicate better with your MIL as in see it from a grandparent's viewpoint. My mum did and still does (when required i.e., MIL calls her up); and I think it is easier for them to take it from another older person rather than us... 😐

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                  • K Offline
                    kiasimom
                    last edited by

                    It is indeed heart-warming to know ILs and ILs can communicate to each other.

                    This is something hard to come by.

                    Especially if your MIL can talk to your Mom.

                    To me, thanks but no thanks 😐

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                    • A Offline
                      Andaiz
                      last edited by

                      kiasimom:
                      It is indeed heart-warming to know ILs and ILs can communicate to each other.

                      This is something hard to come by.

                      Especially if your MIL can talk to your Mom.

                      To me, thanks but no thanks 😐
                      morning kiasimom, looks like we've all had a change of schedule this year eh?

                      ILs can speak to ILs but then sometimes it's to fish for information and competition lah! My MIL's favourite phrase is \"is it???!? :shock: they didn't tell me...\" 😉

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                      • K Offline
                        kiasimom
                        last edited by

                        Morning Andaiz dear,


                        My schedule is still the same la.
                        Wakes up at 5am to spend time with Smarty before he goes to school 😉

                        Talking about MIL talking to Mom, it is NEVER 😉

                        I doubt my mom will know how to handle my MIL, so I will rather keep the relationship as low-key as possible.

                        Sometimes, it is no good to be too acquainted.
                        Same goes to staying under the same roof with MIL.

                        If we stay together, I bet we will be at each other throat.
                        By staying apart, at least there is some respect from both of us.

                        The more acquainted you are with someone, the more you will say things to hurt that person as you are too comfortable with that person.

                        That’s why till today, my relationship with my ILs are merely superficial.
                        We still respect each other but sorry, not too personal though 😉

                        I think I speak to you more than I speak to them 😉

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