My DIL asked if her parents could come and stay with us for a few nights over Mothers day as space is an issue in my son and DIL house. She assured me that it was simply a case of supplying a bed, that they would be out all day returning in the evening fed. Yes, I said, they can bring their dogs if you like...
The week they were due I was below par, with what later turned into a nasty kidney infection. My DIL was aware and reassured me that it would be fine, I wasn't to worry about hosting...
The reality was somewhat different. The first night her parents arrived after a 300 mile journey they went straight to DIL house to discover no dinner and in fact they had to go shopping and cook.
DIL has one child aged 2 and is a stay at home mum.
Days 2,3,4 and 5 my DH and I ended up feeding and hosting DIL parents and on 2 of those days my son, DIL and GD as well. None of them lifted a finger.
One of the DIL parents dogs was awful, it was tiny, loud and aggressive. bit my DH several times and terrorised their other dog and our Labrador who became very stressed. DIL parents seemed amused by this bratty dog and did nothing to stop her. A distressing incident occurred when the bratty dog went for the other dog, who provoked, went for her. He got hit, hard, hid under the coffee table and my DIL shoved him her foot when he was too scared to come out. As dog lovers and owners we found this really distressing.
DIL mother kept criticising my son, which made me cross and there were several occasions where she said things that my DIL had told her that were simply untrue. EG. DIL told her that she'd like to get a part time job in a bar, but my son won't let her. DIL had told me that she couldn't work in a bar or restaurant as she had been told by the doctor she couldn't do a job that meant being on her feet as she has 'weird legs and feet'
I told the mother this who was very surprised..
I am so cross with my DIL right now. She is 37 years old, not so young, and is simply useless. I'm resenting her laziness, her sense of entitlement and her lying.
There is a lot more history over the last 7 years...and I have kept my mouth shut.
But, I'm worried that I am going to lose it with her one day and say things that should stay unsaid.
How do I swallow this anger and get over it?
