MIL painted my house whilst I was in hospital

I envy your mil her energy?
But very odd.

inside of the cupboards glossed white?

Magnolia is for people who can't make up their minds - at least that bit will be clean and fresh and you can paint over it when you decide what colour you want.
but not feeding the children? another

I have a young relative whose first MIL used to go in and re-arrange the furniture when she was at work.

I may envy your MIL her energy but not her chutzpah.
If your BP is sky high I should not be at all surprised.
If finances permit I would book a decorator to remedy the damage forthwith.

Other than that, speechless!

It’s not just me then, other people also think painting inside kitchen cupboards is weird?? Never seen that done before

The thing is we do intend to redo the girls’ new room by Christmas, so if she really wanted to paint specifically, there was actually a room to be painted. Just... not the kitchen??

I’m not getting stressed out over it - things are bad enough healthwise already - and it’s done now, but randomly painting someone else’s house sems so weird to me.

DH does not have any explanation for this even though he was apparently in the house the whole time? I feel like I would pass comment if I saw my mum go for my walls with a brush and a tin of Dulux?

Personally I'd repaint it as soon as even if I had to pay someone to do it.
Does your Husband do these things to wind you up? Or is he spineless where his Mum is concerned?

And bringing a new baby home to a newly painted house? Not a good idea. I would be furious.

Sorry no you're not being unreasonable, far too tolerant by half.

I am super p*ssed that there were three adults in the house and no one fed my girls though. That I am definitely not being unreasonable about. The house is full of food.

Give them the rocket they deserve! But mind your BP x

Odd thing to do, but since you were intending to update the kitchen next year it doesn't make any difference, does it? - maybe she just thought it would look better for you until the update...?

Did the kids not get grouchy when they were hungry? If they did and no-one fed them, I agree it's awful, but well-fed kids doing without food for six hours is not going to do them any lasting harm.

The painting while you were in hospital is well wacky.

I think your MIL has the cheek of the devil, muffin! I’d be mad as hell. But even more puzzling is your DH not just stopping her. And not feeding the children? Are you sure this really happened, or has one of your DC’s got the same vivid imagination my DGS all seem to have?

I honestly have no idea, I am genuinely at a loss to explain or understand. It seems such a leftfield thing to do?

The kitchen is high gloss white units and black worktops - only a year old and too expensive for me to pull out next year as it is high quality stuff. It looks so much worse against the magnolia than the previous dusky lilac did.

I am certain I never told her when I planned to redecorate each room, either. I mean I suppose at least she didn’t strip any wallpaper?

I don’t know why I am trying so hard to rationalise this I think because it would never have occurred to me to redecorate her house except under her express instruction?

Who reported the detail to you that the kids went unfed for 6 hours? Was it maybe 5 1/2?

As for the painting, it's a bit odd, but as you say yourself, not that big a deal. I'd be, like, shrug. And redo them when I got around to it.

I disagree, it IS a big deal. Thete’s “A lovely surprise” and there is OMG.
Do you remember Changing Rooms?
One woman actually wept and it was not with joy either.
Magnolia with white units?
???

Muffin, I think you need to say something like... I appreciate you were trying to help me but please don't do it again, without asking me first.

How can anyone shrug off a MIL who behaves like that?

You're a better person than me, Muffin! I'd be incandescent with rage about that and especially not giving the wee ones some food.

White high gloss units against magnolia walls must look awful.
You are right to be annoyed. I think it's an unbelievable cheek.

From what you've said about your mil before she seems very controlling and not interested in anyone else's opinions or feelings.
I'd get the kitchen repainted as soon as you can or it'll be a constant reminder of her insensitivity.
Also, try to teach your DH a little about childcare.
Good luck with your pregnancy.

I am with all those who said what the hell was your DH doing while all this ignoring of unfed children and painting was going on? Did he not have the whit to say “Hang on a mo; she might not want this, let’s not do it!” And magnolia? I would shoot anyone who brought magnolia paint into my house, having suffered it in all the Army quarters we ever lived in. The powers in charge of decorative good order paraphrased Henry Ford - “You can have any colour as long as it is Magnolia!” But to be honest, what would have upset me more is that she glossed the inside of the kitchen cabinets. I hope she taped up the edges before she started!!

Blimey! Lost for words.

I'd be flipping furious. Nobody has the right to inflict their bad taste on your home.

It must have taken her hours to do as well, even if she used quick drying gloss. They probably didn't feed the kids due to the disruption in the kitchen but they could have ordered a takeaway.
You MIL is one strange woman.