Before you all jump to the conclusion that this is going to be one of the typical MIL posts, I've got to break it to you gently...My MIL is AWESOME!!! and it's her birthday today so Happy Birthday, Joan!!
The other day, Mary at Now Entering Momville blogged about what your life would be if you had married your first love...for those of us who didn't. And I was quickly reminded of how thankful I should be that I didn't marry college boyfriend because either I would be in MIL hell, be estranged from said MIL from hell, or she would be buried in my backyard. Can you say control freak?! College boyfriend's mother actually set him up on a lunch date with one of her co-workers...we had been dating for 3 years!! NICE!
I have another MIL from hell story...When my husband and I moved to Florida, his only relative in Florida at the time was his dad and his new wife, The Beast. The Beast was/is another über-control freak who was so, so difficult to get along with. She would actually call me at my work and chew me out for not calling them on a weekly basis - hello?! not my parents! don't even like you!! The last straw for me was at Cameron's 1st birthday party, The Beast actually said to my baby, "No, let Grandma Beast, do that. Obviously Mommy doesn't know what she's doing does she!" I'm not lyin'!! So after my husband had a discussion with his dad about how we didn't like her behavior or comments, his dad and The Beast chose to exit our lives...
Joan on the other hand has ALWAYS been a wonderful MIL, friend, and confidant. She and her husband, Mark lived in Connecticut until about 7 years ago. I would call her in the fall and say, "I bet the leaves are turning and are looking gorgeous right now. I sure miss that; you know autumn is my favorite season" and poof! she would send me a ticket so I could visit. When they moved down to Florida, they chose a community about 30 minutes away...she later told me one of the reasons they chose the area was so that they could be close to the grand kids, but not too close to crowd us.
Joan has taken all of my children one day a week prior to entering school (she still does so with Jack-every time she has him, I get "Hi Momma" e-mail pictures of him - a treat to receive at work!). She does this to help us out financially b/c she knows daycare costs are a bitch. Speaking of financial help, she contributed money each month to the girls' college funds (which are now paid for...). Anytime a child is sick, Grandma is there to take care of them. Grandma will take the kids to parks, movies, etc. etc. My kids are truly blessed to have her in their lives as am I.
I could literally go on and on, but I also don't want to make you nauseous with the utter awesomeness which is Joan. Don't get me wrong, she's not perfect, but neither am I...I sure did luck out with her though!!!
21 comments:
She sounds like a great MIL!! I have a great one too--we're lucky!! The Beast sounds scary!!
How did you get that umlaut? youre very computer savvy!!
Tell Joan I said Happy Birthday. She is awesome people... I KNOW her!
Now I feel bad... my MIL is pretty awesome too although sometimes she can make me crazy with her BS
Sounds like a wonderful MIL. Love your nicname for the Beast. Your MIL feels the same about you or she wouldn't be so good at respecting you and boundaries. How refreshing! WHat a lovely way to honor her and celebrate her special day. You rock!
My hubby's parents died before we met so I don't have a MIL, but he has mine! LOL. I would love to see the blog he would write about his MIL! LOL
You're very lucky! I lucked out with a pretty great MIL too :)
That was a really sweet post! You are the first person I have ever heard say how great there MIL is other me. Mine is awesome to and other than taking the kids one day a week they seem to do the same stuff. Thank God for them!
Happy birthday to your great MIL!
My MIL is awesome, too! She's really a second mother to me. I LOVE her and I know I am her fave DIL!! hee hee!
But seriously, she never hesitates to help out with my girls, I know I can go to her for anything. I am so lucky to have her for my MIL :)
The Beast sounds horrible! I don't know if I could have held my tongue during my firstborn's 1st birthday party. I'd have probably said something like, "since I'm the one who labored for 15 hours and then proceeded to push all 9 lbs of her out of my vagina, we'll be doing things MY WAY!"
Happy bday Joan! I am so jealous of your fab MIL! My MIL is a worthless person who I hate to be around. But we won't go into that here. I also had a very similar situation with my FIL and his wife, whom I referred to as the Step-Monster. They decided not to talk to us for about 6 years. And then she died suddenly. Now my FIL is GREAT and back in our lives and being the grandpa that my girls deserve.
Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves her MIL! Thanks for coming to the fair with me yesterday and appreciating my humor. I wondered whether people would think that was totally weird, but during the fair here, people will occasionally just toss an "on a stick" into their conversations, especially on the radio. With the right timing, it can make you snort.
Yay for cool MIL's. We had a time where we weren't on the best of terms, but now things are fab and I couldn't be happier!
Happy Birthday! :)
You are certainly lucky to have a wonderful MIL. I do not. Mine does not like me at all. And she takes it out on my children. So, we tend to keep our distance.
Wow, you are very lucky! Happy Birthday Joan!
Wow, you are very lucky! Happy Birthday Joan!
How great that you have such a great MIL!! All of my in-laws are wonderful and my husband is from a very large family, so I feel really blessed. My own mother isn't at all involved with my kids, so you really are lucky that she has that relationship with them.
Aawww! Sydney and I loved your sweet MIL story. You are lucky to have -not only- a MIL you can tolerate, but one you actually enjoy being around.
Hey, did I mention, I don't have cancer? YAYAYAY
I also struck the MIL jackpot. She is so awesome that I could and probably should do a post about it. Happy Birthday to Joan!!
Thanks for your suggestion on the car seat issue!
How lucky for you! I am so glad I didn't marry college fiance - his family was nice, but I was never really accepted (different culture, language barriers, religion).
Most people I've dated have had very nice parents and especially mothers. There have been a few relationships that I've stayed in too long because I didn't want to break up with the family. :0)
Happy Birthday, Joan!
You are lucky! I sort of have a love/hate thing with my MIL. Not truly hate, but supreme annoyance.
Joan sounds lovely.
I have a brilliant MIL too.
The Beast sounds like a real bitch. Sad to say goodbye to your father-in-law, but not her.
Some of us are lucky in MIL departments aren't we?? I got lucky the first go round AND the second go round as well! And I'm still close to the first one, so have two:)
I'm trying to catch up...I can't believe I missed so many of your posts!!! WTH was I anyway????
Your MIL sounds great! Its always good when you have special people in your life like that....especially when they help out with the kids.
Yeah, good riddance on the Beast!
Hope your MIL had a great birthday!
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