Wot? No in-laws survival thread?

We had a friend round tonight who was just back from what sounded like the most hellish day on earth at their in-laws. Recounting the day they’ve had I’m surprised nobody was murdered. A catalogue of totally inexcusably obnoxious behaviour from their MiL

If it was me having to endure that shit, it’d definitely be new patio time

The murder rate generally goes up at Christmas, doesn’t it? I’m not surprised!

I think there's someone on this thread that has some insight into that subject:

Definitely makes me glad I found the courage to send my lot on their merry way a few years ago.

😲 😮 😲 Seems a bit drastic...

We had MIL, stepfather-IL, MIL's sister and her husband stay a couple of nights with us, we get on OK - we don't talk politics but have plenty of other things in common.

Christmas morning was a walk to the pub where we were joined by my mum, sister, her husband and their youngest (and my daughter and the dog).My son and his girlfriend popped in for a few beers a bit later.

Boxing Day we all went up the football and to the pub.

I love this time of year, great to have everyone together. Off to Whitby for a few days over New Year which will be pretty chilled.

We've established a little pattern that kinda works for us now. We stay at home and host. Morning to ourselves, then in-laws turn up with a BIL and auntie.
Two problems - the first is that absolutely no exercise gets done. So the kids and me go steadily crazy. Her side of the family is not that mobile or interested in going out and getting muddy.
What they'd rather do is give presents. This isn't what my side of the family is like, being tight fisted Yorkshires.
So we do pressies with our 3 when they awake. This is usually a large bag each.
Then in-laws turn up and there's another large bag each. They usually come in 2 cars because they need the room for presents.
Then BIL supplies even more at some point.
Out of the vast range of useful/tat they've got, the soft toys are in their beds and the computer games are being used. The rest is still in the bags in the front room.
I think back to what I remember about Christmas and there are very few memories of gifts. It's mostly food and card games - in other words, being with each other, not "stuff".
Given what's been said above these are very minor whinges so I'll think myself lucky!

Any serious fall outs yet?

think you need to go and look at Mumsnet for some truly bonkers relative's behaviour, makes this place look very normal

I think my MiL just tried to poison my tea. Doesn’t taste right, funny sensation on tongue, evil look when she notices I’ve stopped drinking it after one sip. Maybe she’s just really bad at making tea, I’m not going to risk it 😂

Is it poison, crap tea or COVID?

@andylaightscat: I'm scared to wander around Mumsnet unaccompanied. Do you have a link?

In fairness, having a great time up here with the girlfriend’s parents. Been here since the 25th, different friends or relatives each evening, a brief walk in the day, and we’re off mtbing tomorrow. <br /><br />

only issue is the temperature. The living room is kept at furnace levels of heat, made worse when there are 8 people in it. The rest of the house is freezing.

At home we have an open plan house where turning the heating on means moving the thermostat from 16 to 18. So it’s quite a different environment. 

I hope it’s just crap tea. 

No dodgy tea here.

But I've definitely got COVID...seems a week crammed in a small house with multiple in-laws and family who have all been out at work or parties isn't a great idea... So far I'm the only one with it.

One week today since MIL arrived and she still hasn’t left the house once. TV on from 7.30am every morning without break. <br /><br />

I’m heading out on bike, she just told me that I’m stupid as it might rain. 

Just discovered she’s been charging her phone using this. She couldn’t understand why I was concerned. <br /><br />

To be fair the kink in the cable is hard to spot.

I am sure there are a few people on here who are in-laws, some of them female. Come on, let's hear the other side of the stories!

We got COVID to avoid the whole thing.

@fransinatra I'm married to a woman who would see nothing wrong in using that cable. Gets upset when I suggest that a little bit of mechanical nouse might be useful and also when I get disatisfied with repairing the same things again, after explaining how to use said things without damaging them.