Would you think this was funny coming from your mom-in-law?

Question

Dear Darling Son and That Person You Married,



Merry Christmas to you, and please don't worry. I'm just fine considering I can't breathe or eat. The important thing is that you have a nice holiday, thousands of miles away from your ailing mother.



I've sent along my last ten dollars in this card, which I hope you'll spend on my grandchildren. God knows their mother never buys them anything nice. They look so thin in their pictures, poor babies.



Thank you so much for the birthday flowers, dear boy. I put them in the freezer so they'll stay fresh for my grave. Which reminds me -- we buried Grandma last week. I know she died years ago, but I got to yearning for a good funeral so Aunt Berta and I dug her up and had the services all over again.



I would have invited you, but I know that woman you live with would have never let you come. I bet she's never even watched that videotape of my hemorrhoid surgery, has she?



Well son, it's time for me to crawl off to bed now. I lost my cane beating off muggers last week, but don't you worry about me.



I'm also getting used to the cold since they turned my heat off and am grateful because the frost on my bed numbs the constant pain.



Now don't you even think about sending any more money, because I know you need it for those expensive family vacations you take every year. Give my love to my darling Grandbabies and my regards to whatever-her-name-is --the one with the black roots in her hair who stole you screaming from my bosom.



Merry Christmas,



Love, Mom

The situation isn't real, but I'm still hurt that she would even think of sending something like that to me. And here I am thinking the whole time that she liked me.

I never did anything to her, to even allow her to even think of sending something like this to me. It was sent only to me. How am I supposed to know if she put together some sick story to make me feel bad that I married her youngest son. Oh god I know I will confront her tonight, but I really need some support.

Answer 1

Hi!

Wow!... I am reminded of that commercial where this woman and her Mother-in-law were in the bathroom discussing the uses of an anti-bacterial spray, and the the woman dryly asks her MIL if she uses the spray, will it make the MIL forget where they live.
Your MIL is a classic dysfunctional "out-law" just bursting with ugly hostility, and it's a blessing for your family that she's too far away to access your innocent babies. I would write back a sweetly gracious letter in this format...
Greetings you parasitic old bat...Ha,ha! You really had me going with that going to the grave business, as I was hoping you'd be dead by now, but no such luck. I am sorry to see that you are still possessed by that unhealthy delusion of believing your son is your husband or father, and in the grips of this fantasy, you cannot recall that having a family in any day and age is a very expensive, labor intensive, 'round-the-clock job. That said, thanks for telling us you don't need any more money, as the costs of school and doctor visits for our babies does not leave us enough to take on adult dependents, no matter how legitimately insane, decrepit, infantile, and malignant they may be. I'm glad for the timely arrival of your letter, as the holiday season lead me to a momentary lapse of judgment, and silly me, I thought I should let you have visitation with your grand babies. I'm glad you reminded me that this would be an exponentially stupid idea, as you cannot even be civil in your sense of humor. I will keep your letter as a constant reminder of why I should always keep many miles between you and us.
Sincerely, Black Roots-What's-Her-Name.
That your husband is with you so many miles away from his awful mother actually speaks well of his maturity and sensible paternal instincts. Bless you all. Don't let her get to you.

Answer 2

well, at least she is being honest, so now you know what your up against.
it is pretty funny though. you could respond to each statement.


Dear Mom.
It is almost always wonderfull to hear from you. but please dear you must be eating and breathing at least a little how else could you continue to live?

Thank you sooo much for the cash. I hurried right to the grocery and bought lots of doughnuts for the little ones, we can fatten them up to be just like their dearest grandma.

Aunt Berta was a very good person, Wasnt she ? Seems such a shame to lose the best first dosent it ?

How are your hemmroids by the way ? Being constipated all the time must be a horrible strain. They make laxitives especially for very old people like you. and suppositories and enemas. You might even by now be considering hiring a nurse to help you a couple times a week. Please Mom you really must take better care of yourself.

Oh mom, Im so sorry that you got mugged, well one good thing if you were someone who was really pretty you might have been raped as well. So I am happy all you lost was your cane. Please be carefull.
Frost on your bed. I hope thats not a reflection of your sex life Ha Ha. No really, if it numbs the pain, how much can you really complain ? (hey that rhymed)

Oh and about the money Ive been sending. We are going to Hawaii for two months starting next week. I dont have the address handy but maybe we can send you a card.
Whats-her-name says hello to you too (bi***)

Bye for now

Answer 3

Either she has a strange sense of humour and is insensitive at best and you could ignore it OR send her a letter back saying what a lovely letter you received from her and will spread the joy of the contents with your friends and family.

If my Mother in law sent me something like this to be nasty, I would never bother with her again. I have/had a nasty grandmother, 5 years ago when she threw her usual nasty comments at me. I got up and walked out of the family dinner and have never bothered with her again. Despite her letters and other family members expecting me to 'suck it up'. I have stood my ground. It is best to keep poison/nasty people out of your life. She will loose in the long run and its all her own doing.

Earlier this year I read a book by Dr Laura in which she touched upon nasty people, she questions why would you expose yourself or your children to someone like that. You wouldn't put up with bad behaviour from a stranger, why would you put up with it from someone who is suppose to be family.

I have to wonder what your husband has to say about it and did she include the $10.

If will hurt for a bit, but remember in a few days you will be back to your happy self.

It will only bug you for as long as you let it and maybe unfortunately that is what she wanted.

Answer 4

Dala - was that a Christmas card that your mom-in-law bought and sent to your husband? Or one of those gag Christmas letters?

Is your mom-in-law destitute? Starving? Did she dig up her mother's remains? Did she send you a videotape of her hemorrhoid surgery? NO?!?

Then, I thinks it's hilarious!

Please know, how you hear what someone says is determined by your interpretations, and your interpretations flow from your past. This is very important to know, especially if you find that you overreact to what others say or habitually get your feelings hurt. . . . Remember, what someone said is not necessarily what you heard, and what you heard is not necessarily what they meant.

Answer 5

is that a card or a letter she personally wrote ?? either way is prtty hurtful and rude ... thr are many more funny cards available ... this is ridiculous ... do not confront her .. try speaking politely to her ... if she says its was just a joke then laugh it off and tell her u thot so n the go out buy an even more meaner card and send it to her ... well if she can play a joke so can u right ???

Answer 6

First off, "it is funny"! :) Don't take it personnel, I doubt if she is that creative. She probably heard or seen it somewhere and thought she play a joke on you and her son. (Thinking you have a great sense of humor and would enjoy this laugh.) If she has never done something like this in all the years you have been married to her son, then its one of two things, . . . she has lost her mind and then is not responsible for her actions, or she has a dry sense of humor, and probably waiting for you to call her." LYAO"! I would never take anything like that serious. In fact, later on in life I may send it to one of my sons and see what kind of reaction I would get. Its too funny!!! :)

Answer 7

Where is your Husband during all of this....lost in space. Get over it, She just don't like you. Have your Husband talk to her, maybe he can be a go between.
you are troubled.... I had a Mother-in-law, pure evil. I ignored her every move and still do. Try it, it may help.
If not, do as you said, Confront her and tell her off nd...Stay away.

Answer 8

That B*%&$! I'd be hurt too...but dont worry about it, as long as u know that u r a great wife and mother thats all that matters...u kno screw her and her complaints u dont have to live with her nor do you have to please her. Clearly u r doing something right if ur husband is happy! Hope u feel better!

Answer 9

if it's not a real situation, how do you know she's thinking of sending something like that to you? I'm a little confused.

Answer 10

I think its kind of funny, it either means that she really does like you and feels comfortable joking with you about that sort of thing, or she really dislikes you. However, if she disliked and resented you that much, you would definitely know by now. So, she probably just feels that comfortable with you.