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Mother's Day challenge - two mothers

We have a Two Mother situation - DH's mother and SIL's husband's mother.  Both are local, both want to do MD on Sunday.  SIL is a bit... controlling?... and she's determined that they're doing to do dinner with her MIL at 6, and DH's mother's MD will be at 4:30 at their house in the form of a BBQ.

My thinking is, if my MIL is fine with that, I'm good.  However, I really don't like not being given a choice or asked for my thinking here.  To me, a brunch would make more sense and break up less of the day. 

It's not a hill I'm willing to die on, as things are going well with the ILs and I want to keep it that way, but I'm curious - have you dealt with similar situations and what did you do?

Re: Mother's Day challenge - two mothers

  • suze423suze423 member
    Third Anniversary
    So is this your H's mother and his sister's MIL?  I don't see why you and your H's plans would have to anything to do with his sis's MIL.  If she chooses her MIL over her own mother then so be it.
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  • My MIL would prefer to celebrate the day with both of her (local) kids and their spouses together.  And since SIL committed to having dinner with her MIL, her mother/my MIL is relegated to earlier in the day (mid-afternoon), making us need to adapt and thus waste the day completely.
  • Trust me, it could be A LOT worse. I'd show up a little earlier to the BBQ so you don't feel bad about leaving in time to make it to dinner. If you're a tad late to dinner, who cares? Dinner is never really on time anyways. At least they aren't both trying to do dinner. The best advice I have is to stop worrying about what everyone else feels and enjoy your day. If people are going to love you, they'll love you. If this is going to offend someone, they're just finding reasons to dislike you and why would you want to be continually trying to please someone who cannot be pleased?  GOOD LUCK!

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  • imageJoEsther:
    My MIL would prefer to celebrate the day with both of her (local) kids and their spouses together.  And since SIL committed to having dinner with her MIL, her mother/my MIL is relegated to earlier in the day (mid-afternoon), making us need to adapt and thus waste the day completely.

    Not for nothing, but if your SIL and her husband made plans with his mother first, then like ANY OTHER manners driven event/exchange, the plans agreed to first take precedent.

    What if SIL's Husband's Mother would like to celebrate the day with all of her kids together and dinner was the only timeframe that worked?  If she or her kids (since many times mother's day invitations are offered by the children) got around to organizing it first....

    And has your DH or his Sister actually OFFERED an alternative?

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  • We made it work. I just asked my mom to join us. I don't know your situation or if anyone even gets along but we make it a big group thing.
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  • Ok., so SIL has decided that the celebration for her mom (your MIL) will be at 4:30 at her house? 

    A couple thoughts -

    1- in the future, your DH could talk to SIL ahead of time about the plans and tell her what would work for you all.

    OR

    2- if SIL doens't want to listen,m you and DH can simply decide "this is what we're going to do" and make the plans before SIL does and get it on the calendar.

    OR

    3- while MIL wants to celebrate w/ both of her kids, your DH can still say "unfortunately 4:30 doesn't work for us, but we'd like ot take you out to brunch".  I get it that you want to work w/ her and that's nice, but you CAN say "no" if 4:30 isn't good.

    BUT - that being said - I guess I'm not really seeing how brunch at 11 is any less "breaking up the day" than a BBQ at 4:30.

    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

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  • SueBearSueBear member
    Ancient Membership 2500 Comments Combo Breaker

    Honestly, I think Mother's Day brunch is a nightmore.  I guess not so much if someone is hosting at their home, but I am celebrating Mother's Day on Saturday just so we don't have to deal with crowds!!!  I'd be happy if someone else decided to host.  Offer to bring something that can be made the day before (wine, cake, etc.) so you're not working during the day.

    I think you are choosing to be angry.  Nothing is wrong with 4:30 - - you have the whole day until then.   The only thing that would bother me is if you feel that your MIL is "rushed out the door" so that SIL could see her MIL.

    You could also tell MIL that 4:30 doesn't work for you but you'd love to see her earlier - or later.

     

  • imageSueBear:

    Honestly, I think Mother's Day brunch is a nightmore.  I guess not so much if someone is hosting at their home, but I am celebrating Mother's Day on Saturday just so we don't have to deal with crowds!!!  I'd be happy if someone else decided to host.  Offer to bring something that can be made the day before (wine, cake, etc.) so you're not working during the day.

    This too!  DH and I host every single year and honestly - it makes me kind of not want to do Mothers Day.  MIL complains that we no longer go out (DH and I always paid and we can no longer afford to do that, plus she and FIL have been so obnoxiusly late in the past, I said "i'm done" w/ going out w/ them), it's work to get ready, and even though now we just order in Chinese, it's still clean-up at the end too. 

    I'd LOVE it if someone else hosted!! 

    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

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