Am I over reacting?-- long vent

[Dainerra]

geez, I consider myself luckier every day spend on this board. things aren't perfect with my in-laws, but we all get along.

the way I see it, the problem isn't entirely with the OP's MIL, but with her husband who refuses to step up and set boundaries. DH and I long ago reached an agreement, he keeps his family in line and I handle mine. it took a lot of fighting for them to realize that we were serious, but we finally got the point across. Neither of us lets our family bad-mouth our spouse, and if that means my mother gets the silent treatment for a while, then so be it.

[amcipar]

There are no boundaries at all. My husband is an epileptic and this kind of created a warped mother son relationship.She feels it is her duty to control every move he makes for fear he might have a seizure. She has admitted to me more than once that maybe she should "step back" and let him live his life but alas I am on here moaning about her. Another huge issue is that my husband works for the family business , so he is with them 5 days a week 40 plus hours a week. I used to have a fabulous relationship with her until we got married. I think she realized she was longer in control of his life and it really bothers her. I really thought with time she would back off. I have discussed with my DH that he really needs to talk with her. My biggest fear is that when I have a baby that she will try to control my child as well. The only "bonus" (if you even consider it that) I have is that she is terrified of shepherds so she will no longer come to my house because Sig might "get her." One of my DHs childhood shepherds killed a goat and my MIL witnessed it. This was not a well socialized dog, who was not neutered, and had pretty serious human aggression issues. She has been around Sig since he was 8 weeks old and he has never given her a reason to fear him. I know that this is the reason she wants me to get rid of him.

I appreciate all of your input! I think I will have my husband establish some boundaries (with me by his side) and then just smile and shake it all off.


Here is Sigmond Rowe Von CrankyPants