NotGerard's Christening

[laughorcry]

happened last weekend. The last couple of weeks have been OKish with MIL on the basis that she made all the decisions and pretty much had her own way.

I have managed to bite my lip through all the arrangements. Even when she was incredibly rude to my mum (who is, of course, even less important than me in ds' life and therefore has no right to even comment on the arrangements according to MIL).

What I couldn't cope with was her bahaviour at the christening. It was mostly her friends there - my mum came, but I didn't encourage anyone else from my side as I thought it would be ghastly.

She kept taking the baby off whoever was holding him and "introducing" him to her friends.

That was annoying, but what really wound me up was the way she harped on about the Gerard-name business.

Three separate people (all of her generation) told me that it was such a shame that I couldn't have agreed to this as it meant so much to MIL.

Can't believe she is still going on about it

[anorak]

Well hopefully for every one person who backed her up (probably without really thinking it through) there were many who thought she was rude and bossy.

Give people enough rope and they always hang themselves in the end. Well done for keeping your cool.

[sweetmonkey]

you poor thing!!
do you think she'll ever give up and just butt out of yr lives! (sorry if that seems harsh but she sounds terrible)

well done to you for not calling yr baby gerard though!!

[acnebride]

unbe, unbe, unbeLIEVABLE!

laughorcry, I suggest getting her a rabbit for a Christmas present with a big nametag round its neck.

I know for sure that my mum was a bit shocked at our choice of name for ds (a certain rigidity about her face, as if fighting off a small cerebral incident) but I cannot imagine for a moment that she would even have said 'oh, X is such a lovely name', never mind carried out this CAMPAIGN OF INTIMIDATION. Her friends should be ashamed of themselves.

[bran]

In only a few short months you will be able to have your revenge by teaching ds to differentiate between the two grannies. Your mum can be Granny Smiley and your MIL can be Granny Angry or Granny Smelly. When questioned you can deny all knowledge and say that NotGerard made the names up all by himself.

[Blu]

She is outrageous, isn't she?
I also think it was extremely rude and insensitive for her cronies to come up to you and tell you you should have agreed / MIL was upset etc. Quite outrageous, and none of their damn business.

You might have to have a few direct words with your MIL at some stage. It's not fair for your Mum to be left out, either.

Poor you.

Errr, how ancient and infirm is she? Although she sounds discouragingly hale and hearty. Oh dear.

[Passionflower]

Have you talked to your DH about this.

Surely he can see how saintly you've been and how unhappy she's making you.

IMO its his job to protect you from this, she's his mum after all!

MIL's don't ya just hate em!

[Passionflower]

Also have a party of your own for NG.

Invite your friends and the people you didn't invite to the Christening from your side. Have a great time and forget about the Christening debacle.

If MIL askes about it just say you fancied a party with your friends and you didn't think it would be her cup of tea.

[laughorcry]

PF - a party for my mum and others is a really good idea. Doesn't have to be a christening - just a baby welcoming. Think dh would have to agree that his mum not be invited.

Sadly, Blu, not particularly old or infirm. She's 64 and very healthy (am trying to focus on the fact that ds will at least be getting healthy genes from her side - fingers crossed he will avoid the tact-bypass and obnoxiousness).

Thanks for all the nice messages - posting here has really helped me keep my temper.