I canāt stand the way my mum obviously favours my firstborn over his brother. It actually sets my teeth on edge. She will not take the youngest overnight, but would gladly keep 5yo. I get that eldest is a dream compared to 3yo who is very rambunctious, but itās not the point. I canāt stand family who play favourites. Itās been that way all throughout my family and someone always ends up feeling left out.
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My sisters MIL is like that. Adores the first born because he's quiet and sensible, doesn't really bother with the second born because hes nothing like the first born - loud, adventurous and cheeky! I think it's vile people can do that. MIL's seem to act so strange with the first born.. im gonna make sure I'm not like that
Itās definitely a lesson to all of us on how not to behave if we get to the grandma stage of our lives. 
Need to add that she split from her husband and walked out on the family
Same with MIL. When #2 was born she still concentrated her attention mostly on #1, which was fine, because she was 3 and insanely jealous. I didnāt have an issue with that. But she never stopped favouring #1.
It was a vicious cycle really. She gave #1 all the attention so #2 wasnāt that bothered with her. He also has a quieter, more reserved personality (later discovered heās autistic) and I donāt think she got the kind of attention and positive feedback from him that she enjoyed with #1.
Then when he was a toddler Iād notice that weād visit and sheād have presents (tat mostly!) for #1 and nothing for him. I think she justified it by thinking he didnāt need new toys or books (which was true) and that he was too young to notice. But then he got older and she would still lavish #1 with gifts and get #2 one thing if he was lucky. Even this past year, sheās been sending #1 arts and crafts kits via Amazon but nothing for #2. Iāve repeatedly told my husband that he needs to have a word because itās out of order.
My MIL, and FIL to an extent, are obsessed with money. They have a lot because they don't have a mortgage (inherited their home) and additionally own multiple properties they've inherited from other people passing away. MIL constantly talks about dying and how much she will leave us, its incredibly morbid and something we genuinely don't care about so its odd she keeps talking about it. Husband is always encouraging them to use their money more to travel and do fun things.
She talks constantly behind our backs about how much we earn - I know because one of the people she witches to is my mother, who ofc tells me everything. She's obsessed with knowing how much we earn and makes remarks to my mother about not telling us when she comes into money because we'll "Bleed her dry" ?! (We literally ask for nothing). They are the sort of people who we all go out to dinner together and they foot the whole bill without being asked and love all the "thank you so muchs" but then witch to others about how they "got stung" for dinner with the kids.
She talks constantly behind our backs about how much we earn - I know because one of the people she witches to is my mother, who ofc tells me everything. She's obsessed with knowing how much we earn and makes remarks to my mother about not telling us when she comes into money because we'll "Bleed her dry" ?! (We literally ask for nothing). They are the sort of people who we all go out to dinner together and they foot the whole bill without being asked and love all the "thank you so muchs" but then witch to others about how they "got stung" for dinner with the kids.
My MIL is lovely and tbh my only gripe I ever have is when she will act like husband and I are unable of acting like adults 
We went on a caravan holiday a few years ago all together and she kept saying āmake sure you clean the caravan before you go or you wonāt get the deposit backā... as if we didnāt know that?
Then we were meant to be eating breakfast together at 9 the next day, she said āwill you 2 be able to get up for then? Do you want us to call you?ā .... we get up and go to work every single day starting at 9 so Iām fairly certain we would manage?
Then we show up to breakfast at 8.57... she and SIL were about to call us apparently, they thought we must have slept through our alarm?! We were EARLY not even late, I was so mad.
Very petty but lots of little things like this, for example we are moving house tomorrow and on zoom she told us to āmake sure have packed things before the movers come, you donāt want to be doing it when they get thereā
Well OBVIOUSLY?
She doesnāt do it to SIL despite the fact SIL doesnāt work and has a lot less responsibility than me and husband but hey ho.
We went on a caravan holiday a few years ago all together and she kept saying āmake sure you clean the caravan before you go or you wonāt get the deposit backā... as if we didnāt know that?
Then we were meant to be eating breakfast together at 9 the next day, she said āwill you 2 be able to get up for then? Do you want us to call you?ā .... we get up and go to work every single day starting at 9 so Iām fairly certain we would manage?
Then we show up to breakfast at 8.57... she and SIL were about to call us apparently, they thought we must have slept through our alarm?! We were EARLY not even late, I was so mad.
Very petty but lots of little things like this, for example we are moving house tomorrow and on zoom she told us to āmake sure have packed things before the movers come, you donāt want to be doing it when they get thereā
Well OBVIOUSLY?
She doesnāt do it to SIL despite the fact SIL doesnāt work and has a lot less responsibility than me and husband but hey ho.
I agree.
My second husbands mother was so possessive of our only child together. He already had 5 and I, 2 of a previous relationship. She would often refer to him as her baby when talking to him which may sound petty but it made me sick to my stomach. He was an older man, so she was of my grandmother's generation. She knew her son was physically abusive towards me and would often be in the house and turn a blind ear and a literal deaf ear (she seemed to be selectively deaf but if someone were whispering about money in the next room she would know what they were saying word for word. She was so money orientated). She had a very staunch "stand by your man" attitude where domestic violence was concerned. She used to read those coffee break magazines and was one day scorning over a woman's account of surviving domestic abusive abuse, then barked that such women were weak. She proclaimed any time simular stories or topic of conversation would crop up that because she had chosen to stay married to a man who beat her and was quite frankly very psychologically cruel towards her then everybody else should stay in such relationships. When in reality she barely spent any time with him at all, she was using her son as a surrogate husband - he was the only son and she would set up camp in our living room pissing herself at Mrs Brown's Boys DVDs or watching her own sky dive footage everynight. She did have daughters but they would soon grow tired and be more upfront with her. I would have felt some pity but she was a horrible character and I just couldn't take a warming to her. She was actually intimidating for a 72 year old lady, she looked and spoke like Brick Top. Within days of meeting her she had subliminally insulted my family, I picked the bone infront of her son, she would then behave like a fake rabbit caught in the headlights saying that I had got the wrong end of the stick, or it was a "joke" and I obviously didn't get her humour - she had a habit for insulting me or being a complete arse in general and acting innocent. She looks heavily down on people who have debts or don't own property and will go as far as call them scum (she will never admit in her glory years, she only reason she had nice things was because ex FIL was a vintage villain).
My child with her son she made a massive intrusive fuss off. She protested over his name choice while my son still had the afterbirth on him, I think I have wrote about this particular time in these forums before. She turned up to the hospital when she caught wind I was in labour. I was actually gobsmacked when I came round from all the gas and air, that she really was at the end of the bed. My husband had let her in and it wasn't the drugs, she was actually there in labour. Trying to not let it spoil my bubble, I hadn't said much but inside I was absolutely fuming. She knew my own mother couldn't be there as she was on her death bed (she died of cancer 8 weeks after our son was born) and that was the main reason I'd prefer it if she didn't come, she was told! But no she found her excuses to need direct contact with her son over something yet again probably so mundane at quite an inconvenient time! It annoyed me even more when the midwife said my son looked just like grandma though I will not lie. I'm surprised at how well I held my composure, especially at her suggestion at changing his name because "it will look silly on forms". She treated one of my sons from my previous marriage as a complete outcast, he is disabled. I found it really rude she kept forgetting his name even though one of her biological grandsons (my husbands son!) had the same name! As far as grandmother's go towards him she was great, quite performative, if annoying. She wanted centre stage but was also adamant she didn't want anymore grandchildren. Me and my ex husband discontinued a pregnancy, the insensitive witch said from nowhere whilst we were in a shop queue that discontinuing the pregnancy was the "kindest thing that ever could have been done for her wallet". It wasn't a joking matter. Nor was her putting condoms in my ex husbands stocking that month.
She wore white at our Vegas wedding. The video footage was unwatchable because of her blubbering like she was at a funeral. She was vile, judgemental and thought she was a cut above every body else. She made everything about her. She would constantly compare me with one of his exes, someone who he had been with briefly 17 years before we even met. She actually seemed obsessed with her! My ex husband had been with several women after her, so it seemed rather bizarre. They weren't even in contact anymore!
Horrible witch.
Thatās so bad. You must be seething with her when she does that.
I mean, my mum is good with the presents, she does try to get them both things that they like and equal amounts, she is fair that way. I think Iād have to say something about it if she didnāt. Both my children are on the spectrum (3yo undergoing assessment at the moment). I think perhaps thatās why she doesnāt offer to take them more, but in the case of favouritism, because 5yo will sit nicely and play his tablet or Switch all night and you have to have all eyes on 3yo as heās into everything and has the attention span of a goldfish, then she would rather take 5yo.
She used to be so smug thinking she was the bloody baby whisperer because she could get 5yo to settle as a baby whenever he had sleepovers if Iād been saying weād had a rough few nights with teething or whatever. However when she took 3yo overnight as a baby (bearing in mind he was VERY attached to me unlike brother who was so easygoing he wouldāve went with a stranger and not bothered) I think she was put out because he wouldnāt settle for her and cried all night. She never took him again until he was 2 after that, and every time he has been challenging she always says ānever again.ā I donāt even care if she doesnāt offer to take them, I never ask anyone unless Iām desperate but when she takes one without the other, it irritates me because she always takes 5yo as heās her favourite. She always spoils him when she does have him and laughs when he comes home and screams at me because he wanted to stay with Gran āforever.ā
My Gran can be a bit like that with money. Happy to give it if you need it and take all the praise for her charity but will witch about you to the rest of the family if you donāt pay her back exactly when she expects it, and she knows when everyone in the family gets paid, all the dates. I love her a lot, but omg, sheād drive you crazy.
I think in her case though, itās because she never had any money of her own (my grandfather was very abusive, used to beat her, lock her in her bedroom and spend all their money on booze and she wasnāt even allowed to work). So she finds it hard to part with it and worries she wonāt get it back.
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I do seethe, because it feels like she loves him a bit less because she doesnāt know how to connect with him. Like he gets punished (unconsciously, Iām sure) because she doesnāt get enough out of him. And considering heās autistic, thatās bloody unfair.Thatās so bad. You must be seething with her when she does that.
Ironically, my daughter is also heading for an autism diagnosis, but her presentation is very different and sheās much more social.
My MIL sings the teletubbies theme tune
Says YABBA YABBA
Goes HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Heard him laugh at the number four once so she goes 'FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR'
on facetime. Everyday. Sometimes twice a day
(Yes I can walk out the room but I can hear it the other side of the flat too)
Says YABBA YABBA
Goes HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Heard him laugh at the number four once so she goes 'FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR'
on facetime. Everyday. Sometimes twice a day
(Yes I can walk out the room but I can hear it the other side of the flat too)
Oh my god, I feel for youMy MIL sings the teletubbies theme tune
Says YABBA YABBA
Goes HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Heard him laugh at the number four once so she goes 'FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR'
on facetime. Everyday. Sometimes twice a day
(Yes I can walk out the room but I can hear it the other side of the flat too)
Iād probably ignore her calls if it was me tbh.
I would but it's my bloody fella who answers! He's a little Mummy's boyOh my god, I feel for you
Iād probably ignore her calls if it was me tbh.
Your MIL sounds like my mum, she wants to video call my daughter constantly and will send me random pictures everyday of birds in her garden or a bus and say āshow this to ...ā I just send her the big thumbs up back on messenger or ignore herMy MIL sings the teletubbies theme tune
Says YABBA YABBA
Goes HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Heard him laugh at the number four once so she goes 'FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR'
on facetime. Everyday. Sometimes twice a day
(Yes I can walk out the room but I can hear it the other side of the flat too)
my MIL is actually normal and doesnāt annoy us like my own mum 
Aren't they allI would but it's my bloody fella who answers! He's a little Mummy's boy
Thatās hilarious. My MIL definitely would have done something like that too.
Lockdown is so tit for grandparents. It feels like my children barely have a connection with either set anymore, and thatās so upsetting. But thatās no excuse to yell FOUR FOUR FOUR on FaceTime
My mother in law- is truly bleeping awful I donāt even know where to start
Iām not married but been with my partner since we were teenagers aged 15... half our life weāve spent together
just a few;
1- when we were younger my dad had bowel cancer I was 16, it wasnāt looking good at the time I didnāt know just how bad things were. Anyway about 2 days before he had major surgery, I stayed over their house (we lived opposite each other) and my other half and his dad popped to the shop. I was left with his mum (her dad was diagnosed with a brain Tumour 3 weeks after my dad- she never really saw her dad but obviously was still upset and worried) his mum looked at me and said āyour dad is probably gonna get better and mine wont I donāt think- howās that right?ā
There was an awkward 5 minutes silence and then they they got back from the shop.
thatās one thing Iāll never forget. I was a kid and already scared and worried.
2- she hated her daughter so much to the point she said to me once she wouldnāt care if she dropped down dead. It got to the point where she made up so much tit about how badly her daughters partner treated their son who was a baby at the time to random people in the pub (she was a full on alcoholic) that someone reported her to social services.... turned out to be her but gave my name so I got all the blame for that when I hadnāt done anything wrong. Neither had her daughter, who clearly loved her son. Donāt get me wrong my partners sister was a witch aswell but she was in no way hurting her baby neither was her partner. Didnāt speak to the family for 7 years. Called me a fat bleep- Iād just had a baby yet now sheās so over weight sheās having to lose nearly 10 stone for her hip replacement... karma
3- made it clear when I was pregnant that she didnāt want any granddaughters only grandsons- so imagine her disappointment that Iāve only got girls. She hates girls loves boys. Despite all she did to her daughter she favours her son so much over the other grandchildren. My girls are treated so much differently to the other grandchildren.
money Easter only our eldest was born then she was About 4, her 3 other grandchildren got Easter eggs and a fancy dress costume each. My daughter got a multipack bag of mini cheddars. Birthday cards are like 2-3 weeks late. Never rings to see how they are, only time We hear from them is when my partner phones them.
When my eldest was born my mum was so excited they passed each other in the hospital and my mum went over to say hi and she pushed my mum out the way and went āmove Iāve got a granddaughter to get toā sheās an absolute Witch
I canāt stop now Iām on a role thereās so much feels good to let it all out
Iām not married but been with my partner since we were teenagers aged 15... half our life weāve spent together
just a few;
1- when we were younger my dad had bowel cancer I was 16, it wasnāt looking good at the time I didnāt know just how bad things were. Anyway about 2 days before he had major surgery, I stayed over their house (we lived opposite each other) and my other half and his dad popped to the shop. I was left with his mum (her dad was diagnosed with a brain Tumour 3 weeks after my dad- she never really saw her dad but obviously was still upset and worried) his mum looked at me and said āyour dad is probably gonna get better and mine wont I donāt think- howās that right?ā
There was an awkward 5 minutes silence and then they they got back from the shop.
thatās one thing Iāll never forget. I was a kid and already scared and worried.
2- she hated her daughter so much to the point she said to me once she wouldnāt care if she dropped down dead. It got to the point where she made up so much tit about how badly her daughters partner treated their son who was a baby at the time to random people in the pub (she was a full on alcoholic) that someone reported her to social services.... turned out to be her but gave my name so I got all the blame for that when I hadnāt done anything wrong. Neither had her daughter, who clearly loved her son. Donāt get me wrong my partners sister was a witch aswell but she was in no way hurting her baby neither was her partner. Didnāt speak to the family for 7 years. Called me a fat bleep- Iād just had a baby yet now sheās so over weight sheās having to lose nearly 10 stone for her hip replacement... karma
3- made it clear when I was pregnant that she didnāt want any granddaughters only grandsons- so imagine her disappointment that Iāve only got girls. She hates girls loves boys. Despite all she did to her daughter she favours her son so much over the other grandchildren. My girls are treated so much differently to the other grandchildren.
money Easter only our eldest was born then she was About 4, her 3 other grandchildren got Easter eggs and a fancy dress costume each. My daughter got a multipack bag of mini cheddars. Birthday cards are like 2-3 weeks late. Never rings to see how they are, only time We hear from them is when my partner phones them.
When my eldest was born my mum was so excited they passed each other in the hospital and my mum went over to say hi and she pushed my mum out the way and went āmove Iāve got a granddaughter to get toā sheās an absolute Witch
I canāt stop now Iām on a role thereās so much feels good to let it all out
He is now as sees how much it bothers me & i know he only wants me to be happy...
They live right beside us so its not as easy to not have her visit,we live in countryside so i can go out for walks & feel like i get away from living so close to each other.
She does mean well yes & it very kind & good natured but this situation is just bit too much,yes i do think she is trying to find where she slots in all this,hope so too thanks
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Your husband should tell her 'I'm grown-up now and that no longer entertains me!'
My granny was like that with us, always favoured the eldest (my cousin) over my brother who is the youngest. Believe you me, it stays with him to this day and he's a grown arse man. Obviously he's not bitter about it anymore but children always know when affection is insincere or distant.
Is it bad that I want to slap her a little bitMy MIL sings the teletubbies theme tune
Says YABBA YABBA
Goes HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Heard him laugh at the number four once so she goes 'FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR'
on facetime. Everyday. Sometimes twice a day
(Yes I can walk out the room but I can hear it the other side of the flat too)
I'd be so overwhelmed, loud people set me off so bad, I don6 know how you put up with it omg - Status