So, just in case you thought I was kidding about my mother-in-law.....here's the brief run down of the past eleven years.

1. Went to New Jersey before we were married to visits Frank's aunt and uncle, who are also his godparents. His aunt is his mother's sister. I love her, love her, love her. She is so awesome and I wish she was Frank's mom. Anyway, my mother-in-law, hereinafter known as "the woman", flies in from Vegas, plops herself in the middle of everything and wants to be the center of attention.

2. Two of my friends planned a couples wedding shower for us. We live in California folks. In California you never invite anyone to anything, outside of a wedding, unless you are pretty sure they can come, have said they can come or are going to be there anyway. You just don't, it is considered rude and considered asking for a gift from someone you know you don't have to entertain. I have since learned that this is normal in Frank's family, didn't know it then though. So, my mother-in-law, who lives in Las Vegas, wasn't invited. She sends ME a gift which I brought to the shower. I called her after to thank her and she swore me up and down like a sailor (and not lovingly like Jenn would) for not inviting her to the shower. Thank god Frank was standing across from me as I just handed the phone to him without a word. I know he would have never believed me if he hadn't heard it himself. This is two weeks prior to our wedding.

3. Somehow, still haven't figured out how, she got Frank's brothers not to go to the wedding. I think she told them they shouldn't come because they weren't asked to be in the wedding. Long story, Frank's second wedding and it was justified...trust me. Bottom line, Frank's own brothers didn't come to his wedding.

4. Doesn't make any move to help with the rehearsal dinner so we just had a BBQ at our house. She arrives late, with her second husband and proceeds to tell anyone who will listen why she is asking for an annullment (sp?) from Frank's dad. She hasn't been married to him for over thirty years folks!!! My cousins told me later that they actually had dinner at the hotel before they even came to the rehearsal dinner and ate at the table right next to them. This is why they were late!!

5. Proceeds to get drunk at our wedding reception and hang all over me. Oh, and did I mention that she wore a black dress to the wedding, with a white lace over lay thing?

6. Insists on coming in to town three days after Drew was born even though I asked her to hold off 'til Christmas which was three weeks later. I needed my mother, Drew was 9 1/2 pounds and I wanted my mommy to help me. She threw on the guilt trip, ended up coming and didn't help me one ounce. I remember leaning on the kitchen counter to support myself while washing dishes because I was in so much pain.

7. Comes to Drew's first birthday and sits next to Frank and Drew when they were singing Happy Birthday. Basically leaving no place at all for me to be near my own son in front of his first birthday cake.

8. A million other things in between......then Christmas 2004 we went to New York to spend Christmas with this Dad and second wife's side of the family. She has five kids. Every Christmas Eve they have a big party. The woman flies in to town and stays with one of Frank's brothers. This brother now cannot come to Christmas Eve since the woman needs to be babysat on Christmas Eve and refuses to go to the Christmas Eve get together with Frank's dad's family. It would have been the first time all eight kids were together on Christmas Eve in over twelve years and she ruined it.

9. Goes to confession if she has to go to our church for anything. Basically, can't get into a Catholic church fast enough to ask for forgiveness for going to our church. Which is Presbyterian, nothing wacka doo. I think this is so rude. When we visit her, we go to the Catholic church without question. I wish she was respectful.

So, there you go. I know this is long, but maybe it will explain some of the reasons why I cannot stand my mother-in-law and it is very, very hard to deal with her anymore. I guess I have gotten to the point of "Life is too short and I don't need to be treated this way anymore."