Dear Abby: My in-laws live out of state and were with us when they visited. I told her husband that when our son was born, we would need to stay in a hotel because we had run out of rooms.
They are also the most rude house guests and I have terrible insomnia. My MIL only talks to me when my husband is around and my FIL complains about everything — our The streaming service says they need to buy more towels and complains about the lack of soda.
I have tried to explain to my husband that they send my anxiety to the next dimension but he doesn’t understand because nothing happens when he is around. I had to ask for a prescription for a small amount of medicine.
They are staying in a hotel, so they are complaining about costs and accommodations. I offered to pay the rent, but my mother-in-law told my husband that she would buy a chaise longue for our house so they could stay here again.
I try to tell my husband all the reasons why this is not good, but we always end up in arguments.
Am I unreasonable, should I only smoke it for a few weeks a year, or should they respect the fact that having them as house guests would not work for our family?
Lost in Massachusetts
Dear Loser: Your in-laws seem to be quite the handful.
Your solution about staying in a hotel or rental when they visit is sensible, as it makes my son uncomfortable to be around when he’s not around.
However, if your husband doesn’t back you up, consider spending as much time away from home as possible during your visit. gives a lot.
Dear Abby: My sister ghosted me after finding out I was a beneficiary of my late brother’s IRA.
She had requested that the inheritance be shared with our mother and possibly with her. I refused. I received the money to spend on my mom because she might need it in her declining years.
so now i lost my brother and Sister.
Just wait for her to start communicating when she’s ready? Am I guilty of all the things she accuses me of? I don’t know how to mend our rift.
Indiana’s sane sister
Dear Sith: you haven’t done anything wrong Your sister is convinced that you (and your deceased brother) have understandably “cheated” on her and your mother in some way. There is nothing you can do to mend that rift with her, except to split with her the money your brother left you.
Dear Abby was written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or PO Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.