My mad mother in law?????

Question

My Mother in law reckons she's the best cook ever...but she's awful...no kidding..she is staying with us and insists on doing all the cooking...I wouldnt mind but her food is awful! She is very helpful and I AM grateful for all she tries to do...butYesterday we had to sit and gnaw through vegetables so undercooked they might as well have been raw...she adds cup a soup (instant freeze dried soup) to everything..so it all tastes of that! She gets all panicky if I say "Oh have a rest and I will cokk" Today she went out to shop so I began to cook the dinner and she came home and actually started to try and take over...grabbing things and panicking! I was doing steak and she said..."Oh I'll go out now and buy some chicken...I thought we'd have chicken tonight" and I said "What for, Im doing steak"...5 mins later she said it again! We had chicken yesterday! I think she is mad! What can I do? I'm peeling carrits and she tries to physically push in with her knife!

Answer 1

You may have to be honest.  Get your husband involved, it's his mother.

Answer 2

Tell her you also enjoy cooking, and you'd like to make a schedule for it as long as she's going to be living there.

It may be her way of feeling like she's contributing to the household by being there.  

It is hard to not like someones cooking!!   That's why I'd make a schedule.   and hide food in your bedroom! LOL

Answer 3

Your MIL sounds like a really nice person.

Lol You are always on here slagging her off!

Answer 4

lol. shes barmy. is she like the mother of stacey on eastenders ???? maybe they will take her on set as a stand in !!!

Answer 5

try telling her that you're used to cooking yourself and as the lady of the house, you should be cooking for her as the guest. she could help to clear the dishes and/or clean them after dinner instead. if she wants to pay her way while she's staying there she could help to clean the bathroom or clean out the garage. it sounds like she's just used to being busy. if you have children, i hate to shift the blame, but you could say that they're picky eaters and that they're used to things being cooked a certain way. good luck.

Answer 6

It sounds like you live with her..Her House? Your House?  If it is your house you need to set some rules with her and start out agreeing that you will do all the cooking and she can cook on a certain day or once a week.  If you live with her,, well... you need to have your husband speak to her and come up with an agreement that you will cook half the week or something like that.  Don't let your mother-in-law dictate everything though because that is not good.  Your husband is probably used to her cooking and doesn't mind?  Does he like your cooking better?  Try asking her to cook dessert instead, hopefully she won't mess that up.

Answer 7

She sounds like a bit of a control freak and probably plans her whole life around the cooking as that may be the only thing that she thinks has to contribute.

Have a kind word with her and suggest that she cooks dinner every other night as you also enjoy cooking.

Make it clear that she is a valued member of the family and ask her to help with other things like the ironing or some other tedious chore that you wouldn't mind her doing so much.

Answer 8

Talk to your husband. more importantly just to your mother in law and saw why wont u let me cook?

Answer 9

kill her and cook her for dinner

Answer 10

Tell her that while she is a guest in you home, you want to cater to her, start dinner all the time before she has a chance and when she starts panicking take the knife away from her and tell her to go watch t.v. or to go recline and that you will have dinner ready soon, and tell her if she would like to help she can set the table, girl this is your house! take ownership of your kitchen you can do that and still be nice to her, but lay down some boundaries, she isnt just going to go away, show her you have dominion in your home and that you know how to treat a guest, YOU COOK dont let her cook, tell her straight up that you prefer to cook the meals and you want her to just relax and enjoy her visit. dont tell her her food tastes like c**p, unless you absolutely have to and if you have to tell her something like i dont have a taste for this, not ew wat in h***s bells is this! lol if she insists you must insist harder, always remember ITS YOUR HOUSE, YOUR KITCHEN, AND YOUR STOMACH lol  

Answer 11

Just mention that she's a guest in your home and while you appreciate everything she does, you would feel better about all her help if she allowed you to cook for her.  Let her help cut carrots, or do the salad but make sure you do the main course.  she just wants to feel needed, and useful.    

Answer 12

I am sorry but I ended up laughing because I could just imagine how frustrating it is for you.

You need to tell her that you like to cook for your family as well and you do not expect her to cook all the time.

If you are worried about upsetting her then perhaps you should get your husband to tell her.

Hopefully you do not have much longer until she goes home and then at least you can get back to your normal life

Answer 13

Does she serve kangaroo?

Tell her you love cooking and miss doing it and that you will be cooking on x,x and x days but she is more than welcome to cook on x day.

How much longer is she here?

Answer 14

Talk to your Husband about it, he'll be able to talk to her about it...

=]

Answer 15

Perhaps this is her coping mechanism for feeling useful and contributing something.

Sit her down with a nice cuppa, tell her you love and appreciate everything she does,but now and again she needs to take a step back and relax.

Tell her you like cooking and it makes you feel good to know you have cooked for her.

If she takes offence or carries on the same after this,

Pack her bags and send her Home!