Why does my mother in law ruin a great day?

Question

My MIL came over to visit us and see our son. We had a wonderful day together (she was there from 1pm to 8pm). At the end of her visit, my husband tells her that we have to leave (we had dinner plans) and we had to drop our son off at my parent's house (his usual Wednesday night ritual).

She starts getting an attitude, but doesn't hide it very well. I hear my husband say (while they were downstairs)..I thought you knew..he does this every Wednesday night, they have a room for him and everything.

She storms upstairs with her laundry that we let her do at our house and brings everything out to the car...including the wet laundry that she didn't want to throw in the dryer because she didn't want to hold us up.

I just can't understand why she would ruin a perfectly wonderful day with her attitude about my parents watching our son.

Answer 1

She sounds jealous and was acting childish. Does your son have any "special" rituals with his grandmother (your MIL)?

You may want to sit down with her to talk about this calmly. Tell her you are concerned and was wondering what was bothering her. Ask her how to solve the problem and if she has any suggestions.

While you are at it, call her and tell her that you had a WONDERFUL day with her!

Answer 2

Does she have the same privileges as your parents in watching her grandson?  If not, that is the reason why.

I can understand her being upset if not.  Especially if she was already there and perfectly capable of watching him.  For one night an exception could of been made.

Now if she sees him quite often that is a different story.