Venting--Thanksgiving and In-laws!!

[DianaB]

Today we had our Thanksgiving meal with my husband's family. Not just his family but with his aunts, uncles, and cousins. This is a very difficult family for me to be around because they are very clannish and opinionated. I've learned to keep my mouth shut and just try to get along.

One of my husband's cousins married a girl that I went to school with and so we usually talk some. Well, today we got to talking and her MIL (my husband's aunt) hasn't spoken to her in a year over some silly little thing. I welcomed her to my group because her MIL has been on my case too about not being at their Thanksgiving dinners. I was informed that she knew because I was REALLY talked about bad about by her MIL.

Now this family gets together for a picnic the day before EVERY Easter and for Christmas Eve and, of course, Thanksgiving (this year they planned it earlier). We ALWAYS go to the other two hollidays, but for Thanksgiving either we stay home with all of our kids and grandkids, or we go to Texas where all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins get together (they get together every two years and we usually don't go).

Anyway, this aunt is upset with me because she thinks that I keep my husband from going and being with his family, which isn't the truth. My husband enjoys being with our own family and staying home for a holiday. I don't MAKE him stay home. If he wants to go, he can. This has been going on for 4-5 years, every year!! She calls and asks us to come and I tell her that we probably won't be there but if we do come it will only be to visit, not for the meal, and then my husband never feels like getting out and going.

I've ALWAYS had problems with my husband's side of the family!!! I hope that everyone else has wonderful in-laws that they enjoy being around!! Thanks for letting me go on I really just needed to let off some steam!!!!!! This year maybe I'll be off the hook since me AND my husband, both showed up!!!!