Pretend I'm not home.

Buy wine.

Drink, the wine.

While in hiding.

write out a job list and don't feed them till something is done (that's after they turn up!)

run around madly tidying up and hiding the mess in my bedroom. And then drink the wine

As they are now deceased I don't have that problem. But I would insist that they call me with 24 hours notice. That way I could gird up my loins/courage for the visit. lol

VACUUM! Maybe make pretence at dusting . . . (vacuuming at least means I have to clear stuff off the floor).

Oh Nadia ! My mother in law was such a delight to be around and also best friends. I miss her so much. But, there were other in-laws .

I had 2mean ones. But my Mum was really nice to my sister in law before Mum died. I think it really depends on the person.

Nadia, I'd do the same for my mother, if she were still alive and able to visit! It's more that being visited by extremely capable older women - whom I love and admire very much - makes me painfully aware of my own inadequacies as a housekeeper . . . and there is a benefit - the more they visit, the more I clean up! I don't dread my in-laws coming around - I just want to put my best self (and house) forward, and celebrate their visit. I don't want them to be disappointed in me, that's all . . . I'm sure your children and in-laws love to have you visit!

This covers everything you should do

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3DDTJfaToe4

Nadia - I think our generation know HOW to be mothers-in-law because of the nasty ones in the generation before us. I don't know one person my age who has a nice thing to say about their MIL, they were all overbearing tyrants. Mine used to even tell my joeys they were to ignore me and only do what she told them.

Mine are in Europe - they are wonderful and I miss them - but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that they live in another country! They spoil me rotten when we visit and cook the most beautiful winter Christmas dinners of goose, chestnuts with lashings of great wine, music and singing - which is a real treat for an Aussie, especially when it snows. They are genuine, beautiful people. Lucky, lucky me :-)

I pray I get sick so they don't want to come. (The thought of being around them usually makes me feel ill, and oddly enough I am almost always sick the rare times they want to visit us, lol). Or else I pray there is a conflict in schedules so I/we/they can't be 2 places at once.

I don't have a MIL or a FIL, but the other in-laws? They are the reason I screen all phone calls and keep all the doors locked. If I don't? They are prone to just walk into the house!! Case in point--5 minutes ago one of them tried the lock!! They never learn. Despite being educated/told, they try and do what they want. They drive me craaaaazzzzzzyyyy! I don't invite them to anything. I tolerate the rare times I'm stuck with them. I would never pick these people to be my friends.

We had another in-law visiting the other day from a distance. I had to sit through a dinner out. Not once did he stop talking long enough to consider the 3 other people at the table!! And nor did he apparently realize I was so bored that I was cleaning out my purse at the booth! Lol. I had already listened to him remark a couple of times that "He's been told a few times that he's arrogant and talks a lot." Hmmmm....and I never said a word, lol.

In-laws begone, lol. I won't even go into all the havoc they created before we married and then on the day of our wedding itself!! One of them even created a scene outside the church steps! Crazy nutbars...not much has changed on their end either. On my end? I stopped making any efforts long ago. I don't send Christmas cards or gifts anymore, or birthday stuff, I don't call them on the phone, and I don't initiate anything.

I stay out of their way as much as possible. And I've long thought how my spouse is normal and not adopted, lol.

Retrieve the hideous vase they bought me 10 years previously.