Topic : 08/01 Know-It-All In-Laws

My ex did exactly that through our marriage I felt like the biggest fool in the world not only that but the dumbest stupidest person ever when I would ask him what they were talking about I paid for it big time. I not only think it is rude but disrespectful I agree she can take french classes to learn the language but it shouldn't be happening in the first place.

His wife should be first priority over everyone including his mom!!  If there were a Hispanic person speaking in front of a American in law I would say the same thing. Respect,respect,respect.....Im glad that they hold on to their french language but there is a time and a place maybe they could offer to teach her then she would feel included.

My in-laws do not bother us.  My mother-in-law may annoy my husband but she doesn't bother me.  My parents don't butt in either and we leave our daughter to manage her family.  That being said here are some things I would do if I had in-laws like these:

1.  Block their phone number so they can't call you or anyone in your family

2.  Block their email addresses so they can't email you or anyone in your family

3.  Tell them point blank with no subtlety that they are only welcome in your home at your invitation and if they behave in a civilized and gracious manner.  If not, they will be asked to leave and not invited back.

4.  It is my home along with my husband,  We lay the rules of conduct down in it.  That includes telephone and email rules.  If the in-laws don't like it, tough.

5.  If my husband didn't support me in these things, I would tell him to make a choice - us or them.

Our home is our sanctuary from the world - including meddling in-laws.  We can't choose our family but we can choose our friends.  I have family members that aren't welcome in our home because of their actions.  If the other members don't like it, too bad.  It is our home.

I feel very sorry for the first women who's husband failed to support her in regard to his mother.

My in-laws treated me very poorly. I was in my 40's when I married my husband. I had to address them as Mr & Mrs even after we married. When our first child was born - I was informed I could now call them " Grandma & Pop". I had lived in the country for all of my life. I had worked hard as a nurse and was financially secure (own home etc). My mother in-law would always point out to me the difference between city and country folk (they were from the north shore in Sydney - Australia). She would constantly pick me up on my speech. She was disrespectful at every opputunity - yet expected everyone to treat her like royalty! Hence our marraige is over.

Yes, I would - because it is RUDE.  The only reason to speak another language in the presence of someone who doesn't understand it is to exclude that person from the conversation and make them feel bad. 

If you only ever speak French with your son when Amanda isn't around, how could she be aware that you do it at all?  I don't think the situation was misrepresented.  I think the behavior speaks for itself.

Misrepresented, then maybe you should speak to the producers about that.

It is rude when you know that the other person is being left out for lack of understanding, it really is, tell me if you couldn NOT speak English, and that's the language everyone used (this of course KNOWING they're bi lingual) around you, would YOU not feel left out and maybe a bit paranoid as to what's being said ? Yes I would imagine you would.  My sister and I are lucky enough to know the language, enough to get through Montreal or Quebec City, so yeah when my SIL and her Mom started that crap in front of me, and I was answering them, they soon stopped.

I wonder though why her husband dosen't try teaching her some phrases ?