chepar

Jeez, I also think that there's a bit too much analysis being made of Maddie's every word and statement - especially about her Matterhorn comment.

Neopolitan

"And what's wrong with taking her statement literally?"

Because common sense would tell you otherwise?

Nora_S

Actually, common sense tells me this whole discussion is pretty silly. If she allows her in-laws to dictate what she eats, this is probably not the place to come for help.

I just thought I'd call her on the Matterhorn "trek" because common sense told me she didn't really do that. The rest of you are being far kinder than I, so I'll just back off.

kerouac

This thread just keeps getting better and better. None of us know Maddie or her husband or her inlaws, but they are all anchored in our imaginations, which are beginning to run wild. I am already picturing scene of plates of food being overturned on the inlaws' heads and tables being knocked over.

missypie

When my kids were little, they loved to watch "Mickey and the Beanstalk." Mickey and Goofy were starving and they only had one bean left to eat, so they sliced it into about 6 thin slices. That is what I keep thinking of when I picture Maddie's party at the dinner table.

parisnow

<<In-laws unabashedly cheap, size 0-2, unhealthy attitudes toward food, almost no body fat>>. SIMPLE! Skip the restaurants. Like you I travel with friends and family with different passions. As mentioned before my elderly mother can't eat an entire restaurant meal. When I travel with her, I take one of those softsided, multi-pocketed lunchboxes as a cosmetic/ect case for traveling. Dual-purpose. Borrow a little space in the mini-bar and we go to the market or store to buy meals. Politely decline when the in-laws ask you to go to the restarant. Tell them you really don't care to eat out, don't care for restaurant food, think it is a waste of money; ect and then tell them you picked up the food you/DH like at the grocery store and prefer to eat in. If they are as cheap as you say they may start doing the same thing.

Big_Red

Well this is interesting. You describe yourself as something under a size 2. I am a guy. My gut feel says no more three percent of the adult women in this country can claim that (very good for you). Your DH is an ex semi-pro athlete (baseball maybe). Now the in-laws are great people. They birthed and raised your husband. And even being a generation older, they can trek up a mountain whenever they want to, so they are in shape as well.

Maddie, I think the situation is the in-laws see you as one of their own kind. I imagine that they think you are perfect for your husband. Maybe in their accomodating what think is what you want, they have simply gone way to far.


FWIW, my in laws are similar. MIL won the state tennis championship at age 18 and was a very competitive swimmer. FIL was a gymnast, later a paratrooper. Played men's baseball until age 65. Of course he golfs pretty well. A few years ago, FIL's doctor actually prescribed a REDUCTION in his exercising. He is 85+. He was having a problem with back pain. When the back pain woke him up at night, he would get out of bed and exercise until SUNRISE (thus aggravating his already bad back).

Danna

Heck, I'm embarassed when someone is not a good tipper. Let alone 5 folks sharing an entree. Maddie, you have my best wishes. I wouldn't go to Europe with my in-laws whether they paid or not.

Order the meal you want, if they balk buy it. Keep your fork ready to defend your plate. LOL

sashh

Do they know just how rude this is? If so then you need a friendly English speaking waiter. Talk to him /her away from PIL and get him to refuse to split the food.

you could also print out this thread and leave it where it can be read.