#publisher Metro » ‘We’d rather be at Butlins’: People reveal the worst things their in-laws have ever said at Christmas Comments Feed alternate alternate News... but not as you know it News Sport Trending * News + UK + World + Weird + Tech * Sport + Football + Tennis + Cricket + Boxing + UFC * Entertainment + Showbiz + TV + Film + Music + Gaming * Soaps + EastEnders + Emmerdale + Coronation Street + Hollyoaks * Lifestyle + Sex + Health + Fashion + Food + Travel * Platform * Video * More + Lifestyle + Discounts + Submit Stuff + Competitions + Property + Jobs + Advertise + Weather * Trending * Search Metro * Follow us Follow Metro.co.uk on Facebook Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter Follow Metro.co.uk on Pinterest Follow Metro.co.uk on Instagram 135.6m shares Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ‘We’d rather be at Butlins’: People reveal the worst things their in-laws have ever said at Christmas author image Rosy EdwardsMonday 25 Dec 2017 6:30 am Share this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messenger Share this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link Metro Illustration When your in-laws are desperate to leave… for Butlin’s (Picture: Dave Anderson for Metro.co.uk) You can’t choose your family, as the saying goes. Worse still, you can’t choose your in-laws. Never is this so apparent than at Christmas. It’s a stressful time to begin with: there’s food to prep; presents to wrap; excitable, sugar-fuelled children to manoeuvre into bed. Add in extended, close-quarter stretches with your parents-in-law and their ‘helpful’ comments about how to cook the turkey, and the whole thing can ignite faster than a brandy-soaked Christmas pudding. Even for those of us lucky enough to get on with our parents-in-law (I would like to make it very clear that I include myself in this group), Christmas can be a game-changer, transforming fathers and mothers-in-law into monsters-in-law of Grinch-like proportions. As these beleaguered sons and daughters-in-law illustrate, the festive spirit does not touch us all. Advertisement Advertisement 1. Butlin’s blues (Celia) My in-laws tried shunning us one Christmas as they had found ‘a really good deal to go to Butlins’. It was the first Christmas in our new home, the first time we had invited both sets of parents to ours and the first time they would meet, so it was a big deal. Then my in-laws found the Butlin’s deal. I told them they had to come so they went to Butlin’s on Christmas Eve and arrived at ours on Christmas morning. On the day, they admonished me for not getting lunch on the table in time (noon) so they could head back to Butlin’s for their second Christmas dinner. 2. Fat chance (Jade) METRO ILLUSTRATIONS: Why I love spending Christmas with my grandparents ‘Of course, I shouldn’t give you this, dear. You’ll put on even more weight’ (Picture: Mmuffin for Metro.co.uk) My mother-in-law has always had a problem with the food I feed my children and a not-so-subtle way of showing it. She is always giving me ‘helpful’ tips on what I should be giving them, how to get them to eat more vegetables etc. I mean, my partner, her son, remembers eating tinned spam as a kid, so… Anyway, last Christmas we had agreed to host. I could feel my mother-in-law judging everything and anything I served up. Things finally came to a head on Christmas Day. I was bringing out dessert, a chocolate log I had actually made myself, and the conversation comes around to health and diet, mainly led by my sister-in-law who is really nice but very health-conscious. Advertisement Advertisement She was saying that your genetics have an impact on whether you lose or gain weight. My mother-in-law turns to me and says: ‘That’s the thing you need to be careful of, Jade, because obesity runs in families.’ I’m not a skinny supermodel but I’m not obese either – and my kids are normal weight. 3. Sexy Santa (Becki) My husband’s parents got divorced when he was a teenager so we always arrange a dinner with both of them separately around Christmas. We were having dinner with his dad one year and his dad was telling us about a new lady that he had recently started dating. My husband was a bit skeptical about her so his dad was trying hard to convince him that she was nice. He went: ‘She’s very kind, and very cheerful, and if you don’t mind me saying so she’s rather good in bed.’ I didn’t know what to say. I looked over at my husband who had turned bright red and was staring down at his plate. He mumbled something like ‘that’s nice’ and quickly changed the subject. 4. Child chiding (Louisa) [fallback.png] ‘I can’t believe they’ve just said that’ (Picture: Liberty Antonia Sadler for Metro.co.uk) My ex-MIL was obsessed with me having children – genuinely obsessed. She went on about it all the time but Christmas brought out the worst in her. Every year she would talk about how it was a ‘family’ time, how ‘lovely it would be to have a baby at Christmas’ and that ‘children make Christmas.’ Advertisement One particular year, I was helping her do the washing up in the kitchen and, surprise, surprise, she brought up her favourite topic. But instead of hinting like she usually did, she said that my clock was ticking and that I needed to start trying before it was too late. It really got to me because: 1) I was 28 – not exactly over the hill; and 2) I didn’t tell her that, actually, her son and I were trying. We had been trying for about a year by that point, I think, and I was getting quite worried myself. It was all too much so I locked myself in the bathroom, turned on the tap and had a cry. Happy ending: I got pregnant a few months afterwards. My MIL was delighted. I now have three children but my husband and I are divorced so I don’t see my ex-MIL too much. It’s probably not the worst story ever but I just wish my ex-MIL had asked more questions instead of demanding I got pregnant. I think we could have had a much better relationship. More: Families zone post image for post 12009856 Firefighters rescue toddler who got his head stuck in a toilet seat zone post image for post 12004821 Two-year-old girl needs seven baths in one day after smothering herself in Sudocream zone post image for post 12003608 Depressed dad saves dogs from killing stations to cope with empty nest syndrome 5. Cold feet? (Charles) While staying with my in-laws at Christmas, my fiancee and her mother went off on a walk. She asked my fiancee whether she was sure about marrying me and told her it’s not too late to change her mind. Advertisement My fiancee told her that yes, she was sure. I don’t mind my mother-in-law, but I won’t ever properly trust her. 6. Sweet and sour (Lisa) My parents-in-law used to love spoiling my two children with sugary treats when they saw them. I asked them repeatedly not to: I am trying to bring them up without too much sugar in their diet, as I am totally addicted and hate it. Then, on Christmas Eve three years ago, they bought the kids loads of chocolate, including bags of chocolate coins. I politely tried to decline but the children had already seen them and I didn’t want to be the b***h who said no. So I thanked my parents-in-law – slightly through gritted teeth – and said we would put them in the cupboard for later, secretly hoping my children would forget about them. Later that day, my father-in-law says, ‘Who would like a chocolate coin, then?’ and my children, of course, were desperate for one. I quietly said to him that perhaps it could be a treat for after lunch and my father-in-law replied: ‘This is your crazy diet, not mine. If they want chocolate, I’ll give it to them,’ completely undermining me. My husband sat quietly in the corner. I could have thumped him. MORE: 6 people reveal the most horrific things they said to their boss at the Christmas party MORE: The surprising advantages of being pregnant at Christmas MORE: 10 reasons I dread Christmas – from the cost to the family feuds Advertisement Advertisement General Family Share this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messenger Share this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link Share this article via facebookShare this article via twitter More ChristmasFamilyLOL * New Year quotes, messages and wishes to send to start 2020 New Year quotes, messages and wishes to send to start 2020 * What would you buy with £30,000? 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