A MIL dilemma.

MILs are soooo annoying! I feel your pain.
It sounds like coffee tomorrow is slightly unplanned? So I wouldn't go to coffee, I would just send the kids and DH! It'll give u a chance/excuse to get things ready for the party.
Maybe get DH to convince her to come for an hour or so while he's out with her tomorrow?

Your MIL sounds as "great" as mine!

I personally would say that I can't go as I want to use the time to get ready for the party.

When she arrives I would comment on how disappointed you are that she isn't coming and then leave it.

No - I would be pissed off too. Personally, I would say to your DH that you really want her to be there, and could he talk to her about it. Sometimes people don't realise their obligations (even though they should!) and rather than you take up the argument, it's better for him to do it... seeing as he's her beloved son!

Ugh. Got into trouble today with DH for complaining that my MIL thinks the sun shines out of him. She SO does it makes me sick

I personally think that the world might be better without MIL's - but then I sort of try and remind myself that the reason DH is who is today is because of her. For better or for worse

Don't get me started on MIL's, my one has had a hissy fit over nothing & she is doing my head in.....hope I don't turn out to be the mother-in-law from hell after all I have a good role model at the moment...grrrrrr

Anyway as for your one I would tell DH to got out with his mum & take the kids as you have heaps of stuff to do for the party...& then I would go out & get my hair done. Just because she can't be there on a special day does not mean you have to do what she wants.

As you can tell I am anti MIL & I would just stick a sign on the door saying back later & hide under my bed

smoody i think thats what my mum would have said too!

its times like this that i really miss her. i guess the fact that she cant be there for tobys birthday makes it all the more horrible that the MIL wont come either...

Bizzy, I was thinking about this last night.

I can't believe she is not coming.

You would think that she would realise how much you miss your Mum & that there will be that empty space in your day & if she was worth anything she'd try to make you feel a little better by being there to offer her support.

These are milestones that need grandparents at!

I'm sorry if it makes you sad, but she needs to be there to give you a hug or a rub on the shoulder & say well done your Mum will be proud

I have a very absent MIL, which I guess is in part to do with different cities, but my elderly grandmother made the effort for Coopers first birthday so I couldn't' see why they couldn't. If my Mum died & couldn't be at anything special like that for my kids, of all people who'd be there for me would be my Brothers MIL....So is there someone you can adopt to be your wonderful MIL instead of your hated MIL?

Hugs hun, Stand tall, your Mum is looking down on you extremely proud of how you are doing things

Hugs Bizzy.