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I know how you feel. My in-laws like to tell my 2 year old dd no when I am standing right the like I am not going to say something is she is doing something wrong. I guess I have a problem with it because they only live like 10 minutes away and never come over. It can be frustrating when anyone does something like your in-laws did and of course your husband and not going to see anything wrong with it. They are blind when it comes to their parents. I guess I would just say oh thanks but I have to remember that he is in his terrible 2 stage and I know it will get better. I would just brush it off hard as it may be. You are doing a great job as a parent and don't let anyone ever tell you different! Good luck!

I would send it back, with a note telling him to mind his own business.

I have issues with my Monster-in-law ....so in my bad attitude I would write back that I can't read it n the bathroom since I have been using the pages to wipe my ass! LOL the nerve of some people I swear ....my MIL just can't keep her big fat mouth shut sometimes and in the beginning I would take it and smile but now I am more vocal about her comments and tell her exactly what I think about it.....and sometimes I very nicely tell her to mind her own business....sometimes my husband will jump in and say "Mom - drop it!" or Mom butt out! which is nice.....but there have also been times when he doesn't back me up and thinks I am over reacting so ????? Good luck with that but my advice is to start putting your foot down with them so they learn their place - my own parents don't talk to me like that so I am not about to take it from you!

Wow this is kinda off this topic but I wish I had the guts to tell my mother-in-law to shut up! She drives me nuts. Shw is one of those who if something is said that she doesn't like she runs to her husban (my father-in-law ans then my husband get a phone call. She has ruined ever holiday for the last 6 years by causing a fight right bfore the actuall day! Just thought I would vent and say I wish I wish I really wish I could give her a piece of my mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

How rude! I would send it back with a not saying "thanks for the loan of the book - not my idea of bathroom reading, however it was a wonderful idea, our bathroom now has a lovely selection of books so next time you are over and you need to spend time there, you shouldn't be bored!"

I would be extremely annoyed by that and I do not think you are overreacting though you always have to be careful with things in writing. Maybe you could say you're going to send them a book back on how to become good grandparents. I had a massive row with my MIL this weekend so I'm in the same boat. She's been nasty and controlling for years. Her house has about 30 locks on it and we're not allowed out without her permission which normally needs 2 days advanced notice so we never get to leave the house. She constantly insults my kids who everyone else adores, me and basically everyone. At Christmas my 2 year old dropped food on the floor as 2 years olds do and she told her she'ld make her lick the floor clean and grab her round the neck to do that. She told her she was a baby for not being potty trained and that she did not say thank you for MIL giving her a 1 day old half rotten banana and told her she needed a haircut. This weekend she told me I was not allowed to feed my baby and I was not allowed any say in what and when he eats while we were there. I went mad, who on earth does she think she is. They also tell my children they are going to hit them a lot, without asking us if this is OK and it isn't OK with me, I don't want them hitting my children.

out right rude!

I'll voice a different opinion. Wait till you get the book! It might actually be really good! I love reading parenting books and have one that I regard to as my bible - I swear it helped me a lot. Perhaps they think the opposite - perhaps your inlaws think you're too strict with your son and that you should chill out more. Maybe they want to tell you that but don't have the guts to, so they're sending a book with an awkward note to go along. Now if the book ends up being parenting for dummies, I'd probably be livid, but let it go until you get it. In reply you can simply send a note back saying thanks in advance for the book - I look forward to it and wish I had the time or privacy to actually read in the bathroom, but with 2 little ones it's a challenge. Just don't get too worked up over it - you have enough on your plate!

Yes, I also think you are overreacting. Its just a gift. Are you sure they are sending it to be snide? Would you feel the same way if they bought you a subscription to Parenting Mag? Maybe you are taking a polite gesture out of context... Unless there is something you are not telling us?

ok well i understand your frusteration.. i feel the same way! my in laws unfortunatly watch my ds full-time. So they sometimes have him more then i do and theytell me how to raise him as well.. and usually i am annoyed since they are what i like to call trying to be 'perfect parents" they think everything needs to be a certain way or else. and i am sooo laid back that it drive them mental. what i do it just ignore it.. when something REALLY ticks me off i just sorta say listen he is still my kid and we obviously have different ways of raising children. Now about the book. The note may have been a little joke that you read the wrong way.. my mom sends me MANY MANY parenting books since she works in a book store.. and sometimes i read them sometimes i dont but every now and then she sends me a book and i get into it i LOVE it and it helps me out a little. Sometimes parenting books are reallly about parenting but about how to make parenting fun for both you and your child. PLUS it gives me an excuse to spend a little extra time in the bathroom to get away from the chaos. Read the books.. see how you like it and thank them and be the good person! but remember its always good to voice your opinion to the inlaws..

I know how you feel. I dispise my mil. Absolutely dispise her. For a long time I took her crap. Dh did not want me to say n e thing to her. So I did just that litterly. For 2 straight years when she called I would answer (she would call the house b/c she kenw we didnt have caller id on that phone). When she was say something I immediately hung up on her. I did not go to her house nothing. Dh of course went and seen her less b/c he also wanted to spend his time off w/ me too (they dont live extremely close but only about 1 hr away). So he finally after years and years told her to stop w/ her remarks. He asked if I would go around her again and I said only if I can say something back if she says something to me. So he finally relented. Well the post is getting long so I will just say it hasnt taken very many times of her saying something and me calling her on it to make it stop. So that is my suggest. Call them on it. If you feel that it was meant to be snide, and say it was, then as long as they can get away with it they will. The first one w/ ds was while he was in childrens hopsital (from being born prematurely). She made the comment well I never had sickly children. I said he is not sickly he is premature. She said well I'm just saying I didnt have kids that had stuff wrong with them. So I said....Should I make you a badge with stars on it?? Or bake you some cookies? So sure I'll admit prolly wasnt the maturest or greatest comeback. But at the time its the first thing that popped in my head...My dh said nothing LOL