I feared my mother in law moving in for Y2K. I no longer have that fear because I bought her $400 worth of food storage and dropped it off at her house.

She was madder than a wet hen! There were words between us and we are now both mad at each other! No more mother in law Y2K problem!!!!

I'm very relieved! It was well worth the $400!!!

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), September 20, 1999

Answers

Do you remember that song "Mother-in-Law?" One of the verses says "If she would just leave us alone, we would have a happy home, ...mother-in-law--mother-in-law...."

-- oldies but goodies (oldiesbutgoodies@oldiesbutgoooodies.com), September 20, 1999.

smitty, why was she mad? What did you argue about It sounds to me as if you did something nice. Were you hostile when you gave it to her-- or did she expect to come live at your house and feel thwarted?

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWAyne@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

I have a few relatives that I would gladly give storable food to, just to keep them away from my house but I can't because I know it would be traded for pizza and pampers faster than you could say let me in.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 20, 1999.

My mother in law was mad, because I did not tell her beforehand that I was going to buy her foodstorage and the fact is that she is a DGI. I told her "you don't know how bad it is going to get" and she replied "well, neither do you!" Then she complained about some foods that she don't like. I told her that if you are starving, you will eat anything! My wife then told me that she may starve before she would eat oatmeal! She is just the old typical mother in law that does not like he son in law and I know it and she knows that I know it.

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), September 20, 1999.

smitty, oh well. She is just being cranky. I think sometimes people are cranky because they don't feel well! On the other hand, I know people who don't feel well who aren't cranky. I think it was nice of you to bring the food and if she has any sense, she will, too...eventually.

Best.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

Oh, this thread is hilarious! There's no way on earth that my in-laws are coming to my house, absolutely not! Actually, they may not even know where we live. We've moved since we had the little contretemps. . .

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 20, 1999.

Mara, how do you know if she feels well or not? It's just an excuse because the mother-in-law is not in control!!! Smitty, I don't blame you one bit! As a matter of fact, I would have gone one further. Instead of the food, I would have sent her to Siberia for a vacation. Then from Siberia, on to a world cruise for 6 months. I would have hocked the house, car, dog, kids just to get rid of the bitch. Out of sight and out of mind, please Y2K, be everything that you are made out to be, a big Mother-In-Law WHAMMY! This is not funny, it's the truth!

-- I'm Praying Real Hard God! (praying hard@prayingharddd.com), September 20, 1999.

Praying real hard: A mother in law is usually a grandmother also. Remember your Grandma?

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 21, 1999.

Carol, as a matter of fact I do not remember my grandmother. My father's mother died when he was 5 years old. My mother's mother lived in a different state and died when I was 5 years old, never knew her or met her. My mother-in-law doesn't give a rats ass about her grandchildren, and doesn't even have anything pleasant to say about her own childre. The only time she checks in is when her hemmy's (hemorrhoids) are hurting, or she needs a plumber. I've met little old ladies in the grocery store that I would adopt in a minute for my children's grandma.

-- I'm Praying Real Hard (praynghard@prayingharddd.com), September 21, 1999.

My Mother-in-law is awesome. She has helped me so much with reference to food planning and storage. She is a chef, and a great person. I am happy to have had her for a friend for the past 7 years. No bland bunker food for me this winter!

-- Mr. T (treader@dawn.net), September 21, 1999.

My mother in law will never get it. But fortunately she is surrounded on all sides by Amish farmers, so she probably will gain weight during Y2K!

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), September 21, 1999.

There is NO way that my mother in law or her family is coming here. My wife and I have already discussed this. If they show up, they get the boot. If they refuse to leave, they get .223 slugs into the ground at their feet. IF they still refuse, I unofficially divorce the wife, and she gets offered the chance to join them. If she still insists, she does join them.

They have just about Zero chance of surviving more than a 4-5 on the scale, since they are both totally dependent on life-saving medications (which they have not stocked up on), and are pretty physically useless anyways. No more than a couple of weeks supplies (normal for them), no weapons, and no real skills. Goners.

And I won't be sad either. :)

-- Bill (billclo@msgbox.com), September 21, 1999.

I have already told my MIL and FIL that they will have to come stay with us -when it gets bad. I expect my grown children and their children and spouses to be here also I don't have a huge house, but making space hass been part of my preps. This is a nightmare scenerio. But I promised God I would do whatever He asked of me and I would do it with equity and good spirit. Are MIL and FIL difficult? YES! But I own my attitude and I can do this. Nothing is going to be the same after y2k. Nothing. All those plans for the future have to be altered. The strain of it all will be the underlying reason for many deaths by suicide and murder - for the lack of adjusted attitude. But know this - in the midst of chaos - God is in control and you can feel at peace if you want to. Or you can contribute to your own demise by clinging to a bad attitude.

-- April (Alwzapril@home.com), September 21, 1999.

Actually, we've been able to help *both* sets of my in-laws get off the stick and prepare 'some' by telling them they are welcome to come stay with us if need be.

Of course, we also told FIL and his wife that MIL and her husband had the *same* invitation. NO way did either wish to spend any time with the 'other', so each set of inlaws has made 'some' preps. Mission accomplished.

Each time we discuss Y2k, I remind them of who we've invited, which generally prompts them to make a trip to Sam's shortly afterward. Method to my madness, eh? : )

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

*Paging Rob Michaels*

I think you've got your 'Family Life After Y2k' thread here by default.

-- flora (***@__._), September 21, 1999.

I gave my in-laws (out-laws) a gun and two bullets and said good luck!

-- ~~~~ (~~~@~~~.com), September 21, 1999.

April, well said! Wish you were my neighbor! :-)

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 21, 1999.

We must be the luckiest family alive!

We have invited both sets of MIL to come and my Step Dad too. We like them all, and think they would be a lot of help and fun to be around!

Berry

-- Berry Picker (BerryPicking@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

Bill

You would shoot at your wife's parents simply for showing up and not leaving when asked????

I believe you have just won the 'Doomer of the Month Award', hands down, with that one!!!

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), September 21, 1999.

I feel sad for you pathetic people who feel that they have to slam their in-laws so badly. I must have the only incredibly wonderful mother-in-law in the world. My mil is wise, patient, encouraging, fun, and plays a mean game of cribbage. God is good!

-- Ann M. (hismckids@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Ann

We who are not blessed with decent in-laws are happy for you all. But for those of us who have as I have refered to regularly as my DIL. (Demon-in-Laws) Bullets wouldn't work. The only thing I could do is catch her sleeping during the day and drive a stake through her heart. The father-in-law is a nice guy, kind of in that emasculated-eunuch kind of way. I feel more pity for the poor simple bastard than anything else. To waste his would be a mercy-killing of sorts...If TSHTF, I fully expect them to show up at the door. I'll even let them in...and feed them and shelter and -ulp- protect them...UNTIL either of them tries to start 'running the show' or inviting 'friends' or any of that other 'type' crap. Then...hey as they say...."Those of us with the gun will amke the rules..." and the bitch WILL be unarmed. End of story.

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

Gayla, I wish you were ny neighbor and then I would have a GI neighbor

BTW, I am the best MIL in the world! LOL ;-)

-- April (Alwzapril@home.com), September 21, 1999.

My gosh! How did all those rotten mean mothers in law produce the wonderful mates that you have?Incredible. I am a mil. I have prepared my home for all my children and their mates. Spent thousands so they can eat and be warm. They are all welcome here. The only problem is that I smoke and they do not. So I guess I will set up a smoking rooom formyself. Won't even be able to smoke freely in my own house. Well, maybe there won't be any more cigarrettes and then THISmother in law may turn into a demon. Not until then.

-- Betty Alice (Barn266@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Deano:

Don't spout off til you've met them, ok? If you had, you wouldn't want them in your house, come SHTF.

MIL is a extremely selfish, self-absorbed evil person. FIL is nicer, but is a very floormat type person. Both are totally dependent on life-saving meds (haven't stocked up on), are terribly dependent on tobacco, and are in terrible physical condition. FIL is likely to have a fatal heart attack at any time, so he's useless for any kind of work. MIL has bad back, and bad leg, so forget work there too.

Neither have anything to offer me in the way of skills (no, she can't even cook). Both would be a serious burden that would greatly reduce our chances of survival.

Plus they'd want to bring their son with them, and I'd sooner have Charles Manson here in a survival situation than him. Evil, evil, useless person.

None have any weapons skills (they all are gun HATERS and regularly give me sh*t about having guns). And they want MY protection?! None of them can repair anything - they call for me to come visit and bring my tools - as if I don't have enough to do here at my home!

If you want to adopt them, you may. I'm not.

-- Bill (billclo@msgbox.com), September 22, 1999.

Bill

"Spouting off"?? Sorry dude. You and I are obviously from vastly different upbringings. Family is FAMILY where I come from whether they have any "usefull skills for me" or not. "A burden to our survival"???

Did you even read what you wrote?? You're talking about your wife's parents for Christs sake!! Your children's (if you have any) grandparents!! And you would shoot at them??!!

Compassion is one of the things that separates us from the animal kingdom.

Make that "Doomer of the YEAR Award".

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), September 22, 1999.

Want to meet my Mother in Law, go rent the movie "Throw Mamma from the train" starring Billy Crystal. That her for a fact. Its going to be a problem for me.

-- Bill (sticky@2sides.tape), September 22, 1999.

"Spouting off"?? Sorry dude. You and I are obviously from vastly different upbringings. Family is FAMILY where I come from whether they have any "usefull skills for me" or not. "A burden to our survival"???

Nice sentiment, I actually like my in-laws very much (even though the wife isn't one anymore).

If it came to it (which I seriously doubt) and taking in anyone would cut into the chances of my son's survival then it won't happen (even Catherine Zeta-Jones!). My in-laws have put in some food, bought a genny, the FIL is a lifetime NRA member and a very macho (but smart) old cuban. I think they'll be just fine where they live in rural northern CA near the Oregon border (300+ miles away).

Have discussed with my neighbor/landlord/friend the possibility of a lock-down due to biological agents being released in the S.F Bay area (where many of his in-laws live) by terrorists. Could his wife tell her mother or brother that they had to stay away from the house here for 3 weeks (in quarantine) and in the travel trailer at the corner of the property until they were well outside the normal incubation period for most biological agents. He thinks she would go along with this to protect the kids from infection but isn't sure. What to do if an infected family member shows up (say showing pistulae commonly associated with smallpox virus) and refused to abide by our anti- infection protocols being developed? Could be very, very sticky. Keeping my fingers crossed none of this comes to pass but planning on the worst and considering some of these tough decisions beforehand.

I love my family but will not endanger my son or myself (figuring my son needs me) to save them.

DCK

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), September 22, 1999.

Hey Deano.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough, so I'll elaborate. If Y2k is a minor event, I'll tell them that I don't have much food and to go to the local shelter. They are not welcome, and I will slam the door in their faces.

If the crapola has hit the fan, people are rioting, and starving, etc, then YES, taking them in is likely to cause us serious problems. I guess in your opinion, I'm supposed to let the 3 of them in and starve 2 1/2 times as fast just because I'm related to them. They surely don't have any skills or abilities that would offset the huge increase in the consumption of my limited supplies, so I have to figure that in too.

I've got a fairly large extended family, and if you think that all of them are coming over to my house because they think I have food and I'll feed them all, you're crazy. They looked upon me like a loonie when I mentioned Y2k and problems, so fuck them.

If looking out for #1 and wife is such a crime, then so be it. I warned them, and they ignored me and ridiculed me. Hell with them.

I have plenty of compassion for those whom I believe deserve it. I don't wish the inlaws to die, but I won't die for them either.

Hope this cleared up your mis-conception or my lack of clarity.

-- Bill (billclo@msgbox.com), September 23, 1999.

Bill

Sorry again dude. Didn't really clear up any misconception. I still stand by what I said. Family is FAMILY no matter what!

There have got to be some of you doomers out there that have a problem with this.

Could you honestly throw your parents out in bad times???

Serious question folks.........help me to understand this line of thinking.

I remembere a M*A*S*H episode (many) years ago where Hawkeye had a nervous breakdown. They were loaded on a bus surrounded by the enemy. Hawkeye kept hearing the cackle of a chicken coming from the back of the bus. He was going nuts wishing it would stop. Why won't somebody shut that chicken up?? Finally someone did. Only it wasn't a chicken, it was a baby. And they didn't just shut it up, mom killed it. Hawkeye lost it.

Remember that one?? Is that where we're coming from??

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), September 23, 1999.