Annie Oakley Update! MORE PICS!!! - Page 2

I think you need to put your mother in law in her place.  Just tell her if you're doing it all wrong, then have at it, do it yourself. (except for Oakley of course)  Sounds like the woman needs a hobby, anything to get her mind off of how you don't know what you are doing.  It's not good for you.  Stand up to her and your husband if need be and let them both know you are tired of the crap.  There's a good chance she doesn't even realize how she is affecting you and if she does shame on her.  And shame on your husband for letting her do it!  Go give Oakley a hug for me and get you some Oakley therapy!
Deb

Deb,

She's got a hobby...Annoying me!  Actually, she runs my father in law's skidder. They are loggers, a mom and pop operation, and they work all week long.  She's only home on weekends, which is good, but still...I try to avoid dealing with her when I can.  The disagreement issues run far deeper than the dogs; it runs the gamut of how I raise my kids to how I clean my house, on and on.

My husband does stand up to her, but she's Irish, through and through.  I'd never talk to my mother the way he sometimes does her, but she's not going to give up.  I just try to ignore her as much as I can.

I have some more pics of Oakie that I just took outside a bit ago.



She's stretching here...or trying to stack American-style...



Oakley is starting to lighten up across the back of her neck and shoulders...and on her back legs..Getting so grown up.  She is my first black and tan GSD, so I am enjoying watching the change in her color every day.



She can be ornery...That shoe is on my foot!



Misty was being ornery here...

Enjoy!!

Crys

Crys, she is growing into a very nice pup. It sounds like you mother inlaw has not respect for the good person you are. You will get to a point in your life when you will tell her if she does not stop with the insults you will not engage in her presence anymore.
Always,
Cee

Wow!  Oakley really is changing colors!  Big difference.  Love the shoe shot.  (as for MIL...maybe you should try reverse pyschology on her...agree with everything no matter how ugly and smile...kill her with kindness...it'll drive her crazy!)

She looks great( and VERY happy)!

She got sooo big sooo fast...
MIL- killing her with kindness should work, but standing up to her is what I would do....lol...I am a renegade though... living too close is the biggest mistake most families make...
Take care Crys, and God Bless...
STeph
Off to another day of helping out with the spay/neuter surgeries...

She got so big!  And is adorable! 

Lucky for me we are in NJ and the in laws are in Florida!  LOL, though at least they don't have too many opinions about me or the way that we raise our daughter.  Even my mom, is being pretty good and letting us figure it out.  And my inlaws GSD is a brat, so they really can't say anything about my dogs.  Though they are intimidated by them at times.    

Funny though, when they were up for her christening I asked if they wanted to watch her for a bit while I ran errands.  They were practically petrified!  Saying they hadn't changed a diaper since my hubby was little.   You don't forget those things!  He was their only child and guess she didn't have much experience otherwise.  Meanwhile if my mom watches her, it's more like, bye!  leave me alone, I know what I'm doing!   LOL   And she does, had 3 kids and was always babysitting.  

Killing with kindness....I think I'll try it, Deb!

I have a hard time standing up to her, though, Steph...My father was very old-fashioned, and was very strict with us growing up.  We were taught to have respect for others, especially our parents, as well as older folks we came into contact with. And you just didn't question or talk back.  Although I appreciate having been raised to respect my parents and elders, there are times when I have an almost overwhelming desire to tell someone off.  Just the same, the way I was raised just doesn't allow it.

When I look around and see what other people my age behave like, I find myself sometimes shaking my head at them, for being rude, or acting like the world owes them...My parents taught me that if you want it, you work for it, since no one owes you anything.  And you put your best work out there, since if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

So I try to instill respect and kindness not only in my kids, but also in my dogs, and I hope that someday, when the kids are grown, they'll still retain some of the values I tried to instill, as I retain those instilled in me by my own parents. 

My ways may be different than my mother in law's, but if she is happy with her life, then fine.  I'll just ignore her and work on being happy with my own.

Crys

I was raised the same way you were Crys, we never questioned my Dad, we just did what he told us to do...we had total respect for our elders and parents...

BUT!!!!!!....I am making up for it now...it also taught me not to let people walk all over you...stand up for what you believe in...they did and that is their lesson for us to learn...if you let them walk all over you and not stand up to them they will continue...You need to earn their respect and let them know that they cannot intimidate you...if you don't stand up to her she will continue in her ways and know that she can always get your goat!!!!
Best wishes, STeph

Crys,

You must be just a young whipper snapper!  Steph and I are closer to being the same age so we are at that point in life where you start demanding respect for yourself.  Sounds like you both were raised the same way as I. 

BUT!  You can demand respect even at your tender age and still be respectful.  Sounds like the problem with dear MIL is she has no respect for you and she won't until you demand it by standing up for yourself.  Yes, your gut will flip flop and you'll break out into a sweat but when you do it and she sees that she can no longer bully you around, ahhhh... but the feeling is sweet! 

My own mother is very domineering and my Irish/Scot/German family quake whenever she went on the rampage.  Guess what, I shut her down years ago and now I have her respect and the family's.  Mom and I are pretty darn good friends now.

Just don't lose your cool when dealing with her.  Kill her with kindness, but if you don't want to do as she suggests or you disagree, softly but firmly tell her you disagree.  And stick by your guns.  Oh, and the term I used on my Mom that turned the tables..."Butt out, Mother"... spoken, strong, firmly and with meaning and most importantly, to her face.  Been a breeze ever since. 

Like Steph says, it's ok to respect others especially elders and parents but there is no excuse for being a doormat.  And you don't have to wait until you are our age to expect respect either.  Stand tall in MIL presence and look her in the eye and just maybe tell her to "Butt out, Mother".

Good luck to you.
Deb