wow ladies- this thread is moving fast!
Just wanted to thank you all for all the wonderful info and ideas about my mini confinement - yes, i think i know what to do now.
As for the discussion on in laws - yes, mdm khoo - my FIL is exactly like your MIL in some ways! He used to like to go into me and my DH's room to get laundry, or just go in, I don't know to do what. He also searches (still does) through the kitchen cabinets for things that don't belong to him etc etc.
But over the years, he's learnt some things, i must say. Firstly, I started to lock up our bedroom door when we go out. I really felt an intrusion of privacy and wasn't going to take it lying down. He may not understand that so the best way for me is just to lock up the room. After a while he got the idea and he now no longer barges into the room. We don't even have to lock it now.
Secondly, I tried to install some kind of system in the kitchen, where a particular deck in the kitchen belongs to him. I don't like him scrounging around my decks and going through my stuff, because you know old people, they can be very clumsy and he's knocked over/ spilled my stuff quite a no. of times, so it's quite frustrating. I must say this strategy has only worked to a certain degree cos he still goes through my stuff sometimes, (and i WILL know cos he leaves very obvious traces, haha) but by and large, it's much better.
It's quite frustrating sometimes really, I must admit, living with in laws. He's also spoilt some of our clothes cos he didn't know how to wash them and he thought he was helping but didn't realise he was spoiling everything. Like he really doesn't know how to iron and will like burn our stuff.. so it's quite bad.. but he also just laughs about it.. I don't know how your MIL laughs but my FIL laughs in the way that he thinks it's a very small issue, just that he thinks being dirty and having a cockroach in the kitchen is a very small issue, but to me, it's disgusting. He leaves his food garbage in our small open trashbin at the sink every night and no matter how many times we tell him to clean up, he will not, so my DH and I have to clean up after him.. but he thinks he's very 'capable', wants to 'help', by ruining our clothes etc.. so .. i would say it's really not easy living with in laws sometimes and I really admire those who can establish good friendships with their in laws.
yep.. sorry for the long long write up... good night dear ladies [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif]