In-laws visiting

[ilfaith]

How is it that just two more people in my home increases the number of dishes I have to wash exponentially? My in-laws are in the middle of week two of their visit (which is a bitch in itself), and I have never washed so many glasses. Each of them drinks several cups of coffee a day, taking a new mug every time. They also take a variety of pills at different times of day, so that means several water glasses used by each one. I feel like I spend half the day cleaning up after them (as if my own kids didn't make enough of a mess).

I suppose I brought this on in part, since I told MIL that I didn't want her loading the dishwasher. The fact is she doesn't rinse the dishes well before putting them in (in a completely random way) so bits of dried egg or whatnot remain stuck to the plate or fork. I know every time I have set the table in her home, I have ended up running back to the kitchen to rewash items found in her cupboard or silverware drawer.

[Ms B]

Each of them drinks several cups of coffee a day, taking a new mug every time. They also take a variety of pills at different times of day, so that means several water glasses used by each one. I feel like I spend half the day cleaning up after them (as if my own kids didn't make enough of a mess).

I suppose I brought this on in part, since I told MIL that I didn't want her loading the dishwasher. The fact is she doesn't rinse the dishes well before putting them in (in a completely random way) so bits of dried egg or whatnot remain stuck to the plate or fork.

Do we have the same in-laws?

Except that I barred MIL from loading the dishwasher after she put the Wusthof knives into it, which pit in the dishwasher . . . and tried to put cast aluminum pots, which also pit.

Family is a joy!

[hellokitty]

Ugh! My mil, "helps" by immediately clearing off everyone's cups and glasses after meals, so nobody can find their glass and has to get a new one. It is so aggravating to me that literally the only thing she does to, "help" causes me more work and annoyance. I totally get your rant!

[Still-in-Shock]

You could switch to paper and styrofoam cups and say that the dishwasher isn't working.......

Honestly, the best advice I ever got about ILs was to keep in mind that this is a temporary situation, and they WILL go home. And just thank your deity of choice that they don't live with you all the time.

[BunnyBee]

Do you have masking tape? Write their name on two pieces and label a mug and a glass for them. Have the cups sitting right out on the counter.

[StantonHyde]

Or...use a sharpie and put their names on some sippie cups.....

[BunnyBee]

Or...use a sharpie and put their names on some sippie cups.....

The Take N Toss! Perfect!

[gatorsmom]

Paper plates and cups. When they are done they can put them on the trash. Tell em the dishwasher is broken.

If they complain then they are welcome to hand wash the dishes!

[JBaxter]

Mine only uses ONE the whole visit. Picks out the odd colored mug and leaves it sitting in the middle of the counter the whole week. I cant count how many times I put it in the dishwasher out of habit. But yeah I get ya.

[mikeys_mom]

Ugh! My mil, "helps" by immediately clearing off everyone's cups and glasses after meals, so nobody can find their glass and has to get a new one. It is so aggravating to me that literally the only thing she does to, "help" causes me more work and annoyance. I totally get your rant!

This is my MIL and DH's grandmother exactly!!!
The two of them are obsessed with clearing glasses and it seems as though they believe that once the main course is done, so are the glasses. They clear while I'm distracted with the kids and of course the kids all want more to drink with dessert. Drives me bonkers!!