What would you do if your mother asked you?

[Frank McGrath]

Since when does your mother in law have a say in the raising of your kid. I told my mother in law that she had no say. If she wants to tell me what to do (and she wanted to) I told her to get her own kid. I also told her she didn't do that well with her daughter. (we are divorced).

[auld argonian]

Haven't I seen some news footage of Prince Charles and his sons hiking around in their kilted gear? Show her those and let ehr know that if it's good enough for future Kings of England, she ought to lighten up on you and the boy.

Best

AA

[Chef]

I have a mother-in-law with the same attitude but as was already said, family is family. I would be very happy if she would accept my wearing the kilt past a wedding or Scottish event, but she doesn't and I don't expect that she ever will. Unfortunately that is not an unusual viewpoint as we all know.

How I get around it is fairly simple; I am not kilted all the time (my view of what is a kilt makes it not the garment of choice, all the time) so if I know I will be around her I will occasionally make a concession and wear pants. Personally I don't care what she thinks but it helps spare my wife from the comments.

When it comes to my kids however I am more protective of the kilt wearing. My oldest (7) loves to wear his kilt (just like his Dad) but I only let him wear it when I know he will get positive reactions. I know he eventually he will get negative feedback but since this is a choice I want him to experience all the positive he can. I want him to feel very secure about wearing the kilt and have it his choice. Occasionally telling him no actually seems to encourage his desire.

His Grandmother has only seen him a couple of times in kilts and my wife and I have heard the comments, but I told my wife to warn her that if she said anything negative to my son she might be lucky to see him again by the time he graduates college (I think my wife toned it down in the translation).

As far as my youngest (2 1/2) he is just starting to show an interest in a kilt. I will probably get him in one for some of the games this year. He hasn't been in a wedding so he hasn't been in one yet. Not because the M-I-L doesn't like it but my wife and I are not fans of dressing little kids in adult style clothes and I consider a kilt to fall in that category.

Anyway long story to really say that you might need to bend a little to help keep family peace but just make sure any comments never get to your kids.

[Bob C]

Sorry, guys, but there's no nice way to do this. This is clearly a woman who needs to be told to shut the hell up.

Monkey and Frank are right. It's about respect. She shows none, she deserves none.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Agree completely. Not her kid, not her say.

[Panache]

jordanjm,

If you choose to directly confront your Mother-in-Law on her dislike of kilts keep this thought in mind.

Poise is the art of raising the eyebrows instead of the roof

Cheers

Panache

[David Dalglish]

The Bairn looks great, As long as you & your wife likes the kilt, that's all that counts

[Dreadbelly]

I'd tell her that a gramma that can't respect heritage is never going to see her grandchild ever again.

In baby talk.

And I'd probably tell the old bat to STHU. But I don't recommend that you do this.

I do know what I would have done though. First words out of her mouth I would have escorted her to the door and told her to get the hell out, and don't come back till you get some respect for your own flesh and blood.

[Kid Cossack]

Aye and he's a charmer ain't he? There are a number of approaches that come to mind. Theodore Roosevelt wore DRESSES as a child, was no uncommon thing in those days. Not that long ago, me beloved late Mum just SCANDALIZED the University of Houston when she wore TROUSERS to attend graduate level classes in geology. A WOMAN! In PANTS! Surely she must be . . . well, you know, not quite normal. You could point out that pants were really only even thought of for purposes of riding horses, and that before that unbifurcated garments were the norm. You could tell her that, while she is certainly entitled to her opinion, is it really helping her grandson to mock how he's dressed? Oh and aye, you could mention how much easier it is to change the diapers when a lad's in a kilt, vice trews! Oh and by the way---your son is a charmer indeed, as I mentioned already, but his outfit is simply smashing. His sartorial presentation rivals that of esteemed members Panache and Hamish, and I consider that dang high praise indeed! Best of luck to you, my brother, and I think, based just on the picture of your son, that you've got a darned fine start on things.

[Dreadbelly]

Mini Medusa (My wife) read this post with me and loved the picture of your son.

She said Granny would be getting a butt kicking from overly protective mommy hormones and would be shown the door.

She also informed me that there would only be scraps left for the husband to clean up.