Thanks, divine. And agreed. She's 80 and certainly won't change now. This behavior is engrained in her. And apparently she's been making mean, hurtful comments are of her life, according to my husband.

I've gone out with her as much as I have in order to keep my husband company and also to be able to spend time with HIM too. But not this upcoming week.

I feel like contacting the daughter-in-law in California to commiserate and vent, but I know I cannot. This will anger my husband, if he finds out. Even though he acknowledges that her behavior is wrong, he is also very protective of his mom, just like a momma's boy, which is what he is.

I feel sick by all of this. It's making me sick.