7 Things My Narcissistic Mother-in-Law Does That Gives Me the Ick

For me, the word “ick” (usually used in dating) perfectly describes the cringey, skin-crawling feeling I get with my mother-in-law. It’s not just about big fights. It’s the daily, subtle, sometimes bizarre behaviors that make me want to scream into a pillow.

Here are seven things my narcissistic mother-in-law does that give me a major ick:

1. Competing With Me Like We’re Teenagers

Before I married her son, she was simple in her choices—oiled plaits, muted sarees, and boutique stitched suits. But soon after my arrival, she underwent a complete transformation… into my wanna be clone. She started shopping from the same stores as me, “borrowing” my sarees without asking, and even chopping off her long hair into a bob which has been my signature style for years!

It’s flattering if a friend copies you once in a while, but when your MIL is in a full-on competition for “who wore it better,” it just feels suffocating. Dear MILs, age gracefully, remember it’s not a fashion race.

Read More: 25+ Emotional Instagram Captions For Mother-In-Law

2. Going Silent the Moment I Enter the Room

This one is straight out of a TV drama. She could be mid-laughter with her husband, chatting endlessly with her friends, or gossiping on the phone with her daughter. But the second I walk into the room, it's radio silence. Sometimes she even leaves the room! Initially, I thought she was discussing me or my family, but after noticing it happen constantly, I realized it’s just her way of making me feel unwelcome. The unspoken message? “This is my world, and you don’t belong here.”

3. Treating the Kitchen Like a War Zone

Every MIL thinks of the kitchen as her kingdom. But mine? She rules it like a queen who never cleans. Vegetable peels are left all over the slab, oily spoons rest on white countertops, flour dust floats in the air.

Can you picture this chaos? And then she acts like she’s done me a favor by “helping” with cooking. Sorry, but if I need a clean-up crew after every kitchen session, it’s not helping, it’s havoc.

4. Zero Etiquettes, Zero Filters

My MIL behaves like she’s above basic manners. Knocking before entering a room? Too much effort. Feet on the cream sofa? Why not! Picking teeth or sneezing without covering her mouth? Daily routine. Once, she wiped her nose with her palm and continued kneading dough like nothing happened. I almost fainted. Call me old-fashioned, but hygiene and basic courtesy aren’t negotiable.

Read More: Problem Dealing With Difficult In-Laws? This Guide Will Help You

5. Hijacking Every Conversation

You know that one person who cannot stand anyone else being the center of attention? That’s her. If I’m talking, she’ll cut me off mid-sentence to tell the same story she’s told a hundred times. If I try to steer the conversation, she’ll steer it right back to herself. At this point, I’ve realized she doesn’t want conversations, she wants an audience. And unfortunately, I’m the unwilling front-row spectator.

6. Turning My Husband Into Her Therapist

Another classic narcissist move-using her son for emotional validation. She’ll tear up if he pays me the slightest attention, guilt-trip him for “ignoring” her, and create drama until he’s comforting her instead of being present for me. The worst part? These emotional manipulations have triggered fights between me and my husband. And of course, in every fight, she’s magically on his side. Convenient, isn’t it?

7. Disrespecting Boundaries Like They Don’t Exist

Jewelry is personal, emotional, and often passed down generations. Some of my wedding jewelry are pieces from my mother and grandmother. This is my streedhan. Yet, my saasu maa keeps everything locked in her cupboard “for safekeeping.” And she doesn’t just keep them, she wears them whenever she feels like it! It’s not just about gold or diamonds, it’s about crossing boundaries and claiming ownership of what’s not hers.

Living with a narcissistic MIL isn’t just about occasional annoyance. It’s death by a thousand little icks. Each incident chips away at your peace and makes you realize that sometimes, marriage isn’t just about two people, it’s about surviving the extended family politics too.