MIL Sneak Attack

Let's start by saying that I really like my mother-in-law. She does, however, have a knack for stopping by when my house is a mess.

With a sprained ankle, my house isn't exactly the cleanest. So of course, now is when she pops by for a hello. This is usually a blessing, though, because she has:

• Helped paint our PA house
• Helped stage our PA house
• Watched kids while we packed up the PA house
• Helped paint our SC house (seeing a pattern?)
• Cleaned and watched kids after the birth of the last of my three kids.

What's even better: she got Doug to hang a piece of artwork for me. A few years ago, Doug bought me a laser level for hanging pictures. It could have been a subconscious bid for me to hang my own artwork, except that I asked for it and always hang my own artwork.

This particular piece wasn't going anywhere fast, though, because I can't climb a ladder and it belongs at the top of the wall. I scored it at Target - it was on clearance for $20.

Mother-in-law smiles at Doug and wheedles, "Do you have five minutes? Wanna do me a favor? It will only require a small ladder, a hammer and five minutes. Four, if you're fast."

Doug grumbles until I tell him what she's aiming at. Then he grumbles, "A small ladder? I don't think so..." But then he hangs it for me. And because he's an engineer, it is measured out (using my laser level). Go, Doug.

Then MIL cleaned my house while I sat with my ankle up. Yup, I even pulled out a magazine to read. Doug was making lunch for us at this point. Am I spoiled? Sometimes.