First of all, my mom is driving me bonkers!!!!!
I have a system to not track dirt into the house by having shoes at the front door. No, we can't have the shoes at the front door, *any shoes*, they all have to go in my room. Then everything needs a home, and "Where does this belong?", then I have to put my pills (that I have to take after breakfast and dinner) in my room because having a basket out looks messy.(All my pills are in a basket to move if we need to clear off the buffet, which is really twice a year).

Anyway, needless to say I'm feeling peeved. Then her silk clothes, that she is drying outside on a wooden rack, get a stain from the wood rack (which is why the message here). We tried hydrogen peroxide, we tried baking soda and vinegar, and we tried as a last resort natural stain remover. Nothing worked.

Anyway, I'm just feeling really annoyed with my mom right now. I try to get the house clean, and its constant criticism. This needs to be put away, that needs to be put away...

BLEAH!

And I'm feeling really wiped. I guess its PMS time again too. Just what I need.

Catherine

For me its not my mom, but my husbands grandmother. A week after we moved in together, she and her husband stopped by to see the place, the proceeded to rearrange my living room
anyways, since then i've only had them over once. Can't immagine being in your situation. Hang in there I know you get frustrated when she's here. Is it just for Tanglewood season or will she be here longer?

Anyways good luck,

Laurie

Cate,
No help with stain removal. With something as delicate as silk, I would go to dry cleaner.

At my daughter's 4th birthday party, I had no Oreos for my SCREAMING nephew. My Mom laughed at me and said that it was "crazy" that I did not have the Oreos. Of couse she did this in front of 20 guests. I endure visits from my Mom. I always have emotional and mental fall out. I live in a world apart from her. I get as much support as I can take in befoer during and after a visit.

On the top right of http://www.marthastewart.com , enter the search words "stain removal", for some ideas. She has stain removal basics and supplies charts and information, etc. Good luck!

I too, am no help with the stain removal...

I'm lucky that I get along with my mom really well. But MIL is coming Monday to help with the move. I love my MIL very much and she will be a tremendous help - but my new kitchen will be set up by her so it is perfect for her to cook in. I'll undo everything eventually! I will also have to listen to a lot of critisism about my lack of cleaning efforts/skills. oh well...

My mom drives me nuts at my house too, but I have finally learned to say

"Mom this is MY house. I don't do everything the same way you do."

Some things I let slide, and then go back to normal when she's gone, but others I have to speak up. And actually, my husband speaks up too. Maybe it is easier when you have back up, to confront your parents.

Dawn

Don't know what to tell you about the stain.

Dawn

I'm not good at stain removal, but I just wanted to commiserate and say I can relate. I'll be seeing my maternal parental unit in 3 weeks when I go to Ohio for family reunion and can't really say I'm looking forward to it.

I AM, however, very much looking forward to meeting the Ohio CTers!! I hope they will forgive me if I show up looking really tense. But at least they will understand why. LOL