Have upset MIL?

coolcait

"Glad you're all OK" "Look after yourself"

I read those as positive statements. So, it does surprise me to see that you're worried that you might have upset your MIL.

Email and texting have their uses. But - as someone else has said - you won't get the same nuances and tones that come from hearing a person's voice (and from seeing them speak).

So, being from a family which can use the phrase "It was OK" to describe everything from "absolutely dire" to "stupendously awesome", I would never dare judge their mood from an email. So, I go along with the advice that you should ring her and talk to her.

Here are two completely different ways to read the message you got. The first is the way I read it. The second is a lot less positive. Your MIL might have meant something else entirely...

:hello::hello:“Glad you are all ok :T:beer:. Nan struggles on . Look after yourself” :happylove:A

“Glad you are all ok :mad:. Nan struggles on . Look after yourself :mad: /B]sarcastic smiley[B ”

There's not actually anything wrong with her reply - read neutrally. Maybe it's just not what you were expecting?

Scan photos aren't always the easiest things to comment on - safely (although they're a lot better nowadays!). Even though you may be thinking "where's the baby?", that may not go down well as a comment .

Face to face with the proud mum (or dad, or gran etc) you can gaze at the photo in rapt awe, and exclaim "Isn't it amazing what they can do nowadays??!!" giving them the opportunity to agree, and point out the wee head, and the tiny wee hands, and how the nose (do you see the nose here?) looks just like dad's (or mum's or grandad's). And suddenly you see the baby in the photo...

Email deprives you of that kind of interaction.

Call your MIL for a general chat. See how she sounds on the phone. Go and see her.

More emails probably aren't the way to find out what she really meant, and how she's really feeling.

Take care and good luck.