Dear Massi,  My mother-in-law is such a horrible woman.  She always criticises me. Everything I do is wrong.

She always makes comments that my husband and son look ‘bemaar’ (weak) because I don’t feed them properly. 

I had my in-laws and some family friends over for my son’s birthday.  
I bought the food from a local takeaway and the cake from a bakery. I told everyone I cooked everything. That’s no big deal. Everyone lies about that. Who has the time to cook that much food, especially for your in-law’s?

But obviously I had to say I cooked it. Anyway, when I put the food out, everyone was praising my cooking.

My evil saas went into the kitchen, into my bins, and pulled out the takeaway containers to show my guests that I didn’t cook the food.  Everyone including my husband laughed at me.

I can’t believe she did my baystee (disrespect).  I hate that woman so much.
My husband is a pathetic mummy’s boy and just agrees with his mum about everything. 

Now there’s a davat coming up at my sister-in-law’s house but I don’t want to see anyone from that family. What’s the best way to get out of going?

Massi says, It is understandable that you are upset that your mother-in-law raided your bins in your house just to expose the fact that you didn’t cook.

Whether you cook or buy food, that is your prerogative. 

However, it seems your pride is coming before any common sense. 

You admitted yourself that you lied about cooking the food. 

As embarrassing as it was for you when your guests discovered the truth, you will only exacerbate the issue and draw it out even further by avoiding your in-laws. 
It is more than likely that they have moved on from the dinner at your house and have found other things to talk about.

Exercise a little diplomacy with your mother-in-law rather than reacting angrily to her comments as that will only fuel further remarks.