My MIL has become insanely jealous. She didn't go to my baby shower because she couldn't stand sharing the spotlight. In the last few months, her jealousy has gotten 10x worse. She hates when you compliment or thank other people around her and when you do thank/compliment others, she will tell you that you're being rude and insulting her. She doesn't just fish for thanks/compliments, she flat out demands them.

Before my daughter was born, I was visiting at my MILs house, and my SIL gave me a gift. I thanked her for it and said that it was adorable and she was spoiling me. My MIL instantly flew into a rage and said how no one ever thanks her and what did I mean by saying that SIL was spoiling me when she (MIL) has done so much for everyone without even so much as a mention.

I tried to talk to her about her jealousy but she is not having it and has turned against me. My SIL, BIL, and husband say it's not worth it and that "it is what it is". They say that we should stop thanking each other in her presence, or saying anything that could set her off. I told them it's rediculous to be walking on eggshells all the time because a woman in her 60s has jealousy issues.

Her behavior is not normal. Christmas is coming and she's acting like a spoilt child. She is demanding everyone (including my 3 month old daughter and her other grandkids) give her gifts when last year, we decided to only give gifts for the kids. She even told us, "Since you aren't buying gifts for each other, you can afford to buy me something nice." She has put a $50 minimum on her gift demands.

Her kids and their spouses say it's not worth fighting and to just do it. I said that if our children were acting this way, we'd all put our foot down for being greedy. I told them I was not buying a gift for her. Originally, I had bought her a small gift to open from her new granddaughter, but I've decided against it because of her attitude.

Any advice on what to say/how to deal with her would be amazing. No contact/low contact is not an option as she lives in our neighbourhood.