To everyone who had suggested it much earlier (I'm lookin' at you Sally) I am so sorry I didn't follow this advice earlier. I should have done it without a second thought somewhere a year into our relationship, not almost 6 years down the line.

I am LOVING it. It feels like I finally have control of my life back, and it's not ruled by MIL's desires and whims.

There was one small blip on the radar that might be hilarious to some of you--which completely reinforces the old adage: Give a mouse a cookie and it will ask for milk.

Two weeks ago, we were letting MIL see BD for a bit while we were around and had to sit down and make small chit chat with her for about 15 minutes, which we haven't done in forever. She calls my cellphone the next day (I did not pick up) and left an urgent message... about how she needs to know how to spell BIL's dog's name. I shit you not. I was floored.

Without a word, I played the message for DH and he was like, "She's out of her mind."

Basically testing the waters or seeing if I'd jump to an inane request. All from, what? Me politely sitting in her house for 15 minutes? Aw hell no, so back to absolutely no contact for me other than a hello and goodbye at her door.