Invasive questions
Wondering if you all have ideas for gentle clapbacks for MIL who constantly asks invasive questions about your job. She’s done this for over ten years - when I switch jobs she asks my wife how much I make. Most recently, I finished up the last of my school and have slipped into what will be my forever career. Without going into details, MIL worked a distantly adjacent career and likes to view them as the same. She is constantly comparing our work - which I find offensive - and she will sometimes try to suggest ideas/trainings to me that are not relevant to my work or try to ask invasive questions about my work (I work in a field governed by HIPAA). Even if I share something neutral (not HIPAA related), she will use it as a way to talk about her career or try to one up me or subtly suggest it is unfair that I make what I make (I guess I make more than she did) or whatever. She will sometimes try to correct or mentor me about something but clearly doesn’t know what she is talking about and she is a big gossip so even if I wanted to share, it would not stay private. For the record - I respect what she did for a living and just wish we could stay in our lanes about it. My wife has asked her to stop but she will wait for my wife to leave the room and then start up so I will have to set the boundary myself. I don’t wish to hurt her feelings - and trying to explain or reason with her will just lead to more intrusive questions - so I’m looking for something short but sharp to say - to maybe get her off the subject.
I love the flair tags in this group - btw.