Wow.. What a horrifying story. I see she's not American, which was my first guess. I'll be meeting my boyfriend's family for the first time in a few weeks and I will definitely keep in mind that manners go a LONG way and it's always important to make a good first impression. I will say I think it's hypocritical of the MIL to email the soon to be DIL when she herself said that when you want to than/speak to some one you should write a card or discuss it with that person. Oh the hypocrisy! LOL