The mother-in-law did not lose a child, op did. The mother-in-law is using her grandson (step grandson's?) death as an excuse to get out of work. The mother-in-law is a bitch to ask her daughter-in-law for a death certificate at a time like this.

Yes, forgive me, I thought that it was Op's husband that had died (therefore the MIL's son). I went to edit my comment but there was a problem and I couldn't find it to edit it. I re-commented below. But as I said in my other comment, what the MIL did is weird but I still can't imagine my parents losing one of their grandchildren and don't feel anybody has a right to judge someone that is grieving. Grief can be so overwhelming that people don't know what to do and I imagine the poor woman just wants to get away and be alone somewhere. Weird? Yes. But still grief in my opinion.

it was her grandson, not her child. You may be right, but it sounds like she was already planning a vacation and used this as an excuse to get paid while gone but not have to use vacation time. Also, if she really did need the time off for grieving, going on a vacation seems a strange way to do it. If nothing else she should be ashamed for leaving her son/daughter, instead of being present for emotional support during this hard time. I mean, her son/daughter lost a child. A good mother would use the time off work to be with her family during a time when she is OBVIOUSLY needed!

Exactlyi aggree #24

I do agree with that 28. I understand her wanting to get away to go and grieve, but to leave her son at this time when they would obviously need her is weird. Again though, she may be so lost in grief that she can't think of anyone else at the moment.

It's the grandmother who wants the vacation not her and only for her benifit.

#112: Read OP's follow-up comments. OP's mother in law did this because she is a selfish bitch, not because she is grieving.

From what I'm reading I'm guessing that the mother-in-law already has this vacation planned out but now that her grandson died she wants to use it as an excuse to get it for free/reduced. I think it's one thing to grieve for a while and then maybe go away for a bit if you're still having troubles, but to use death as an excuse is low. A few years ago my family went through a very hard period where we lost both my grandparents within 3 months of each other, but we also had a vacation that was planned out for a while. My grandpa died 3 weeks before we left, and while the vacation was a great way to take our minds off the past 6 months, there was no way that we would use that as an excuse to get reimbursed.

The hell are you talking about? Take the opportunity, jeez