[ernie]

It's a hard thing...people need to be left to have their emotions the way they are going to have them. That includes the MIL who is clearly hurting for her own family and appears to be lashing out.

I know from experience in times of pain the easiest thing to do and maybe even the correct thing to do sometimes is just wrap yourself up with work. Deal with it in little bits. Works for some. Doesn't for others. Others need to get angry and can lash out at everyone and everything.