NIcole8: I'm sure she is afraid he will get mad at her and then not talk with her.
My depressed H's mom is like this too. Also she enjoys my H being emotionally needy on her. It's sad. I'm not saying that's the case with your MIL (the enjoying the neediness, that is).
You could at least discuss it with her if she's trustworthy not to tell H you did. Then she could choose. Then you could feel you at least tried. If she would not say you talked to her and cause a backfire against you somehow.
