I've stolen Randy Pausch's line from
The Last Lecture when I say I won the parent lottery. When I was married, my mom was a great MIL, in my opinion. She's very respectful and supportive, and very unobtrusive. She's wonderful; I think my ex would agree.
I did not have a MIL, as ex'es mom died when he was 5 years old. She, by all accounts, was an extremely intelligent and classy woman.
But my FIL...I still consider him as a dad. You just couldn't find a better man, with the exception of my dad, and my ex would agree there as well.
I crack up when I watch Everybody Loves Raymond because of Marie. Can you imagine? I guess some don't have to imagine, they're living that very thing!