MIL thinks lunch with my mum should include her, and has started arranging it directly with my mum
Both our mums live nearby. Every few weeks I have a weekday lunch with mine. Usually jacket potatoes at her kitchen table, catching up about relatives and whatever she's been doing. My husband isn't there. We don't have children.
A few months ago we had a nice lunch with both mums, which I'd happily do again occassionally. Since then MIL has started asking whether she's invited whenever she hears I'm seeing mine. I've explained that sometimes I want time alone with my mum. She says marriage made us one family and she doesn't understand why we need separate visits.
Last week I told her Wednesday's lunch was just the two of us. She then rang my mum and said she'd heard about lunch and would love to come. Mum assumed I'd changed the plan and said yes. I found out when Mum asked whether MIL eats tuna.
My husband has told her these lunches aren't invitations, and we already see MIL regularly. Her response to me was that she wouldn't exclude my mum from anything. I don't think that's relevent, but somehow I ended up explaining our entire visiting schedule to her.
I've cleared up the misunderstanding with Mum. I'd like advice on what to say to MIL now, because explaining that I love my mum seems to turn into reassuring her that I like her too.