Weddingbee boards

It will be the first time since the wedding we will see them.  I knew this moment would come but I'm still not ready for it.  I know, "don't go" but me and DH are a family now...MIL can't just run me away.  I won't die on that hill if things get really bad but we'll just see how things go if I visit in the future.  She's ignored me for 9 months (including the wedding) so I am completely prepared for that...it doesn't bother me much anymore.  We won't be staying with her so that's good. Visits will be short, also good. And DH knows not to leave me alone with her if it's just the 3 of us because I will never be alone with her if I have a choice.

But how do you handle visiting people who don't like you?  I don't know if it's true or not but MIL makes it out to be that NO ONE in the family likes me.  I'm sure the way she talks about me behind my back to them does not help.  I know that not everyone in DH's family hates me but it knocks a little self esteem out of me. 

Besides carrying a bottle of Jack with me, got any tips?  Any phrases you find helpful when dealing with difficult with a capital D people? 

I will be rereading "Toxic In Laws" and I should have a few weeks to come to terms that we will be seeing her.  And if she does decide to start stuff I plan on straight up defending myself, which is new because in the past my jaw has been on the floor AND there has been nothing appropriate to say back to her.  So I'm caught between trying to be the bigger person and defending myself 100%, which involves being a smart ass on my end.