Easter trials and joys

It is important to have a sense of humor, right? Yet I didn't laugh much today, and I'm not sure if it would have helped or hindered. Since my brother and sister-in-law are going to her mom's and we are eating at my mother-in-law's, my parents are staying home alone for Easter dinner; my MIL would have gladly invited them, but has a small and full house, so they would prefer "not to impose." They are from that era where they tend to be reserved, and self-effacing; that's not a BAD thing at all unless it allows my SIL to run roughshod over their many kindnesses. My Easter with my family meant lunch with my folks and brother and family, and it sorely tested my restraint. It would take a book to explain my brother's young wife. Let's just say that she gave me parenting advice before she even had a child, and I resisted the caustic remark that I'd been parenting almost as long as she had been alive. I know without a doubt that she thinks she'll do a way better job than I have, and that doesn't bother me. (makes me want to laugh actually) But the way she treats my parents, especially my mom, makes me NOT. VERY. HAPPY. My mother adores her grandchildren, like her baby grandson. SIL gets very testy with her if she calls him a "doll" because that sounds too girly. She told my mom impatiently that my nephew HAD to hold his own bottle while feeding because, "he can, and he's been slacking off lately." I thought at first she was joking, and almost laughed--a 7 month old slacker? But I curbed my *smart aleck* comment because my mom is obviously very stressed that she will do something "wrong" by helping L. with his bottle, snuggling him while he drinks it, or calling him an endearment that my SIL finds offensive. I also won a bet I made with my folks; in spite of a future, expensive move to a house farther north, my brother's tax refund is being used to fly to this state so that SIL can visit her friend. (on Fathers' Day weekend yet!) I. SHALL.KEEP. MY. MOUTH.SHUT. I need to keep reminding myself how young my SIL is, and how not-young I am. The joys of Easter were many though; College Daughter asked for work off, then waited for a bus in downtown Seattle so that she could come home for a meal that she mainly can't eat. And we enjoyed posing for Mr. Stargazer's new D80, while baby holding J. (our new great-nephew, and cousin)

Luckily, my husband doesn't read the blog, so I can snidely say that he has some work to do with the manual setting.(programmed automatic for me--all the way) Doesn't he realize that he MUST set the light so my hair doesn't look red? It's supposed to be light brown...

Crazy sisters make me laugh; children who don't work on any of their homework until Sunday night make me want to cry. I do enjoy my family, really. Just not every moment.

Comments

[Tonya]

Man, your SIL is a piece of work. I admire your restraint for smart-ass comebacks, but maybe it would do her some good! She'll otherwise see herself as perfect in everybody's eyes. (People like that...she probably would anyway and consider everybody else WRONG).

Otherwise it sounds like you had a pleasant day. It was for us, too! Great to see my dad. He's lost over 20 lbs., which he definitely needed to do, but he does look older. (I hope his health is OK).

[Laura]

Wow, your SIL.......phew...

I find it so enjoyable holding a baby, feeding them their bottle and looking into their little eyes as they gaze back at you......its so heart-warming.

She needs her ass kicked! OOOPPS! did I say that out loud?

[Old Horsetail Snake]

Think what it must be to LIVE with SIL. Gack-a-mighty.

Were you a good Mom on Easter? You bit the ears off your daughters' chocolate bunnies, right?

[Chatty]

Love the pics. Families are a piece of work! :)

[Suburban Island]

Sounds like you navigated the Easter holiday like a pro. SIL will get hers!

[Pirate]

I have never met your girls but I must say they come across as well raised.

I always like the inexperience of a self-appointed expert. They are so delightful to tweak. I am sure you got your share of good ones in. That smile of yurs tells me you can be dangerous when provoked.

We went to friends ate well and played spoons. I was the first one out and got to enjoy their new flat screen TV in the other room as they battled.

Got home and watched another good flick on the tube and went to bed at 1 am. Very good holiday. Very relaxing.

[raehan]

Wow. That must be a challenge for your mom. Yes, we musn't spoil a 7 month old, mustn't we? Huh?

Anyway, I love your daughter's new haircute. It's adorable.

[babette]

I think the red hair suits you well, Margaret!

Movie recommendation: The Painted Veil (based on a couple of W. Somerset Maugham stories) I saw it (ALONE!) yesterday. I love a good matinee over Spring break. Et toi?

[mjd]

Whew, I am sorry that the SIL is so strange. Still, the baby is very cute. Dare I say, he is a doll.

I hope that your first few days back to school have gone smoothly...although I know better. At least at my school, after spring break, the students act like we are already on summer vacation.

I have special news. You can read about it here, Return of the White Robin.

[ally bean]

The idea of "a 7 month old slacker" has made my day. SIL sounds like a handful. Still, you sound as if you did a good job of not causing any trouble with her. That can be quite difficult to do sometimes. so give yourself a pat on the back.

[Vicki]

Family! I love Hoss's comment: Gack-a-mighty! Fortunately you have absolutely lovely daughters and Mr. S is finally getting with the camera program. I'm with Raehan- love the new haircut on your girl.

[Liora Hess]

Your kids are a testament to your awesome mothering skills. This SIL sounds like a major pain in the ass. You are one patient woman. Happy (belated) Easter!

[Susan]

Be glad you have family that gets together. I had none.

[Zoely]

Uhm. Asw a breastfeeding mom, (but not a self-righteous one) I cannot at all relate to the bottle bit. Reminds me of when I was in a clinic surrounded by other low-income moms (who were mostly young & uneducated) and as a brand new mom being shocked almost to tears when one mom aggressively made her 6-month-old hold her own bottle. These kids will not be independent, they'll be like me, always looking for love.

[Lauri]

How in the world did you keep from laughing when your SIL said the baby had been "slacking off lately"??? I would have keeled over from stomach cramps and had tears running down my face! It makes me laugh just to even think about it!

And about your mom calling him a "doll"...my grandma called all 9 of us (3 girls and 6 boys) "Dollbaby" no matter how big we got, even when we grew taller than she was, until the day she died. Of course, it drove me crazy when I was 13, but it actually brings tears to my eyes when I think about it now. What I wouldn't give to have one more of her hugs and a "Dollbaby"!

[Michelle]

That poor kid. She sounds like an absolute nutcase. Your kids, however, are super-cute in that photo!