Work was a nightmare last week because I overcommitted and I’m so happy to start this week without all those deadlines hanging over my head. I can’t believe I got thru that week. I hope I learned something about not overcommitting!
My kid is like my MIL's 12th grandchild (maybe 13?) and MIL asked DH for a Christmas list. She's 10, she's out of the toy stage and doesn't want for much this year. Poor E shut down last night because she said she just wants a few things and she knows we will buy them and why can't MIL just get her a gift card to Michaels. But my MIL doesn't' get it, even though this isn't her first rodeo. Like, I would have figured that this woman would get eventually there aren't "toys" to buy.
This is also the woman who thought a bag of goldfish and a board book were sufficient for her first Christmas when we asked for aquarium passes, so my bar with her is VERY LOW.
I painted my son's room this weekend. I've realized that I am absolutely awful at cutting in along the ceiling, so thankfully he wants to put up LED lights. I'm pretty proud of myself thought. STBX would never let me help with projects around the house. I was able to patch all of the holes, paint, and tonight I'm going to put in new outlets (the current ones are beige, and I'm slowly switching the whole house to white). I was actually pretty handy before he and I met.
The downside? STBX took all of my tools, paint supplies, etc when he moved out. So two trips to Home Depot and $500 later, the project is almost done.
My kid is like my MIL's 12th grandchild (maybe 13?) and MIL asked DH for a Christmas list. She's 10, she's out of the toy stage and doesn't want for much this year. Poor E shut down last night because she said she just wants a few things and she knows we will buy them and why can't MIL just get her a gift card to Michaels. But my MIL doesn't' get it, even though this isn't her first rodeo. Like, I would have figured that this woman would get eventually there aren't "toys" to buy.
This is also the woman who thought a bag of goldfish and a board book were sufficient for her first Christmas when we asked for aquarium passes, so my bar with her is VERY LOW.
I’ve given up on MIL. She buys and gives what she wants and doesn’t care what the receiver actually wants. She’s one of those people who think a ton of wrapped cheap stuff is better than a gift card or asking what you want. She refuses to give gift cards because she said they create an obligation to have to go to a store. You should have seen her face when I told her (15 years ago or so) that you can use gift cards to shop online. She still won’t do them because then she has no control. So now everything just goes into a big bag that we will have to drive from Connecticut to Massachusetts to go to goodwill. Talk about an obligation Bev!
Post by midwestmama on Nov 20, 2023 7:44:03 GMT -5
One of the only things my MIL is good at is giving the kids money as a gift for their birthday and Christmas. She never fights us about it, and just plans on gifting them money.
My kids only have school today and tomorrow, but DH and I are working M-W this week. I am very much looking forward to a 4-day weekend!
@sameoldstory , I am also awful at cutting in. Look for Stubby brushes. They're a game changer. I still make a mistake or two, but that's down from a mistake every few feet with a different style brush.
I'm worried about my cat. She's old and has been declining the last year or two. She had a really rough day yesterday. This morning I can't find her. She mostly keeps to the basement. I don't know if I'm more worried that she crawled into a small space and died or if she's suffering and I can't help her if I can't find her.
Update: cat has come out of hiding! Now to call the vet...
lilafowler, it's the worst! And it's not like she can get her the gift card and then do a shopping/lunch afternoon with her. She just isn't like that. There's no warmth to her.
Post by blondemoment123 on Nov 20, 2023 8:07:46 GMT -5
Thank goodness for a short week!
My brother is on my last nerve. My parents are out of town and he decided this was the weekend he was going to move out, leaving my disabled uncle home alone. He can microwave meals and make cereal, but that's about it. So instead of my brother just waiting until next weekend so he can help my uncle I'm dragging DS to my parents 3 times a day. Ughhhh.
ssmjlm my mom has been asking for a list for DD and I’ve dragged (drug??) my feet because every year I give her great idea (meaning things DD really wants) and she doesn’t get them and then I’ve wasted rare good ideas. But I always am afraid if I give bad ideas she’ll use those.
Cutting in is one of my only home improvement skills.
I am so sick with something but as it has involved two days of vomiting, nausea and diarrhea I feel like it's not COVID or strep, which the rest of my household has. What did we do to the universe?
lilafowler, it's the worst! And it's not like she can get her the gift card and then do a shopping/lunch afternoon with her. She just isn't like that. There's no warmth to her.
It’s sad to me that H’s mom doesn’t interact with E-when she was little and we’d visit she’d only ask her if she’d been saying her prayers and going to religious education, giving her children’s religious books about saints and asking her to write thank you notes for people who would give her gifts for Ellie (the last thing isn’t a bad thing but she would stand over her like a teacher until it was done, then she’d be done with E).
BIL and SIL have a 2 year old that live about 20 minutes away from MIL and FIL and MIL rarely see them. She’s mad at them because they decided to do daycare a few days a week (that’s a waste of money! I can take care of baby (no she fucking can not-she wasn’t capable when E was little and she’s 13!)), because they don’t bring niece to HER house (that is completely not kid friendly) and SIL doesn’t want any of the gross hammydowns she has from H and BIL (mil is not one of those people who cares for old things-she just brings out old stained junk and says “this was yours! It’s a family heirloom!”). Mental illness is at play and she’s not my mom so I just complain here and to my mom and bff.
Piling onto the mom gift vents. My mother's love language is (physically) big gifts, even though we live in a small urban space. I've asked many times to please get us experience gifts (membership to the Museum of Science, etc) but that's not flashy enough. She can't watch the kids unwrap that. A few years ago she pulled up to our house and started pulling an ENORMOUS box from her trunk and I rushed outside all "WHAT IS THAT?". She responded it was a desk, for my then 3 year old. I told her it was not coming into our apartment. To put it back. After lots of back and forth she did and then sulked the entire day. You'd think she'd learn after that, but nope!
I cut in with a Purdy 2" angled sash brush which makes it easier and cleaner. Life is too short to paint with shitty brushes. I touch up, if needed, with a flat 1" artists' brush.
My mom is very generous and will cut checks, but she'd really, really rather go to stores and buy shit. I will take her to KOP (mall near Philadelphia) once to make this happen for her.
My DH will want a GC, DS sometimes asks for something (a leather jacket last year; I think he wants a new top for his Miata so I may coordinate that), my one niece and her DH will ask for something specific (last year a gorgeous cocktail set from Williams Sonoma). Last year she bought me new lights for my house-- a kitchen light, dining room light, a chandelier for my foyer and a drum light to replace the boob in my upstairs hall. She loves decorating and is great at it, so we had fun looking for these. Left to her own devices, she buys me odd things-- one year she gave me steak knives for my birthday and a China sugar and creamer that don't match any of my dishes-- plus, I have a Waterford set, a sterling set and a casual one. Not only that, the creamer broke when she brought it home in her luggage and she had my niece stalk ebay for a second pair and claimed the store she bought it from would replace it for her free. She paid about $35 at the antique store the first one. I have no idea on the second.
My late MIL really gave goofy gifts. She was OK with the kids except for that time she gave DS a vintage copy of Little Black Sambo. They were so bad we kind of looked forward to it. One year she sent DH a shirt in his brother's size stuffed into an envelope without wrapping or a card. I think she was mad that year. She also bought a lot of crafts to support fellow teacher's side hustles. One year I got a huge sweatshirt with fabric appliques of cut out quilting material cats outlined in glitter puffy paint and DH got a Cross pen (his company hands these out as swag whenever they do a new product release and he has scads of them). The next year DH got a sweatshirt like mine except it had trains on it. He tried to swap it for the church recipe book that was full of Jello-salads she gifted me.
I need to take mom to PT later and then go to the dentist myself. I may need a root canal.
Oh man this thread is getting me real excited for the giving season lol. My MIL is similar. It isn't love unless there are 15 junky gifts under the tree that no one wants.
Just last week H went to their house to help with a couple things. I told him not to come home with stuff. He came home with a whole bunch of junk that my MIL accidently bought extras of. She absolutely will not donate stuff. So I have to donate it. It is already in the pile, ready to go!
I think this cold we’ve all had for the last three weeks has finally run it’s course. I’m very glad to be going into thanksgiving week feeling better.
DH and I got a lot of thanksgiving day food prep done. I still have a few things to make, but I did the bulk of it yesterday. Family arrives tomorrow and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.
The kids are both off school all week and DH and I are working today through Wednesday. I’m hopefully going to be able to take it easy Wednesday and not do much, so just need to get through today and tomorrow. I’m hoping it’s a mellow week with people out for the holiday.
I'm done grocery shopping except for the turkey thighs they're unloading off the truck right now, so I'm just wandering the store looking for anything I didn't think of for the list.
Working a few hours this afternoon, but otherwise I'm off at this point. Really need to get my shit together for guests/Tday and travel next week, and some admin for volunteer stuff.
ETA: got my turkey thighs, they're roasted and in the pot for stock. My house smells so good!
Post by mrsukyankee on Nov 20, 2023 9:11:27 GMT -5
I'm going with my H to see Trevor Noah on Thursday night and we both took off Friday which is the first post-Thanksgiving Friday I've had off since I worked at a US based private school ages ago. I can't wait as the rest of the week is going to be crazy busy (I do work on Thursday, unlike my American family & friends). I've already has 4 sessions today with students and I'm finally eating lunch. One more session and the day is over. TG! I'm tired.
We had such a great weekend and yesterday was the perfect lazy Sunday. Made a big breakfast for us, my BIL, his friend and my nephew. BIL came in town Saturday and went to the Bills game yesterday. Then I lounged on the couch, read, took a little nap, watched the Bills game and had an easy pasta dinner (sauce and meatballs from the freezer). Early bed time and slept like a baby.
I only work today and tomorrow, so it's not even too bad having to be in the office today. I did an Instacart pickup over the weekend and got everything I need for the week and Thanksgiving. Now hopefully H can get the oven fixed today so I can get my pies baked.
I am still so sick. I worked from home Thursday, but could only get through 4 hours on Friday. I barely stood up all weekend and I'm still sick. I hate this.
All of the MIL gift talk is reminding me that we're now entering the will-she-won't-she phase of the year with my MIL. Since Fox News ate her brain in 2020 she's been using birthday and Christmas gifts for the kids to try to alternately manipulate and punish us for A: having a nonbinary kid, and B: for refusing to agree with her that I'm a groomer for being a school librarian who doesn't believe in banning books. DS 2's birthday is next week, so I guess we'll see very soon what kind of mood she's in right now.
Post by wanderingback on Nov 20, 2023 9:42:28 GMT -5
I know I posted here that I’m now obsessed with our buy nothing group…
Well I’ve noticed there is 1 person that claims A LOT. It was mostly baby stuff (I’ve even gifted to her), so I thought maybe she is a doula or something and gives stuff away. But then someone posted a huge light set for photography (like those big lights and mats you see on photo shoots) and she also was the first to claim that. I’m so curious what her deal is?
I honestly almost asked her if she was a doula or knew of somewhere to donate baby stuff like a women’s Shelter cause I have some things I could donate before posting on buy nothing but now that I see she claims other stuff too very quickly I’m not so sure.
It's my twin sister & my 38th birthday today. I get to dress western for work in honor of my boss' birthday (which was yesterday). Her family is very involved in the rodeo et. Anyways, I'll be over here in my flannel with a handkerchief tied around my neck.
We celebrated yesterday. Spaghetti with my mom's homemade sauce, bread and chocolate sheet cake with ice cream. Yum.
I know I posted here that I’m now obsessed with our buy nothing group…
Well I’ve noticed there is 1 person that claims A LOT. It was mostly baby stuff (I’ve even gifted to her), so I thought maybe she is a doula or something and gives stuff away. But then someone posted a huge light set for photography (like those big lights and mats you see on photo shoots) and she also was the first to claim that. I’m so curious what her deal is?
I honestly almost asked her if she was a doula or knew of somewhere to donate baby stuff like a women’s Shelter cause I have some things I could donate before posting on buy nothing but now that I see she claims other stuff too very quickly I’m not so sure.
Buy nothing could def be a haven for hoarders :/
Some people re-sell. It usually goes against the rules, but it happens.
I’m waiting to tell people IRL until I have an official offer in writing but I have been offered a new position at work. It’s technically a lateral move but will give me exposure within the global teams so fingers crossed it’ll do good things for my career. I have been feeling very stagnant and ready for a change lately so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it 1. Works out 2. Is what I am actually looking for career wise.
Just last week H went to their house to help with a couple things. I told him not to come home with stuff. He came home with a whole bunch of junk that my MIL accidently bought extras of. She absolutely will not donate stuff. So I have to donate it. It is already in the pile, ready to go!
I will never understand this. My mother-in-law will literally never donate or return a single goddamn thing. Is this generational? What is this? WHY ARE THEY LIKE THIS!?!?!?!?
Just last week H went to their house to help with a couple things. I told him not to come home with stuff. He came home with a whole bunch of junk that my MIL accidently bought extras of. She absolutely will not donate stuff. So I have to donate it. It is already in the pile, ready to go!
I will never understand this. My mother-in-law will literally never donate or return a single goddamn thing. Is this generational? What is this? WHY ARE THEY LIKE THIS!?!?!?!?
Thankfully my parents have no problem donating or giving away on buy nothing. I think because their parents both KEPT EVERYTHING.