Parents/Family make me laugh.

[honeybadger]

This ended up being mostly a vent, sorry. So feel free to add your own!

DH and I have been discussing the plan for next summer/moving to Alaska. Initially we just glazed over it and said maybe he'd just meet us in Michigan and we'd all fly there. But, he's going to be taking a good chunk of leave before he goes, plus his mid tour, etc. He doesn't want to kill every ounce of leave and then not be able to take it, should an emergency arise. Which isn't that unlikely, he just had to use 2 weeks for an emergency with his father last year.

Anyway, after talking more about it this week, we decided it might be easier if the kids and I fly up there a couple of weeks before he gets there. Schedule TMO/shipping the car a few weeks before we leave and leaving the dogs with family until we are in our house and then having them put the pups on a flight to us.

Our families can not wrap their head around how this is possible. How one person (woman, really) could/would want to fly "all that way" with 2 kids and NO HUSBAND, ALL ALONE! At this point, I kind of laugh. We've tried to explain resources/sponsor program/pcs'ing etc to them but they are all just so put-off by the entire prospect. They are still trying to understand why I "insist" on living alone (I'm not alone, we have our son and will have our daughter, DH will be home for a month, we have a life and are a family even if he is gone...) for the whole year when they are going to be 15-40 minutes away.

And I am going to unleash on my in-laws if they ask me one more time, how I am feeling about DH having to miss baby girl's birth. I feel like asking once was enough. After that, just asking how I'm doing seems like more than enough. Maybe I am overreacting but I feel like they are just baiting for a "breakdown response". They didn't seem satisfied with my "Well, it isn't ideal but thankfully we have Skype these days, and we can send pictures instantly, etc. It will be hard but we aren't going to sit around being miserable about something that is still amazing and a huge blessing, her coming into the world." It's like they wanted to get a dramatic response with sobs and THIS IS SO UNFAIR. I just don't know how to ask them to stop bringing it up.

[MrsAggie]

Ugh. Sorry you're having to deal with this. I'd say to have your H say something to his parents but that might just encourage the thought that you're having a dramatic response.

[jamesonontherocks]

Unleash the most dramatic response ever. Cry until you puke. Ugh. I hate inlaws. I dont even have them and SOs mom drives be BSC

[GracieLouFreebush]

It sounds like they *want* to be supportive (ask a lot of questions, keep you close) but they're not going about it in the right way and that sucks. Hopefully they'll come around in time and not drive you nuts for the next year. FTR, I think it's awesome that you're being so independent!

[basilosaurus]

I need to call my family and thank them for leaving the 50s behind. I'd go off on them.

Although, I have to admit the thought of wrangling 2 children by myself on a long flight does give me hives. I'm also not a fan of children, so there's that.

[honeybadger]

May 24, 2012 13:57:57 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I need to call my family and thank them for leaving the 50s behind. I'd go off on them.

Although, I have to admit the thought of wrangling 2 children by myself on a long flight does give me hives. I'm also not a fan of children, so there's that.

The thought of flying with just *any* kids on a long flight IS terrifying. You're right about that.

IJC will be 5.5 almost 6 at that time and he has been flying and 1,000-3,000 mile road tripping since he was 4 months old. He is a champion traveler. Other than needing some motion-sickness meds for the 18 hr trip home, these days. I am hoping baby girl will be as awesome, and if nothing else, IJC will be able to help while I try to get us all there in one piece.

[basilosaurus]

I don't understand why parents don't use drugs on their children. Baby won't sleep? She will with the right medicine!

I felt bad for the parents of a toddler on my flight back from London. 11 hours, and she just didn't sleep. I felt bad for myself b/c she was in my room, and I also didn't sleep. The kid wasn't crying or anything, just a little fussy, but high pitch toddler verbalizing is enough to break through my sleep.

I think an infant and a 6 year old would be ok. Drug them both!

[jamesonontherocks]

Ugh can't always drug them. I had planned to drug K with benadryl before a flight to Chicago. I decided to try it the weekend before and bam - she's one of the kids it makes hyperactive. So I had to deal with a toddler who didn't want to be strapped to a seat the whole trip. It was miserable. And I was pregnant so I couldn't drink (her dad was with us, but it caused more drama because it was only 2 seats to a section and she kept wanting whoever was not by her)