You know what’s scary? My in-laws will be here a week from tomorrow.
Dun-dun-dun!
As you may recall, I am not a fan of my in-laws. Fortunately for me, neither is my husband. Per usual, they’re passing through and want to stop by. We’ll actually be here, too, so we’ll have to put up with their “visit.”
(Earlier this year, they wanted to come to DC to see a friend receive an award. They made their attendance contingent on being able to get together with us sometime during that weekend. It was the same weekend as the Philly race. Because we would not be here, they didn’t come to see their friend receive said award. Process that now. Make sense? No? I know.)
We’re pretty good at handling them and are planning a host of activities that will keep them distracted. I was probably grumpier last year (since I was still with Dysfunction, Inc.) at the idea of their arrival. This time, I’ll deal, but I probably won’t enjoy it any more than usual. One thing I know they’re going to press on is our hotel reservation for cousin-in-law’s wedding. They’re determined to have everyone stay in the same location.
My response is already primed: “Well, we haven’t really looked at the options, but I do know I want a bit of luxury. The one where cousin-in-law is staying is outrageous, but maybe a step down from that one.”
Husband says he’s just going to reiterate that we’ll be seeing plenty of them that weekend.
But, in order to receive them, we have to get the apartment ready (thankfully they’re staying at a hotel again). Beyond cleaning, that means clearing up evidence of our creative endeavors — writing (for my husband; my in-laws have to know I write, right? I’ve never hidden it) and TTC (they won’t know apricot one about our struggles and will only hear about a pregnancy after the first trimester is over).
It’s sad we have to hide our lives from them, but they’ve not been very trustworthy when we do share. No matter what we tell them, we get accusations about how we don’t include them in anything. Sigh. So we stopped offering them anything resembling trust or confidence.
Like my husband said, though, they’ve had nearly 40 years to treat him like a human being and they never have. What can you do?
3 thoughts on “It’s That Time of Year Again”
tryingtogetpreggers
Oh my goodness. I almost fell over reading this! My in laws are EXACTLY like yours. It is sad that we cannot share our life struggles with the people who are supposed to support us through our roughest times. Those kinds of parents (and in laws) have no idea how much they will miss because they are so unbearable to include in special things. It’s sad, really.
ttcwriter
Isn’t it terrible? My ILs attempts for closeness involve total control and doing exactly what they say. They have no idea how to relate to their adult children. Ah, well. Their loss, as you said.
tryingtogetpreggers
I’m sorry that you have to deal with that as well. My MIL comes to visit on her way to fancy vacations and stays just long enough for dinner. We see her for three hours every six months or so, and we have two if her grandchildren here. She missed out on so much and now she is practically a stranger to them. I pity get for that.