Family

I'm so tired of some members of my family who never return a phone call, text or email unless they want something.
I'm thinking of one person in particular, who I used to be very close to, who is suddenly "so busy" that she never has time to talk or anything. I don't think she's NOT busy, but really? SOOOO busy that she can't find time to chat? (But can find time to go on dates, take naps, hang out with girlfriends, play on FB, go to bars, etc.) Wow - I feel loved.

ARGH!

Oh goodness, it's good to be home.
My mil is a pill and a pain. My fil isn't much better right now, in my book. Don't even get me started on my sister and brother in law.
All I can say is, thank you for the almost 1000 miles that separates us.

MIL:
The sighs, the innuendos about us not spending enough time there and spending too much with my sister, the overheard remarks about her seeing Miney ONLY 4 times and he's ALREADY 6 months old (we came there 2 of those times.)
The pushing of sugar and candy on my kids who are SICK and NOT interested. Fine, offer them a cookie - you're a grandma after all! BUT AT BREAKFAST? When they're happily eating cereal and eggs? WHY?!!!
Oh, then the comments about how Meenie is soooo MOODY. (Sick + sugar + not enough sleep + 19 months old = moody. Who knew?! ha)
The terrible cooking, the passive aggressive comments about everything, the perceived slights where there were none. ARGH!
As usual, MIL tried to parent the kids. To make it worse, she does things that I don't do and she KNOWS I don't approve of. She pits them against each other, she tries to scare them and she jumps in when I already have things under control. She is notorious with her own kids because she regularly locked them in the closet when she was on the phone. (as in linen closet. on the shelves. NOT a big closet.)
She wonders why we will never leave the kids with them, or let them stay a week and spend the night, but she has actually slapped Eenie's hand in the past, after I was specific that we don't do that. I have no doubt whatsoever that she would spank them if she felt if necessary and then I might have to strangle her.
If they were HER kids, that would be fine, but these are MY kids. Our kids, our way.

FIL:
Ack, the baptism stuff. I'm so furious over this that I was almost in tears when Anonhim told me. We spent a lot of money and went to a LOT of trouble to get there and then found we were deliberately misled. I am so disappointed. Not only because he didn't baptise Miney, but because he KNEW he wouldn't and didn't tell us. AND because he's always been the level headed one who balanced MIL out, but more and more I feel that he doesn't care for me or the way we do things and is letting her getting away with things that he wouldn't have in the past. With no anchor, how bad will she get?
He also seemed rather disapproving about the way we discipline (i.e. don't spank) our kids. I can take disapproval, but I would prefer that it come with silence and respect.

Sister and BIL:
My sister and bil must be miserable. They fight constantly. They are mean to each other and scream, yell and berate their sweet, sweet girls all the time. They have no patience and I have NEVER seen them play with their kids. They get mad about EVERYTHING and their girls are going to rebel in a big way someday. I fear for their teenage years.
Every time I leave there, I feel like crying. What can I do?
If I said anything they would be furious with me and possibly never speak to me again. It stresses me out just being around them. They honestly fight constantly. Constantly.
Picture it:
We're all going to church. About 30 minutes before we have to leave sister puts 2 older girls (3 & 6) in shower. Yells at them constantly to hurry up. Dries them off, screams to brush teeth. Dresses them, spanks oldest because she doesn't want to wear those shoes. Gives in anyway and lets her wear the shoes that she wants to wear. (Not sure why it's a big deal, just let her wear the damn shoes!) BIL is cussing at them to hurry the hell up all the time. Their very long hair is wet and he screams at sister for not drying it and drags crying girls to bathroom to blow dry hair. Threatens to "beat their asses" if they don't quit crying.
(This is the point Anonhim and I left before I punched them both in the face.)
My mother said that after we left bil said that if their kids were going to be bad while we were there, we wouldn't be invited back anymore.

I swear, what the hell can I do? I think they are awful parents and if that was just a dark, dark moment I could excuse it. That is an everyday occurrence. I can't even describe the tone of their voices. I had a knot in my stomach the whole time. Their poor kids. They are sweet, good, girls and I fear that have been, and are being, scarred.

If I lived closer 2 things would definitely happen:

1. I would offer to watch their girls whenever possible and show them how they ought to be treated.
2. I would probably let my sister and her husband have it and/or smack some sense into them and they would never speak to me again.
   

And so it begins...

MIL wants Meenie to SLEEP WITH THEM when we visit.

Uh.

What?

ack!

We're going to visit the inlaws soon!!! ACK! ACK! ACK!

There's so much potential for things that could cheese MIL off that it's hard to think of anything else when I think of the visit.
Us spending time with my sister will certainly annoy her. Politics is most definitely OFF limits. Preschool is out most likely - last time she told me how lazy mothers who stay home are always so eager to send their kids to other people. (AFTER I told her I was thinking of signing up Eenie for preschool. ) *sigh*
Meenie's paci will likely lead to some annoying conversations, as will any potty accidents Eenie has and Miney's refusal to take a bottle. I can only hope and pray they are good in church (they won't be.) or I will have to hear comments about that too.
I will likely have to listen to rants on her job that she loves to complain about, people she loves to gossip about and all the things she's done right and everyone else has done wrong. I will probably also have to hear about approximately 4 people who have "gotten fat" and 3 of her friends who have grand kids who are allowed to spend the night ALL THE TIME and how great it is for THEM and they don't MISS OUT on ANYTHING. Subtle.

On the plus side, if I don't go crazy with rage or boredom, I will have plenty to blog about when I get back. On the minus side, we don't leave here till the 21st and that means it's close enough to worry about but too far away to be almost over.

Hi! Back to bitch.

*WARNING* This post contains politics. It is a vent. You have been warned.

It's been awhile! I've been too frazzled and feeling even too bitchy for this blog. I doubt I can even make this coherent, but here we go!

1 - I've been paying special attention to my emotions since I've been home. I am definitely happier and less snippy. Definitely. But not totally. I'm going to continue monitoring my emotions closely because I have a dr's appointment sometime this month and I'd like to talk to her about anti-depressants if need be.

2 - The election. Gawd, the election. I've never seen the likes of the pissiness going around.
I support Obama, OK? I don't care if you don't. Truly!! My own husband isn't even voting for him!
Please, stop sending me ridiculous emails. I'm begging!! Furthermore, I can take the policy discussions, but the outright lies and character assassination attempts are going to do me in!! Blame the liberal media! Play the victim! Scream socialist or better yet, terrorist! Point fingers, lie, and forget about the issues! Say he wasn't born in America. Say he's a Muslim, and mean it like it's a bad thing!
Ug.
I am so. over. it.

3 - Oh, and don't forget to imply that anyone voting for him is a sheep with no brains, who is mesmerized by his pretty, pretty speeches and can't possibly have done their research and come up with the idea that he is actually the better candidate in their opinion.
OK. Now I'm over it.

4 - Halloween candy. Stress from election + readily available supply of chocolate = bad. Very bad.

5 - I was so afraid I might be pregnant again that I took a cheapie internet test the other day. It was negative and I almost cried from joy.

Feeling Sorry for Myself Monday

- I've been having a period every 2 weeks. There is nothing NOT sucky about that.

- I'm pretty sure I haven't seen the sun in weeks. I want my bright, southern sun back.

- Chances are good, I may never have a daughter.

- I told my husband last night that I think I'm depressed and while he was sympathetic, he didn't really have any way to HELP me or much to say.

- Miney hasn't been sleeping at night. He's up almost every hour. I even tried to give him a formula bottle in desperate hopes that it would help him sleep longer. Apparently it tastes like crap - according to the look on his face.

- My husband disappointed me yesterday in a big way.

- I haven't lost any significant weight in quite some time.

- I ordered 3 new shirts from Old Navy and have to send them back because they're 1) a little too small and 2) see through. Suck.

That can't be a good sign.

Urge to run from house screaming and never look back is increasing every day.

Patience has all but disappeared.

Feelings of despair cloud my mind.

I do believe I'm getting close to the end of my rope. I need to get home in a bad, bad way.

My MIL pisses me off

Comment left on Meenie's baby website:

Hey you goofy little sweet boy. We like your pictures better without that lifesaver in your mouth. We can see your happy smile better. Wish we were there spoiling you. Love you,
-Grandma W------

She constantly mentions him using a paci. He's only 18 months old for crying out loud!! (oh, and when she's here, she is constantly pulling it out of his mouth. Resulting in him screaming - which is WHY he has it to begin with. I'll deal with it when he gets a little older, but right now, let it be!)

Then, this.

We are traveling to TX for Miney's baptism. We really wanted to do it at home (AL) so that our friends could be there and we could have a party at our home afterwards. However, the godparents (military) couldn't travel that far AND if we do it in TX my FIL (who is studying to be a deacon) can baptise Miney. We thought that was pretty special.

So, we are traveling to Texas even though it will be a pain in the booty. Annnnnyway, my sister lives in the same town and she offered to have a little party for everyone afterwards at their new house. She just had a new baby (3rd) and works full time and they're pretty busy, but she really wants to do this.
No one else said anything about other plans, so I told her yes and she was so excited. I emailed MIL & FIL today and my bil's and sil's telling them about it so they wouldn't make other plans.

MIL just emailed me back (ME only, not cc'ing AnonHim, FIL or bil's and sil's) saying that she was thinking of doing a party too at (surprise, surprise) the same time. AND that it would be better because all of the family could see us and blah blah. But, she guesses she could do it on Sunday instead. (this is her m.o. - passive aggressive city)

Ugh.

My nerves are already shot from thinking about the stress of this trip and every little thing she says is tying a tighter knot in my stomach.

Breathe

Just breathe. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Don't hurt people who are clearly too stupid for their own good.

To Jess & Torsten

Here's to you both!
Many wishes for a long and happy life together.

Some things that are bothering me.

1 - Family.
* We're going to see my IL's at their house, in November, and I'm already nervous.
* 2 of my family members continue to ignore my emails, not hostile-like, I know they're busy. Still, it's not so hard to email back. I manage to do it and they don't even have kids.
* One of them has been acting very selfishly lately and I'm getting a little weary of it.
* I'm worried about my BIL, who continues to drink heavily, despite 2 medical conditions that mean he should stop. My sister turns a blind eye, but I think he needs help.
* My MIL will not stop sending me political emails. We do not agree on politics (or anything else) and I'm getting very close to losing it. Please hurry November!

2- Politics.
* It's everywhere.
* There's no escape.
* I want to vote and be done with it.
* I can't turn away from CNN anyway.
* I never know who to believe, but I fear that no one can really keep their promises.

3 - Anxiety.
* I've been lying in bed at night, exhausted, and unable to sleep. I keep thinking about all the bad things that could happen to me, to AnonHim, and, God Forbid, to the kids. Every creak has me worried that someone is breaking in.
* There are other things that are going on too. I'm worried that maybe I'm in need of a little help and I don't know what to do.
* I have an appointment with my Dr in November, but I'm hoping that I will feel a lot better when I'm back at home.

4 - FDA.
* Am I the only one who feels like they are completely unreliable? Them saying something is safe makes me roll my eyes. They'll likely say it's unsafe next month.
* I'm still avoiding BPA. Take that FDA.

My birthday

I love giving gifts. Shopping for that perfect little thing that fits so and so just right. I have 3 boxes on my counter right now, just waiting to go out. Two just because, one for a birthday.
They are all carefully selected, and a lot of thought went into them.
I really enjoy finding the right thing for the right person.

So, while I immensely appreciate birthday or holiday gifts in any form - I always feel grateful and a little sad at the same time. I almost always get gift cards or money for gifts.
I know, I know. How terrible.

I just wish that there was someone in my life who was really thoughtful about picking out just the right thing for me. I know that you can buy whatever you like with gift cards and with money, but very little thought goes into them. Especially when you get them year after year.

Yes, I'm an ungrateful bitch. I know.

FTR

Remember this? And this?

Well. Anonymous Him watched Eenie, Meenie and Miney this weekend for a few hours all by himself while I did some shopping with a friend. It was nap time and 2 of our 3 kidlets did not cooperate. Weee!

That night, out of the blue, AnonHim turned to me and said, "I was dumb to question what you do. Really stupid."

Trust me, this is huge. AnonHim is very confident (cocky) and sure of himself (never wrong.)
Apparently, retail therapy really IS what I needed.

brother

My brother is engaged and set to be married in June. My mom keeps telling me how he is already wearing his wedding ring, and refers to himself as a husband. He lives with her, who we all love.
They had business cards made up with his last name - D & A Smith. They bought a business together last month.
I keep thinking that they secretly eloped and aren't telling people. I messaged him about it jokingly and got no response. hmmm

Banging my head against the wall.

I was pissed when he finally got home at 7. Of course he didn't call. Big shocker there, even though we'd just talked it about less than 24 hours ago.
Even though I've been requesting a call if he's going to be more than 30 minutes.
Even though I've asked him to do this for YEARS.
Years and years of requests that have obviously gone in one ear and out the other.

I had taken his "suggestions" to heart and vacuumed the stairs and cleaned the bathroom floors and mopped and did all the regulr stuff too, but paid special attention to the stuff that was bugging him. However, it just made things worse that I'm willing to listen and change and he stays the same. BLAH!

I really let him have it after the kids went to bed and he was all, "If I'd known it was that big of a deal, I would have called. Sheesh."

That's when I started banging my head against the wall.

Arguing continued and then we made up. We'll see if things change but I've let it go. We're getting along fine now and things are fine.

He's late again.

Fight, cont.

We hashed it out, but I can't say anything was resolved.
I hate to even admit it, but I can kind of see his side. I do spend a lot of time online, and while I DO deserve it, I also need to get offline sometimes.
Today I've tried to create a better balance and the house is still not that clean. Big shock.

We talked about other things too, like the lack of respect it shows when he can't even call when he's going to be late.
I told him that when he criticizes me in the manner he did and makes his "suggestions" I feel put down and unappreciated and all I can hear is "You're not good enough. You're not doing enough."

I told him how hard that is to hear when there are many days when I feel like I'm not even holding it all together. I'm barely hanging on and you're asking me to try harder!?

I don't think things were resolved. Despite me wanting to work it out, he eventually went to bed. I'm not sure where to go from here.

Also, I do partly blame his mother. She was one of those typical Southern women that you hear about, kwim?
Also, his parents did not cultivate a sense of how to treat your wife in him or his brothers. Very little affection (which he has overcome) and no thoughtfulness or romance. Irritating.

In spite of that, I don't feel so bitter about it anymore. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and he'll probably wisen up enough to shut up.

We had a fight.

And I still feel bitter.

Our Internet went out Friday night. I am addicted to the Internet. I can admit that, but it rubbed me the wrong way when Anonymous Him said I was. Just because I need it to keep in touch with people does not mean I can't survive without it. I CAN survive without it, but I don't think I should HAVE TO!

This was one of those fights that started small enough and could have been overcome by saying a few right things, or just shutting up. AnonHim was not smart that night. No sir. Instead, he said all the wrong things.

Things like -
You could cook and clean more instead of being online during the day.
You probably spend, like, an HOUR a day online. (poor, stupid man.)
You shouldn't be online AT ALL while I'm at work because if I'm working, you should be too.

There's more, but really - isn't that enough?
Does anyone else want to hurt him right now? I still feel bitter about the things he said.
I am so hurt. I have always been willing to do whatever it took to make things work, and to make him happy. I moved with him to Virginia, then to Alabama and we made a life together. I've always worked hard.
Now I've temporarily relocated to Seattle for him. I didn't WANT to do this. I never wanted to. I thought it would be a pain in the ass and horribly lonely.
He said it would be good for his career but we didn't have to do it. I said we should, even though I didn't want to. Now, here I am, miserable half the time and homesick all the time. So maybe I spend too much time online and talk to my friends and try to stay connected to someone.
He's working hard, admittedly. I've never questioned how hard he works.
That doesn't mean I don't work hard too. Just because I get to stay home and can nurse a baby and check email all at once doesn't mean I don't work too. I'd like to see him do that. (heh)

He hurt me. I felt completely unappreciated.

Let's not forget that dinner is on the table every night when he comes home. Often cold, because he can't tell time. The laundry could sit in the basket less time I suppose, but I hate laundry. It does get done. The kids are fed, the house is relatively clean and dammit - that's not the point!
I take care of our 3 children all day! If he wanted a maid and a cook then he should have hired one. I don't mind doing those things, but I certainly don't want to be told what to do.
Our oldest child is only 3.5 years old! If he expects the house to be pristine, then he's not thinking straight.

This fight is not over. I hate these things that drag on for days. Just because he insulted me and then rolled over and went to sleep does not mean it's over. Just because I got up and washed dishes and cried while he begged me to come back to bed does not mean anything is resolved.
I still feel bitter and I know it's going to come out. I don't want to feel this way. I want to feel happy and loved and loving and not irritated and bitter and full of sadness about the way this has turned out.

I often think how lucky I am and how much I love AnonHim and how awful my life would be without him. Then he does something stupid and I wonder if I even KNOW him, much less LOVE him!

Late

Dear Anonymous Him,
When you say that you'll be home at 5 or 5:30 please oblige. Don't tease me with the promise of adult conversation and a little help and then back out. Don't get irritated with me when I call you at 6:30 and demand to know ask when you're coming home. You had an hour to call me and let me know you were going to be late.
How many times a week do we have to go through this?

Signed,
Anonymous Her

My sister

Oh my gawd. My head is going to explode.

My sister had her new baby. An adorable, sweet little thing. She was born on Monday. She lives far, far away, so who knows when we'll be able to see her. This is her 3rd child and 3rd daughter.

She refused to even try to breastfeed this one, even though she successfully breastfed the other 2 for six weeks. (until she went back to work.) I know 6 weeks isn't long, but it's some. She didn't even give this babe colostrum. She doesn't feel like it.
This is a tricky subject because I KNOW some people don't like or didn't like or didn't want to, breastfeed. Fine. Whatever.
It's an issue in my heart, but I understand that people are different. I haven't said a word to her about it and don't plan to. Formula is fine. Plenty of babies have thrived on it.

Now, my mom is telling me that she (sister) is insisting that her 3 day old baby needs to be on a 4 HOUR SCHEDULE. Even though she's screaming to eat after 2 hours. Gah. I want to smack her.

She is pissed that everyone is asking if the baby is a boy or girl because even though she's dressed in pink she has an extremely masculine name. Like, not even close to gender neutral.
I figured she'd expect that. Whatever. Her hormones are wacky - I get it. Totally get it. Been there.

Her husband (who is an alcoholic but cannot admit it) is telling everyone that he only drinks because of her. She is decidedly hard to get along with. Kind of horrible sometimes. He's no peach either though.

Their girls are so sweet. Her oldest started Kindergarten Monday. There was much screaming and yelling and "WHY DO I SEND YOU TO SCHOOL IF I HAVE TO TEACH YOU!?" last night. Child was willing to do homework. Parent was not.

There is always a lot of screaming there. I feel bad for yelling, but I can't even compare to her. Not even close.

I love my sister and her family but sometimes it is not easy. Actually, loving my nieces is extremely easy. Their parents? Not so much.

Indeed.

Anna asked what we should do about our anger? Indeed. What SHOULD we do?

Hell if I know.

Today hasn't been a good day, but I'm trying to take one thing at a time. I think, for me, the next step is recognizing my triggers. Seems there are few times of day and/or situations that really cause me to stress and sometimes lose it.

1 - Early evening. When AnonHim won't be home for 1-2 more hours and I'm trying to make dinner and the kids ALL want a snack, but it's too close to dinner and there is much screaming and chaos and why, oh why can't I get anything done and IS IT 5PM YET!? urgh! (and if AnonHim is late? Oh lordy.)
Unfortunately, this happens every single day. I am trying to find strategies to make this time less stressful.

2 - Being hit. I can't take it. I think it takes me back to being a child, and makes me feel out of control and I just cannot take it. I see red immediately. Luckily, this does not happen often.

3 - Being stressed in general. Anytime all 3 kids need something at once & the phone is ringing, the TV is blaring, the food is burning, etc - I start to feel trapped. This is a trigger if it starts to go on too long.

4 - Screaming. Meenie is at a stage where he will literally SCREECH like a banshee and it is ear piercing. I have actually gone to bed at night with headaches because of his screaming. I know it's a frustration issue as he's learning more and more words, but it is maddening. Luckily, with time, this will pass.

5 - Also, whining. Ugh. Who likes it though, right? Fit throwing from the eldest also goes into this. The boy knows how to push my buttons.

6 - Sleep issues. I clearly remember Eenie as a baby - he never slept. He was probably 10-ish months old when I experienced this rage the first time. I remember practically tossing him at husband, and running from the room. He had NEVER slept through the night (and didn't till he was 2.5years old) and was often up and down a dozen or more times a night. I had been patient so long, trusting that he would sleep through when he was ready. I remember the first time I lost it because I have never felt so small and so angry and so TERRIBLE in my life. How could I be mad at this baby? This little guy who I loved more than anything. I was sure that I was not meant to be a mother. Oh, the cruel dark of night, when everything seems hopeless.

If there's one thing I've learned about motherhood is that you can only control yourself. Sadly, I've also learned that I'm a bit of a control freak.
Now, what to do? Obviously, these things are not things that I can control.

Luckily, some of these things will go away on their own. (Probably though, they will only be replaced by other, equally enraging, things.)
So, what to do?
I'm trying to figure that out.

Anger

I've been reading a fabulous book called She's Gonna Blow by Julie Ann Barnhill . It is helping me in so many ways. It's helping me let go of guilt and help myself and find my faith again.
It has taken me a long time to write this post and an even longer time to come to terms with the issue of my anger.
---------

I never used to be angry. I mean, sure, I'd get cheesed off occasionally - who doesn't? But since having kids, I have experienced anger that scares me. Anger that I didn't even know was down inside me.
This is a very, very hard thing for me to confess. I have always been known as a sweet, nice, loving person. I still think I am those things, but there is a darker side of me. A side that sometimes comes out and I can't seem to stop it. I have had to face the fact that it's OK not to be perfect, but letting others know is a big part of that.

My mother was a big yeller and I know that she regrets it. I hated it as a kid and always swore that I would not do that to my kids. Yet, after each child, my temper and patience seem to have gotten less and less. I have less tolerance for things that didn't bother me before. I find myself raising my voice far too often.
My dad used to have a very violent temper. He still has a temper, but age has mellowed him some. I remember being terrified of him at times and that is not a good feeling.
These are mistakes I do NOT want to repeat with my kids. I cannot stomach the idea of them growing up and thinking these things about me. This will not be their future.

Yet, some days I go to bed and don't feel happy. I lie awake and beat myself up over things that I've done or said and try to think of ways to make better choices next time. Often, when next time comes - as it eventually does - I don't always make better choices. Sometimes I do, but I often just have a knee jerk reaction.
Maybe it's not everyday. Maybe we can go days and weeks at a time without me blowing my top, but I always know it's there under the surface. Are my kids just waiting for the next time I'm going to lose it?

I could blame the situation. I'm still young, in a stressful situation with 3 very small children. Sure, that's a little tough, but this is my life. I can't go around wailing and moaning about the lot I have. I'm a VERY blessed person. I have a beautiful life and should be grateful every moment for it.
Besides that, these kids didn't ask to be born. We brought them here and it's my obligation and joy to raise them.

I could go on and on about the things in my past that have made this anger inside me, but the truth is - what difference does it make?
This is who I am. This is my life. This is IT!
Being that I only get one shot at this, I know that I need to do the best I can.

I'm writing this because I know that I'm not alone. I know that other mothers (and fathers) out there are struggling with anger too. Maybe not everyone, but many.
You aren't alone. You aren't the only one who lies in the dark and promises never to do that again. You aren't the only one who trembled with anger and almost went too far. You aren't the only one who grabbed an upper arm too tightly, or laid a child in bed AGAIN none too gently. You aren't the only one who has heard your toddler say, Don't talk mean to me Mama. and felt your heart break. You aren't alone.

Reach out. I don't want to be alone either.

4 kids?

Do you ever feel like you have a very large child? Sometimes I feel like I have 4 kids instead of just 3.
AnonHim is a great dad, but I hate always being the one to say - OK, it's bath time! or No, you can't have xyz.

I hate always being the one to get up at dinner for the crying baby. Unless I specifically ask AnonHim to do it, he won't. Maybe I should just ask more, but I don't think I should always have to.

I hate that he never cleans off the high chair tray too. I hate that job in particular.

Petty Vent over.

He really is a great dad, everybody has annoying little things. Me? I never remember to put new toilet paper on the roll. Drives him batty.

The inlaws

1 - Passive aggressive comments about how preschool is for LAZY parents, AFTER I've told you that we're sending Eenie in the spring - not appreciated.

2 - Rude comments about how Head Start is for poor people who don't want to take care of their kids - hurtful - since I just told you that I went to Head Start when I was 4. Poor? Yes we were. I guess we didn't deserve the jumpstart on our education.

3 - Hovering over every diaper change, grabbing things out of my hands and insisting that you can do it better? Annoying. As. Hell.

4 - Your indecision about what to do each day was maddening, until we made suggestions of what we'd like to do. Then, your decision to do the opposite of what we wanted was just annoying, especially since it ended with us having to trek around with 3 littles, in the rain.

5 - Your "cutesy" voice and made up words? Not cute. You're 56 years old. Grow up.

6 - Your comments about Anonymous Him's weight (he's weighed almost the same since high school) were mean. Not to mention he is in fabulous shape and you are fat. WTH?

7 - Your passive aggressive comments have to stop. If you want to say something, just fucking say it.

8 - The way you talk to the kids is just wrong. You are the grandmother, not the mother. I will take care of discipline and such. After all, I'm right here. YOU can spoil them, play with them, whatever. Do not tell my 3 year old not to run away at the zoo because some of the animals might EAT HIM.

9 - Please do not visit again for a few months. I don't know if I can take it.

Annoyed or Pleased?

I'm simultaneously annoyed and relieved that Anonymous Him managed to get half a day off on Friday. Annoyed because he hasn't had a SINGLE day off, including weekends, for a month. Relieved because he will be here while his parents are.
I think I'm more pleased than annoyed.

Stay tuned for annoying MIL comments. There will be many.

The inlaws

are coming tomorrow. I am not thrilled about this.

They are getting a motel and a rental car, since we only have one, and a small apartment. They didn't really want to, but I made Anonymous Him insist upon it.
Anonymous Him is working so much. Today will be the first day in a month that he'll be home before 6PM. He left around 5:30 this morning.

So, maybe my inlaws will behave this time. I'll let you know.

Hello!

My name is Anonymous Her. Well, not really.
I had a post in Constance's pink apartment but decided that I probably needed my own anonymous blog. I don't mind if you figure out who I am, but I just need a place where my family can't find me.
There are so many pink apartments, and while they are so lovely, I decided to branch out on my own anonymous site. So here it is.
Enjoy.
~Anonymous Her

Anonymous Him

Dear Anonymous Him,
It kills the mood when you don't want to wear a condom and we have to argue about it. Grow up.
Love,
Your Wife
Anonymous Her