Ok, so gloating isn’t good…. but let me have my moment…..
Just wanted to say a HUGE ‘thank you’ to everyone who has responded to my posts on various threads over the last week or so when I have been so down and negative (whaddya mean, just this last week, I hear folk cry???!!!)
Because my posts have been ‘all over the place’ (much as me) thought it best to combine a 'thank you' response in one thread … for everyone who has helped me restore some self-confidence and spread their selfless goodwill in this as well as so many other directions….. … and so to tell a little tale which hopefully will raise a smile for some of you …..
Today was the visit to ‘St Sis’ (mum’s sister) .. you all know the sort… that one who never visits… yet knows everything and criticises me to high heaven ……
Dropped mum off with St Sis - and continued to the coast with my son for ‘Penny Arcades’ and fish and chips on a December sea-front!!! Starting to feel better about myself already because instead of abandoning son to ‘what we have to do for Grandma’ today - turned the occasion into an opportunity to leave St Sis in sole charge for a few hours whilst I made the most of some silly, giggly time with my ‘Numero Uno’ ….
Picked mum up from St Sis who had prepared a ‘goody bag’ for taking home (including whisky mum has vowed she doesn't drink and pineapple she can’t chew… ho, hum, that’s for another day - today is for counting blessings - ...... ) ……
When we return home, mum’s priority is to forage in the goody bag …. I get a twinge as I see that ‘greed’ which has upset me before … and then some comfort that it’s not just MY bags of goodies she attacks…. THEN… wait for it…. “Oh, I thought she’d have sent more than that….” (Did I hear right? Was that the first little niggle I’ve ever heard about her halo-must-choke-her-sister?) …. Next. I’m practically on the floor as I hear a ‘thank you’ - for all I do - for what I have done today, including driving all the way there and back in "all that weather" … (life is suddenly surreal????)…..
Meanwhile, my son has made tea for his grandma (bless!)…. At which point mum announces, “Oh, that’s so welcome …. You wouldn’t believe what an awful long time I had to wait for a cup of tea while I was there….”
I’ve learnt a lot from today (and just so’s you know I’ve not entirely lost all cynicism … I trust St Sis has too - being ‘exposed’ to mum for several hours on a 1:1 instead of the cursory 5 minute phone calls when it suits)…
Most of all, now I know she can criticise St Sis for next to nothing - I’ll take anything ‘on the chin’ …
Thank you all of you for the ‘chin up’ - it’s standing firm and proud just now…. Bless you, thank you all….
Now excuse me, I’ve got a few more cartwheels to do…..
Love, Karen, x
Just wanted to say a HUGE ‘thank you’ to everyone who has responded to my posts on various threads over the last week or so when I have been so down and negative (whaddya mean, just this last week, I hear folk cry???!!!)
Because my posts have been ‘all over the place’ (much as me) thought it best to combine a 'thank you' response in one thread … for everyone who has helped me restore some self-confidence and spread their selfless goodwill in this as well as so many other directions….. … and so to tell a little tale which hopefully will raise a smile for some of you …..
Today was the visit to ‘St Sis’ (mum’s sister) .. you all know the sort… that one who never visits… yet knows everything and criticises me to high heaven ……
Dropped mum off with St Sis - and continued to the coast with my son for ‘Penny Arcades’ and fish and chips on a December sea-front!!! Starting to feel better about myself already because instead of abandoning son to ‘what we have to do for Grandma’ today - turned the occasion into an opportunity to leave St Sis in sole charge for a few hours whilst I made the most of some silly, giggly time with my ‘Numero Uno’ ….
Picked mum up from St Sis who had prepared a ‘goody bag’ for taking home (including whisky mum has vowed she doesn't drink
and pineapple she can’t chew… ho, hum, that’s for another day - today is for counting blessings - ...... ) ……When we return home, mum’s priority is to forage in the goody bag …. I get a twinge as I see that ‘greed’ which has upset me before … and then some comfort that it’s not just MY bags of goodies she attacks…. THEN… wait for it…. “Oh, I thought she’d have sent more than that….” (Did I hear right? Was that the first little niggle I’ve ever heard about her halo-must-choke-her-sister?) …. Next. I’m practically on the floor as I hear a ‘thank you’ - for all I do - for what I have done today, including driving all the way there and back in "all that weather" … (life is suddenly surreal????)…..
Meanwhile, my son has made tea for his grandma (bless!)…. At which point mum announces, “Oh, that’s so welcome …. You wouldn’t believe what an awful long time I had to wait for a cup of tea while I was there….”
I’ve learnt a lot from today (and just so’s you know I’ve not entirely lost all cynicism … I trust St Sis has too - being ‘exposed’ to mum for several hours on a 1:1 instead of the cursory 5 minute phone calls when it suits)…
Most of all, now I know she can criticise St Sis for next to nothing - I’ll take anything ‘on the chin’ …
Thank you all of you for the ‘chin up’ - it’s standing firm and proud just now…. Bless you, thank you all….
Now excuse me, I’ve got a few more cartwheels to do…..
Love, Karen, x
