Give. Me. Strength.

[rivka]

Michael's stepmother... Jesus Christ.

One of the first things I noticed is that the big framed picture of an infant Michael which has been in his father's bedroom as long as I've known him has been moved to a rarely-used back room, where it hangs in a place which is blocked from most points in the room by a cabinet.

Then in the course of our first 24 hours visiting, she:

- Tried to convince me to take Michael's bronzed baby shoes home, because God forbid there be any memories of his childhood on display.
- Asked me when I was going to wean.
- Said in the snottiest voice imaginable, "Don't you teach him 'no'?" when I moved several small glass-framed photographs off a floor-level shelf. She never put anything out of her babies' or grandbabies' reach.
- Went on two different diatribes about how awful Obama is. Not to mention Michelle, who buys all those expensive clothes while being BLACK, so it's totally not like any other First Lady ever. She seems very disappointed that we're not rising to the bait.

It's only a four-day visit. I can make it, right?

Right?

Comments

[ailbhe]

*bucket of strength*

You can make it. You do this because you want to achieve your goals, which are basically selfless and generous goals with a side-order of compassion, and you always do achieve your goals in spite of her.

Edit to add: I knew she'd said that "just say no" stuff before, it was when Alex was a toddler: http://rivka.livejournal.com/321539.html

Hmph.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Yes, you can make it. I only wish it weren't sheer folly to hope she got it all of of her system in those first 24 hours.

Remember: Don't feed the trolls, even when they're members of the family. Perhaps especially then.

May strength and perseverance be yours.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Right. You can. You've dealt with Lydia. This is small time by comparison.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

You can make it. Good luck wishes, and patience-strengthening vibes sent.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

You can do it. Killing her would set a bad example, when you are trying to teach Alex to be compassionate and patient.

[redbird]

Yes you can make it.

If it's getting too difficult, remember that you can always leave early, and blame the weather, your boss, or Michael's boss.

[saoba.livejournal.com]

You can do it. You shouldn't have>/i> to but that's another and altogether different discussion.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Hoooboy.

The only advice I have is to remember that she's not worth the jail time. If necessary, repeat "Prison orange is not my colour, prison orange is not my colour..." under your breath until the urge to kill passes.

[torontoteacher.livejournal.com]

I'm about to enter this with you... my two boys and the two "good" cousins at a snooty resort where all the patrons are white and all the staff are brown.

I won't kill anyone if you won't.

[laurarey.livejournal.com]

Yes, you can do it. And if you don't, I think you have enough friends that will come and help you hide the body.

[ororo.livejournal.com]

This.

Wishing you strength and peace.

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

Your "dealing with idiots" strength reserves must be nearly exhausted. I don't suppose you could make a drinking game out of offensive statements? No, probably not.

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

Yes. Despite my mother's advice of "Homicide, not suicide," remember that it's bad form to kill someone when you might want to visit their spouse later.

(I said nothing about slow-acting poison, though.)

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

You can make it. I will sheesh on your behalf, if that would help.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

what adrian_turtle said!

[gtrout.livejournal.com]

Damn. adrian_turtle is right, and I wanted to suggest something involving napalm.

I send you strength, instead. Breathe in, breathe out, focus on the love you have for anyone else who's handy. You can visualize the flamethrower when you get home and you're in a tub full of water.

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

Deep breaths. This, too, shall pass.

Maybe try smiling sweetly, looking just over her shoulder, and imagining locking her and Lydia in a room with a rabid wolverine?

Good luck!

[baratron.livejournal.com]

The example statements from her are just... wow. I'm not sure I have anything to add that hasn't already been said, so I'll simply offer you much luck in getting through the next 3 days. (Surely you've had the first day already by now?).

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

I have some energy back after three days with my kid's monstrous parents, so I'm sending it to you. You can do this! *love love love*

[rivka.livejournal.com]

In private Michael pulled out the consummate Southern response: "Well... breeding will tell." Uh huh.

And it's clear that it really is breeding, and not money, because Michael's father came from a family of small farmers in Arkansas, and he is a perfect gentleman.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

" "Don't you teach him 'no'?" when I moved several small glass-framed photographs off a floor-level shelf. "

My father-in-law, whom I do love, was ALL ABOUT THIS. Every time we came over we did a sweep of the house and moved all the glass objects on coffee tables out of kids' reach, and there were mutterings about discipline.

My MIL quietly said, at one point, no, he *wasn't* around the house much when their four children were very young.