I've been back from the family reunion at the beach for a week now and I'm just starting to recover. Well, not really. But doesn't it seem like you're more tired when you get back from a vacation than you were before you left? Maybe it's just me. It was actually a lot of fun. I'm glad I went. It was great to see my aunt and uncles and cousins. It's the first year I can remember where there wasn't a major family altercation, so that's always a plus. We normally stay for a full week, and this time we were only there for 5 days. My new theory is that 5 days is the limit on how long we can stand each other; any more than that and watch out! It was fun seeing my extended family interact with Sawyer. He's the first baby in the new generation, so he got plenty of attention.
The one amusing anecdote I can report happened on the way down to North Carolina (although amusing may not be the best word for it since I'm still pissed off about it). I was caravaning with my parents and sisters and like every year we stopped over in Williamsburg to visit my grandmother. We have a nickname for her but for the purposes of this blog I'll call her Mean Grandma. (Those of you who have been reading for a while might remember that last year she told me I had gotten fat within 10 minutes of our arrival.) This year was even worse because her, shall we say, unpleasantness was directed towards my baby. The evening we arrived we were sitting in her living room and my mom and sisters were taking turns holding Sawyer. Keep in mind that they live in Utah and rarely get to see him. Mean Grandma came into the room with a blanket and told my mom to put the baby on the floor because we were holding him too much and he was going to get spoiled! That is so wrong to me on so many levels. I mean, he's not even 3 months old, he can't sit up or crawl or even flip himself over, so what's he going to do on the floor?? And how on earth is he going to get spoiled by being held by his grandma, who he almost never sees?? My mom politely declined and said "Thanks, but I like holding him." Mean Grandma scowled and put the blanket away. The real shock came later, when she got her panties in a twist because I held Sawyer during dinner. She glared at me during the whole meal. The way she was acting you would have thought I'd brought my pet python to the table. I mean honestly, he's a baby! Note to self: next year skip the trip to Mean Grandma's! She doesn't like me, I don't like her, and I doubt that's going to change in this life. Yeah, it's sad, but I feel like it's not worth the effort to try to get her to like me. Is that wrong? When she starts being mean to my child, that's pretty much the end of the line for me. I don't want him exposed to that crap. Needless to say, I was extremely proud of him when he let out a huge fart during dessert. Way to go, son!
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Haha, your mean grandma stories make me laugh. But they probably wouldn't if she were my grandma.
ReplyDeleteYou know, maybe there is always some problem in every family. Good for you for sticking up for yourself and your baby.
ReplyDeleteWe always get lectured not to hold our baby granddaughter when we have her because she's spoiled. We nod agreeably, then we never put her down. (her mom and dad are divorced, and sometimes we get her). She's a VIP here and we don't waste a minute to love on her.
Maybe you should send her a link to this blog posting in order to put things into perspective for her.
ReplyDeleteJeremy, Too bad my grandma doesn't have internet access! I doubt reading this would accomplish anything though. One of my cousins politely asked her to stop being mean to her kids three years ago and M.G. hasn't spoken to her since. Is it bad that I have so little faith in her ability to change?
ReplyDeleteThat was an amusing anecdote.
ReplyDeleteAt least now you know that Sawyer has a good sense of irony!
just an hour ago, my 2 1/2 yr old daughter said, "mommy my hands are ugly" shocked, i asked her who told u that, and she said "grandma "(my obnoxious mother in law), i think she tops the "meanest grandma award"
ReplyDeleteMy grandma is so mean and horrible. I can understand where you are coming from. I actually was just looking up 'mean grandma' on google to see if I'm the only one out there who has to deal with such a horrible person and I came across your blog. She calls my baby spoiled all the time but then runs to him at the slightest cry and implies that I'm a horrible mother for letting him cry. There is no winning with that woman and my heart breaks because I know she's going to die all alone and sick. But she pushes everyone in my family away.
ReplyDeleteI'm really at the point where I can't stand her anymore, but I wish deep down that she was a sweet and loving grandma who I enjoyed being with. I guess that'll never happen for me.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
ReplyDeletethis sounds like both of my grandmoms. you are not alone. i no i am no genius on the subject, but i feel that women who were shaped by the great depression (NOT ALL!) have very stubborn mindsets about family values and can sometimes come across bitter. instead of taking it to heart, i would feel compassion for someone who can only see from their own viewpoint. it is selfishness, but it is also a lack of education. i feel there are more resources and lessons nowadays that teach us to be more openminded. plus, she could be developing alzheimers, which in that case, she may be having mood swings.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those "mean grandmas" according to my daughter. I don't see it that way. She brings her kids over and they destroy my house, leave sticky messes everywhere, I come home from work to double sinks full of dirty dishes and I'm mean because I correct them. They are so disrespectful that I can hardly stand to be around them! If she'd teach them to behave, I could just enjoy their company. If they treated their grandparents the way her kids treat her father and me, they'd have had trouble sitting down for a week. It's not always grandma's fault!
ReplyDeleteYou arent one of those mean grandmas. They re talking about the ones who've decided that all that is left in life is to live day by day until you finally die. You sound like your active and.still living life. My grandma is 66 all she does is critisize people wether on tv or in person, eat blue bell by the gallons and. bean dip by the moundfulls. When I go to work and return shes sitting in the same exact spot that she was in when I left 8 hrs ago. she plays I declare war all day by herself and she cheats! When she needs attention she become a drama queen. Shes superficial and materialistic. She lies and tells stories. She had the nerves to come flip my breast and tell me I need a new bra because my breast are saggy... Really? She said I do push up and this is why I dont have that problem. But do I tell her I know that shes had breast implants for over thirty years? No. I say nothing... she stares or frowns at the food I make. But then claims her pig slop is the bomb biggy! Shes old lonely and bored. Have I tried to help? Hell yes... But its pointless. Grandma you want to go out to lunch? No. grandma you want to catch a movie? No. grandma what would you like to do today? Nothing. So count your blessings if you still have all your ps and qs. As far as your.grandkids... Thats an issue with disipline you shouldnt have to clean up after them, but you are not one the mean ones.
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