Wednesday 11 December 2013

Anxiety, in-laws and too much chocolate...

Do you have those days when it just does not kick start? It fails to ignite and try as you might basically it should be skipped.
Today was one of those days.
I should have just skipped it.
I am getting increasingly  anxious about an imminent visit from my in-laws, which is in fact more than six weeks away, but I am not really looking forward to it.
Suffice to say like a lot of people I find my in-laws are problem. Not that they are bad people or anything; they are not - it's just we don't get on. I rub them up the wrong way and they do the same to me.
I feel not quite good enough and approaching 50 and after 15 years marriage I really should be far more gown up about it. But you can take away the childhood but you may never take away the child and I am that child.
Nervous, anxious and then just badly behaved because I don't want to be nervous or anxious.
I have managed to avoid my in-laws for the past couple of years and personally I think this is a good thing for all of us. I am happy not to see them and truth be known I very much doubt they are anxious to see me. But there comes a point when we must all meet and at least pretend to get along for appearances sake.
So that my children can be free to love them as grandparents and my husband not find himself in a bind  pulled between his love and desire to protect me and his love and desire to be with his family.
Possibly my failure to see my in-laws  has given rise to comment, and this of course must be rectified. I cannot believe they are in any hurry to see me at all. But I think they feel that they ought to be more involved with their sons and grandsons and I am obviously the problem.
So in an effort NOT to be the problem I am hosting a Birthday weekend for my mother in law. I fear it is going to be disastrous and just another excuse for them to say how awful I am and I probably won't let them down - behaving as usual  in a manner  unbefitting.
I have never ever been rude to them bar the once when I told my MIL to foxtrot oscar - though I did have post natal expression at the time. And in general I am very accommodating allowing them to bring their dogs, invite their friends over etc etc but after such a long time away from their company I fear they are now bogeymen so my chocolate intake is increasing as I try to stay calm and days like this drift by  without me getting much done…
Wish I could wave a magic wand and be the perfect daughter in law




6 comments:

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

There's no reason , really , to suppose that one will automatically love one's in-laws , just beacause one loves their child .
Just be grateful they're not moving in !

Expat mum said...

There's probably no such thing as the perfect DIL. Just breathe and pretend you're in a movie. Float above in and write the script at the same time. Ot a documentary. That usually works for me.

mrsnesbitt said...

I can fully appreciate this - whilst I get along with my MIL I miss my mum terribly and just wish I was doing the things I do my MIL for my mum instead. It's my SIL that's a problem.....ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Rob-bear said...

Oh, dear! Exactly what you do not need at this time of year, with all the bustle and expectations, and the like. Perhaps some tablets from the doctor to help smooth things out? Perhaps a sudden trip to Malta for a major writing job?

I do hope you survive, more or less intact!

Blessings and Bear hugs!

Cait O'Connor said...

Expat Mum's idea is a good one, pretend you are acting a part and not really there as yourself. Float and write the script, I like it. I do that myself sometimes:-)....

Suburbia said...

Sounds like you're putting yourself down to me. It's your house and they should be grateful to be invited!

Go on you know you want to...

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