Friday, January 2, 2009

Ummmm....I Don't Quite Remember It That Way.

So, I just wanted to let you all know how well this new Recognize, Embrace and Release crap, I mean life choice is working.


Yesterday, we were at my Mother-In-Law's house, and I was in full "Zen" mode. I was bound and determined to not let anything that was said get to me.

She was telling Matt and I a story about how she couldn't find a Christmas card for Daughter-In-Laws. Here's how it went.

MIL: "I must have gone to 12 different places and I could not find a card!" "The only ones I could find said to Son and Daughter-in-Law!" "Can you believe it?"

Me: "No, I find that utterly unbelievable!" (She doesn't understand sarcasm, so I got that going for me)

MIL: "I went to Jewel, Walmart, and you know Hallmark didn't have any either!"

Literally 20 minutes go by and we are still on the same subject. She described each card that wasn't for a Daughter-in-Law that she found at each store. While Matt and I just nodded.

MIL: "Finally, I found one at the other Hallmark store, but you know, it was the last one!" "I just can't believe that they don't make that many Daughter-in-Law cards!" "If something were to happen to you, Matt, I would still keep in contact with Becky." "I mean, we have kids together!"

Matt describes my look at this point as a boxer puppy who just heard his favorite squeaky toy go off. My head cocked to the side, my ears went up, and I had a sort of dumb look on my face. But, I did it. I recognized, embraced and released.

When we got home, Here's how the conversation went.

Matt: "Man, my mom can talk all day about nothing!"

Me: "Hey!" "Watch what you say...I have kids with that woman!"


In other news, my good friend R Susanna over at Sticky Stuff on the Floor wrote a post about how her daughter noticed that she didn't have any awards like other bloggers do so she went into her room and brought her mom a Littlest Pet Shop that had a blue ribbon on it and said she was the best mommy! How precious is that, I ask you??!!?

She wanted to post it on her sidebar but couldn't figure out how to make it smaller or with text. So, I did it for her and the only way I know how to get it to her is through my blog.

R Susanna, all you have to do is save this new picture to your computer, than add a picture to your side bar. Voila you have yourself an award. (And I have to say, it's probably one of the best ones!) Let me know if it's too big or you want it changed at all, we can fix it.


15 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL;D what a mother-in-law

My mum sometimes complains about her mother-in-law, my dad would jst nod & listen and then say, "Is that all?"
My mum would get so mad.

hahaa, nice blog, btw

Anonymous said...

Kinda crazy, huh.... but you are right in just letting it go. Why bother even getting into it with her. It would be pointless.

ChicagoLady said...

How can you be mad at her? You have kids together! As soon as I read that, I went "huh???" kinda like the boxer who just heard his squeaky toy go off. What you have to put up with for family!

Deanna said...

OMG Becky. I so hope I don't do that to my kids' spouses... Surely she has no clue how she is coming across... I laughed so hard at the having kids together part... I know for a fact I've never said anything like that!!!!!

I never give being a mother-in-law a second thought.. maybe I need to re-think that non-thought...

Hey Matt - can I talk all day about nothing? lol great post

Cammie said...

LMAO....I walk around with that look on my face all the time too.

Call Me Cate said...

See, your mantra is working for you already! I've heard that when you marry, you really are marrying the whole family - but I never realized you were also having kids with them all. That's kinda... another reason for me to add to the "con" list of having kids. Eww. Great post though!

Michelle said...

You did it. You dit it. I love the picture of the dog and the description. lol. I will be snickering all day at that. Ya know, Heather and I talk about you two all the time (you and Matt, not you and your MIL).

And yes, that award is the best. What a good friend you are to help her. I will stop by and tell her too.

RSusanna said...

OMG! Thank you! It looks great! Miranda will be thrilled. Oh and about your MIL...Job well done!

IB said...

Funny stuff. You are to be congratulated on your strength of character and your great blog.

IB

Becky said...

I have a mother-in-law that could put your mother-in-law to shame. But then I don't have to see her that much so it is not that painful. But when that yearly visit arrises it takes the patience of a SAINT to sit through a conversation with her. So I can totally relate.
She has been less that thrilled at each of our pregnancies and when she came to see Summer for the very 1st time (at 5 months! she live 1 and a half hours away!) She didn't even hold her or ask too until a couple hours in the visit when I put her in her arms to take a picture.

But I'm not bitter....nope...

What's the song now I'm suppose to be singin...

I a fish just swimminn
just swimming
just swimming
wahhhhh!!!

LadyStyx said...

My MIL is alot like that, talks forever about nothing. Gotta love her though. I fully suspect that if anything happened to my hubby, she'd keep in contact (kids or no). She's much like my mom that way (who still keeps in contact with my ex even though there's no kids involved...but there WAS a 11+ year marriage to that creep so...). My mom, however, never uses the term "in-law" with her additional daughter or son. All 4 of us (my brother, myself and our spouses) are all referred to as "her kids" and quite often the spouses will receive cards that say "To a Wonderful Son" (or "To a Wonderful Daughter").

What a beautiful award!

Intense Guy said...

If that zen thing works - let me know ok?

I've a sister-in-law that my parents and I have talked about using stopwatches on to see how many seconds after she walks in the door it take for her to say something that irritates, bugs, or outright pisses someone off...sadly enough, all five of the current bets are under 15 seconds...

Toriz said...

LOL! Sounds like a... Erm... Interesting conversation! ;)

Annelie said...

I love the Recognize, Embrace and Release "crap" :) & I am glad it is working for you.

Good luck with the MIL - I used the age old bully strategy that every 3rd grader knows with my MIL (notorious for her pot-stirring abilities):
If you do not react to bullying, the bully will eventually get bored & stop.

The first time we met she spent the whole day talking about how much she loves, missed and adored hubbys ex. Let me tell you, it was fun!
Funny thing was that I had already heard how much MIL & the ex hated each other when hubby & the ex were together.
She has never gotten a rise out of me, and she is now nice & polite when I see her.

Queenie Jeannie said...

OMG! I'm so proud of you - great job!!! Your MIL is some piece of work.

And helping your friend make an award is one of the sweetest things I've ever heard!!!