Now for something completely different: an in-laws vent!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the uncles or ILs not have cars? Why can't they drive and you stare out the window in the backseat?

They flew in from out of town and didn’t rent a car because ILs told them they rented one big car for all of us. I think ILs want to play tour guide rather than drive, or I offered to drive the first day and it set a precedent? Not sure. At the very least it means I’m not rude when I’m not responding to uncle ramblings. I have to pay attention to the road, after all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

OP here: I didn’t post about Cracker Barrel, that was a PP. I would have loved Cracker Barrel!! Better than three day old chilli!

About the house: they love on a big swath of land but on have a 4/3 house. ILs sleep separate, one room each for extended relatives, nowhere for us. Plus they have an anxious dog that barks every time a floor board creaks so I definitely am grateful for the hotel.

I remembered another thing: the peeing. All four men have bladder issues but they all pee at different points. I noticed this early on. We’re all ready to go, then one has to pee also we all wait. Then we’re ready to go again, another decides it’s best to go now before we hit the road. Then we wait. Then an hour later (almost to the city!) #3 has to go. Yesterday before we left I said (in a light, playful tone) let’s all pee now so we don’t have to stop! Because stopping means more directions and they don’t like to pee in gas stations, only nicer restaurants or stores. My husband later said that was very offensive to his relatives and him. I just gave up at that point. I stopped offering recommendations, stopped responding to uncle’s stream of consciousness, and stop trying to justify my google maps. Lol.

Wow, OP. I get where you are coming from for a lot of this, but sing-songing to a bunch of grown-ass adults that they should Try Potty is beyond. That was rude, and you need to take a step back.

Look, you're in it. You're doing this for a good cause--family togetherness before an international move. So just do it. Who cares if it takes 10 minutes for a pit stop. What, you need to get somewhere 10 minutes earlier so the talent scout will see you and cast you in a movie? You need to get somewhere 10 minutes sooner so that you'll win a door prize? What? What does it matter, in the grand scheme.

Finally, stop driving. Throw the keys to your husband and say you're done being the chauffer. I don't get why people keep doing the same thing over and over and then bitch about it. Say you're going to spend the day on the couch with some magazines, and they should go and enjoy their day. No one is making you do anything. Grow up, take ownership of your choices, and stop complaining about your own choices to be somewhere, go somewhere, or do something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the uncles or ILs not have cars? Why can't they drive and you stare out the window in the backseat?

They flew in from out of town and didn’t rent a car because ILs told them they rented one big car for all of us. I think ILs want to play tour guide rather than drive, or I offered to drive the first day and it set a precedent? Not sure. At the very least it means I’m not rude when I’m not responding to uncle ramblings. I have to pay attention to the road, after all

THROW THE KEYS TO YOUR HUSBAND, NITWIT.

[Anonymous]

Do you have children? Are they with you?

During mind numbing visits, I remind myself that my children are learning how to treat elderly people (which will someday be their parents) by how we treat our parents and elderly relatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the uncles or ILs not have cars? Why can't they drive and you stare out the window in the backseat?

They flew in from out of town and didn’t rent a car because ILs told them they rented one big car for all of us. I think ILs want to play tour guide rather than drive, or I offered to drive the first day and it set a precedent? Not sure. At the very least it means I’m not rude when I’m not responding to uncle ramblings. I have to pay attention to the road, after all

THROW THE KEYS TO YOUR HUSBAND, NITWIT.

You may have missed this part: (DH can’t drive because of a medical issue)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the uncles or ILs not have cars? Why can't they drive and you stare out the window in the backseat?

They flew in from out of town and didn’t rent a car because ILs told them they rented one big car for all of us. I think ILs want to play tour guide rather than drive, or I offered to drive the first day and it set a precedent? Not sure. At the very least it means I’m not rude when I’m not responding to uncle ramblings. I have to pay attention to the road, after all

THROW THE KEYS TO YOUR HUSBAND, NITWIT.

You may have missed this part: (DH can’t drive because of a medical issue)

OK, then have DH give the keys to someone else. "Cheryl's not up for driving today, Dad. You do the honors!" Life is simple for resourceful people who can think things through.

[Anonymous]

OP here: husband can’t drive. I mentioned this in my OP. Also it wasn’t sing songy, it was not pushy nor condescending and my intention was trying to make sure everyone was prepared and comfortable (there were a few stressful incidents where we passed an exit with good bathrooms and the next one was 20-30 mins away), but you are right and I did take a step back. I also apologized to my husband. I think it’s just all of it together is stressing me out.

No kids. Although that’s another conversation they love having with me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: husband can’t drive. I mentioned this in my OP. Also it wasn’t sing songy, it was not pushy nor condescending and my intention was trying to make sure everyone was prepared and comfortable (there were a few stressful incidents where we passed an exit with good bathrooms and the next one was 20-30 mins away), but you are right and I did take a step back. I also apologized to my husband. I think it’s just all of it together is stressing me out.

No kids. Although that’s another conversation they love having with me!

Give the keys to someone else who can drive, say you're not up for driving today. Done.

[Anonymous]

Op again: it’s the last day and they are meeting us at another tourist spot that is equidistant from them and the hotel (like a triangle). It looks like my chauffeur days are over, although today we have nothing except this one thing planned and it should only take an hour. Let’s see what today holds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

OP here: I didn’t post about Cracker Barrel, that was a PP. I would have loved Cracker Barrel!! Better than three day old chilli!

About the house: they love on a big swath of land but on have a 4/3 house. ILs sleep separate, one room each for extended relatives, nowhere for us. Plus they have an anxious dog that barks every time a floor board creaks so I definitely am grateful for the hotel.

I remembered another thing: the peeing. All four men have bladder issues but they all pee at different points. I noticed this early on. We’re all ready to go, then one has to pee also we all wait. Then we’re ready to go again, another decides it’s best to go now before we hit the road. Then we wait. Then an hour later (almost to the city!) #3 has to go. Yesterday before we left I said (in a light, playful tone) let’s all pee now so we don’t have to stop! Because stopping means more directions and they don’t like to pee in gas stations, only nicer restaurants or stores. My husband later said that was very offensive to his relatives and him. I just gave up at that point. I stopped offering recommendations, stopped responding to uncle’s stream of consciousness, and stop trying to justify my google maps. Lol.

Wow, OP. I get where you are coming from for a lot of this, but sing-songing to a bunch of grown-ass adults that they should Try Potty is beyond. That was rude, and you need to take a step back.

Look, you're in it. You're doing this for a good cause--family togetherness before an international move. So just do it. Who cares if it takes 10 minutes for a pit stop. What, you need to get somewhere 10 minutes earlier so the talent scout will see you and cast you in a movie? You need to get somewhere 10 minutes sooner so that you'll win a door prize? What? What does it matter, in the grand scheme.

Finally, stop driving. Throw the keys to your husband and say you're done being the chauffer. I don't get why people keep doing the same thing over and over and then bitch about it. Say you're going to spend the day on the couch with some magazines, and they should go and enjoy their day. No one is making you do anything. Grow up, take ownership of your choices, and stop complaining about your own choices to be somewhere, go somewhere, or do something.

So maybe it was a little offensive to suggest they all go at the same time, but you’re being rude here suggesting she’s just annoyed that they have to make an extra 10 minute stop. They are nitpicking the shit out of every part of her driving, INCLUDING where they want to stop for these constant pee breaks AND how she’s getting to them. I’m amazed she hasn’t stopped driving already. If it was me, the moment my DH complained that I offended him and his other already offensive-behaving relatives, I would have handed him the keys and told him to find one of them to drive because my shift was over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

OP here: I didn’t post about Cracker Barrel, that was a PP. I would have loved Cracker Barrel!! Better than three day old chilli!

About the house: they love on a big swath of land but on have a 4/3 house. ILs sleep separate, one room each for extended relatives, nowhere for us. Plus they have an anxious dog that barks every time a floor board creaks so I definitely am grateful for the hotel.

I remembered another thing: the peeing. All four men have bladder issues but they all pee at different points. I noticed this early on. We’re all ready to go, then one has to pee also we all wait. Then we’re ready to go again, another decides it’s best to go now before we hit the road. Then we wait. Then an hour later (almost to the city!) #3 has to go. Yesterday before we left I said (in a light, playful tone) let’s all pee now so we don’t have to stop! Because stopping means more directions and they don’t like to pee in gas stations, only nicer restaurants or stores. My husband later said that was very offensive to his relatives and him. I just gave up at that point. I stopped offering recommendations, stopped responding to uncle’s stream of consciousness, and stop trying to justify my google maps. Lol.

It's on her that she hasn't stopped driving already. One day of that and I would have told DH, "I'm done. Find another driver for tomorrow." If it didn't go well with me as a passenger, I would have stayed at the hotel the next day, claiming a cold, and left them to it.

It's on her. She's the martyr type who likes to do the same thing over and over and then complain about it. No one made her get in the damn car.

Wow, OP. I get where you are coming from for a lot of this, but sing-songing to a bunch of grown-ass adults that they should Try Potty is beyond. That was rude, and you need to take a step back.

Look, you're in it. You're doing this for a good cause--family togetherness before an international move. So just do it. Who cares if it takes 10 minutes for a pit stop. What, you need to get somewhere 10 minutes earlier so the talent scout will see you and cast you in a movie? You need to get somewhere 10 minutes sooner so that you'll win a door prize? What? What does it matter, in the grand scheme.

Finally, stop driving. Throw the keys to your husband and say you're done being the chauffer. I don't get why people keep doing the same thing over and over and then bitch about it. Say you're going to spend the day on the couch with some magazines, and they should go and enjoy their day. No one is making you do anything. Grow up, take ownership of your choices, and stop complaining about your own choices to be somewhere, go somewhere, or do something.

So maybe it was a little offensive to suggest they all go at the same time, but you’re being rude here suggesting she’s just annoyed that they have to make an extra 10 minute stop. They are nitpicking the shit out of every part of her driving, INCLUDING where they want to stop for these constant pee breaks AND how she’s getting to them. I’m amazed she hasn’t stopped driving already. If it was me, the moment my DH complained that I offended him and his other already offensive-behaving relatives, I would have handed him the keys and told him to find one of them to drive because my shift was over.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, my reply above was lost:

It's on her that she hasn't stopped driving already. One day of that and I would have told DH, "I'm done. Find another driver for tomorrow." If it didn't go well with me as a passenger, I would have stayed at the hotel the next day, claiming a cold, and left them to it.

[Anonymous]

Why are you okay listening to google maps but can’t just follow their directions. Who cares if it a little longer?

[Anonymous]

I would just flat out refuse to drive anywhere. They can stay home and socialize there. You can read DCUM on your phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

OP here: I didn’t post about Cracker Barrel, that was a PP. I would have loved Cracker Barrel!! Better than three day old chilli!

About the house: they love on a big swath of land but on have a 4/3 house. ILs sleep separate, one room each for extended relatives, nowhere for us. Plus they have an anxious dog that barks every time a floor board creaks so I definitely am grateful for the hotel.

I remembered another thing: the peeing. All four men have bladder issues but they all pee at different points. I noticed this early on. We’re all ready to go, then one has to pee also we all wait. Then we’re ready to go again, another decides it’s best to go now before we hit the road. Then we wait. Then an hour later (almost to the city!) #3 has to go. Yesterday before we left I said (in a light, playful tone) let’s all pee now so we don’t have to stop! Because stopping means more directions and they don’t like to pee in gas stations, only nicer restaurants or stores. My husband later said that was very offensive to his relatives and him. I just gave up at that point. I stopped offering recommendations, stopped responding to uncle’s stream of consciousness, and stop trying to justify my google maps. Lol.

Wow, OP. I get where you are coming from for a lot of this, but sing-songing to a bunch of grown-ass adults that they should Try Potty is beyond. That was rude, and you need to take a step back.

Look, you're in it. You're doing this for a good cause--family togetherness before an international move. So just do it. Who cares if it takes 10 minutes for a pit stop. What, you need to get somewhere 10 minutes earlier so the talent scout will see you and cast you in a movie? You need to get somewhere 10 minutes sooner so that you'll win a door prize? What? What does it matter, in the grand scheme.

Finally, stop driving. Throw the keys to your husband and say you're done being the chauffer. I don't get why people keep doing the same thing over and over and then bitch about it. Say you're going to spend the day on the couch with some magazines, and they should go and enjoy their day. No one is making you do anything. Grow up, take ownership of your choices, and stop complaining about your own choices to be somewhere, go somewhere, or do something.

So maybe it was a little offensive to suggest they all go at the same time, but you’re being rude here suggesting she’s just annoyed that they have to make an extra 10 minute stop. They are nitpicking the shit out of every part of her driving, INCLUDING where they want to stop for these constant pee breaks AND how she’s getting to them. I’m amazed she hasn’t stopped driving already. If it was me, the moment my DH complained that I offended him and his other already offensive-behaving relatives, I would have handed him the keys and told him to find one of them to drive because my shift was over.

Exactly - it’s not about having to stop, it’s when the announcement is made - “can we pull over? I have to go.” Grocery store: no. Gas station: HELL no. Walmart: ehhh no. MIL: there’s an Olive Garden two exits up, 5 miles out. Let’s go there.” Ok great. Now I’m taking the wrong way to Olive Garden. “If you go left here it’s faster - we really have to go!” I oblige. It’s not the faster way but I give in. I try to take the actual more direct way back to the highway. Sighing. End scene.