Petty Holiday Vent thread 2022

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a small, funny accident happen yesterday. MIL will not stop bringing it up. I’ve laughed about it, I’ve sat by and allowed her to recount it a few time, I’ve chuckled…but now it’s done. I made a big dinner tonight, we went to church, my home is lovely, my kids are great—and she’s made about five more digs about it in the last hour. Like, I GET IT, there was a flub, it affected no one but me, it happened.

I’m not proud of myself, but the last time she brought it up (as I was putting two very excited kids to bed), I finally turned to her and said, “OK, yes, X thing happened, and now it’s over.” While I was putting them to bed, she went to bed in a huff, so I feel a little bad, but honestly? I’ll take the quiet.

You can’t leave us hanging! What was it? Did you trust a fart?

No. I was distracted and put my hand right on the handle of a roasting pan I had just brought out of the oven. I didn’t get badly burned, I’m just known as a very careful, safety-conscious, “be careful” person, so I agree that there was some irony to it.

That said, when someone gets burned making you dinner and will be making all your meals for multiple days, it’s not that funny, if it’s funny at all.

Ooooh, this reminds me of when I was doing 12 things for a recipe and got distracted and brewed a Keurig pod without a cup (the coffee was for the sauce). I was all, I can't believe I did that, how stupid, etc., etc. My mom OFFERED to clean up the mess - twice. And then stood there are remarked at least three times that I really go that coffee everywhere, didn't I? Yes, yes, I did. Thanks.

^^Also - I am glad you weren't hurt PP!

Thank you! And I appreciate the solidarity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the DH who snuck gifts out of the stocking and pretended he bought them. I mean, did he think you wouldn't notice?

I know!!!!!!!!! I’m that PP. The first gift were these seriously specific pens set. A set I already had gotten her and they ran out. There is no way he would even know about them. They went into her school backpack. She loved them, we each sort of share this pen fetish. So when she showed me what she got for Hanukkah I was like holy crap no way. And then I LITERALLY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT. Like what are the chances where did you even find those? I believed him! Like an idiot!!! And then today I was like no way, come on. I’m just bummed. He literally thinks I’m that stupid and that he can do this.

Tomorrow I’m going to say wait, where’s the second pen set? The one I bought? We talked about it. See what he does. Unfortunately my daughter sees right through him with this one. He went too far.

Ok, this sounds like there is more going on than your husband taking credit for presents you bought…

NP. Definitely agree. But I have a question for first PP: you put stocking stuffers in the stocking long before Christmas? Did your husband literally take them out of a stocking hanging up? Or did you have them stored in a closet waiting to fill stockings? I’m just wondering but we always wait til Christmas Eve to fill stockings so no one would have a chance to “steal” anything from a stocking before then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the DH who snuck gifts out of the stocking and pretended he bought them. I mean, did he think you wouldn't notice?

I know!!!!!!!!! I’m that PP. The first gift were these seriously specific pens set. A set I already had gotten her and they ran out. There is no way he would even know about them. They went into her school backpack. She loved them, we each sort of share this pen fetish. So when she showed me what she got for Hanukkah I was like holy crap no way. And then I LITERALLY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT. Like what are the chances where did you even find those? I believed him! Like an idiot!!! And then today I was like no way, come on. I’m just bummed. He literally thinks I’m that stupid and that he can do this.

Tomorrow I’m going to say wait, where’s the second pen set? The one I bought? We talked about it. See what he does. Unfortunately my daughter sees right through him with this one. He went too far.

Ok, this sounds like there is more going on than your husband taking credit for presents you bought…

NP. Definitely agree. But I have a question for first PP: you put stocking stuffers in the stocking long before Christmas? Did your husband literally take them out of a stocking hanging up? Or did you have them stored in a closet waiting to fill stockings? I’m just wondering but we always wait til Christmas Eve to fill stockings so no one would have a chance to “steal” anything from a stocking before then.

My kid is 14 so we only recently started to put stuff in there bf Christmas. Never again. This just feels so gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the DH who snuck gifts out of the stocking and pretended he bought them. I mean, did he think you wouldn't notice?

I know!!!!!!!!! I’m that PP. The first gift were these seriously specific pens set. A set I already had gotten her and they ran out. There is no way he would even know about them. They went into her school backpack. She loved them, we each sort of share this pen fetish. So when she showed me what she got for Hanukkah I was like holy crap no way. And then I LITERALLY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT. Like what are the chances where did you even find those? I believed him! Like an idiot!!! And then today I was like no way, come on. I’m just bummed. He literally thinks I’m that stupid and that he can do this.

Tomorrow I’m going to say wait, where’s the second pen set? The one I bought? We talked about it. See what he does. Unfortunately my daughter sees right through him with this one. He went too far.

Ok, this sounds like there is more going on than your husband taking credit for presents you bought…

NP. Definitely agree. But I have a question for first PP: you put stocking stuffers in the stocking long before Christmas? Did your husband literally take them out of a stocking hanging up? Or did you have them stored in a closet waiting to fill stockings? I’m just wondering but we always wait til Christmas Eve to fill stockings so no one would have a chance to “steal” anything from a stocking before then.

My kid is 14 so we only recently started to put stuff in there bf Christmas. Never again. This just feels so gross.

Why don’t you say something to your husband? It sounds like you’re getting more upset by not addressing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the DH who snuck gifts out of the stocking and pretended he bought them. I mean, did he think you wouldn't notice?

I know!!!!!!!!! I’m that PP. The first gift were these seriously specific pens set. A set I already had gotten her and they ran out. There is no way he would even know about them. They went into her school backpack. She loved them, we each sort of share this pen fetish. So when she showed me what she got for Hanukkah I was like holy crap no way. And then I LITERALLY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT. Like what are the chances where did you even find those? I believed him! Like an idiot!!! And then today I was like no way, come on. I’m just bummed. He literally thinks I’m that stupid and that he can do this.

Tomorrow I’m going to say wait, where’s the second pen set? The one I bought? We talked about it. See what he does. Unfortunately my daughter sees right through him with this one. He went too far.

Ok, this sounds like there is more going on than your husband taking credit for presents you bought…

NP. Definitely agree. But I have a question for first PP: you put stocking stuffers in the stocking long before Christmas? Did your husband literally take them out of a stocking hanging up? Or did you have them stored in a closet waiting to fill stockings? I’m just wondering but we always wait til Christmas Eve to fill stockings so no one would have a chance to “steal” anything from a stocking before then.

My kid is 14 so we only recently started to put stuff in there bf Christmas. Never again. This just feels so gross.

Why don’t you say something to your husband? It sounds like you’re getting more upset by not addressing it.

I did. I literally said wait a minute, I bought those what’s going on here? But then I quickly dropped it bc I’m not going to do that in front of our kid on Christmas Eve. I will later for sure. I’m just completely dumbfounded why someone would do that.

[Anonymous]

My mom brought some cookie tins in from the refrigerator in her garage. She noted that the neighbor lady had made them and that we should eat the ones in a certain tin first because they were actually from last Christmas but she never got around to eating them. Earlier in the week, she also mentioned that some of the (unopened) cheese in her fridge had been there for more than a year. When I suggested that maybe she should toss it, she said no way, it’s better now that it is aged!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a small, funny accident happen yesterday. MIL will not stop bringing it up. I’ve laughed about it, I’ve sat by and allowed her to recount it a few time, I’ve chuckled…but now it’s done. I made a big dinner tonight, we went to church, my home is lovely, my kids are great—and she’s made about five more digs about it in the last hour. Like, I GET IT, there was a flub, it affected no one but me, it happened.

I’m not proud of myself, but the last time she brought it up (as I was putting two very excited kids to bed), I finally turned to her and said, “OK, yes, X thing happened, and now it’s over.” While I was putting them to bed, she went to bed in a huff, so I feel a little bad, but honestly? I’ll take the quiet.

I think you *should* be proud of yourself. Five times is at least three times more than I would have allowed without shutting it down. Your words were fine too. You didn’t snap and say “OK, Madge, we get it. Can you SHUT UP now?”

Her going to bed is a huff is manipulative. Treat it like you would if your toddler threw an attention-seeking fit. Give it no oxygen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a small, funny accident happen yesterday. MIL will not stop bringing it up. I’ve laughed about it, I’ve sat by and allowed her to recount it a few time, I’ve chuckled…but now it’s done. I made a big dinner tonight, we went to church, my home is lovely, my kids are great—and she’s made about five more digs about it in the last hour. Like, I GET IT, there was a flub, it affected no one but me, it happened.

I’m not proud of myself, but the last time she brought it up (as I was putting two very excited kids to bed), I finally turned to her and said, “OK, yes, X thing happened, and now it’s over.” While I was putting them to bed, she went to bed in a huff, so I feel a little bad, but honestly? I’ll take the quiet.

You can’t leave us hanging! What was it? Did you trust a fart?

No. I was distracted and put my hand right on the handle of a roasting pan I had just brought out of the oven. I didn’t get badly burned, I’m just known as a very careful, safety-conscious, “be careful” person, so I agree that there was some irony to it.

That said, when someone gets burned making you dinner and will be making all your meals for multiple days, it’s not that funny, if it’s funny at all.

Wow. You got physically hurt and she, an adult, is “comically” perseverating about it? How ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

We drove 12 hours to my parents house for Christmas. Our oldest dd will not be spending Christmas with us because she is doing an international trip with her college. But awesome dd that she is mailed gifts to my parents house. She addressed them to me. We have done this for 20 years so that we could save space in the car. My parents know not to open these packages and never have. Until this year. This year my mom opened the boxes. Then she calls to let me know she did so and apologized for ruining the suprise because she saw the x, y and z we got her for Christmas. I told her none of the gifts were for her. She argued with me and claims they are obviously for her. Who else could they be for!! ME. They were for me. From my daughter. Addressed to ME! We have gifts for her. Lots of them. It is going to be a long 5 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will we turn into people who don't eat food when we're our parents' age??? Why don't old people eat? Why are they so weird about food?

My MIL is so weird about food! She will not serve food until I’ve served myself food. She will pretend she’s not hungry, “no, no, just a little” (with a nose wrinkle). If we have dessert, she’ll protest and only eat if we offer her something several times. She’ll see an average portion and make a big deal about the size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents have a big house. It used to be a small house built in the 1950's but they added several additions over the decades and now it had a large bizarre layout (some rooms have 2 doors, the kitchen is small and closed, there are 3 living rooms). But anyway, my petty vent is that they keep the heat at 66F to conserve energy. Today DH put the kids in long underwear to play inside.

Hah! I am 37 and keep the house at 59-61. If we crank it to 64, we are living large!

Holy crap, I thought I was Ebenezer Scrooge (and my family agrees) by keeping mine at 65 in the winter, but you “win.” Brrr.

We are dealing with the opposite issue. My parents have the thermostat ste to 87! We sleep on the top floor of the house and it was over 90 up here. We had to open a window!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We drove 12 hours to my parents house for Christmas. Our oldest dd will not be spending Christmas with us because she is doing an international trip with her college. But awesome dd that she is mailed gifts to my parents house. She addressed them to me. We have done this for 20 years so that we could save space in the car. My parents know not to open these packages and never have. Until this year. This year my mom opened the boxes. Then she calls to let me know she did so and apologized for ruining the suprise because she saw the x, y and z we got her for Christmas. I told her none of the gifts were for her. She argued with me and claims they are obviously for her. Who else could they be for!! ME. They were for me. From my daughter. Addressed to ME! We have gifts for her. Lots of them. It is going to be a long 5 days.

OMG, OP. I am sending you a glass of wine for having to deal with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom brought some cookie tins in from the refrigerator in her garage. She noted that the neighbor lady had made them and that we should eat the ones in a certain tin first because they were actually from last Christmas but she never got around to eating them. Earlier in the week, she also mentioned that some of the (unopened) cheese in her fridge had been there for more than a year. When I suggested that maybe she should toss it, she said no way, it’s better now that it is aged!

A long time ago…

I was home on break from college. Younger sister and I were making butter cookies. I told sis to go grab the tin from the storage closet. We had this old tin from a fruitcake my parents had received years before that these cookies were always kept in. Sis come back, carrying the tin and says “I don’t remember this tin being this heavy.” We opened it up and found the previous year’s butter cookies. I think in the hullabaloo of the previous year’s Christmas Eve, my mom had just shoved the cookie tin back in the closet to get it out of the way of dinner guests and then forgot it was full. We did throw the old cookies out and washed the tin before putting the new cookies in.

[Anonymous]

The French toast is studded with currants AND mini chocolate chips and is impossible to tell them apart until I eat them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We drove 12 hours to my parents house for Christmas. Our oldest dd will not be spending Christmas with us because she is doing an international trip with her college. But awesome dd that she is mailed gifts to my parents house. She addressed them to me. We have done this for 20 years so that we could save space in the car. My parents know not to open these packages and never have. Until this year. This year my mom opened the boxes. Then she calls to let me know she did so and apologized for ruining the suprise because she saw the x, y and z we got her for Christmas. I told her none of the gifts were for her. She argued with me and claims they are obviously for her. Who else could they be for!! ME. They were for me. From my daughter. Addressed to ME! We have gifts for her. Lots of them. It is going to be a long 5 days.

Have her checked for cognitive decline. Hugs