Yes, we love our families. But: Petty Vents 2022

[Anonymous]

I was invited to a dinner last night by a family of four. They also invited two other single relatives, and a family of five we're related to but that I don't know well. The family of five includes three adult kids in their 20's and one of them brought her boyfriend. I talked to the boyfriend for 30 seconds. I've now talked with him longer than I've ever spoken with any of the three adult children. The oldest two wouldn't even make eye contact with me. WTF? Even their dog gave me more attention than they did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mac and cheese is far superior but MIL has declared that her dish so she brings it every year. And I'm not just saying this; even my kids prefer mine. But we love MIL so we say nothing and just let her bring it.

This one I don’t get as a vent, even a petty one,, since you can have it anytime. Sounds like she prefers here, for whatever reason. I’m glad you go with saying nothing over this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We offered to host and were turned down. And now my MIL is in a TIZZY and being rude to everyone because she is so stressed. She also invited about 8 extra people to their very small house? There are only about 6 total seats in the living room so I am not sure where she thinks everyone will actually be sitting? I plan to be outside with a "coffee tumbler" full of not coffee.

Stay buzzed, out of the way, and let your husband deal with his mother. Not your problem!

I'm definitely planning on staying buzzed and out of the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mac and cheese is far superior but MIL has declared that her dish so she brings it every year. And I'm not just saying this; even my kids prefer mine. But we love MIL so we say nothing and just let her bring it.

This one I don’t get as a vent, even a petty one,, since you can have it anytime. Sounds like she prefers here, for whatever reason. I’m glad you go with saying nothing over this.

No need to pick apart my contribution, I was just joining in on this fun thread. Chill out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mac and cheese is far superior but MIL has declared that her dish so she brings it every year. And I'm not just saying this; even my kids prefer mine. But we love MIL so we say nothing and just let her bring it.

This one I don’t get as a vent, even a petty one,, since you can have it anytime. Sounds like she prefers here, for whatever reason. I’m glad you go with saying nothing over this.

No need to pick apart my contribution, I was just joining in on this fun thread. Chill out.

Also, for us mac and cheese is the star of thanksgiving, so yes it is indeed a petty vent to me. Feel free to add your own petty-to-you vent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents will be coming over to our house. We have three kids under 4. I told them we're going to eat at 3. I know they plan to arrive right at 3 and leave right after dinner. I will tell them 1000 times they need to come earlier to help with the kids while we eat...I bet they come at 2:15, pour g and ts and then ask when dinner will be ready.

You demand your guests come over to deal with your kids? Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A relative who I love is having a major event at 6 AM on Black Friday. WHY? Because astrology deemed it the best day and time. So after Thanksgiving we have to go straight to bed, get up at about 3:30 am and get ourselves and two YOUNG kids picture-perfect and drive to this event. I am nauseous...

Wait what? What event? We need more info please.

Wedding to a man from a culture where astrology is important.

You should attend alone and let your husband and kids sleep in. My kids aren’t dolls/props to indulge cult members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We usually host, but my mom and dad are this year—8-hour drive, so we’re staying overnight for a while. Everything is great, but…

Mom, what is with these heavy-ass brocade quilts and elaborate braided/brocade/fringed pillow shams that you expect us to actually SLEEP on. I can kind of get the decor angle. But she’s pissed that we removed and neatly folded the shams, and asked for regular pillowcases. She only had two spare pillowcases, so I went out to Target and bought a few sets of pillowcases that I said I’d be happy to leave with her or take home with me, whatever I prefer. We didn’t complain, we just did what we needed to do to be comfortable.

We clean up after ourselves, and are helping with the meals, buying groceries and running errands. I honestly don’t know why she’s so pissed that we’re not sleeping with our heads on two-inch thick decorative braiding.

I feel this so hard 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A relative who I love is having a major event at 6 AM on Black Friday. WHY? Because astrology deemed it the best day and time. So after Thanksgiving we have to go straight to bed, get up at about 3:30 am and get ourselves and two YOUNG kids picture-perfect and drive to this event. I am nauseous...

Wait what? What event? We need more info please.

Wedding to a man from a culture where astrology is important.

You should attend alone and let your husband and kids sleep in. My kids aren’t dolls/props to indulge cult members.

+1

There is no way I would drag my kids to this.

[Anonymous]

Going to a typical family dinner tomorrow where I will be loudly and repeatedly told which dishes have meat in them, even ones where it's absolutely not needed, so don't eat them, and "guess there's not much for you". These same people will then expect me to spend literally hours washing all the china, pots and pans, etc by hand while the men sit around watching TV and drinking. Nope. If you're going to go out of your way to basically exclude me from the meal, don't expect me to be the cleanup crew either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am hosting tomorrow. My three nephews, ages 20-24, will be there. I love them to pieces, but two of them will spend the time moping around and/or locked in one or both of our bathrooms with a laptop or phone for a crazyass amount of time, causing others who actually need to use the toilet to wait. The 20 YO will try to sneak alcohol if it is served.

Still, I am super happy to have them. They are funny and creative and my kids adore them.

I'm usually anti alcohol for underage kids, but even I'd give the 20 year old a beer or two. He's not driving, and we all need a little something to help us tolerate so much togetherness.

I somehow managed to manage my family without alcohol before the age of 21. If you can’t “handle” seeing people for a few hours, fake COVID and don’t attend.

They probably drank to tolerate you

[Anonymous]

I feel compelled to participate this year.

After waking up at 3:30 am to fly to the great state of FL to spend FIVE days with my beloved in-laws, my father in law asked us to gather and then stated, “you’re going to think I am crazy to ask this but can you limit each toilet flush to 6 squares of toilet paper? You can flush as many times as you need, just keep the number of squares to 6.”

Sure.. yes, we can do that, and we all quietly dispersed and have acted as though the conversation never occurred.

[Anonymous]

I’m hosting my local ILs for dinner, along with our family friends and their DC.

One year we hosted, my MIL began the dinner conversation (seated in our dining room) with her ideas for future home improvement projects and she helpfully suggested we expand our dining room, as it was so cramped.

That was years ago and we haven’t expanded our dining room
to accommodate our annual Thanksgiving dinner for 15-25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel compelled to participate this year.

After waking up at 3:30 am to fly to the great state of FL to spend FIVE days with my beloved in-laws, my father in law asked us to gather and then stated, “you’re going to think I am crazy to ask this but can you limit each toilet flush to 6 squares of toilet paper? You can flush as many times as you need, just keep the number of squares to 6.”

Sure.. yes, we can do that, and we all quietly dispersed and have acted as though the conversation never occurred.

This is completely reasonable. 6 squares is plenty. He must have reason to believe the system will be overloaded with too much toilet paper from too many guests and cause a crisis on Thanksgiving. No one wants that so you should be glad he let you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am hosting tomorrow. My three nephews, ages 20-24, will be there. I love them to pieces, but two of them will spend the time moping around and/or locked in one or both of our bathrooms with a laptop or phone for a crazyass amount of time, causing others who actually need to use the toilet to wait. The 20 YO will try to sneak alcohol if it is served.

Still, I am super happy to have them. They are funny and creative and my kids adore them.

I'm usually anti alcohol for underage kids, but even I'd give the 20 year old a beer or two. He's not driving, and we all need a little something to help us tolerate so much togetherness.

I somehow managed to manage my family without alcohol before the age of 21. If you can’t “handle” seeing people for a few hours, fake COVID and don’t attend.

They probably drank to tolerate you

Hope that 12-step program works out! You have to drink to be around family? Yikes.