Petty Holiday Vent thread 2022

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom is refusing to host Christmas because I’m not speaking with my sister (we are 32 and 29 years old).

It cut off before I was done. So my grandparents are hosting Christmas, but they are ordering pizza. I’m pregnant and very emotional over this. My husband and I have decided to have our own Christmas feast.

I don’t blame your mom. She doesn’t need your drama ruining her holiday.

Ruining HER holiday? If you have kids they definitely hate you 😂

NP. PP can’t have it both ways: either you can enjoy a family meal that someone else makes for you, or you can be a drama queen who can’t be civil to your sister for a few hours. What you can’t do is be immature and selfish and yet somehow expect someone else to prepare a holiday feast for you. Pick a lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are headed back to my hometown to visit family. They don't live in an area where there is a hotel nearby and my mom's downsized house is too small to accommodate us.

That leaves my useless brother, whose entire existence is managed by SIL. They have never visited us in 20 years, or hosted overnight house guests. Not even their kid's friends.

They don't have an extra bedroom, which is fine. They do have a finished basement with a tv, ping pong table, and gym, which is where we will be staying. I asked about sleeping arrangements and he said DH and I and our teenage son could share the sectional sofa. They don't have any plans to set up a mattress or inflatable bed (money is not an issue).

So on top of loading up the car with our luggage, food, and gifts, we will also need to cram in an inflatable bed.

Beggars can’t be choosers. You’re the one who needs free lodging. And I find it hard to believe there’s not a hotel. It might be a 20-minute drive, but still. I regularly drive from DC to rural Indiana, and there’s not a 20-minute stretch in MD, PA, WV, OH, or Indiana that doesn’t have signs for a hotel.

[Anonymous]

My mother is angry I set boundaries with her. So she sent an effusive Christmas card to my husband and kids and gifts for them. I don't want gifts from her. My boundary was you have to be kind and no more insults or tantrums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are headed back to my hometown to visit family. They don't live in an area where there is a hotel nearby and my mom's downsized house is too small to accommodate us.

That leaves my useless brother, whose entire existence is managed by SIL. They have never visited us in 20 years, or hosted overnight house guests. Not even their kid's friends.

They don't have an extra bedroom, which is fine. They do have a finished basement with a tv, ping pong table, and gym, which is where we will be staying. I asked about sleeping arrangements and he said DH and I and our teenage son could share the sectional sofa. They don't have any plans to set up a mattress or inflatable bed (money is not an issue).

So on top of loading up the car with our luggage, food, and gifts, we will also need to cram in an inflatable bed.

What stopped you from talking directly to your brother or SIL and asked them about getting an air mattress? Or borrowing one from a neighbor? Hell, you could bring your own. Or better yet, I just wouldn’t go. “Yeah, I’m too old to be sleeping on a couch sectional with my spouse and kid.” Stop being a victim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not petty, but FIL just violently threw a library book all the way across the room and yelled at MIL that she hadn’t put it away. And then launched into a diatribe about how she retains printed paper for reuse on the blank side because people (eg my family) can see their private info. He may not be quite right in the head? My teens were stunned and no one said anything. I wish my husband would have but the moment just…passed. We just arrived last night and are here for a week.

Whoa. I hope it's a big house or the weather is nice there so you can take some breaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are headed back to my hometown to visit family. They don't live in an area where there is a hotel nearby and my mom's downsized house is too small to accommodate us.

That leaves my useless brother, whose entire existence is managed by SIL. They have never visited us in 20 years, or hosted overnight house guests. Not even their kid's friends.

They don't have an extra bedroom, which is fine. They do have a finished basement with a tv, ping pong table, and gym, which is where we will be staying. I asked about sleeping arrangements and he said DH and I and our teenage son could share the sectional sofa. They don't have any plans to set up a mattress or inflatable bed (money is not an issue).

So on top of loading up the car with our luggage, food, and gifts, we will also need to cram in an inflatable bed.

This sounds awful. You have my sympathies. I can't believe they didn't get some sort of bed. If you get stuck in this situation again, Frontgate makes really nice ones. It's the size of a suitcase, but it's like sleeping on a real bed.

[Anonymous]

I'm annoyed with myself. I took on too much.

[Anonymous]

MIL is going through chemo, we are delaying seeing her because we all have a cold and will wear masks around her. My petty vent--she's trying to convince its not necessary and we should stay with them instead of in a hotel!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MIL is going through chemo, we are delaying seeing her because we all have a cold and will wear masks around her. My petty vent--she's trying to convince its not necessary and we should stay with them instead of in a hotel!

Old people are so difficult when it comes to this stuff.

[Anonymous]

I’m stressed about packing for vacation—it’s been a lot of work to plan and stuff purchased that we don’t normally have and much of it has gone missing since I bought it. Was expressing frustration I’ll need to go out to buy more tomorrow and husband announces that I’m such a complainer and he’s never ever ever ever ever going to plan another vacation. He has no concept how much work it is to actually plan a vacation. He just buys the plane tickets and expects me to do the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are headed back to my hometown to visit family. They don't live in an area where there is a hotel nearby and my mom's downsized house is too small to accommodate us.

That leaves my useless brother, whose entire existence is managed by SIL. They have never visited us in 20 years, or hosted overnight house guests. Not even their kid's friends.

They don't have an extra bedroom, which is fine. They do have a finished basement with a tv, ping pong table, and gym, which is where we will be staying. I asked about sleeping arrangements and he said DH and I and our teenage son could share the sectional sofa. They don't have any plans to set up a mattress or inflatable bed (money is not an issue).

So on top of loading up the car with our luggage, food, and gifts, we will also need to cram in an inflatable bed.

Beggars can’t be choosers. You’re the one who needs free lodging. And I find it hard to believe there’s not a hotel. It might be a 20-minute drive, but still. I regularly drive from DC to rural Indiana, and there’s not a 20-minute stretch in MD, PA, WV, OH, or Indiana that doesn’t have signs for a hotel.

Clearly you’ve never been out west before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIL is going through chemo, we are delaying seeing her because we all have a cold and will wear masks around her. My petty vent--she's trying to convince its not necessary and we should stay with them instead of in a hotel!

Old people are so difficult when it comes to this stuff.

+1

If I had a sister in law I’d ask if this was you…

[Anonymous]

Please include every last detail about all weirdness centered around food- I loved it last year and find it endlessly fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just arrived at my parent's house for the Christmas holiday, and my parents are already concerned that we have "too much" food in the refrigerator. I am here with three hungry teenagers, went to buy more food, and my mom keeps muttering about "wasting" food under her breath. Not leaving until the 26th!

Oh, no. Your mom sounds like the "kitchen is closed -- if anyone is still hungry, they can eat A Beautiful Piece of Fruit Outside On The Back Steps" mom/MIL who lives in DCUM infamy. Be planning your escape routes now to slip away for fast food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom is refusing to host Christmas because I’m not speaking with my sister (we are 32 and 29 years old).

It cut off before I was done. So my grandparents are hosting Christmas, but they are ordering pizza. I’m pregnant and very emotional over this. My husband and I have decided to have our own Christmas feast.

I don’t blame your mom. She doesn’t need your drama ruining her holiday.

+1. I wouldn’t cook a nice meal for brats who can’t pull it together and be civil for the duration of a three-hour holiday gathering.

Oh, you're just like PP's ignorant mom. Neat. Thanks for letting us know.