Michael’s challenge this week is:
Complete this sentence and select the word to create a context for your story.
It was an Annual Event but was it to celebrate or commiserate over.
It was an Annual Event but was it to celebrate or commiserate over?
In truth, it was a combination of both depending on your point of view and who you actually were.
Birthday celebrations were important when you were kids, but when you became a parent, yours took a back seat and you concentrated on your own children. Then suddenly a switch was thrown and you found yourself catering to a parent and celebrating their day.
Mother in Law was difficult. No matter how hard you tried, she would find fault with something, somewhere, somehow and in so doing spoil it for everyone.
It was her 80th, and I was asked to bake a special cake. I made a normal sponge cake but covered it with sugar paste, then made up some yellow and white roses with marzipan and icing, then trimmed it with a big bow. For a first attempt at flowers, I was quite pleased.
Not so her.
‘I prefer red roses,’ she sulked. ‘And it’s a shame they’re not open showing off their petals.’
I gritted my teeth, Hubby held his hands behind his back to stop slapping her, and FIL hung his head in shame at having asked me to make it in the first place.
‘OK. Sorry about that,’ I said taking the cake from her and putting it back in the box.
‘What are you doing?’ she demanded.
‘Well, you’re not happy with it and obviously don’t want it, so I’m taking it home.’
‘But it’s my birthday!’ she pouted.
‘Yes, and Happy Birthday by the way.’
With that, we left, leaving her in shock and FIL smiling.
I had nothing to lose you see. She never liked me because I wouldn’t pander to her whims and silliness.
Two days later they came to our house for Sunday dinner. She didn’t say a critical word and when I asked if anyone would like a piece of cake with their afternoon cup of tea, I got a sheepish ‘Please.’ I brought it intact to the table and invited her to cut it……………
And yes, I did put it in the box and gave it back to her to take home.
Very well handled Di
The best one was definitely the cheese sandwich
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/meet-the-in-laws/
I’m all admiration for you Di.
I have some fond memories that make me smile, but she hurt me on a number of occasions though I never let on or let her see me cry. I saw her in her true colours when we had to stay with her for a while, and I didn’t like what I saw.
Some people, specially women cannot accept another woman in their son’s life. Maybe that was the trouble. Or maybe she was so stuck in her ways that she couldn’t change.
She had no time for Hubby and sadly suffered from delusions of grandeur.
That’s too bad.
Her loss.
Here’s mine:
https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/13680591/posts/2972180677
oops…….. this is the link to my post.
https://wordpress.com/post/myeverydayjoe.com/1474
Sorry about that….
no problem at all.
um, that link takes me to the classic block on my site………….
I think my coffee finally kicked in. I got it right finally…sorry for the confusion
That takes you to your site, and this is your post
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/115101745/posts/1474
Think you need stronger coffee!!! Still a good read though!
I give up–don’t think I can make it work today
Definitely stronger coffee!!
Hah! I love it 🎂
thanks Paula
That was brilliant!!!
I have my moments. The cheese sandwich was good too (meet the in-laws).
Great story Di. In-laws can be a real lottery, your tale made me realise how lucky I was.
MIL was difficult, but we ‘got on’ most of the time. My FIL was terrific.
Wow! She sounds really difficult! I guess I’m really lucky in that respect – my MIL loves me and I love her!
My first MIL was OK and sadly died in 1978, some 18 months after their son and I married.
Fast forward to 1989 and Hubby’s dad was terrific, but his Mum was in a ‘class of her own’.
Bravo. Both my in-laws are out-laws in my book.
Mine are both deceased now.
Lol! You won! Woot woot! You got the last word! 😀
MIL was not easy to get on with, but I did my best
Fitting reply! Great story! ☺️
Thanks!
This was highly amusing!
She was an acquired taste!