Let me give you a recap of my weekend (and yes, I know it's Tuesday, but I needed a day to...well, you'll see).
As you'll recall, my father and step-mother were in town (scroll down a post to see the deets). I will highlight the major take-home messages from this weekend:
1. On Friday night, my brother, SIL and niece, aforementioned parents, and us all went out for a casual, kid-friendly dinner. The Critter's first dinner out. She did great, ate her bottle, looked around a bit, then dozed off. The take-home moment occurred when Mr. P was burping the Critter Girl. My dad looks over, and says, "Her stomach is on the left, and lower. You need to," and I look up and say, "Dad. Stop." I'm not sure if Mr. P heard this critique of his burping prowess, or just ignored another of my father's digs at him. Fantastic.
2. We decided to take my niece for an ice cream cone. So parents, niece and us take the strollers out for a nice afternoon walk. As we are walking, Mr. P, me and the Critter are in front of the 'rents and niece. My dad says, "Pie, you really do need to get back to the gym soon." So basically my dad called me fat. Lovely.
3. We're at dinner at my brother's house. Sitting around the dining table, with Mr. P and I trying to avert major Critter meltdown, as it is close to bedtime and she is overstimulated. My step-mom turns to my SIL and says, "The Critter has a flat side of her head. She might need a helmet, kids with that can get major facial deformities. They need to add a mirror to her crib on the other side, blah, blah, blah" to which my SIL looks horrified, mumbles "Gee, I hadn't noticed." Great.
So to summarize, the take-home messages from my parents are: Mr. P is an incompetent care-giver, I'm fat, and the Critter will have major facial deformities due to our shoddy and neglectful parenting.
And you wonder why I live half-way across the country from them. Why I was dreading this weekend. Now you know.
I spent yesterday in recovery mode. I basically cuddled the Critter all day, let her nap on me, wouldn't put her down much, and tried to heal my heart with good Critter love. Which was real nice. And Mr. P brought me home a smiley face cookie. So I'm doing better today.
But I'm still upset. Sigh.
Repeat: Cold Peace
1 day ago
Ah geez! I think I'd eliminate additional parental visits for the foreseeable future!
ReplyDeleteUgh. That sounds awful. I agree with pp--I think I'd put off seeing them again for a very long time. Glad you're doing better today.
ReplyDeleteUgh! I think I'd be trying to put even MORE of the country between myself & parents like that. Sorry you had to deal with that sort of nonsense!
ReplyDeleteGoodness, girl. What a mess. I have parents that have a way of making me feel pretty inadequate at times too. It sucks. I don't think they mean harm but they also don't know when to just smile and nod.
ReplyDeleteUgh, isn't family great? Not. Enjoy focusing on the critter girl and YOUR family now!
ReplyDeleteYuck. I'm sorry ... what a craptastic way to spend a weekend. I have one of those, too ... :(
ReplyDeleteAh, family. My mom and MIL are exactly the same. I wonder if they hav any idea how much the digs hurt. I like to think not, but that hardly helps to stop the sting.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that. Maybe if they don't get invited again for a while, they'll get the picture. But maybe not. I'm glad you got some good Critter love to get back on track.
ReplyDeleteYuck yuck yuck... I'm afraid my dad will be the same way. It's great that you had the Critter to snuggle with after all of that. Hang in there!
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