InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Let's do it. Say it. Yes."

BRYAN KRISTOPHERSON CHALKER (bchalker) wrote,
@ 2011-06-29 02:10:00

Current mood:	pissed off
Current music:	Fuck You Very Much \| Eric Idle

027
My mom practically bought an entire nursery set for Erica's and my baby.

Normally, a gift like this would be a sweet surprise, a kindly gesture, something expected of a grandmother. But most grandmothers do not give such a present along with the disclaimer that she is giving it to us because she knows we "need help".

What the fuck? Does something about me scream 'poor person in need of charity'? I suppose she thinks I work my ass off at the paper each day for nothing. She must assume that teachers are still paid what they used to be paid and that neither of us can afford this nice house we're living in. We're obviously pinching pennies. Jesus Christ.

I never thought looking at a crib would make me so angry.

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	annabella_ca 2011-06-29 07:55 am UTC (link)
	This kind of makes me glad I'm not pregnant. ~~Kind of.~~ (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-29 03:21 pm UTC (link)
	I trust Danny has regaled you with stories of our insane mother. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	annabella_ca 2011-06-29 07:21 pm UTC (link)
	Some, yes. But I also read the stories of your mother. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-29 10:17 pm UTC (link)
	I hope she leaves you alone. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	annabella_ca 2011-06-30 06:27 am UTC (link)
	I'm not sure I feel the same way. Never had a mother before. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-30 09:57 pm UTC (link)
	Oh... Shit. I'm sorry. Well, I really just mean that I hope she's nice to you. I hope she doesn't hurt your feelings or make you feel worthless. This family could use nice ladies like you, so I don't want her to scare you away. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	annabella_ca 2011-07-01 05:44 am UTC (link)
	No need to be sorry. So far she hasn't been anything but nice to me. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-07-01 05:50 am UTC (link)
	That is a relief. She better keep that up. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	bethlas 2011-06-29 04:20 pm UTC (link)
	You could always return it all and then send her an envelope with the money and a comment about her needing it more than you do? Ooh, or that it didn't fit with the house but thanks anyway? ~~Is that too mean?~~ (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-29 04:39 pm UTC (link)
	Whoa. You may be on to something... Though I don't want to completely break her heart or anything. ~~She doesn't exactly consider that she might be doing that to US, however~~ (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bethlas 2011-06-29 04:41 pm UTC (link)
	So...just do it for one thing? Like the crib? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-29 04:43 pm UTC (link)
	That's a good idea. That way, I won't have to think of my poverty every time I put him down to sleep. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bethlas 2011-06-29 10:39 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, I was contemplating leaving anonymous donations in your mailbox for the kidlet's sake. Shit...if I tell you, it's no longer anonymous. Whoops. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-29 11:54 pm UTC (link)
	Alms! Alms for the poor child! I'm thinking of writing her a thank-you note when I return the stuff: "We will, however, be keeping the changing table, because nothing says 'Ma' like shit." Okay, not really, but I'm tempted. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bethlas 2011-06-30 12:54 am UTC (link)
	Hahahahaha, that made me snort so obnoxiously loud. If doing any of this causes trouble I will deny any idea planting to the end! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-30 05:01 am UTC (link)
	Aww, Beth, I'd never throw you under the bus! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bethlas 2011-06-30 04:25 pm UTC (link)
	Phew, I was worried there for a second!! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	garrettmcg 2011-06-29 06:28 pm UTC (link)
	You have an interesting family, I'll tell you that. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-29 10:18 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah. Want to trade? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	garrettmcg 2011-06-30 06:56 pm UTC (link)
	You might be biting off more than you can chew there. Keep in mind my immediately family is twice the size of yours, which makes for twice the crazy. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-30 10:07 pm UTC (link)
	True, but I'd say your family is also twice as endearing. Little Layla makes me shake my head sometimes, but in amusement, not in shame or embarrassment. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	garrettmcg 2011-07-06 05:14 am UTC (link)
	I suppose that's true. Only add "in frustration" to my list. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	laurahall 2011-06-29 10:47 pm UTC (link)
	Just wait till little behbeh is in that crib! Then you'll be all sorts of happy ^_^ (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-29 11:56 pm UTC (link)
	Maybe if you helped us paint it all whimsically, so I can forget from whence it came. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	laurahall 2011-06-30 12:11 am UTC (link)
	Whimsical painting is my expertise! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-30 10:08 pm UTC (link)
	I think whimsical anything is your expertise. Please don't ever change, kid. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	laurahall 2011-06-30 10:16 pm UTC (link)
	I do what I can ^_^ (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ericawheeler 2011-06-30 03:50 am UTC (link)
	I never realized we were so poverty-stricken. It'd be one thing if she just wanted to give us a gift, but it feels more like charity than like she's wishing us well. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-06-30 04:59 am UTC (link)
	I resent her entire use of the word "help". That implies we couldn't get this stuff on our own, doesn't it? I thought I made her proud, but I guess not. I guess she pities me. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ericawheeler 2011-07-02 06:14 pm UTC (link)
	I don't think she pities you. I think she's misguided. Now, I know we have all sorts of things we'll need to buy before the baby comes, and that adds up to a lot of expenses, but we're hardly destitute. You and I both know it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-07-02 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	We don't have to feel obligated to keep everything she helped us buy, either. I think repainting the crib could be a fun project, though. I wish Ma would guide her helpfulness toward buying things for the actual less fortunate. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	hannahluv 2011-07-01 03:55 am UTC (link)
	Okay look, maybe, and I'm just saying maybe, you're taking it the wrong way? I dont' know, she's your mom. But if it pisses you off? My advice is return it to her saying that you already had one ordered then buy a better one! I'm petty like that though. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-07-01 05:45 am UTC (link)
	I'd like to be taking it the wrong way. But Ma's name might as well be Judgey McJudgealot. And that seems to be the popular vote. I'm trying to think of how I can salvage this stuff - which is nice - without feeling resentment. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	hannahluv 2011-07-03 02:20 pm UTC (link)
	Hey, isn't there another kid on the way? Man you guys procreate like bunnies! If they didnt' get a judgey crib as well then I don't see a way to salvage. That's just me, but I'd be able to handle it if it werent' just me, if it's just me a big F U is coming and that thing is oh so much saw dust! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	catalinahowe 2011-07-01 08:09 pm UTC (link)
	Your parents and my parents are stone fuck nuts. Which is why we told them to stay away from us for a really long time. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-07-01 08:19 pm UTC (link)
	I hope they leave you and Patrick the fuck alone... I just don't understand why they have to continue to be so hurtful. And by "they", I especially mean Ma. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	catalinahowe 2011-07-01 08:38 pm UTC (link)
	I really don't get their problem with everyone. I mean all of that 'for your own good' shit wears a little thin. I don't get it either, they just want little clones who do everything they do or it's wrong. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-07-01 10:29 pm UTC (link)
	Apparently nobody told them that children grow up and have their own lives. All parents can do is do their best to teach their and support them and try their best to help them flourish. Getting in the way, interfering and judging our every move is not helping us flourish. It's helping us feel more inclined to seek out restraining orders... (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	catalinahowe 2011-07-02 01:41 am UTC (link)
	Apparently not. They kept going on and on about how we were wasting our lives and that we're bad influences on each other. God, if I thought that would stop them, I'd get one. It's ridiculous. And they do it to everyone. Can't they just let people live? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bchalker 2011-07-02 02:49 am UTC (link)
	I think all of us "kids" should maybe form some kind of solidarity front against them. I mean, Alex is barely fucking speaking to me now, and it's all Ma's fault. If our lives are a mess, it's because our parents are deranged. They pit us against each other, in the hopes of controlling us indirectly. It's disgusting. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

catalinahowe
2011-07-02 05:14 am UTC (link)

Christ it's like we need an intervention. Like they're taking heroin and we have to get them to stop. But fuck if I know what other way to get through to them. Well except to tell them that they aren't wanted anymore. That pisses me off the most. Pitting us against each other. My parents do that with me and my sister, because she's so damned perfect. It's fucking annoying.

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