My sister got my niece a puppy for Xmas. She wants everyone to be excited for her but I am not.
The reasons for this are: 1. her daughter is only 9 and does not handle any responsibilities including brushing her own teeth. 2. my sister always bitches about how busy she is with 5 kids (although they are all in school all day and she stays at home). 3. she already has 2 badly behaved dogs who pee all over her carpet, bark all the time, are not taken to the vet, and she thinks one is at risk to bite. 4. she is trying to sell her house to move. 5. she got it from a breeder and I am a firm believer in rescues. 6. her boys are soo rambunctious that one of them broke their arm from wresting on the furniture and falling off- she got a teacup shih tzu puppy (and her other dogs are big). 7. she gave her last dog back to the rescue she got it from b/c it was peeing all the time- turns out it had a bladder infection. 8. she complains about how expensive it is to kennel the dogs when they go out of town. There are probably even more reasons, those are just the ones I can think of now.
Am I being too judgemental? Should I just suck it up and act happy? Esp. since it doesn't directly affect me?
I don't think you're being too judgmental at all. People are way too laisez faire about animals and the responsibility that comes with them. I used to foster in an animal rescue, and when people give pets as holiday gifts it really makes my blood boil; there's just way too much going on.
It's almost midnight, Christmas Eve, and I have wrapped ZERO presents so far. Ughhhhhh.
Wish I could help. I love wrapping presents. We are all done here. I have one waiting at the in laws, because I ordered something too late to have it shipped here.
We wrapped nothing. Everything is stuffed in the Amazon boxes/target bags. We did put the tree up, but only have 4 ornaments that we bought this year. We were sofaking lazy we even bought cheap stockings. We've all been sick off and on since thanksgiving, and kinda figure Grr won't remember it anyways.
I drill into my husband's head every year that he has to get me a bday gift. This year, he bought me a crazy expensive necklace (and I do admit to having mixed feelings about it, given the price, though it's really nice). I went shopping and bought him a beautiful watch (also more than I wanted to spend, but I figured it was worth it). His bday is in 3 days, but I let myself get talked into giving it to him early. I gave in because I thought there was a small chance that he'd find it too bulky, and I wanted to be able to return it if he did. Turns out, he did think it was too bulky, so we agreed to go to the store together to look at the other options, since he didn't like this one. In the end, he walked around and said he didn't like a single watch in the whole place. Then he told me he didn't really think he needed a bday present this year.
Crap, what do I do? I want to re-infoce the importance of a bday gift, because it means a lot to me that he tries on my bday. But now I don't know what to get him...?
I'm enough of a bitch I just say what I'm feeling. "You want nothing. You get nothing. That doesn't fly for my birthday. Don't fuck up."
You could maybe soften it a bit and instead of the don't fuck up part with something along the lines of "I appreciated the thought and care you put into the necklace you got me this year. I can't wait to see what next year brings. "
@charmingthemoon Have you ever heard of "love languages." I can't remember who wrote about them, but basically the guy says we all have different ways to express love depending on what makes us feel loved. There are 5 languages think...words of affirmation, material things, acts of kindness or service, physical touch, and I can't remember the fifth. Anyway, as much as you may feel loved when you get a nice gift, your husband might feel more loved some other way. I know that doesn't solve the gift dilemma, but it might be something to consider. Try figuring out what says, "I love you," to him. It's more important than the price tag.
@charmingthemoon Have you ever heard of "love languages." I can't remember who wrote about them, but basically the guy says we all have different ways to express love depending on what makes us feel loved. There are 5 languages think...words of affirmation, material things, acts of kindness or service, physical touch, and I can't remember the fifth. Anyway, as much as you may feel loved when you get a nice gift, your husband might feel more loved some other way. I know that doesn't solve the gift dilemma, but it might be something to consider. Try figuring out what says, "I love you," to him. It's more important than the price tag.
Agreed. And maybe tell him that you don't need a huge dollar amount spent on gifts, just something thoughtful (since the amout seems to bother you slightly). For instance my husband showed up on my birthday with my daughter and some flowers. We all went to lunch, it was great and unexpected. Plus it didn't cost that much. The best part is it will always be a happy memory for me.
And last year we all had dinner together and my daughter picked out a cake for us and helped bring it out.
I guess I'm more of a sharing moments kin of person.
Is staying home when you think you have the flu a UO? My very obnoxious BIL thinks he does and he's here for dinner. He always kisses F way too much. (Which I HATE anyway) Ugh. That's not happening today.
So, because you guys know the best things, I got the Fisher Price Crawl Around Car for both kids, thinking it would be mostly for N. D has played in it all day. I still have it set to stage 1 and he sits in it and plays the songs over and over as he tries to get all the words to sing along. N is so close to sitting so he sat and munched on the steering wheel some, but he kept tipping over and falling out the door. It's adorable.
Also, I still play with the Ikea train tracks more than D.
1- UO, especially here, I think- I hate it when people bring their dogs to places you wouldn't expect a dog. I have a severe allergy, so if I'm visiting a pet owner or going to a farm or something, I can take medication, plan ahead to leave early, or just not go if I'm not feeling 100% already or can't afford to be sick. My allergic reactions often progress into more long-term, serious illnesses. If someone brings their dog to a non-pet owner's house, into my classroom (it happens,) or to another usually dander-free environment, not only do I get very sick, I also have to hear lectures about allergies being all in my head, or that I could get a "hypo-allergenic dog" (no such thing for me) or about their cousin who is allergic to cats but "got used to" her own. And questions about why I don't like animals. It's not about liking them, it's about not dying. And allergies have a range of severity, so your allergic cousin with a cat has no bearing on my medical issues, and I can't will myself healthy.
2- My MIL's Christmas card came the other day. It's a picture of my kids. I had no idea she was doing that. She has 6 other grandkids, and the other siblings have always suspected that my H is her favorite. Did she overstep, or am I being unreasonable? I feel terrible about my 6 nieces and nephews and siblings-in-law getting that card.
I have more, but I think I've been negative enough. On a positive note, my 2 year ols did a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells that made me laugh so hard I cried.
So, because you guys know the best things, I got the Fisher Price Crawl Around Car for both kids, thinking it would be mostly for N. D has played in it all day. I still have it set to stage 1 and he sits in it and plays the songs over and over as he tries to get all the words to sing along. N is so close to sitting so he sat and munched on the steering wheel some, but he kept tipping over and falling out the door. It's adorable.
Also, I still play with the Ikea train tracks more than D.
Wait, there are stages?
Just the electronics. I think it's something like 1. explore, 2. learn, 3. pretend, but really it's just different songs and different things that play when you push things. It's the button above the on/off switch. DS already knew the alphabet song and has now learned the number song and color song it plays. He did discover the switch and flipped it to 2, but wanted the letters song again, so we flipped it back for him.
1- UO, especially here, I think- I hate it when people bring their dogs to places you wouldn't expect a dog. I have a severe allergy, so if I'm visiting a pet owner or going to a farm or something, I can take medication, plan ahead to leave early, or just not go if I'm not feeling 100% already or can't afford to be sick. My allergic reactions often progress into more long-term, serious illnesses. If someone brings their dog to a non-pet owner's house, into my classroom (it happens,) or to another usually dander-free environment, not only do I get very sick, I also have to hear lectures about allergies being all in my head, or that I could get a "hypo-allergenic dog" (no such thing for me) or about their cousin who is allergic to cats but "got used to" her own. And questions about why I don't like animals. It's not about liking them, it's about not dying. And allergies have a range of severity, so your allergic cousin with a cat has no bearing on my medical issues, and I can't will myself healthy.
2- My MIL's Christmas card came the other day. It's a picture of my kids. I had no idea she was doing that. She has 6 other grandkids, and the other siblings have always suspected that my H is her favorite. Did she overstep, or am I being unreasonable? I feel terrible about my 6 nieces and nephews and siblings-in-law getting that card.
I have more, but I think I've been negative enough. On a positive note, my 2 year ols did a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells that made me laugh so hard I cried.
#2-- OMG. Wtf.
Yeah. Weird. Is she in the picture, too? Because if it's just the kids, I think the other siblings are going to be pissed, especially if they already suspect she has favorites. Also, I totally understand why you would get upset about animals being where they don't belong. I used to work at a bakery and customers would bring dogs in like that was totally A-OK. WTF? No.
^^^LOL. The enter button on my laptop totally stopped working and I don't think it's coming back. It's really falling apart now. One of the hinges is broken, too. I thought I could cheat and use a lot of spaces. He he. Need to commandeer DH's laptop.
UO MIL recording the whole present opening on her iPhone made me ragey. I hate being videotaped. Hate. I got super annoyed and finally told her I would only hold a conversation without a camera in my face. Recording things and then sitting watching the video while ppl are there isn't the same as just enjoying the day. Yeah, snap a few pics but then move on and enjoy the moment.
I just exchanged SO getting out of another family Christmas party for 200$ to Sephora. I think I found my "thing" to make up for a lack of diaper buying.
We hosted DH's family Christmas get-together today. Wow. I thought we had a decent-sized house but I've changed my mind. On a happy note, DH stayed busy helping me all day today without complaint. He can really knock out a to-do list when the mood strikes him!
We are supposed to be traveling for a late GTG with DH's dad's side of the family. They have some illness and other stuff going on, so we post-poned. We went to my mom's for lunch, which was later than our usual lunch time. G absolutely melted down around 1:30 so we had a good excuse to cut out early. He's been napping since two. It's 5. I'm so excited to have had 3 hours sans toddler, but I'm going to wake him up now. I'm slightly scared of what bedtime will be like.
2- My MIL's Christmas card came the other day. It's a picture of my kids. I had no idea she was doing that. She has 6 other grandkids, and the other siblings have always suspected that my H is her favorite. Did she overstep, or am I being unreasonable? I feel terrible about my 6 nieces and nephews and siblings-in-law getting that card.
I have more, but I think I've been negative enough. On a positive note, my 2 year ols did a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells that made me laugh so hard I cried.
#2-- OMG. Wtf.
Yeah. Weird. Is she in the picture, too? Because if it's just the kids, I think the other siblings are going to be pissed, especially if they already suspect she has favorites. Also, I totally understand why you would get upset about animals being where they don't belong. I used to work at a bakery and customers would bring dogs in like that was totally A-OK. WTF? No.
She's not in the picture- just a pic of each kid she took when she came out to visit. When #1 was born her card was essentially a birth announcement- date, weight, everything. I'm just glad I sent mine out first this year.
Oh, and evidently I didn't realize this was an FFC and a UO thread all wrapped into one.
Getting pregnant bc someone else does is stupid and makes me question your sanity. Unless it's like your BFF and you were planning for another baby anyway.
Re: FFC & UO Holiday Edition!
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste,
It all revolves around you.
It wasn't my best job, but they were wrapped and ready to go.
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste,
It all revolves around you.
You could maybe soften it a bit and instead of the don't fuck up part with something along the lines of "I appreciated the thought and care you put into the necklace you got me this year. I can't wait to see what next year brings. "
And last year we all had dinner together and my daughter picked out a cake for us and helped bring it out.
I guess I'm more of a sharing moments kin of person.
IUI#2 Femara/Ovidrel (cd 5-9) = BFN
IUI#3 Femara/Ovidrel (cd 3-7) = BFP!
beta #1 11/23 = 270, P4 = 75
beta #2 11/28 = 2055
Our daughter E was born 7/29/2012!
Surprise, our 2nd daughter P was born 5/22/14!
The crawl around car is so great. F got it for Christmas last year and still plays with it a lot now at 18 months.
1- UO, especially here, I think- I hate it when people bring their dogs to places you wouldn't expect a dog. I have a severe allergy, so if I'm visiting a pet owner or going to a farm or something, I can take medication, plan ahead to leave early, or just not go if I'm not feeling 100% already or can't afford to be sick. My allergic reactions often progress into more long-term, serious illnesses. If someone brings their dog to a non-pet owner's house, into my classroom (it happens,) or to another usually dander-free environment, not only do I get very sick, I also have to hear lectures about allergies being all in my head, or that I could get a "hypo-allergenic dog" (no such thing for me) or about their cousin who is allergic to cats but "got used to" her own. And questions about why I don't like animals. It's not about liking them, it's about not dying. And allergies have a range of severity, so your allergic cousin with a cat has no bearing on my medical issues, and I can't will myself healthy.
2- My MIL's Christmas card came the other day. It's a picture of my kids. I had no idea she was doing that. She has 6 other grandkids, and the other siblings have always suspected that my H is her favorite. Did she overstep, or am I being unreasonable? I feel terrible about my 6 nieces and nephews and siblings-in-law getting that card.
I have more, but I think I've been negative enough. On a positive note, my 2 year ols did a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells that made me laugh so hard I cried.
IUI#2 Femara/Ovidrel (cd 5-9) = BFN
IUI#3 Femara/Ovidrel (cd 3-7) = BFP!
beta #1 11/23 = 270, P4 = 75
beta #2 11/28 = 2055
Our daughter E was born 7/29/2012!
Surprise, our 2nd daughter P was born 5/22/14!
IUI#2 Femara/Ovidrel (cd 5-9) = BFN
IUI#3 Femara/Ovidrel (cd 3-7) = BFP!
beta #1 11/23 = 270, P4 = 75
beta #2 11/28 = 2055
Our daughter E was born 7/29/2012!
Surprise, our 2nd daughter P was born 5/22/14!