The Maternal Unit strikes again
Nov. 18th, 2009 11:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nightshade1972When my inlaws lived in Amarillo (in the TX panhandle, we're in Houston, near the Gulf Coast), the Maternal Unit couldn't be bothered to call or write them except on holidays. Now that they live locally, she still can't be bothered. Which works well, because I get along better with my inlaws than I do with the Parental Units.
So about a week, week and a half ago I'm on the phone with the Maternal Unit. As per the usual, the conversation degenerated into her throwing a hissyfit over nothing. She says to me "You're their (my inlaws) daughter; he's (hubby) not our son!"
Now, here's the rub. Hubby learned rather quickly what kind of person the Maternal Unit is. Coupla years ago, my family was doing the holiday meal thing, and I decided I was ready to leave. Hubby agreed. Gram did not. So next thing you know, the Maternal Unit literally grabs hubby by the elbow and drags him into another room, for the express purpose of telling him that I'm brain damaged, he shouldn't take anything I say literally.
The Maternal Unit and I have had several conversations since she made the "You're their daughter" comment. When I've asked her about it, she whips out her usual game plan and tells me "she never said that", "You're making it up", etc. When I asked her about it today, first she said "I never said that!". Then she said "You're misremembering what I said!". Then she said "Well, the only reason I said that was because that was the feeling I got from you, that you think of yourself as their daughter!"
So...if "she never said it", then how can I "misremember it"? And why would she claim "she never said it" if she goes on to say "the only reason I did say it..." etc?
Hubby will be traveling most of next week. If I can swing it, I'm gonna try to go with him. The Maternal Unit will be in for a helluva shock when we decide not to show up for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's actually pretty amusing to watch her get hoist on her own petard. She keeps making "threats" about not buying me presents, not inviting me to holiday dinners, etc...and she just doesn't get that I'm totally disinterested in pretending the Dysfunctional Family From Hell is, in "fact", One Big Happy.
So about a week, week and a half ago I'm on the phone with the Maternal Unit. As per the usual, the conversation degenerated into her throwing a hissyfit over nothing. She says to me "You're their (my inlaws) daughter; he's (hubby) not our son!"
Now, here's the rub. Hubby learned rather quickly what kind of person the Maternal Unit is. Coupla years ago, my family was doing the holiday meal thing, and I decided I was ready to leave. Hubby agreed. Gram did not. So next thing you know, the Maternal Unit literally grabs hubby by the elbow and drags him into another room, for the express purpose of telling him that I'm brain damaged, he shouldn't take anything I say literally.
The Maternal Unit and I have had several conversations since she made the "You're their daughter" comment. When I've asked her about it, she whips out her usual game plan and tells me "she never said that", "You're making it up", etc. When I asked her about it today, first she said "I never said that!". Then she said "You're misremembering what I said!". Then she said "Well, the only reason I said that was because that was the feeling I got from you, that you think of yourself as their daughter!"
So...if "she never said it", then how can I "misremember it"? And why would she claim "she never said it" if she goes on to say "the only reason I did say it..." etc?
Hubby will be traveling most of next week. If I can swing it, I'm gonna try to go with him. The Maternal Unit will be in for a helluva shock when we decide not to show up for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's actually pretty amusing to watch her get hoist on her own petard. She keeps making "threats" about not buying me presents, not inviting me to holiday dinners, etc...and she just doesn't get that I'm totally disinterested in pretending the Dysfunctional Family From Hell is, in "fact", One Big Happy.
