Still Alive, Just Now With No Desire to Ever Drive Again
We made it.
It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Two days of 9 hour drives, plenty of stops (at malls, with real stores and much shopping for expensive clothes at Gymboree), and an amazingly good toddler.
Sure, there were lollipops and a couple of dvds on my trusty laptop, but we also had naps, reading, and quiet drawing time. And you can't beat listening to the Curious George Soundtrack a few thousand times.
All in all, it was a success. No tantrums. NONE. And already (in the 3 hours we've been here) she climbed the stairs a good 14 times. Hopefully that means LONG SLEEP-FILLED nights. Or at least ONE.
So now how to deal with my mother-in-law who greeted me with "Wow, you're really spreading all over." Followed by "But that's a good thing, right? I mean, you know what I mean?"
Have any witty comebacks? I'll tell you mine later.
Man, my mother-in-law kept going on about how skinny I was when I was pregnant. She won enough points for that to make up for several less-polite things she has said.
Imaginary me would say,
"Hey, have you been getting enough sleep lately, Mom? 'Cause those wrinkles next to your eyes have gotten so much deeper since I saw you last. I mean, don't get me wrong-- I think all those wrinkles on your face make you look very wise. It's nice to see a woman who has no qualms about showing her age."
Real me probably would have been struck utterly speechless . . .
Posted by: jaelithe | September 18, 2006 at 08:53 PM
This past weekend I saw my mom for the first time since July. I am now 15 weeks pregnant. My belly is showing, and I was wearing a snug maternity t-shirt. Her comment? "Are you showing yet?" Gawd, do you remember me looking like I had a budha belly in July??
Posted by: Audrey | September 18, 2006 at 06:58 PM
Wow. I can't believe she said that! Well, from what you've written about her, maybe I can...
Posted by: Kristen | September 18, 2006 at 04:29 PM
I tend to try the shock and awe technique with my MIL, so my response would have been "You mean like fertilizer?"
Good luck - if I have any say in the matter (i.e., no one becomes homeless) I will never live with those people again.
Posted by: FishyGirl | September 18, 2006 at 04:05 PM
At our last trip to see her, my MiL told me I was "starting to look a little poofy in the middle now!" and that my best.maternity.shirt.ever (the kind of shirt you gush about to strangers and feel like a Queen/sex kitten when wearing and loveloveLOVE) reminded her of... potpourri.
You are not alone in the MiL tactlessness category!
Posted by: Kelly | September 18, 2006 at 02:59 PM
Oh Honey - deep breath, deeeeeep breath. At least it is only temporary. Good luck to you.
Posted by: Darlene | September 18, 2006 at 12:14 PM
Maybe something like: I'm not usually spread this far. 18 hours in a car will flatten anyone's butt.
Posted by: Andrea | September 18, 2006 at 11:33 AM
Grit your teeth and remember that you are getting a place to stay where your child is loved until you can get your own place.
Posted by: jandzsmom | September 18, 2006 at 08:02 AM