While I did have several helpings of stuffing over the Thanksgiving holiday, it's not that kind of stuffing I have on my mind at present. I am, quite frankly, stuffed with all the family irritations that inevitably seem to show up uninvited at holiday gatherings. Though there was a little frustration with certain members of my own family, it was definitely the hub's family that got to me this year.
We always have dinner on black Friday rather than asking everyone to fit in two Thanksgiving meals on the same day. Maybe my holiday cheer was wearing thin or maybe all the turkey, heavy sides, and desserts had clouded my thinking, but my hub's cousins and their kids really got on my nerves. It was their behavior and attitude that stuffed me to full.
As a parent, I love my kids and think the world of them. They are the best looking, smartest, most talented kids ever created, unless I ask other parents about their kids. As a parent, I try to keep from pushing my kids and their "greatness" on other people. My hub's cousins, however, don't seem to understand that while they think their kids are great, not everyone else feels the same. And they definitely don't not push their kids onto other people.
After dinner and dessert, we received a Sype call from my sister-in-law who lives in South Korea. These three kids (10 and under) attempted to monopolize the computer, mostly to see themselves on the screen, through a variety of goofy antics and yelling techniques that forced me from the room. Who can have a conversation with 3 kids bouncing and yelling? Eventually the parents sent their children away so that some of the adults could talk, which was, after all, the actual point of the call. When I finally got my turn to say hello, their youngest (okay, so she's only like 5, but still) climbed right up in front of me and started being "cute" to entertain. I can understand a child not realizing how rude this was or how annoying, but both parents and a grandparent were in the room and none of them corrected her for interrupting an adult or for being rude and cutting me off mid-sentence. Instead, they reacted quite the opposite. They encouraged her by asking her to tell Aunt C what you learned in school, tell Aunt C what you want for Christmas, tell Aunt C...whatever. It was stupid, rude, and annoying, and I got up and walked out of the room while it was going on. Perhaps my reaction was a bit immature, but after spending a half hour watching videos of their firstborn at 2 hours old, 1 day old, 2 days old during that child's birthday party, I knew they weren't going to interrupt anything that showed everyone, someone, how freaking adorable their youngest child is. It's great that they think their kids are the best, most talented and adorable kids in the world, but WHY DON'T THEY GET IT THAT THE REST OF US DO NOT?!?
I can admit that haboring irritation about this is not the most adult behavior on my part and that I would be better off to let it go. In this case, the only one bothered by this incident seems to be me. So, now that I've gotten it off my plate, maybe I won't be so stuffed from Thanksgiving.
Of course, Christmas is just around the corner.
