OMG – I don’t get the Jewish hatred at all — but looking like your grandfather in drag almost makes up for all the rest – lol. Your dad sounds great! The prejudice issue came up again on this trip and I’ll be writing about it.

I have to say you have outdone yourself (although I haven’t read part III yet) with this post, as I can ‘feel’ and remember so well the dreaded dis-anticipation of meeting up with the mother in whatever social occasion we were on our way to…..the feeling of anxiety, the dread, the “I would rather be anywhere else but where I am going” thoughts.

And kudos to you on breaking the rules! For not being willing to keep playing her game. LOL…that’s where I got in trouble 8 years ago….I had finally dealt with enough of my emotions from my screwed up childhood, and was choosing healthy instead, and not playing that game anymore. So I was written off as an ungrateful daughter……and that and more were repeated to many family and friends. I just decided to be true to who I was, not react, and be loving when I met up with those family and friends. It didn’t take long for them to figure out the truth.

And I am with Nathalie…..I refused to allow my kids to spend time with my mother unless I was there. It didn’t happen often, and they were the wisest of them all. Once when my mom wanted them for a week before Christmas (she was watching my sisters kids that week), we said no, and when we told my 12 year old, he said “that’s okay, she just wanted us so we could help her babysit.” LOL. Out of the mouth of babes.

And Pam, let me apologize now….I think this is one of my rambling ones that might not be easily understood…..lol…but I am not in the mood to edit….so follow…kay? Just figure it out!

I didn’t think this was very rambling at all – maybe I’ve learned to speak the language?!

I left my son with my mother once for 15 minutes and that was all it took to never, ever do it again. He was 3 mos. old, I ran back in the house and Mom had laid him on the floor & the dogs appeared very interested. Never, never, never. And my daughter doesn’t even want to spend time with her when she’s IN my company, let alone without. Recent actions make it even less likely. Thanks for hanging in there and listening to my bullshit.

I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. XO

Look at the upside: If your mother were spoiling your daughter rotten, your daughter would want to spend a whole lot of time with your mom. She would absolutely insist on it.
Do you really want your sweet daughter to be longing for the presence of Grand Mama Dearest? I didn’t think so.

I’m pleased to read your point of view, as you are so right. God, what a fucking nightmare that would be if my mother were smart enough to get true payback against me by making my daughter love her. I’ve definitely got to get this glass turned in the proper direction!

Mom originally booked two rooms, she would have paid for both. Then she decided it was going to be too costly.

This is why I am offended when my mother jumps to buy her own ticket at the theatre & doesn’t offer a snack item to her granddaughter, the one she sees once a year. My niece Samantha: $5,000 to get out of jail; my daughter Rachel: zero for chocolate-covered raisins.

Ahh, but we both know they’re not:) I love your posts about them!