I've got a little over a week until my inlaws arrive. Poor things. They are high educated (one has PhD), very organized, and spotless. Nary a wrinkle in the clothes or leaf on the lawn. I am an intelligent human being, but that is about as similar as we can get. They must think it's like visiting you know where to come see me. Hubby doesn't get along real well with his dad, so after a couple of days (if that), he goes off to save the world and I'm the Entertainment Committee. And we have nothing in common. We all try, we honestly do. After almost thirty years, I'm sure they still wonder what on earth their son was thinking when he married me. I'm not a slob--things are washed, put away, dusted, and vacuumed. The baths are cleaned and the beds made. But I tend to go off on tangents and have projects, books, things that interest me taking precedent on organization. I've done much better since medication, but I still have so much to do. But I am a distracted person. I'm trying to making things comfortable for them to visit, but I drive myself crazy each time trying to do everything at once. I need to create a plan like the budget to set goals and keep myself on track so I don't go nuts trying to take care of too many things at once. And they are going to be leaving two days before Thanksgiving so it is going to be harder to do my baking/shopping/preparing in advance of the crowds. Oh well, I will survive. I do have to remember that I am now a mother-in-law myself....
Red Alert: Inlaws are coming....
November 6th, 2006 at 08:37 pm
November 6th, 2006 at 08:43 pm 1162845799
November 6th, 2006 at 08:44 pm 1162845859
don't know if you can swing it, but if you're coking while they're there, why not over-cook some for TG? bake an extra pie here, double the green beans there, and maybe that'll cut your work-load for when they leave.
as for entertainment, well, um, i'm a schmo who sits in front of a computer all the time and don't know how much help i can be *g* maybe some time in the park, or visiting a local childrens' hospital? i dunno, free entertaining is hard in the chilly fall/winter.
November 6th, 2006 at 08:55 pm 1162846547
Tina: We'll go visit the kiddoes some, that will help. They are leaving before Thanksgiving cos at the time they scheduled their flights, we weren't sure where Thanksgiving was going to be or what we were going to be doing so we told them the week before would be better for us. I know it sounds weird......
November 7th, 2006 at 12:57 am 1162861069
November 7th, 2006 at 02:59 am 1162868370
November 7th, 2006 at 01:55 pm 1162907740
Please dont' feel intimidated by someone who has some letters after their name! I think the fact you try to spend time together is a big sign of acceptance. Why not try to explain some of your side projects to your inlaws? Or get everyone involved in cooking? I think when people stay for long time, you don't have to worry about entertaining them 24/7. On some days, just say you have things you need to get done, and I think they'll understand and look for their own entertainment.
Good luck, and remember to smile for the holidays!