So, I was having a little bit of a "poor poor pitiful me" kind of few weeks! Started with my birthday and the fact that I always feel, well, almost resentment from my family that they should actually have to plan something for my birthday…makes me feel fairly insignificant.
With the Christmas season starting at the same time as my birthday, things just get more interesting. Shopping, travel planning end of semester grades and issues. This year, we decided to create more chaos by adding an 80th birthday party for my Mom in Houston. We got the three kids home - DC, NYC and Winona. And, with a little stress (mostly due to lack of commitment from folks) we managed to get everyone to Houston and home. I drove to Houston with the boys…with the intention of taking my Dad to the ranch. He can't drive himself anymore, I love the country and thought it would be fun. Dad blew me off - talk about insignificant. I would have totally gotten on an airplane rather than spend 28 hours in a car!!!!! I drove so I could take Dad to the country - Mom offers me her car and last time I took Dad to the ranch we took her car. Only problem is that I believe my Dad has some incontinence problems and I can't imagine how incredibly pissed off my Mom would be to discover that my Dad may have had problems in her car!
Loved seeing my brother and his family. Loved reconnecting my kids with his kids. Loved having everyone together. But still a little stressful - we have some pretty strong personalities in our family and sometimes that's challenging to work with.
Summary: Great to have all kids home (youngest's break is too long), 80th birthday party, definitely worth it, Christmas gift giving, definitely not worth it. And, I need to get over myself.
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