Last minute shopping
My parents are struggling to pay their bills so when it came time to do the Christmas "want" list this year, I made it simple on them and fed them a tiny white lie. "Look ma, it's been a tough year on the bank book for us so we wont be able to buy you & pops any presents. But I will feel like crap if YOU get us anything and we got you nothing... so what I was thinking is, instead of both of us- you and I, going out and spending money buying random items no one needs- why don't we skip exchanging gifts and just concentrate on the grandbaby. Then if I need something later this year, I will tell you then and you can get it." She agreed to this with ease. I TRIED to explain this to my sister hoping she would follow suit but of course she disagreed. "No... I want Tupperware from you so you are going to have to make a list of things you want." UGHHH.
I have been completely behind on everything for this holiday season. The tree sits half decorated, dishes are piling up and what gifts I have bought for the in laws -sit unwrapped and needing attention. And though I know I have less than a week to get all this sorted out, I didn't feel overly stressed because at least I think I have the presents I needed to cover the holiday.... That is until my mum called me in tears yesterday.
"I can't handle it!" - "what? Whats wrong? Do you need me to come over and clean your house? Is Raven causing you grief? What is it I can do to help?" - "No, it's not that.... I can't handle it. I need to get you and Jer gifts." "No.. we already went over this."- "I know and you don't have to get us anything but we NEED to buy you something." -"No... It will make me feel bad. Please don't ." "Why are you trying to spoil my Christmas? Your .. you are just... well ... you're stealing Christmas away from me and it isn't fair."
geeze... that's a little extreme! This conversation went back and forth several times until I finally agreed to allow her to buy a pair of jeans for my husband, in exchange I told her I would be the one paying for them or I would be givin them money for Christmas. This pleased her for all of 2 seconds and then the tears started again. " Christmas is only a week away... when am I going to be able to go out and shop?" (she just had surgery on her foot and can't walk yet). " OKay... how about if I take Wednesday off from work and take you?" "can't we just go on Saturday?" "Have you lost your mind? I am NOT shopping on the last weekend before Christmas. We are going on Wednesday!"
So NOW I am stressed out. Tomorrow I will have to hunt down a wheel chair to take her out of the house to do her Christmas shopping while also trying to find something to buy both her and my dad. Then I will have to rush home, clean the house, wrap all the presents, Finish decorating, and make dinner. I relayed all this to my husband who could only laugh, "I want you to remember this when we are stuck at my parents on Christmas eve... they don't seem so bad now do they?" Glare.....
See why I hate the holidays? they are always so jumbled at the last second. I can't wait until this month is over.
I have been completely behind on everything for this holiday season. The tree sits half decorated, dishes are piling up and what gifts I have bought for the in laws -sit unwrapped and needing attention. And though I know I have less than a week to get all this sorted out, I didn't feel overly stressed because at least I think I have the presents I needed to cover the holiday.... That is until my mum called me in tears yesterday.
"I can't handle it!" - "what? Whats wrong? Do you need me to come over and clean your house? Is Raven causing you grief? What is it I can do to help?" - "No, it's not that.... I can't handle it. I need to get you and Jer gifts." "No.. we already went over this."- "I know and you don't have to get us anything but we NEED to buy you something." -"No... It will make me feel bad. Please don't ." "Why are you trying to spoil my Christmas? Your .. you are just... well ... you're stealing Christmas away from me and it isn't fair."
geeze... that's a little extreme! This conversation went back and forth several times until I finally agreed to allow her to buy a pair of jeans for my husband, in exchange I told her I would be the one paying for them or I would be givin them money for Christmas. This pleased her for all of 2 seconds and then the tears started again. " Christmas is only a week away... when am I going to be able to go out and shop?" (she just had surgery on her foot and can't walk yet). " OKay... how about if I take Wednesday off from work and take you?" "can't we just go on Saturday?" "Have you lost your mind? I am NOT shopping on the last weekend before Christmas. We are going on Wednesday!"
So NOW I am stressed out. Tomorrow I will have to hunt down a wheel chair to take her out of the house to do her Christmas shopping while also trying to find something to buy both her and my dad. Then I will have to rush home, clean the house, wrap all the presents, Finish decorating, and make dinner. I relayed all this to my husband who could only laugh, "I want you to remember this when we are stuck at my parents on Christmas eve... they don't seem so bad now do they?" Glare.....
See why I hate the holidays? they are always so jumbled at the last second. I can't wait until this month is over.