I just don't get it....

[tsjocool]

My "mother in law" is 83. Yep. 83. She gave birth to my partner late in life (there's an 18 year difference between her first born and her last born). When we moved, MIL moved with us because her other children simply didn't visit her very much, spend much time with her and didn't really know what was going on in her life. My partner and I (and a

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[tsjocool]

I've gotten a few comments on this post as well as discussed this issue with several of my friends and I've got a few comments to make on why I wrote this.

1) This is my journal. I vent here. I write about things that I don't want to discuss with people in my immediate surroundings. If you don't like what I write here, then please move on. Not meant to be mean or cruel. I'm just saying that I use this blog as an outlet and not everything I write about is going to be able to be wrapped up in a pretty little bow with smiley faces and rainbows.

2) You don't live my life. Haven't been through what I've been through. Haven't experienced what I've experienced or AM currently experiencing. Unless you've shadowed me for a day or two or are close enough to me to know the whole story - please don't pretend that you have all the answers for me or that it's "not as bad as it seems".

3) What I've written here is only a portion of what's going on in this house. My partner has heard me express concern about all of these things AND MORE. None of this stuff is new to her.

4) Being willing to take this on knowing what is all involved and feeling like it's been forced upon you are two TOTALLY differen things. We wanted to have a child a few years ago and dealing with some of these things would have been part of that experience. But we decided against it. And we moved on from that idea. Most days I feel like I am dealing with a child that I never asked to have or wanted. My choice now is to deal with it or move out. Unfortunately, I don't like or accept either choice.

Do I expect an 83 year old to be perfect? No. But I do expect her to take care of herself, clean up after herself, make her own meal, hit the toilet when she goes and not the floor and have good hygiene habits. Moreso, I expect her to chew with her mouth closed (after 83 years, this is an area she should have mastered by now) and not need a babysitter every day. Unfortunately, she does. And worse, Kathy expects that to be me.