At Thu, 19 Dec 2002, Brenda wrote:
>
>I have very unusal in-laws and since I can not work because of my
>problems with adhesions I am the one everyone calls about problems. The
>story is long but I will try and get to the point. My husbands parents
>have 2 grandchildren my husbands brothers little boy who is 5 and our
>son who is 3, they spend 4 days a week with Randy picking him up from
>school and take him to Walmart and spend at least $30 a week on toys and
>candy, it took me threatening to never talking to them to get them to
>spend time with our son, they never ask Jordan to go to Walmart with
>them or buy him gifts, I even suggested that they just give Jordan the
>same amount they spend on Randy to put in Jordans savings account, they
>never repsonded. When the family gets together they smother Randy with
>hugs and words of praise and hardley speak to Jordan. Jordan loves them
>and when they do come by to see him he is thrilled. At Christmas last
>year after we opened gifts and we went home they went to Randys home and
>took him more gifts. I have always been the person who makes sure that
>we all get together on holidays and spcial occasions, my husband and his
>brother have just started becoming friends since our children were born,
>there was alot of mistrust between them and I can see why it almost
>seems that their parents pit them against each other. They want our
>children to be close, but with their parents spending so much much more
>time and money on Randy, Jordan will eventually notice and he will
>resent Randy. Also my mother in law hates Randys new step mom and is
>always trying to blame her for everything that goes wrong, David my
>husbands brother wants to have Christmas at their house this year and my
>mother in law is mad because they ask me to tell her, they knew how she
>would react and I am the only one who can stay calm and not wring her
>neck. She refused to make anything to bring unless they call and ask
>her to. I think everyone get s the picture on how things are no one in
>this family can get along, they are always looking for the bad in each
>other, and I am the one they call to vent. I want to say a prayer this
>Christmas about forgiving, trying to look for the good in each other,
>how our actions reflect on our children, on treating our children and
>grandchildren equally, that life is short and how much we have to be
>greatful for. The problem is I am not good at writing this sort of
>thing and sort of start rambling like I am now. I know alot of you are
>good writers and if any of you know a prayer that fits my situation or
>can write one please email it to me at nancebln@earthlink.net.
>I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
>
>Thank you for listening to me.
>Gentle Hugs
>Brenda