Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Sam: No lie is a good lie. Period.
Jory: A small white lie that they, for example, look good in their ridiculous fishing hat with lures stuck on it, would not be out of the question.
Sam: You said you love that hat.
Jory: See? Is honesty really the best policy?
DEAR JORY:
My mother is getting older, and my father passed away about six months ago. I want her to move in with my husband and our three kids, and I’ve told him and he’s hesitant. I haven’t talked to her about it yet, but the way she dotes on my kids, I think she’d be thrilled. We have more than enough room in our house, and I think that helping me and my husband with the kids, who are 5, 7, and 9, would help give my mother a purpose that she’s lost since losing my father. I have a very happy marriage, and I don’t want to jeopardize that, so I feel as though I’m stuck in the middle between my mom and my hubby and it’s slowly killing me. What would you do?
Jory: I can see your side as well as your hubby’s. He’s happy with the dynamic of how things are and is afraid that if things change, that he might not be happy. You love your mother and you want to take care of her, but you need to find out, first, what she truly wants. Does she even want to live with you? Maybe she wants to travel the world? Maybe she wants to move in with her friends? It’s best to gauge her interest. It’s a big move to make, for all of you. Another voice of discipline for your kids, whether you say so or not, they will go to her for permission, and it will be expected for her to be able to give them direction. Also, your husband and you are no longer alone, and that can be wearing. Anyone else in the house, no matter how much you love them, can be a drain. And what about vacations? Is she included or expected to stay home and watch your dogs (or cats, goldfish, etc.)? But first, before anything, you have to get things sorted with your husband. Because if he’s adamant that she not be there, then you have to figure out your next step. For me, I can’t imagine not having my mother-in-law move in with us if something, heaven forbid, would happen to my father-in-law. She’s already announced that she’s moving in with us should that happen, and that was met with relief from my husband’s brother, who said something along the lines of thank you, Jesus.
Sam: Tell your husband to suck it up, this is your mother. He knew it was a possibility when he married you. It’s the responsibility of children to be caretakers of their parents.
Jory: I disagree; these are individual decisions but—
Sam: Kids take care of parents, you freak.
Jory: What if the parent was abusive?
Sam: I mean regular parents.
Jory: So this law of yours is only for good parents.
Sam: You know what I mean, and don’t roll your eyes at me.
Jory: After you establish what your husband can live with and what your mother wants to do, then you can go from there. Also, it’s sometimes hard to figure out what an elderly parent wants to do vs. what they think you want. Like, your mom might want to move in but thinks it will be a burden on you and your family. After my mother-in-law made her announcement at the table at Sunday dinner, she caught me later in the kitchen and told me that of course she would never presume and that she hoped I knew that she was kidding. I told her in no uncertain terms that she better not be kidding because I needed her voice of wisdom, her cooking tutelage, and most of all her friendship in my house. Plus, she always takes my side.
Sam: Always. God. I didn’t think about that.
Jory: Day in and day out of you being wrong. I wonder what that would be like.
Sam: Wait, now.
Jory: I’m her favorite.
Sam: I may need to rethink this.
Jory: Oooh, maybe both your parents could come.
Sam: What?
Jory: Oh look at that, I had no idea you could turn that color of gray.
Sam: I…
That’s all for this time, you all; talk to you next time. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
DECEMBER 2017
Hello, all, and welcome to the holiday version of He Said, he said. I was going to ask for questions like I normally do, but I lost track of time because hello, holidays, so I thought I’d share a tidbit of my decorating adventures from last Friday the eighth.
So it was around four thirty I guess, I was up on the roof when I heard a car honking. I didn’t think anything about it until I almost lost my grip on Rudolph, started to slide a bit on the wet slanted wood shingles, and my son yelled.