Screeling wrote:
I spent these last two months of summer working my butt off getting our patio done before school started. We got it done two weekends ago and I was looking forward to this 3-day weekend as the first time I'd get to enjoy it. Have some friends over. Grill up some food. Get the affirmation we all look for after accomplishing a long project.
Well, my wife informed me that's the weekend her parents would be in town. So my goals went right down the crapper.
I was constantly annoyed by my mother in-law's nervous attempts to start conversations with some pleasant compliment that I have to remind myself is still probably sincere despite having heard at least 5 times before as filler for the usual lulls in conversation. I had to keep from groaning every time she blamed being out of breath on her adult onset diabetes when the truth is she's just fat and lazy, and those are actually the reasons she has diabetes. I held my tongue all three times she ordered something "light" at a restaurant, convinced my father in-law to order what she really wants, then eats her whole meal and half of his. I'm sorry, but most people don't jam a piece of bread slathered with butter down their gullet because their previous bite was spicy. I held my tongue numerous other times she justified or dismissed her various family member's dysfunction as just bad luck instead of the result of long patterns of bad choices. I didn't even give her any crap when she asked me personal questions and then made comments or asked questions that made it clear she didn't at all listen or understand what I just told her.
I kept my nose buried in studies to keep from losing my cool. And now I sit here at midnight unable to get to sleep and quickly coming down with the cold my father in-law left me as a parting gift.
This has got to be one of the worst holiday weekends I've ever had. I feel like I need another three day weekend to recover from this three day weekend.
I don't think you should be holding your tongue. It is mentally unhealthy for yourself.