The report.
The good news: I get along MUCH better with my mother-in-law on her own turf. She's much more fun when she's in her element (which is in her large-and-in-charge kitchen).
The bad news: Six days is still a long, long time.
More good news: You wouldn't believe how good Baby Nonny was on 3/4 of the flights. We flew Southwest, so we got to preboard. Another bonus (because preboarding when you fly on the cattle car is such a bonus): not one of our four flights was completely full, so they let us take the car seat on and have a row all to ourselves. Nice. Especially when that row was the very front one with all the leg room.
More bad news: The one flight the baby didn't do well on lasted three hours. And we didn't get a special row that time. But we did get lots of dirty looks from all these old ladies sitting nearby. Were they old maids who resent children? Did they have hemorrhoids? Were their hearing aids turned up too high? I'll never know. But I was certainly getting fed up with them turning around and ogling my pathetic attempts to remain modest while breastfeeding an exhausted and wailing baby about 9,000 times in a cramped space. I had all kinds of good comebacks if they'd just opened their shriveled mouths.
Some more good news: I really like the small town where ANM grew up. It's charming and quaint and very much a college town. The houses are all nearly a hundred years old with huge yards and squirrels and rabbits and beautiful gardens. There's only one fast food place in town and everybody rides bikes. It's like a made-up town out of a book. I like it a lot.
Some more bad news: There is no way I can escape in such a small town. "See you, guys! I'm off to... the college library!" "Hey! I just saw a squirrel! I've gotta go chase it!" Breaks would be helpful, I think, in my relationship with the mother-in-law. But then it would also be helpful if she wouldn't bash all Utahns ever. But I digress.
Even more good news: Granny Nonny loves her one and only grandchild.
Even more bad news: Because she has spent the last month alone after her husband flew the coop, the MIL appears to be dealing with all kinds of guilt and self-worth issues. If the baby, who was "asleep" upstairs with the baby monitor turned on, stirred at the same moment that she (I kid you not) turned the newspaper page, she would say, "Oh, no! I woke him up! I'm so sorry! I'm so noisy!" "No, sweet MIL, you did not wake him up." We went through this several times a day.
Following along with this pattern which I am now finding annoying but am too lazy to change, good news: After a month of hiding out, the FIL has announced that he plans to return home.
Blah blah blah: It it not clear whether he's happy about this or what he plans to do upon his arrival.
In conclusion: I hereby swear off all traveling with a child who doesn't like to sleep anywhere other than his crib.
posted by a. nonny spouse @ 9:01 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Isn't it nice to be home again where you feel like you can do what you want when you want. With your own food and your own bed and your own stuff in your own space. Vacationing is great and all, but it's always nice to be back. Glad it wasn't too traumatic.
It IS nice to be home. It's not as clean and the food isn't as good, but there's a lot to be said for being in your own space.
Okay, I have a ton of questions.
First, where did he grow up? I'm going to move there, it sounds wonderful. Unless it's in the south because the sun bothers me.
Then, why did the FIL leave? I seem to remember something, but I can't put my finger on it. Why did he come back?
But, also, would you consider drugging your baby so he would sleep through the trip? Nothing illegal, mind you.
Interesting post, I want to hear more about your mother in law.
annegb:
First, he grew up in the northeast. I'll leave it to him to be more specific if he wants, but I'm not feeling daring enough to incur his wrath at the moment.
Why did the FIL leave? This is entirely unclear. The marriage hasn't been great, as far as I can tell, for a few years. There was questionable behavior with a naive 21-year-old girl recently, but things came to a surprising head after their first (and only) marriage counseling session. After the appointment, the FIL announced that he was leaving the state and bought a one-way ticket for the next day. Under the guise (truthful or not?) of being suicidal he tried to check himself into the state hospital, but, well, they don't really do that if you're just upset about being married. So instead, he's just basically been hanging out, seeing friends, and relaxing. Why he's going back is as mysterious as his leaving. I do not understand him.
I would definitely consider drugging the baby. I forgot to test the Benadryl (I've heard it can have stimulant effects on some kids) before the plane, and I didn't want to risk it. Next time. If there is a next time...
More on the MIL to come.
questionable behavior
In defense of my dad, the behavior wasn't so questionable as to have him excommunicated or anything. Just stuff that drives my mom nuts.
Where has this blog been all my (blog's)life? Thanks for your comment. I really enjoyed the post you linked a lot.
Off to finish my archive spelunking...
Well, uh, if I suck up, can I go visit your mother in law? That sounds like a nice little town. Unless they burn witches next to the church or something, I could be in trouble there.
I always gave Sarah childrens Nyquil on trips (she's 20 now, I think the statute of limitations is out). It doesn't have alcohol and she slept the whole trip.
Mouse, you made me laugh. I drive Bill crazy, too.
Annegb: they don't burn witches, but they do burn people who are homophobic... I'm thinking it shouldn't be much of a problem for you :)
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