This week has seemed never-ending, and it's been stressful and a little bit weird, too.
At work, the holiday store set is poised on the horizon. Starting tonight, we have several overnight shifts (that I'm in charge of) to complete literally hundreds of projects. The tsunami of work bearing down on me is stressing me out. I'm not sleeping well. I feel overwhelmed and unappreciated. I hate my job to begin with, and this is the absolute worst time of year for retail workers. And I had really hoped to have a new job before the holidays rolled around again. I'm disappointed that that hasn't happened. But at least when Tuesday morning gets here the transition should (theoretically) be done and I'll be able to relax a little.
Then there's some stuff going on in my husband's family that's downright......weird, to say the least. Apparently our 19 year old niece down in Florida just had a baby that no one in the family knew was coming. My brother-in-law and his wife have been totally distancing themselves from everyone for almost a year (including his mother) and I had started to wonder why......I guess now I know. I'm not really offended that no one told us, but I'm disappointed. I had hoped to be close to Gregg's siblings and nieces and nephews, being an only child myself. But you can't have relationships with people who refuse to do their part to maintain them---that goes for his sister and her family, too. Everyone has become distant and non-communicative. And to keep a new baby a secret until the child is actually born is the strangest thing I've ever heard of. My mother-in-law was the one who called us on Wednesday, having just heard herself. So we still haven't talked to our niece or her mother or father. And I'm not exactly inclined to call and offer congratulations since they haven't bothered to talk to us at all!
So that's been my week so far. Here's hoping the next few days are both uneventful and go by quickly!
Perhaps they have been going through turmoil and difficulties with the past year themselves and could not begin to talk to anybody about it. Reassurance and friendship is probably the best thing to offer them now and say nothing about not knowing.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the overnight shifts.
Well, as they have declined to answer their phones or to call back whenever we leave messages for months now, it's going to be difficult to offer support or friendship.....but Gregg did text his brother and said, basically, "We heard the news, please tell our niece we've always had warm feelings for her, give her our best and our congratulations." I feel like the next move is theirs to make.
DeleteYes, I see that the ball is in their court Jennifer. Families are never easy.
DeleteThink about what Rachel said, i wanted to say the same things but her English is better:)
ReplyDeletewish you shall have better days Jennifer,
Thank you Yael, I hope you are keeping safe and doing well! :)
DeleteAlso, just to clarify why I'm a bit upset with my brother-in-law. ....his mom has dementia that is progressing slowly, but it won't be long before she doesn't even recognize her children and grandchildren. ..so to not speak to her for months on end at this point in her life is unconscionable, no matter what personal issues are going on!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a rough week for me, too. In my family, it's not at all unusual that no one announces a birth. Sometimes I don't know that my nieces and nephews have had children until the kids are three or four years old. That's how we don't communicate. It hurts because I feel as if everyone knows about events except for me.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I'm sorry you've had a rough week as well. Maybe this new week will be better for us both!
DeleteThis kind of behavior would have been weird in Gregg's family in the past, but it's almost par for the course these days. I don't know why everyone has grown apart so much, but it can't be fixed if only one or two people make any effort. It is hurtful, though.
Rough week for you. Take care and be well.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and thanks for stopping by! :)
DeleteRe your work, I think you should simply do what you would normally do, and not make too much extra effort. I'm sure one is appreciated far more by doing so. Don't over stress yourself.
ReplyDeleteFamilies are weird. I have always been very proud to announce the arrival of my grandchildren to everyone, but have never had notice from others about theirs. I have no idea if any of my cousins are married or have children.
I'm taking your advice. Last night, I did a fair amount of work, but no more. And I kept reminding myself that a fair day's work is as much as anyone has a right to ask for.
DeleteAs for our niece, I admit to feeling a tiny bit hurt to be cut out of her confidence in such a way, since we've tried hard to be a good aunt and uncle to her since she was a little girl. But I'll try to let it go.
You can choose your friends but not your family. And in some way it's not your business how they manage their lifes. Adults are responsible for what they do.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I can't argue with any of that! :)
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