Those that know me, know I have a whole plethura of issues. One of the main sources of these issues would be my mother. The woman is an 'narcisist' sort of. While the term usually refers to someone so in love with themselves; that everyone and everything else in life is secodary. My mother is not truly happy unless she is allowed (sometimes for hours) to pontificate on how completely pathetic and miserable she and her life is.

Just to make my point a quick run-through of her worthless existence. Her second marriage has now lasted twenty five years. They have two daughters, my half sister. Emma lee (23) after a year or two of soul searching is preparing to graduate as a dental hygenist, Hallee (21) just graduated from art school. My mother and Tony, now have two houses, three cars, two cats, one dog, and a boat. She has belonged to the same church for over 16 years and started her own mini-musical ministry and with all of that she is a well established and respected local artist & quilt maker (self-taught). Still to hear my mom talk a more pathetic and worthless creature has never roamed the earth.

This spring my own marriage will be a healthy 13yrs. In that time I've lost count of the number of times we have invited mom & her brood to visit or do things with us. I've also lost count of the times my mother has stood us up or fogotten or out of some weird sense of embarrasment for something only she can imagine makes an excuse and leaves us holding the bag on something.

So early on in this paticular holiday season my wife told me I'm inviting your mom, tony, and the girls over to a dinner on christmas eve. (Keep in mind for reasons never explained. She stopped calling or talking to me early in the spring.) "Well good luck with that." I said and didn't give it another thought.

I don't know what she said or how she said it, but Kathy got my mother to agree. Not only that Tony and the girls would be there as well. When I was told of this I was a little shocked. :taser:

Well despite a whole world of misgivings, everything went real well. No doubt to the tireless determination of my wife. Mom lamented on how worthless she was, but everyone just smiled and ignored it and went on. Evan had a great time with his "granpa-Tony" and his aunts. All in all it was a very nice time. All in all despite my animosity and my misgivings, it was a nice christmas present of it's own.

I hope the holiday brought it's own unique surprises to you and yours. Merry Christmas and here's to a new year.:corn:

You are strong. Glad it worked out.

I can sympathize with you.....to some degree, Pen....I have a m-i-l that is just like your mother. However, my m-i-l is nowhere near as "accomplished" as your mother. I hate being around her because she is so negative all the time.....never anything positive to contribute and always selfish when it comes to spending time with the family.

MY family lives quite a ways from his, so my time is mostly spent on the road traveling between the two. The m-i-l even called me "uncompromising" because I refused to change my plans last year just because she didn't like the plans "she allowed" the rest of us to make. SO, I didn't even see them last year, but, they forget that for the past 30 years, I have driven 75 miles (one way) to spend a few hours on Christmas day with my family, then 75 miles BACK HOME to pick up HER SON and drive another 50 miles back south again just to spend a few hours with them, then the 50 miles back to my house to drop off her son, then the 75 miles BACK to my family so I can spend a little more time with them. BUT....I'M uncompromising!!!! :rolleyes: WHATEVER!!!

I'm glad things turned out well this year.....for you and me!!!

Merry Christmas to you and yours and here's to another great NEW YEAR!!!
:drinktoth:

family is a never ending source of headaches
glad things went as well as they did Pendragon