So Mr. Twinkle got home late tonight, and while we were enjoying a quiet, child-free dinner of baked chicken and a green salad, he brought up the fact that his grandmother had invited us to yet another birthday dinner, this one for January family member birthdays. (I dread these dull seasonal Sunday-night occasions). He said his grandmother asked if I'd be offended if she put Twinklette's name down as one of the guests of honor. I guess somehow she didn't want to usurp my maternal authority.
I guess on some level these people do get me...they understand that I want to be respected as a mother, but they always get it a little bit wrong. (Just like they always take everything I do a little bit wrong). I mean, yes, I do want them to acknowledge that I'm her mother and that she likes me. But that's really all I'm asking for, and anyone who wants to include her on a family birthday list should feel free to do so. I explained to Mr. Twinkle that I would not be at all offended, that no one needs to ask my permission for something like that. Whatever...that's not even the worst of it.
So then he breaks the real bad news to me: she wants to have this boring birthday dinner on Valentine's Day. And he's OK with it! He doesn't mind! Now, as for me, I don't really care if we go out for Valentine's Day on Saturday or Sunday or the actual Valentine's Day or whenever...I'm sure there have been times when Valentine's Day was on a Tuesday or something that we postponed the celebration to a weekend, and that's not a big deal to me. However, I'm not exactly inclined to spend the occasion with Grandma-in-law, MIL, FIL, Uncle B., Uncle L., and the usual cast of crazies, no matter what night it falls on. (Actually, the uncles aren't so bad...but I just don't want to have Valentine's Day dinner with them).
And I'm sure they don't want to have Valentine's Day dinner with us either! Ninety-five percent of attendees at these occasions are married or in committed relationships, and I guarantee you nobody among them wants to spend Valentine's Day there either! I know for a fact that Uncle L. and his wife do that Valentine's package that White Castle offers (I know it sounds tacky...they're totally normal and probably eat at Corbett's on a regular night...but that's their Valentine's Day thing and I think it's totally cool). Anyway, I'm convinced that no one wants to go--and no one wants to be the one to say no.
So we were the ones to say no, and I am proud of us.
I mean, it's just the principle, really. Mr. Twinkle didn't love the idea of going, but he was willing to do it, just like everyone always is. No one will ever say no in that bunch. It's psychotic, and it's driving me to madness. Any time anyone decides to plan anything and invites you to it, you had just better be there, dammit. You don't even have the option of saying no! Can you imagine the stress? No wonder Mr. Twinkle is so mild-mannered and yet so hardcore about obligation. And thank goodness he has me to ignite a little bit of healthy rebellion once in awhile!
So he did call Grandma and say I'd already made set-in-stone Valentine's Day plans for us. And it's a good thing he did. I didn't tell him this, because I'm not big on threats, but if we'd had Valentine's Day dinner at Grandma's, there wouldn't be much dessert back at our place if you know what I'm saying. And I think you do.
Now I guess we've got to go figure out something fabulous and totally-not-cancellable for us to do on Valentine's Day.
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