If the truth be told, Mother’s Day Weekend 2011 was a bit awkward. Originally, I had planned to be totally selfish on Sunday. I just wanted to spend the day with J and the boys- brunch at the Crowne Plaza followed by a trip to the beach. I didn’t feel like hosting brunch at my house for my mom and J’s mom like I had done for the past several years. Tension between my side of the family and me has caused me not to want to host family functions anymore. Since my mom pretty much opted to spend Easter without us except for a drive-by basket drop off for the boys, I didn’t felt like putting much emphasis on Mother’s Day this year. But I felt bad for not planning something special for my mother-in-law since she helps us out so much with watching the boys. However, my conscious would not let me do something for my mother-in-law and not include my mom (although my own mother has no problem with such things). So, I opted to plan nothing and sent flowers instead.
Then a text message changed everything late last week…
My aunt invited us to join the family to celebrate Steph’s birthday and Mother’s Day on Saturday night at a local restaurant. Ugh! Admittedly, I was torn but accepted anyway to keep the peace. J and I schlepped the boys over to meet up with family (my mom, my aunt, Steph and her sister, Auntie Jo). They chose to sit at the tiki bar out back with the live band. It was loud and uncomfortable sitting on bar stools. The only thing we could find for the boys on the limited bar menu was chicken fingers. I ordered a couple of mojitos just to cope with the tension.
Steph’s kids were not there but Steph’s 63-year-old boyfriend was. The more he drank the more touchy-feely he got with Steph and the more uncomfortable the rest of us became. Our poor waitress was totally confused when she stopped by to check on us and the person she probably assumed was the father was making out with the person she assumed was the daughter…
Mr. Suave managed to spill a martini on himself and his dinner. Then moved on to sing the praises of Elvis Presley. Quote: “No one who has ever been on American Idol has had the talent that Elvis had in his pinky…”
Thanks. You’re totally dated yourself, pal.
Mr. Charming further impressed me by quizzing Auntie Jo, a 28-year-old, on the writers of the 70’s folk songs the band was singing. When she couldn’t answer the first question (Arlo Guthrie) and laughed it off by saying it was before her time. He condescendingly spouted, “Well, Abraham Lincoln was president before I was born and I know who he was!”
I had to restrain myself from asking him if he knew any pop songs and song writers from the civil war because that was a more accurate comparison.
We trudged through the meal, the drinks and the pie that my aunt brought for Steph’s birthday. My kids were a cute distraction from the necking at the end of the table. I’m just sorry they had to witness that crap. Everyone else at the table swiveled themselves away from the blatant PDA. Even though it was totally inappropriate and awkward for everyone, my aunt, mom and Auntie Jo tried their best to act as though everything was perfectly normal and they were having a good time.
I’m really not sure what kind of birthday celebration it was supposed to be because I’m the only one who brought a gift… After I gave Steph her present we all thankfully called it an evening. We couldn’t get to the car fast enough!
On Sunday, we invited J’s parents to join us for brunch at the Crowne Plaza. It was the most normal, well-adjusted experience! We all had a wonderful time eating outside under a tent by the ocean. It was how Mother’s Day should be.
The boys clearly enjoyed the treats from the chocolate fountain 🙂
Is it possible to travel on all holidays both major and minor to avoid the BS of my family? Probably not but, believe me, I’d like to!
Adventures of Four 