How Can I Get Out of This One?

I'm not going to leave this one up very long, so read it while you can.


I'm mad today.

Well, maybe mad isn't the word.

I can't really put my finger on the right word.

Overwhelmed, maybe? Confused? Angry?


My mother in law is coming. Here. To my house. I am not happy about that.


I'm not going to get into my husband's family logistics here, it's not my place. But, I will be spending two weeks with a woman a barely know, with my children who do not know her.

Oh, and did I mention that she hates me?


I am trying so hard to find some positive spin in this situation, but so far I can't. What began as a few days, turned into a week, and now it's two weeks, and I'm afraid of how long it will actually be when she gets here on Halloween. When my husband mentioned she wanted to come, like three weeks ago, he was planning on taking a week off work to spend with her, so really, no biggie for me, other than the extra plate at the table and extra laundry to fold, but I heard him telling her last night he was going to take a half day off while she was there and she'd be spending the rest of the time with me. What? I know he thinks I sit on my ass all day long, but in the harsh reality that is our life, I run this place. I am up early to cart the kid to school, I clean, I cook, I diaper and clothe the children (many times throughout the day I might add), I buy groceries, I discipline, I help with homework. On top of that, we have Little Gym, speech, MOPs, field trips, and playdates to a point that I am rarely at home anymore. When in hell does he expect me to entertain his mother. Oh, I know what you're thinking. My dear MIL can help with these things! But, no, she can't. I am not going to get anymore into it other than to say that she has some mental illnesses. Pretty much, I'm going to have another person to take care of for two weeks in November. I am exhausted now. I get about three hours of sleep a night and then I'm on the go all day. I am overwhelmed with the sheer amount of things I need to do to keep a family of five going, especially now that one of those five is in school. This is just not a great time for me to be dealing with this. The last time she came, Jacob was eight months old. She stayed one night. That one night was plenty, for us and for her. Just dealing with a baby crying and such tore her nerves apart. Why does my husband think it's going to go peachily with two more kids and less room?

AARRGGHH

But, I can't do anything about it.

She's my husband's mother. Sure, she's not like my mom and she's not like most moms, but she is his mother. Since my mom comes here whenever she darn well pleases and he's happy to see her, I can't very well tell him that entertaining his mom for two weeks is a going to be a chaotic freak show. I couldn't even remind him that he will have to keep an eagle eye on all her medications without him accusing me of hating his family. Again.

Oh, and did I mention she smokes?

Did I ever mention how much I detest cigarette smoke?

Yeah, my husband is under the impression that she has quit smoking (she hasn't) and even if she is smoking, she can smoke on the porch. When she was here the last time, my house smelled like smoke for days just from her hair and clothes (she smoked on the porch). Can you imagine what it will be like after two weeks? I do not want her holding my baby because I don't want my baby having to snort that shit off of her. Criminy! What if she were to chew on her yellow fingers? Man, I am going to be a drunk before she leaves, but damn, I won't be able to drink while she's here since she is so uber religious and drinking is a sin and the drinking might send her into a fit of anxiety and, oh man, this is going to suck.