FoxTrot Classics by Bill Amend for December 03, 2019

it’s going to be two long weeks for Andrea

Put some histamine and whisky in her coffee. Once she dozes off, move her to Peter’s room and strap her to the bed.

Wait, you can’t do that. That would be too passive aggressive.

Alternatively, try being honest and upfront and tell her, this is your house. She is sleeping in Peter’s room, because Peter is sleeping on the couch for the next two weeks, no matter what she does. (with all he eats, he tends to get gassy at night).

Though it is very nice and proper for Andy to offer Grandma Peter’s room, I am with Grandma on this one. She’s just fine on the couch, Peter is happy to still have his room, and your 16-year old has a clean room for once!

Too late!

In this instance, I’m with Andy.

It’s a battle of wills between the two. Andy, just say “whatever” and walk away, don’t make it an issue about how hard YOU worked to prepare for mom.

Now I can see Andy’s point.

Maybe she can’t do stairs.

Starting to see Andy’s POV, it’s hard to live with perfection.

When I was 5 or 6, my grandfather came to visit. He stayed in my room. Dad pulled out a cot from a closet and set it up in my brother’s room. That night I rolled over in my sleep and got stung. Hornets were in that closet and several were in the cot.

I’ve learned to paste a smile on my face and agree with whatever they have planned— bedroom, food, or activities. Unless it’s going on 4:30 and they’re about to plan dinner. That’s when I tentatively say that I’ll go out and purchase some ham from the Honey Baked Ham store that they like. I always offer to bring a few meals with me but they want to do it themselves. The late offer of the ham is always accepted.

Too much “things have to be done my way” going on. Why make a big deal of where grandma wants to sleep?

My sister hosts us for Thanksgiving every year. If she tells I’m sleeping on the couch, I’m sleeping on the couch. There is no argument.

Someday you’ll wake up and your mom is gone forever…

Ummm… wouldn’t it have been better for Peter to have cleaned his room, under dire threats like no car for a year or having to do his own laundry from then on? Andy is far too indulgent of her kids.

Well, Andy’s apprehensions begin to be justified …

alright, in this instance I take her side, it is just plain rude to refuse charity like that, especially once the work has already been done.

ok, i understand why Andy hates her mother so much

Ah, well there you go, naysayers. Perfectly clear now why Andy doesn’t enjoy spending time with her mom. She doesn’t want to make things inconvenient for Peter, but she doesn’t care at all about what Andy wants. She doesn’t respect her daughter.

Like mother, like daughter, I say. Grandma doesn’t hear a word Andy says and sleeps where she wants. Andy doesn’t hear a word her family says and cooks what she wants.

Too late you already are.

Some people are more of a nuisance when they try not to be a nuisance!

I remember as sister and I as kids, we knew had to give up our room for visitors, we knew the drill, we had a hide-a-bed we have to open up to make up for our bed.