MIL...

Sometimes I seriously wonder why I trust my MIL to take care of my daughter all day, because sometimes I really struggle to understand why she does some of the stupidest things on earth!

For the past two nights she has called us around 8:30 - knowing this is right around Madeline's bed time. I have answered the phone both times. The conversation goes as follows, "Did Maddy get her ears pierced?" "No." "Oh, what's she doing?" "She's in bed, asleep." "Oh, okay, I'll see her tomorrow."

WHY is she calling me about this? Everyday? We said we MIGHT get her ears pierced this week. MAYBE. Stupid, pointless conversation. I know that if and when we do get her ears pierced, Jer will call MIL when we get home to report in on how it went. She DOES NOT need to call and ask. That's seriously the end of the conversation. Nothing else.

OH, and you should hear her talk to us about the whole "moving debate." She is absolutely against us moving anywhere that's not "right around the corner." She keeps trying to come up with these scenarios and is so negative about everything. We went looking at houses on Sunday, and when we came back (and went over her house for this stupid Rib Cook-Off that I will post about later) she asked if we found anything. I just said, "No, not really." She says, "Why? The drive is too far hah." I said, "No, that's not it at all." She said, "Too expensive." I said, "No, not at all." Then she says, "What are you guys going to do when she starts school?" I said, "Jer wants to look for a job in whatever district she's going to." She gives me this disgusted look. I said, "What's the difference? She won't go to the school district near your house now, b/c we don't live in your city anyways." She said, "Yeah, but now you're just right around the corner." I said, "Yeah, but with my new job, I get a laptop and can work at home when I need to, so whatever the situation may be, I can work around it." She really didn't have a response.

She is absolutely unsupportive about this career move. Yes, she said congratulations, but her immediate comment was that she was going to trade in the car we bought her and get a Lexus. She has not asked one question about what I will do there or what that means for us. All she knows is that it's over her head, and she hates that she can't have a conversation with me about it and actually understand anything I tell her.

She seriously just cares about Madeline and getting to watch her b/c she has control in that situation. Everyone can gush about how hard it must be for her and how great it is that she does that for us, blah, blah. As long as she watches the babies, she is the family hero.

Don't get me wrong - I am thoroughly grateful for the childcare and for the fact that a trusted family member is watching Maddy all day. BUT, she is still my MIL and ya know, I still have those lovely feelings about her that all daughter-in-laws have at some point. I wish she would just respect my career for what it is and be a little more supportive of those accomplishments. Family is really really important, but it is not all there is to life, and I know she just doesn't understand how anything but family can be a priority to any woman.