For someone without fallopian tubes, I really shouldn't be going through this.
The hammer finally dropped regarding my expectation that we would be asked to babysit a child we've never seen while her parents go on a Florida cruise. Last week we received an email from Canadian friend asking for dates when they can come for a visit. I told Larry I wanted to write the response back.
Before you read what I wrote, here are a few comments ({cough} complaints) this guest has made during previous visits. Always spoken to me alone...never to Larry, whose friend she actually is. By the end of the list, you should have a good sense of my feelings toward this person.
• Spare bed is too soft (followed by: “When are you getting a new mattress?”)
• Pillows are too hard
• (Brand new) Towels are too linty and don’t absorb well.
• Patio is too dirty. She had to sweep it herself before she could lounge out there.
• I over-cook everything
• I over-salt everything
• I use too much sugar
• I use too much fat
• I eat too much meat
• I buy too much food
On the other hand,
• I didn’t have orange juice in the frig
• I didn’t have apple juice in the frig (Why don't you have any juice?)
• Or brown rice
• Or green tea
• I snore too loud and woke her up
• Ceiling fan was too noisy
• The birds were too loud (yes,you read that correctly)
• The sprinkler system woke her up
• I didn’t have the right kind of soap to wash her exercise clothes (“How can you not have bar soap? Everyone has bar soap!”)
Thanks to all of you, I wrote up what I thought was a succinct and polite response to her email request that we tell them when was the best time for them to visit {December to March, also known as Winter Cruise Months) because Baby M was so looking forward to meeting her American Foster Grandparents Nonna and Nonne.
(Yes, now we've been given Alternate names. Isn't that how people steal your soul...once they find out your name, they can control you??? Does it count if they name you themselves?)
(here’s what I wrote, paraphrasing): we looked forward to meeting Baby M and visiting with them. December and February were busy but mid-January and March were fine. However, since they’re in the planning/booking stage of their vacation (thanks Traca!) and since The Mom has previously mentioned the idea of going on another cruise (Thanks Joe) we felt it was important they understand what while we’d love to visit—and you know we love you-- (thanks Maria!) we aren’t comfortable with the idea of babysitting (thanks EVERYONE). Then I mentioned the Disney cruise line has babysitting options which two of my sisters have used (giving it personal validation AND showing that I don't even babysit my own kin) and they both felt very comfortable with it.
Then I called Larry in to get his opinion.
Big mistake.
Larry read and ix-nayed the email because she never said anything to him about us watching their kid (this was back before they even HAD A KID and then she said it again to me while she was pregnant...so both times were to me alone) while they went on a cruise. He wants to call and speak with her in person.
I told him I’m FINE with that, just so long as it’s clear I don’t have to babysit. That actually speaking over the phone would eliminate any potential misinterpretation of a written email (thanks EVERYONE).
I think she’ll still wrap him around her finger. I may hire a bunch of birds and have them squawk around the phone when he calls her.
The hammer finally dropped regarding my expectation that we would be asked to babysit a child we've never seen while her parents go on a Florida cruise. Last week we received an email from Canadian friend asking for dates when they can come for a visit. I told Larry I wanted to write the response back.
Before you read what I wrote, here are a few comments ({cough} complaints) this guest has made during previous visits. Always spoken to me alone...never to Larry, whose friend she actually is. By the end of the list, you should have a good sense of my feelings toward this person.
• Spare bed is too soft (followed by: “When are you getting a new mattress?”)
• Pillows are too hard
• (Brand new) Towels are too linty and don’t absorb well.
• Patio is too dirty. She had to sweep it herself before she could lounge out there.
• I over-cook everything
• I over-salt everything
• I use too much sugar
• I use too much fat
• I eat too much meat
• I buy too much food
On the other hand,
• I didn’t have orange juice in the frig
• I didn’t have apple juice in the frig (Why don't you have any juice?)
• Or brown rice
• Or green tea
• I snore too loud and woke her up
• Ceiling fan was too noisy
• The birds were too loud (yes,you read that correctly)
• The sprinkler system woke her up
• I didn’t have the right kind of soap to wash her exercise clothes (“How can you not have bar soap? Everyone has bar soap!”)
Thanks to all of you, I wrote up what I thought was a succinct and polite response to her email request that we tell them when was the best time for them to visit {December to March, also known as Winter Cruise Months) because Baby M was so looking forward to meeting her American Foster Grandparents Nonna and Nonne.
(Yes, now we've been given Alternate names. Isn't that how people steal your soul...once they find out your name, they can control you??? Does it count if they name you themselves?)
(here’s what I wrote, paraphrasing): we looked forward to meeting Baby M and visiting with them. December and February were busy but mid-January and March were fine. However, since they’re in the planning/booking stage of their vacation (thanks Traca!) and since The Mom has previously mentioned the idea of going on another cruise (Thanks Joe) we felt it was important they understand what while we’d love to visit—and you know we love you-- (thanks Maria!) we aren’t comfortable with the idea of babysitting (thanks EVERYONE). Then I mentioned the Disney cruise line has babysitting options which two of my sisters have used (giving it personal validation AND showing that I don't even babysit my own kin) and they both felt very comfortable with it.
Then I called Larry in to get his opinion.
Big mistake.
Larry read and ix-nayed the email because she never said anything to him about us watching their kid (this was back before they even HAD A KID and then she said it again to me while she was pregnant...so both times were to me alone) while they went on a cruise. He wants to call and speak with her in person.
I told him I’m FINE with that, just so long as it’s clear I don’t have to babysit. That actually speaking over the phone would eliminate any potential misinterpretation of a written email (thanks EVERYONE).
I think she’ll still wrap him around her finger. I may hire a bunch of birds and have them squawk around the phone when he calls her.