Are you having a nice Merry Thanksgiving? Cooking up all those delicious Thanksgiving recipe hub recipes what we made for you to make? Watching some beers, drinking some sportsball with your nearest and dearest? Maybe you are, and good for you! In which case, what are you doing here? Go away and be with your family, sheesh.
My son dropped in to see her tonight (he's good like that). Tonight she was on about how the Mexican gov't was behind all of the illegal immigration because they want to take back the territory they lost in the Mexican-American war. She's totes on board with this because she hates Americans (sorry about that). Somehow for her this was connected with Ferguson, don't ask me how.
When I was just a little thing, 6 or 7, my grandmother was staying at a private home that took in elderly residents (she was... difficult... to live with. Ok, she was a bitch) We went there for Easter dinner, and my mother's heart sank when she saw that the first course was tomato soup, because me and my sister both hated the stuff. she was SO proud of us when we both ate it all up without a whimper, because godammit we were raised to be polite. Now, if it was tomato juice I don't think that I could have done it. I still hate the stuff.
Ah, Brantford! I was there just the other day. and yeah, Canadian Thanksgiving doesn't have the same emotional baggage that the US version does. It's just a nice time of year to go for a drive and enjoy the fall colour, oh and have dinner with the family if they're not too far away. It's not all tied up with national myth, which is nice.
I told my MIL to not tell racist jokes in front of my children. She cooperated. My son is now seeing a lovely black girl. I wonder what my in-laws would think? (both gone now)
First, I love your kids (and, given your anecdote, they're going to turn out perfectly well-adjusted). Second, that the next generation seems far more tolerant (aside from the intolerance some are taught by their parents, of course) makes me actually feel a little bit hopeful.
Over time it would become all but impossible for me to put up with a nitwit like that (alcohol might be a help, but want to be careful as it might not). We don't get into politics, but never really have. There will be discussions about gardens though. The day is pretty good.
It sounds like she is someone you can call out on those remarks, in the gentle, "I know you didn't mean that, Mom," mode.
Also: since she's a reader, buy her a gift subscription to The Nation and/or Mother Jones for xmas. They are cheap, and land in her mailbox when you're not there. They will give her plenty of opportunity for being outraged without the racistsauce.
Believe me, I know that its my brother who has the problem. Kids as young as his have been studied regarding the kind of talk that needs to happen, and they are far more receptive and understanding.
I have four nieces (two from each brother) plus another on the way. I'm going with the odds that say one of my nieces will like flannel and Doc Martens--and I will be there for her when she needs me to be.
I'm pretty sure that at least one of my four nieces already knows. And I'm totally OK with that. Also: See the comment I just posted below...
The only bad Thanksgiving that I can recall was when I was 10, back in 1963. The meal was fine (my mother always did a magnificent job) and everyone got along as we always did. But there was no joy in it, none at all. Everyone was still in a state of shock, and there was very little conversation at the table that year.
I feel your pain. My formerly fairly with-it mom, at 89 announced last week that "they're" moving Buffalo, because it obviously doesn't work having a city there. She also thinks that John Kerry is the puppet master responsible for all the bad stuff happening. And Assad isn't that bad a guy, really.
My son dropped in to see her tonight (he's good like that). Tonight she was on about how the Mexican gov't was behind all of the illegal immigration because they want to take back the territory they lost in the Mexican-American war. She's totes on board with this because she hates Americans (sorry about that). Somehow for her this was connected with Ferguson, don't ask me how.
I'm so glad that my husband is as indifferent as I am to football.
When I was just a little thing, 6 or 7, my grandmother was staying at a private home that took in elderly residents (she was... difficult... to live with. Ok, she was a bitch) We went there for Easter dinner, and my mother's heart sank when she saw that the first course was tomato soup, because me and my sister both hated the stuff. she was SO proud of us when we both ate it all up without a whimper, because godammit we were raised to be polite. Now, if it was tomato juice I don't think that I could have done it. I still hate the stuff.
Ah, Brantford! I was there just the other day. and yeah, Canadian Thanksgiving doesn't have the same emotional baggage that the US version does. It's just a nice time of year to go for a drive and enjoy the fall colour, oh and have dinner with the family if they're not too far away. It's not all tied up with national myth, which is nice.
I told my MIL to not tell racist jokes in front of my children. She cooperated. My son is now seeing a lovely black girl. I wonder what my in-laws would think? (both gone now)
That turkey - that turkey was Anne Boleyn's HEAD
First, I love your kids (and, given your anecdote, they're going to turn out perfectly well-adjusted). Second, that the next generation seems far more tolerant (aside from the intolerance some are taught by their parents, of course) makes me actually feel a little bit hopeful.
No need to restart the Thirty Years War.
Over time it would become all but impossible for me to put up with a nitwit like that (alcohol might be a help, but want to be careful as it might not). We don't get into politics, but never really have. There will be discussions about gardens though. The day is pretty good.
"At least he is too lazy to vote." Praise the material conditions.
It sounds like she is someone you can call out on those remarks, in the gentle, "I know you didn't mean that, Mom," mode.
Also: since she's a reader, buy her a gift subscription to The Nation and/or Mother Jones for xmas. They are cheap, and land in her mailbox when you're not there. They will give her plenty of opportunity for being outraged without the racistsauce.
Believe me, I know that its my brother who has the problem. Kids as young as his have been studied regarding the kind of talk that needs to happen, and they are far more receptive and understanding.
I have four nieces (two from each brother) plus another on the way. I'm going with the odds that say one of my nieces will like flannel and Doc Martens--and I will be there for her when she needs me to be.
I'm pretty sure that at least one of my four nieces already knows. And I'm totally OK with that. Also: See the comment I just posted below...
(P.S.: I love your avatar, zippy.)
The only bad Thanksgiving that I can recall was when I was 10, back in 1963. The meal was fine (my mother always did a magnificent job) and everyone got along as we always did. But there was no joy in it, none at all. Everyone was still in a state of shock, and there was very little conversation at the table that year.
<i>GrrraaaaaaAAACCE!!!</i>
I feel your pain. My formerly fairly with-it mom, at 89 announced last week that &quot;they&#039;re&quot; moving Buffalo, because it obviously doesn&#039;t work having a city there. She also thinks that John Kerry is the puppet master responsible for all the bad stuff happening. And Assad isn&#039;t that bad a guy, really.