tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post1006781494521170859..comments2023-08-15T11:03:58.591-04:00Comments on Adventures in Sparkland: The Cruelest CutsSparkling Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12799366562472325812noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-38556914870610859722009-10-13T14:05:01.444-04:002009-10-13T14:05:01.444-04:00wigsf: Avoidance is one of my key strategies at t...wigsf: Avoidance is one of my key strategies at the moment. I can more or less deal with each individual one-on-one, but the big get-togethers can get out of control.<br /><br />LL Cool Joe: I am very lucky in that I can get along with my mum, most of the time. We have to work for that relationship, but at least she's willing and able to meet me halfway. <br /><br />Jenski: I do spend one-on-one time with some of my relatives, like my youngest aunt. That always seems to work out well. <br /><br />Scarlet: I did have a good time with my friend. She's busy planning a big wedding, so I'm enjoying hearing about her dress-shopping expeditions, etc. :-)Sparkling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799366562472325812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-75159631903105395262009-10-12T23:53:36.803-04:002009-10-12T23:53:36.803-04:00I think it's sweet the way you treated your mo...I think it's sweet the way you treated your mom the night before and I'm sure she appreciated it immensely. I can see how it would bother you to see those you love being hurt by the insensitivity of other people. Who wants to be around all that negativity??<br /><br />I hope you had fun catching up with your friend from overseas!Scarlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17560614073319109150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-45871959979808556192009-10-12T19:32:52.923-04:002009-10-12T19:32:52.923-04:00It amazes me how people who have known each other ...It amazes me how people who have known each other their whole lives can be so mean and nasty all the time. :-( Sad that even at holidays and big gatherings they can't be set aside. Do you have opportunities for smaller gatherings? Like one-on-one? :-)<br /><br />And you set a great image of you and your Mom fed and hanging out on the couch! Sounds cozy.Jenskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05368202166540468533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-26305208614750558102009-10-12T16:15:48.916-04:002009-10-12T16:15:48.916-04:00I loved the last part about how you gave your Mum ...I loved the last part about how you gave your Mum some quality time.<br /><br />Unfortunately there are aspects of the family drama you described that I can relate to, but most of the feuds in our family, are caused by my mother.<br /><br />I don't have an suggestions, but I do understand totally how it can bring you down. :(LL Cool Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13916666100971008775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-26117524252598948702009-10-12T15:14:28.700-04:002009-10-12T15:14:28.700-04:00Family get togethers don't make any sense to m...Family get togethers don't make any sense to me anymore. I try to avoid them as much as possible.wigsfhttp://whatigotsofar.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-89515263417680723332009-10-12T10:43:45.050-04:002009-10-12T10:43:45.050-04:00Ron: I think that's the best thing I can do; ...Ron: I think that's the best thing I can do; spend less time with them as a large group. Ever since my grandparents' health started failing, the stress has made all the little bickerings so much worse. It's too much.<br /><br />darcknyt: Thanks. I'm always grateful for prayer. Family is indeed a Thing. :-)<br /><br />Kate: You speak the truth. If I'm present at one of those gatherings, I think I'll always want to run interference, for my own sake as much as everyone else's.<br /><br />DarcsFalcon: I'm kind of relieved to hear that I didn't miss something obvious - that it really is a Catch 22 situation. For now I'm going to carry on, but I'm planning to spend less time with my family at these obligatory gatherings. I've been skipping every other invitation, and that's definitely helping.<br /><br />powdergirl: I'll find my way. It's only temporary - my grandparents will only live for another few years, and then it's anyone's guess what the new dynamic will be. We're all mainly trying to keep up appearances for my grandparents, so after they're gone the call of duty will be less or nil.<br />I'm glad that your family doesn't behave like that. At least I have another half of my family that knows how to behave decently.<br /><br />Nicole: You would most certainly end up strangling some of them, and I would be cheering you on. ;-)Sparkling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799366562472325812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-22266708802588705752009-10-12T10:02:46.734-04:002009-10-12T10:02:46.734-04:00I'm glad you could do something good for yours...I'm glad you could do something good for yourself and your Mom.<br />And I hope she won't have such a bad day today.<br />I totally understand that you won't want to hang out with them guys. I would probably end up strangling them ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06735273216574108695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-7466722192655714442009-10-11T23:33:29.740-04:002009-10-11T23:33:29.740-04:00I don't know what to tell you Sparkly, my fami...I don't know what to tell you Sparkly, my family just doesn't act like that.<br /><br />Hope you can find a way to navigate this without costing yourself too much though, sounds rough.anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03703233313854600531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-34370356752632956852009-10-11T19:31:58.352-04:002009-10-11T19:31:58.352-04:00"I do not wish to carry on in my current role...<i>"I do not wish to carry on in my current role of rodeo clown. I'm not prepared to disown my family entirely."</i><br /><br />You leave yourself few options hon. Those <i>are</i> your only choices - to either accept and deal with the situation as it is, or leave. It's a terrible dilemma, and one I can totally relate to. I've lived it, so you have my full sympathy. <br /><br />For your own sanity though, you'll have to make a choice. Doing nothing is not going to change the situation, as I'm sure you're aware. You'll have to decide if what you're getting out of these relationships is worth the hassle. If it's not, there's nothing really to prevent you from walking away. Sometimes you just have to do that with toxic people, as hard as it is. If there is some benefit to you in these relationships, then you really can only just deal with it as it is, knowing nothing is going to change. <br /><br />You'll be in my prayers. *hugs*DarcsFalconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01757804686134389853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-46262371478853748492009-10-11T17:39:49.728-04:002009-10-11T17:39:49.728-04:00I can try so hard not to jump in and rescue people...I can try so hard not to jump in and rescue people, but I can't NOT. I get ya, girlie. And hang in there.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542230897888388433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-68014992514371429982009-10-11T16:15:09.099-04:002009-10-11T16:15:09.099-04:00I don't have any suggestions, Sparky. Good lu...I don't have any suggestions, Sparky. Good luck. Families are a real ... <i>thing</i>, aren't they?<br /><br />I'll say a prayer for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620546355443994788.post-49396275683284982562009-10-11T14:22:49.712-04:002009-10-11T14:22:49.712-04:00{{HUGS}} In stressful situations like these gather...{{HUGS}} In stressful situations like these gatherings seem to be then the wisest choice is to remove yourself from that environment. Perhaps instead of attending these events you arrange to celebrate birthdays or whatever on a one on one basis instead of with the pack or limit your involvement to small controllable groups.Warped Mind of Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15670039992710968421noreply@blogger.com