It’s great to have family around for the holidays because you get a chance to catch up with everyone about what’s going on with their lives, and how people are doing in this crazy time of the world that we’re living in. But there is always something wonderful about people leaving and going home.
We’ve had my wife’s brother and family in town for the last few days which is nice because it gives the kids a chance to play with one another and we get to relax and talk. But what about people invading your home? I’m all about people staying and feeling at home, but where do you draw the line?
To give a little background, I work in a computer type job that requires me to be near a computer at all times. I’m on call and typically people need me to help assist in some way or another. I usually have my laptop nearby at all times in case something comes up and someone needs help. So the out of town family keeps looking at me like I’m crazy. When everyone is sitting around watching football, i’d rather be reading the latest tech article, or chatting with a friend.
I keep my computer in my office usually booted up ready to go on the drop of a dime. Well, my family has taken over 3 rooms of our house including my office. I attempted to grab my computer the other night after the kids go to bed, and my sister in law looked at me like I was a crazy serial killer and said, NO, you can’t go in there because the baby is sleeping. I replied, ok, the baby’s asleep, that’s great so I can grab my stuff and get some work done. She reiterated the fact that the baby was asleep and under no circumstances was i allowed to enter the room. We exchanged puzzled looks at one another and I just walked away.
A few minutes later, my sister in law came to me and said, if you need your computer, go get it now. Now I was stunned. I got the smack down put to me by someone I invited to my house. How completely messed up is that? So there’s been these little jabs all week long that have been driving me out of my mind. People don’t clean, they like to give orders to my kids, but what about theirs? ARG, go home already! They were supposed to leave early this morning, but decided to hang around one more day…..
So, tomorrow i’ll wake up bright and early, make a hearty breakfast for everyone, help them pack the car, then wish them well on their way. It just can’t come soon enough. It will probably be another year before we see them, but next year I’m going to ask that we go to their house! ☺