Sue, I like the idea of treating my inlaws as if I first met them. I'm going to try that, I'm really struggling with the whole thing, yet I don't see them that much, so it shouldn't be as big of a thing as I'm making it. We have a b-day party here in a few weeks and I'll try the new and polite method.
Deb, I sure do find that we are slipping into old habits and need to break them. I find our common interests are things that we do--hike, travel, bike ride, it is the evenings that seem so mundane, need to change that around.
M, as always good to see you! I do forget that they are sensitive, I think the guilt possibly is as hard on them as we could ever be. It is funny that while he was gone I worked real hard at doing my own thing and now that he is back I'm letting some of that slip. Next year S4 will be most likely in an all day kindergarten and that will leave me lots of free time to volunteer and do things for me.
Mal, I keep looking at the Va Beach list and missing you guys. You need to have enough fun that you will want to go in September!
Berto, thanks for dropping by, I have been following your sitch, but you seem to be getting great advice over there on your rollercoaster. Video games could work, we are both very competitive and that is pretty low key. PSU could always surprise us this year (got my rose colored glasses on).
We are falling into old patterns, we are doing some of the old things again. I'm thinking about breaking out DR to get some new ideas. I know we have both improved in telling each other ILY and thanking each other for what they do, so there is some improvement. Must work on the getting out together angle.
I find H is getting drawn right back into the stress at work. It seemed around the beginning of the year he put a huge effort out to put us first and I see that slipping. There is a cost cutting team in right now providing incredible stress and H is working on a project to outsource his entire department, so I know it is stressful. He said he is emotionally drained from work.
I'm trying to understand, but I'm feeling like we come second again, and I don't like that. I was going to talk to him about it last night, but he was tired and cranky and thought I'd use what I learned and not talk at a horrible time.
We go on a family vacation next week that we are all looking forward to. I don't know if I should let this drop and see how it is after we all have a break from daily life or if I should pursue the conversation. What do you think?
