Weird Parents Club

It's pretty clear that my husband is a card carrying member of the Weird Parents Club.

Actually, I think he's more like a VIP.

I'm a member too, however, with my own mother getting quirkier the older she gets.

I was bemoaning my Weird Parents Club membership with my BFF, a gold-medallion member herself, because I haven't heard a peep out of my mom (no emails, texts, or phone calls) since the end of September.

Like 30 days.

I suppose that's not as bad as the fact that my husband hasn't gotten so much as a few random emails let alone a package from his own parents since he's been deployed.

Sadly, that's just become par for the course, though I did get annoyed enough to email them about the amazing powers of the internet and the mighty US Postal Service just in case they were waiting for a special invitation to contact their son.

I swear they're going to force him to go into AA. Alligators Anonymous (as in he was raised by a couple of alligators).

There's a good chance my mom has always been this weird and I just never noticed. It's much easier to ignore someone's oddities when you're around them every day. 

But when you're grown up and have kids of your own, you get less understanding of the weirdness.

Like the time she called me two days after she had been taken to the hospital for heart problems.

"I didn't want to worry you," she said.

Nice.

Or the time she visited for four days and pack one outfit that she just washed over and over again.

At least the one outfit happened to be her own clothes. A few years ago, every item she had on was something I had put away for Goodwill. In 1997.

Maybe it's because she's my own mom and not my in-laws, or that when I do get to talk with her and the kids get to see her, she's amazing. She's the grandmom who will sit and read books with my kids for hours. She's the one you want to have visit for a few weeks after your babies arrive because she cleans and cooks and will take the baby on hour long walks to give you a break but never ever wears out her welcome. 

I love my mom. And I can't wait for her to get here on Friday.

But boy is she weird.

Comments

[Maxine]

There should be a WPA (weird parents anonymous) I think. Many people that are members just don't talk about it :)

[Asianmommy]

Haha! I love my mom, too. She really takes care of me. She's an immigrant to the US, so I rationalize that she's considered normal for her country of origin. :)

[muskrat]

You going to bring her to my area of the 'hood? Lemme know if you do. Daddy D'z ribs are a great way to show visitors what up in the ATL.

[Issa]

Oh that's good that she's coming to visit. K, I spent the last two weekends without my husband and it made me think of you. Seriously, if I lived close, I'd offer to keep them for a day.

Snort at the same outfit though.

My dad and step-mom definitely qualify. I may write a whole post about their weirdness. Soon. Very soon.

[Amira @ DefineMature.com]

My mom certainly has her quirks, but she's head over heels for Aiman. She had three girls and always wanted a boy, so she spoils and loves Aiman rotten.

Sometime I do have to remind her that he IS MY CHILD. Please do not teach or give him things that will cause me a butt load of trouble.

It's all love though, definitely all love.

[Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com]

I have the complete opposite problem from Karen Chatters. Certain relatives keep offering advice, telling me what I need to do, and grabbing my kid from my arms sans invitation. WHEN I WANT TO GIVE HER UP, I WILL. And when I want your opinion, I'll ask. ARGH.

[SoMo]

I think my parents are weird, because their parents were weird, but my parents are annoying weird.

After my first daughter was born, my grandmother stayed with us while my grandfather was in the hospital. The woman couldn't sit still for a second, never could. I informed her that I don't iron my husband shirts, because I hate to. I will run them to the dry cleaners. She snuck into our laundry room and ironed them. Also, she made enough pasta sauce to last us the next century. Unforunately, I couldn't have tomatoes with my first. Another big weird thing was that grandma named all their cows after family members and sometimes would have them slaughtered for meat. We would ask who are we having for dinner, tonight? My grandfather was weird on a whole other level. I do miss them, though. Those were the good ole days.

[Karen Chatters]

Weird. My mom drives me nuts. I just spent the weekend with her and she didn't once get down to play with C. My dad was all about playing with C, my mom, not so much. And not once has she offered to babysit. I know, a minor detail, but my dad has offered multiple times. And C is the first, and only, grandchild. I feel bad complaining but it drives me batty.

[Keyona]

Awww...she sounds awesome. I love my mom, a lot, but if she stayed with me one of us wouldn't make it out alive. And that would be sad for my dad.

[The New Girl (Gold Member)]

Oh, come ON. You didn't even bust out the greatest hits? The ballet lipstick? The brother's underwear?

I've DOCUMENTED the weirdness. With PHOTOS. If you recall. The carpet-layer's tee-shirt ring a bell?

lmfao.

[ali_rn]

mine oh yeah, weird. dad lives 20 mins away and sees my kids maybe 2-3 times a year for 2-4 hours. mom is very present but yeah thats waaayyy to big a story for a comment.

[Dawn]

Wow! I feel ya! I relate to so much of this.

My own mom passed away before my kids were born, but she could have been President of the National Society of Weird Parents.

She broke her arm once when I was 500 miles away at college. And called me at 5:00 a.m. when she got home from the ER. She was not thrilled when my roommate told her I wasn't there and was at my boyfriend's. So she called him. At 5:00 a.m. and proceeded to lecture me about how she wasn't paying for me to go to college so I could shack up with my boyfriend. Of course, I just wondered what the hell I was supposed to do about her broken arm at (hello!) 5:00 in the morning. On a Saturday, by the way. From 500 miles away. Without a car.

My mother-in-law and stepmother-in-law are also members of that club, but there are waaaaaay too many examples to choose just one.

[Jane]

Parents are great. My in-laws are weird too. They have no idea when my husband was born, and don't attend our kids birthdays because, get this: THERE IS NOTHING THERE FOR THEM.

[Parentopia Devra]

When my mother visits she always forgets to pack underwear so we have to run by Target (not paid to say that) and some up. How does one continually forget underwear?

I know. Weird. Is there a monthly fee for the club or must I make application? I think I want in!

[Secretia Teller]

All people feel that their parents are either weird or boring. Mine were weird.

Secretia