The “friend” was my mother. The gift was Revlon’s Sugar Sugar Lip Topping. The price was $9.99. The purchase total was $47. My mom owed me $25 from a prior purchase I made for her, so in essence she loaned me $22. As soon as we left the store I head straight for an ATM to get some cash. I gave her $25 because I didn’t have smaller bills. She threw an unholy shit fit, insisting repeatedly that I really owed her $32, not $22, and she hated covering stuff for me, wouldn’t do it again, blah blah blah blah blah.
I’m pissed. I’m hurt. And I’m disgusted. Why disgusted? After her bitch fit, I drive to another ATM and take out a $20 (silly ATMs refusing to stock and offer $10s!) and give it to her. For fuck’s sake, if the money is that important…
Then she gets all contrite and tries to give the money back. Not contrite over being wrong – I don’t know if she even realized her mathematical error, and if she did would she even admit it?. No, contrite over upsetting me. Screw that. I took her home, and she seemed honestly surprised that I wasn’t coming in with Alyssa and Ryan to have dinner with her and my brothers, as was our original plan.
Right. She wants to nickel and dime me over every little thing (such as last week when she bought a cake mix and asked me to make it, then demanded reimbursement when I told her she would have to buy butter for the mix, as I was all out), and I’m going to come in and have dinner with her? Thanks but no thanks. I’d rather keep my money and use it for something else. Besides, I have food at home.
Meanwhile, I never ask for money or other contributions towards meals I make for her and/or my brothers or my grandfather. 99.9% of the time when we go out, I pick her up in my car, using my gas. That’s seven miles each way, plus whatever running around we do. I don’t ask for money, I don’t ask for gas.
Anyway, back to her wanting me to let bygones be bygones and still have dinner with her. Not happening. I dropped her off, helped her take her stuff in, retrieved my laptop, and then went home.
I then made my earlier post, then called up Dan to unload my frustrations on him. His suggestion of an explanation to my mom was simple: “She started out with $47 and ended with $47 plus the makeup. So what’s missing? Nothing!” I think Sara may be right. Toddler speak is obviously the way to go. Throwing around figures just isn’t working.
I read the first few pages of alli’s “Are you losing it?“, and have found myself nodding in agreement and feeling encouraged. I will probably hop on the bandwagon with alli, but that won’t be for… well, I don’t know how long. I suspect Ryan may have a cow’s milk allergy, so my plan of beginning the weaning process around a year of age may be put on hold. I’m not going to switch to formula or specialized milk substitutes – why do something so costly and unimportant? I’ll continue to breastfeed Ryan and pump milk for him (I do want to encourage sippy cup usage – so far he has not taken to a sippy cup very well!), and try introducing cow’s milk at a later time.
In the meantime, I’ll be slowly and steadily plodding towards my goal of weighing 240 lbs. by my 24th birthday. One pound a week… making little changes each day. Several months ago I cut out milk from my diet. The only time I have milk now is if it’s in something, or if I have cereal (maybe once or twice a week). Yesterday I parked at one end of a parking lot and walked all the way to the other to get to the store (while carrying Ryan!), then back again and then some to go to another store. I drink a lot of water. I skimp on mashed potatoes or french fries and load up on vegetables.
It’s really about the small things, the details that make an impact. In my first week, I lost 1.3 lbs. W00t!
All right, this entry has gotten rather long winded… sorry guys! I’ll wrap things up now… my bed is calling.
I sure hope your mom doesn’t read this.
Good luck on your weight loss goal!
Your mother was being terribly ridiculous about all that. If you say you’ll get a gift for her that costs 10 dollars, and then need 10 dollars from her to pay it, and proceed to pay her BACK 10 dollars, you’ve just bought her a gift.
You don’t need to give her 20, because that’s effectively her having $30 dollars worth of stuff.
I can’t believe your mum was being so overdramatic about it
Hi, I am just visiting….bye!
http://www.lucianobove.blogspot.com :cool:
Oi, your mom. I wouldn’t have stayed for dinner either. Next time, do break out the toddler speak. haha
I guess I don’t get it either. She left with the same amount she started with and she got the lip stuff so what is she out? Nothing. She actually gained so I’m not quite sure why she doesn’t see that.
Whoa…I read this post and your earlier one and I could have SWORN you were talking about MY mother. Weird!
Can you believe that alli stuff has it written on the warnings TO BRING A CHANGE OF PANTS with you everywhere you go???????? I think it may make you shit yourself or something. It’s selling like crazy though.
I saw it on TV… do a google search for “alli change of pants”.
aww im sorry. i think that it was wrong what she did. i would be pissed too. i seen the alli but never really looked into it.
Sounds exactly like my mother. She’ll be like buy me this and I’ll pay you back but then she gives the exact amount to the penny but if you do it she’ll flip. She also likes to pull the “well i did this that and this other thing awhile back” so she can avoid paying. It’s so incredibly irritating, ugh. I avoid anything involving money with her for that exact reason.
Hmm your mother and you certainly have different ideas of “sharing”. Money is the root of all evil – and unfortunately also the root to many good things. Between people it’s usually bad though. I hope you two figure out a fair agreement.