St Louis in May, Part 1: Family matters

[muckefuck]

First, a quick wrap-up of everyone's level of crazy:

• The Brother: Crazy but not that crazy. From my sister's reports, I'd expected a fair bit of bizarreness, but he really wasn't any worse than usual for this time of year.
• The Father: Not very crazy. We gave him plenty of guff about his wacky new Chinese smartphone, but at the same time there were rewarding interactions and actual conversations, even with the grandkids around.
• The Stepmother: Stir-crazy. Her foot isn't healing like it should and it's driving her mad. At various points when over at her place, we each had to physically restrain her from getting up and fetching something for us because doctor's orders are to stay off the foot (despite the fact that there's never been a doctor in history who could stop a Jewish mother from Jewish mothering).
• The Mother: Crazy. I spent the time between the christening and the party I was supposed to be helping set up for running around Forest Park on an errand for her that I am forbidden to disclose. She insinuated herself into our trip to the City Museum in an attempt to control my father's behaviour, and I didn't make it over to her place, but bunj did and it was as bad as anyone had feared. In other words, her normal level of crazy, which only stands out due to the comparative sanity of everyone else.
• Nephew #1: Not crazy. He's always to some extant in his own world, but he's happy to have guests.
• Nephew #2: Daredevil at times, but not crazy. Tonnes of fun, in fact.
• Nephew #3: Pretty crazy. It's more than just a case of the terrible twos, it seems: His conversational abilities are lagging even considering his spot in the birth order and it makes him extremely frustrated. Sunday morning I witnessed a full Category 3 meltdown when he couldn't get his parents to give him whatever food it was he wanted.
• Nephew #4: Not crazy. I got to hold him twice and he dozed off in my arms both times.
• The Sister: Not crazy despite the presence of Crazy Brother, three parents, and Nephews #1-4. We still haven't figured out how she manages that.

So overall things went blissfully smoothly. My sister is very laid back when it comes to event planning, so we were able to host forty people or so in her backyard without any last-minute rushing, hair-pulling, or reproaches. (The contrast between this and my mother's entertaining style when we were growing up literally cannot be overstated.)

Comments

[innerdoggie.livejournal.com]

Does your mother have the clutter problem? Mine sure does!

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Oh. My God. We thought moving her to a smaller house would help, but no; it simply means she can no longer find her bed.