They are pleasant, middle-class types who volunteer a lot, have lots of friends, get plenty of exercise and have a lovely garden. They are at either end of their seventies.
They both drink too much. In a middle-class way, so nothing during the day or hidden. Only from 6pm on, but too much too fast. They have always done this, even in my teens, but back then they were happy, silly drunks who my friends all thought were really cool . Now they are often angry, nasty, and bitter towards each other. No violence, but unpleasantness, sniping and sometimes swearing. Occasionally, within earshot of the grandchildren (my DCs, 6 and 4). Dad is going deaf and refuses a hearing aid "because they don't work". Mum hates him for this. She also hates him for other things which are mainly not a big deal, unless you have lived with someone for 45 years. Dad is usually vague and wafty, but occasionally nasty in return, mostly on nights (like tonight) when he's apparently had too much to drink. All day, though, they are pleasant, kind and helpful. the worst of it probably starts after 8pm, and my kids are usually in bed by then.
For various reasons I need to go away next month for five days with DH and I was going to leave the kids with them (as we don't have anyone else to leave them with). Now I just don't want to. Not sure if I am being silly though, given that I survived growing up with them for 20 years. If this isn't enough, I have kid issues too with my 6-year-old, because she can't make any friends. I hate being 42 years old. It sucks and I hate it.
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Parents are becoming toxic - I was going to say it was a childcare issue, but really I just want to offload
19 replies
msjudgeypants · 15/04/2012 06:17
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