To be irritated by having to fully stock my parents kitchen with food in order to stay for a week?

[taliac]

We are going to my parents for Christmas, and as they usually live off pub lunches and ready meals I'm currently doing a big Sainsbos online shop for them so we can eat and feed the children normally.

I know IABU because they are paying for it.

But I'm irritated because

a) I've got enough to do,

b) I'm worried about how they are eating day to day when I can see that their usual weekly shop consists of biscuits, chocolate, ready meals and fags

and c) Really I want to be a kid again for a week and have someone look after ME for a change, but it just won't happen because they are getting older now and not as healthy as they once were.

Give me a slap please, and tell me to get on with it!

well aint that the truth for us all as i stood squawking no biscuits of no dinner i had the thought i am my mum.i have turned into MrsNoBiscuits

that should be your new name LOL.

LOL i stood in sainsbury in total red faced meltdown squawking "NO BISCUITS".yes that is me alrighty

Eacty, talilac

It's the realisation that someone has to do the gruntwork at Xmas - and that someone is you! And will be for another thirty odd years. I think no one is truly grown up until they've cooked a Christmas dinner while everyone else gets drunk/watches telly/plays with new toys/fights. At least try to get your dh to pitch in and be a boring grown up with you.

Yes indeed juju.

Oh bless!

Mum has just been online and edited the order, adding flour (plain and sr), cream of tartar, bicarb of soda, dumpling mix, batter mix, pastry mix, yeast and baking powder - all "in case you want to do some baking".

I should add that baking isn't really something I generally do that much of..

Still its the thought that counts. Wonder what the hell I could do with that lot? Or shall I quietly suggest it comes off the list??

Would she do some baking with the DC? A week's stay is quite a long time, you could have a baking morning and then have afternoon tea together to scoff the lot...

Actually, I'd love to be able to do that next time we go to my MIL's! She is lovely, but like that has gotten totally out of the way of cooking for a family- think she lives on fish suppers and biscuits! So when we do go she cooks odd things (she put some lovely sirloin steaks in the oven for an hour once- they were like shoe leather), and serves them up to us on side-plates. It drives DH mad. She makes ok soup, though, but served it up to us in pyrex mixing bowls. She also buys lots of junk in for the kids (oh, can the 8mth-old not have this mars bar then?), so I would be more than happy to use her cash to buy in provisions to suit

taliac, I have 2 kids too and my mum is 81

I do ALL the running about now, I'm the parent now

I don't think you've got too much to complain about

Oh, I know I don't have anything to complain about.

And yet I am regardless.

Because I can!

Yes I think mum baking with DDs is a brilliant idea..

YABU.

But if you want revenge, have extra showers and use all the OAP winter fuel allowance they got.

Its a very dickensian christmas this year.

i heart harley.

I do understand why you are complaining, we went to my Mums for my dd's first christmas and it was lovely. My Mum did all the cooking and buying etc and made it really special, she was always good at doing a buffet/party tea, making loads more than was needed etc and making everything special.

But she died 18 months ago, be thankful for what you have. My Mum wasn't perfect and neither is yours. Enjoy your self, get over your self, they won't be there forever. Imagine christmas without them, that should give you the kick up the bum you need.

You are so right BLD!

Its done, its done!

And I will go and be happy and lovely, and enjoy feeding them all, and not criticise the pub lunches and biscuits.. Though I might tut a bit over the fagging it up (she's very good about keeping it away from the LOs though)

But I'll still clear all the gone off food out of the fridge and the cupboards.. And I'll make sure I leave lots of new food, just so I have something to throw away on my next visit..