Irritated by parents already😩

[Bellyblueboy]

I am an awful person. My parents are staying for Christmas - only arrived today - and I am already irritated.

The constant passive aggressive questions - the long, boring stories about people I don’t know - the complete lack of interest in my life

All my Electrical appliances have been unplugged so the remote controls no longer work. I will have to crawl under the Christmas trees now to turn them back on (don’t know how my dad managed to get under there, he is 80!).

the TV is up so loud I can’t think. They brought the contents of their fridge with them - I had to put most of it in the bin!

my mum keeps asking me are we having (fill in some obscure food item she never mentioned before) then looking disappointed when I say I didn’t know she wanted it. I went to Tesco to try and find Turkish delight with no chocolate because apparently it just isn’t Christmas without it.

i am already so irritated I could scream. They are elderly. They can’t help it. But in fairness they have always been a bit annoying, they have just lost their filter.

I am trying to find it funny. But failing. Every time I move my dad asks me what I am doing. Where I am going. Aggghhhh

Actually, I am quite invested in this now!

How come your remote controls don’t work? The whole point of them is that they’re not plugged in in the first place!

They’ll have swapped them round or be using the wrong one for the wrong appliance. I’m not joking but I had to stick post it note instructions on the remotes last time my dad came to visit!!
the turning plugs off thing back fired on him when he switched the tv and everything else connected to the extension lead off at the wall before bed and then he got up first in the morning to find it freezing cold cos he’d turned the WiFi and the hive hub off too so the heating hadn’t come on.

Give it time! 🤣

🤣🤣🤣

Yes, mid stage Parkinson’s at 63,, tough and achy now

What is it with bringing all the old food when the household is likely to have a full fridge?? Some people really need to make a casserole or a compote (in the case of fruit) before they come away and freeze it, instead of bringing it!

All the appliances are switched off and Unplugged. I have smart plugs for most lights - and all the Christmas lights. They don’t work now because nothing is plugged in!

I am not allowed TVs on standby: even wall mounted have been switched off

I know people age differently but I am nearly 80 and still as switched on and capable as I’ve always been. And so are all my friends of the same age. I would be very hurt if my daughter talked about me like that. If your parents are not quite as capable now please don’t show annoyance.

Everybody complains about family members occasionally. I suspect unless you are an absolute saint you have managed to piss someone off - even your daughters.

The fact that you even came on to post this suggests you are a little pious and not quite the perfect human being you think you are😇.

i know i am flawed - i know my parents grumble about me occasionally. I am realistic - maybe you are perfect: but it seems unlikely

I suspect you're not the PITA that the OP's parents are though.

The fact that this lady felt superior enough to come on and lecture me, after I explained about the eating disorder and some other things about my childhood would suggest she probably is oblivious to her own faults. I suspect there is a daughter out there holding her tongue and complaining to her friends😇🤣

I suspect some parents don't realise how annoying or intense their behaviour can be to their young adult children. I have been guilty of it myself occasionally, badgering my adult DC a bit! 😬 You've got to know when to stop though.

Hope tomorrow is a good day anyway. Merry Christmas! 🎄

What line? This was pretty lighthearted tbh. They’re elderly not saints! It’s actually quite patronising to imagine the elderly become angelic idiots

Yes lightheaded, completely concur with you Sincere Soul 💚🤗💚

I'm elderly. I love my kids and am very close to them. They also love me back the same, however none of us would inflict days of togetherness on each other. A few hours here and there are lovely and we leave on a high every time. It's mutual respect for different generations-it works for us.

@Bellyblueboy they're your parents ,why are you making yourself miserable.
Is there any chance they can go home early.
I think you're going to have to put yourself first.

Could you come up with increasingly convoluted and acrobatic ways of plugging in your appliances, so your dad has a new challenge each day? 😆

Not rtft only your posts OP as it looked like a ‘how dare you not worship your parents’ pile on from people who have probably never been at the sharp end of caring for elderly relatives, or even hosting like this. It’s not relevant that half of my parents and PILs are dead, not in the slightest, and it certainly doesn’t invalidate your right to be frustrated and vent on here. FWIW I’m
not hosting FIL, not a snowflake in hell’s chance, so you’re a better person than me! I’m sorry about your ED and the lack of support, you definitely need some self care in these next few days. Just because they’re old doesn’t mean their wants trump your needs, get yourself out for a walk or a quick coffee with a friend, do what you need to. Happy Christmas.

One of my parents has dementia. It's truly shit. Be grateful you still have them, appreciate them while you can, loud TVs and all.

Feel for you (and yes you'll get loads of comments about be grateful they're still here etc!!!!) well, my dad died at the end of September, yet at Christmas he was ANNOYING, he was always a selfish Scrooge type character, wouldn't spend even the slightest amount of money and caused chaos every year and massive arguments over winter fuel payments and expected my mum to produce Christmas presents for the grandchildren without actually parting with any money!!! Did I love him dearly, yes, do I miss him, of course. But, I absolutely empathise with the OP trying to deal with an 80 year old who insists on switching everything off (my dad did this with other people's heating and hot water), over paid the gas and electric on their bills to the extent we got over £1000 refund when he died!!
Hopefully OP they will relax a little and you can offload without every one piling on the 'be thankful' bandwagon. Merry Christmas xx

I don't understand "I am not allowed". This is your house. They are guests in your home. Surely you can give them a straightforward instruction "you are not to unplug any appliance in my house, do you understand?, none". And if it happens again create such a stink they'll either go home or stop.

It's.

Your.

House.

Merry Christmas, I hope the day goes well today!

There’s having a bit of a moan and there’s being mean about your harmless but slightly irritating 80 year old parents on a website with a big readership, and this one crossed the line.

The "line" was well and truly crossed at unplugging appliances and rearranging the kitchen!

You sound absolutely lovely. A bit like my exPIL. They just helped out. Were great with the kids. (FIL did eat all my chocolate muffins once but that’s another matter!) I miss my MIL, she was awesome!

She does. We do. But we can also moan about them!