Since they moved in Claire has just taken over where they put things and when it will get put away. Biff just goes along with it. They had invaded our fridge with Ally’s medicine – even after they had hooked up their own. After Richard and I returned home from Costco one day I took it upon myself to move the remainder of Ally’s medicine into their small fridge and told them that I needed our fridge for actual food.
Richard and I had to restack their
items that they put in my brand new shed.
Exploded and unorganized. It
still is, but at least Richard was able to make some space for our things. On the plus side we are finally able to get
to the Christmas tree. So kudos to them
for that – I guess. Still haven’t found
a home for the fish tank which takes up so much room. They don’t need to hang on to all that they
brought with them. Why did they bring it? But I suppose we could say the same about all
the stuff I have yet to sort through for myself.
The latest assumption was when
Richard invited Biff to go and see some Marvel movie that I, of course, have no
interest in. Claire, upon hearing the
invitation, asked if she could go or if it was just a boy thing. Richard really didn’t mind taking her but
made it clear that Ally would be staying home with me and would not be going to
the movies with them.
I don’t know if Claire looks at me
as incompetent – which I probably am when it comes to Ally. I definitely do not have Claire’s gift of
patience or her compassion towards Ally. Richard and I have raised our children
– and we were old parents when we had Jaime.
Jaime was pretty perfect compared to most children and Ally is on a
complete different end of the scale. Richard
and I are old – raised in an entirely different generation. We don’t have the tolerance for having to put up with Ally’s behavior behind
closed doors. Why would we want to
subject ourselves to that?
Claire suggested that they take Ally
to the movies and they could watch Gru in one theatre while the boys watched
the Marvel movie in the other. Ally
would really like the experience of
being in the theatre. Ally is
spoiled. Nevermind that the Marvel movie
and Gru are two different lengths and would not start or end at the same
time. Richard did not give in. Said Gru was available on our TV and Ally
could watch it from the couch.
But you can’t experience theatre
popcorn from the couch. The TV is so
much smaller. Whip out the violins! If giving Ally the theatre experience is
really that important to you, then Claire and Biff need to set aside 30 – 50 dollars
and take Ally to the movies themselves!
Wouldn’t it be more meaningful for them to “give” that gift to Ally
instead of constantly “taking”. Perhaps
it’s an ADD thing. Give them an inch and
they want a mile. If you’re not going to allow us to discipline Ally as we see
fit than don’t expect us to be present for any outburst that she may have. And she will have them. She has at least one meltdown a day.
Biff and Richard ended up going to the movies by themselves. I have heard Ally laugh. I have seen her smile. She had three meltdowns from the time I started this post and now posting. I wish the weather had been more promising and I had gone to Ashland. But Jaime did get some things accomplished and managed to enjoy herself. So that's good.
