Gamma’s visit went off without a hitch. Â Essentially I carefully avoided any trigger topics that might lead to the discussion of anything uncomfortable. Â I did it as much for her as I did for me. Â We have a history of these heart to hearts that usually end in me crawling into bed and crying on Hubs shoulder or one of us being absolutely horrified/disappointed/sad.
Okay, well, there was this one moment.
I found these great Grandparent journals. Â They ask questions about how Gamma and Pops met. Â What was their favorite toy or vacation. Â What was the popular song…really safe stuff, but a way for the grandchild to understand their grandparent’s generation etc. Â Just cute..
Well one of my uncles is working on a family tree and is asking some basic questions of everyone and their spouses (where/when born, where/when parents born.) Â Not digging out any skeletons.
So Gamma mentioned the family tree and I then said that I wanted her and Dad to do these journals for my kids.
Oh boy! Â I knew that one of my great grandaunts had had some difficulties and my mom always pinpoints them whenever we talk about the good old days and it’s as if these isolated incidents color her whole concept of family history.
Somehow she interpreted these innocuous and innocent journals as my way of asking her to publish these very painful and private memories of her grandaunt.
I’m still going to send this journal (pointedly addresses to both Mom AND Dad) but with a note of jovialty and pics of their youngest granddaughter. Â You know, butter ‘em up
Pictures are always good for buttering.
re: the photos… I agree… thats what Ive done… along with a short explanatory note on the back of the framed photo…
~shoes~
Parents eh? Talk about walking on eggshells.
Ack!
Ain't no dispute like a family dispute because a family dispute don't stop!
Pearl
No good deed goes unpunished. Good intentions often get trampled on when it comes to family stuff. I like your blog and I signed up to follow. Stop by mine if you like. http://www.boomerpie.com/
OWO: Now if only Gamma and Pops were only more internet friendly, they'd be greasier than the cast of Jersey Shore.
Shoes: yeah, yeah, that would mean I'd have to print and mail. Darn you old fashioned folk. (But you're right, nothing is better that a picture to hold in your hand.)
Uber: you ain't lying. All for the sake of keeping the peace, sheesh!
Pearl: thanks, now you got me white girl rapping over here. It isn't pretty.
Boomer: thanks for stopping by! And you are SO RIGHT!