Just do what you Already did

Even though you may be loved unconditionally by family, it also can feel like you can’t win.

How many times, especially growing up with your parents, have you been told to do something one specific way, and then when you do, you’re told it should’ve been done another way?

Just me? Well, anyway, my parents were loving and accepting. I thought the world of them.

But as a child, you don’t realize the mental health problems, the mistakes, the lack of integrity.

You don’t see the inconsistency of their words about how important it is to be there for others - be respectful of their time - and then constantly being late. Usually without apologizing.

“Oh, whoops… guess that’s just us.”

And as much as you don’t like to think so… everything like that is related.

I learned around 10 years old that I had a half-brother out there. Just like my sisters, I was eager to meet him.

We were told it was his mother that kept him from us, and that when he was an adult, my father’s one and only meeting with him went off the rails due to miscommunication.

Turns out, none of that was true. He may have never made it into our lives had he not contacted me as an adult instead.

So many things I had to reevaluate over the years.

Now, as a major milestone birthday is coming up, that my parents last year swore they would travel to me for… well, more complication.

They said I didn’t give them enough notice, when there was the plan, and I had been discussing it with my sisters the whole time.

I even made a refundable room booking and emailed them about it. No response for two days, so I sent a text.

To bring it full circle, they finally called me to discuss it - because of my sister’s. My mom said if I want her to pay attention to an email, I should text her as well.

You know… the thing I already did. Oh well, at least they booked their own room now.