It was a Thursday and I was sick–the kind of sick when a mom throws on some clothes, drives to the nearest Redbox, and rents the kids a couple of movies so that she can crash on the couch. I did nothing on that day, nothing but rest, that is. My in-laws were coming the next day, and I figured the best thing I could do was rest. I hoped I’d have the energy to clean the house the next morning. We’ve gotten into the habit of cleaning and picking up the house for a half hour after nap time, but on this day I didn’t have the energy. I made sure the kids straightened up their own rooms, then let them watch TV. Again I crashed on the couch.
The door bell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone and almost didn’t get up even to see who it was, but curiosity got the better of me and I went to the door and tip toed so I could see through the peep hole. There stood my in-laws from Nebraska.
I threw the door open and greeted them with my stringy hair and no make-up (thankfully, I was dressed). “Hi!” was all I could say. Then in very Esther fashion (thinking fast when I’m flustered is not my best trait), I blurted out, “I’m so…surprised!” as we all still stood there in the door way.
“Why are you surprised?” asked my father in-law.
Still big eyed and open mouthed I replied, “I thought you were coming … tomorrow!” Then realizing we were all still standing in the door way, I gathered my wits and invited them in. They were just as surprised as I was that we weren’t expecting them! I told them truthfully that I didn’t mind one bit that they were here a day earlier than I expected. I love having family stay with me, and as I told them, that way I had a good excuse for the house not being perfectly clean!
We are not sure where the communication broke down. My father-in-law thought he told my husband that they were coming Thursday (and he may have) but my husband remembered Friday.
I’d like to say that’s what happens when the women leave the planning to the men, but that wouldn’t be very nice now, would it?
No, that wouldn’t be nice. I seem to have women in my life who plan like that – not even knowing what day of the week they were living in…
All very well colour-coordinated, I must add. Do people from Nebraska only wear red? What do they do to you if they catch you wearing, like, green for example? Or even worse, yellow?
Sounds like something that would happen to me. I love the picture. One time my husband invited a family of five for Sunday diinner after church–and forgot to tell me. We had to start from scratch and come up with something, but he helped me.
I hope you got to rest anyways. It is a surprise but can be a good surprise??
It would be completely true. Nice or not.
I love Robin’s question about wearing red. Lol. I hope you still got to rest up that day! Makes a funny story. 🙂
I hope you were still able to get some rest!
Haha, Sue and I did the same on my birthday, going around the lunch – supper bush again and again, until we were both confused about when we were seeing each other. It nearly turned out skew! Why, oh why is communication so often so clear?!?!?
This same thing happened to me this Thursday, but not so extreme. My husband told me my in-laws would be coming late Thursday night. Much too late for dinner he said. I was thinking around 8 or 9. They showed up at 4:30. “Oh, you’re early!” I said. My house was so messy. I thought I had a few more hours to clean.
Esther,
Your stories crack me up!!!! I hope we meet face to face sometime so we can laugh through all sorts of crazy stories!
Feel better.
Haha, this happens to me ALL THE TIME!! My husband and his family are so horrible at communicating. It drives me and my sister in law insane! Except for us it would be the opposite, they would show up days late. My sister in law and I both come from very punctual, planning families and my husband’s family makes “plans” which turns out is really just a loose idea of what they may or may not end up doing. Needless to say, family gatherings are always a challenge!!
My husband and his parents are the same way with communication. The break down is actually between my husband and his dad because my FIL never remembers the pplans right and my husband forgets to tell me. I have tried repeatedly to tell my MIL that she should NOT talk to my husband about it but jus go ahead and tell me 😛 Skip the middle “men”!