So last night I took my sweet DS to get his band intrument. He is playing the Alto-Saxaphone. Lord be with my ears.
We had to have a band meeting, get his instrument, and get his band locker. All of this took approximately 2 hours and we were lucky because there were about 70 kids there and we were near the front of the line. There was still a very long line waiting to get instruments while we were leaving.
The MIL part comes in because I had to ask her to drive us there. My car is in the shop and DH was at work. So she did and we managed to get there in one piece.
She was worried about where we were sitting. The kids can't practice if we are sitting there. I explained the kids weren't practicing tonight. They were just getting their imstruments. That's all. She said this several times and several times I reassured her it was OK.
Well, DD5 started whining (because she was in front of MIL and MIL lets her get away with murder). She started complaining she was hungry. I told her she would be OK until we got home. MIL asks her if she had dinner and DD5 tells her no. Well, she didn't. BUT its because she chose to play at the table instead of eating and then it was time to leave. So no, she didn't eat dinner, but it was her own fault. This sends MIL into a tizzy because ya'll just KNOW DD5 is going to starve to death and die within the hour if she doesn't eat.
Fast forward to time to get DS's instrument. He and I are in the next room discussing with the band director and the instrument guy about instruments, payments, etc. MIL sends in my DD14 with DD5 because DD5 "wanted to see me" and I need to feed her dinner. Ok, now I'm MAD. I sent them back out, told them I was busy. We would be done soon, tell MIL she isn't going to friggin' starve.
Finally we're leaving. MIL is STILL harping about DD5 not eating. Then she started on DS and his instrument. What were we going to buy DD5 now since we just spent all that money on his "sak-a-sa-phone" (I swear that's how she pronounced it and I nearly died lol). I told her DD5 didn't need anything. She wasn't in band yet but when she was old enough if she wanted she'd be allowed to as well. Well we ought to get her something now because it wasn't fair yadda yadda. Finally my DD14 spoke up and said, "You know, our mom has more kids than just DD5. She has to think about me and DS sometimes too."
Well, that shut the MIL up for about 2 minutes. Then she was right back on it only this time she half-heartedly included DD14.
(I should note here that DS and DD14 are her STEP grandchildren. They don't get to call her "Granny" like DD5. They are allowed to call her "Aunt C."
After we got home my DS climbed in bed with me and said, "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to make Aunt C mad and leave DD5 out. I just wanted to be in the band. I didn't know it would cost so much and it wouldn't be fair to the girls." I told him not to even THINK about apologizing. He has every right to play in the band if he wants and he'd better play the hell out of that saxaphone and ENJOY every minute of it!