Breaking The In-Law
The World According To Kiki & J-Fed
So this weekend was daughter’s birthday. Every year she has a big party. Although I’m financially in a different position this year, I refused to cut out the celebration. I didn’t want her to remember this as the year when she had a brand new sister, she started kindergarten, her parents got divorced and she got no birthday party. Her world had already been turned upside down. She deserved to be queen for a day for one last time.
My mother Kuku told me right off the bat that she would not be attending the party. You see, no matter how hard she tried, she was still the object of J-Fed’s ridicule. She could be feeding the poor and he’d criticize her for giving away food or not doing something more efficient with her time. He continued to blame her for the demise of our marriage. The last thing Kuku wanted was to have conflict at daughter’s party… and I couldn’t say I blamed her.
When I explained to J-Fed that she wouldn’t be attending the party, he was completely incensed. He didn’t just ask that she attend – he demanded. He said he would not be accountable for her absence. Kuku must be there, and that was all there was to it. Being a team player, Kuku attended the party, but it was not without consequence.
Let me take a step back and explain a couple of things. While I worked during the week, Kuku spent her days preparing the house for the party. In addition to breaking her back getting everything organized, she also did all of the shopping for the party. Come Saturday morning, there wasn’t a thing that was out of order. In addition, she also made financial contributions for the party.
J-Fed, on the other hand, did his part by showing up. Although I didn’t ask for any assistance, it’s not like he offered, at least not until I pointed out the night before the party that he hadn’t volunteered his services. I don’t have any problem with this at all. I made the decision to have the party. Therefore, it was my responsibility. HOWEVER, the least he could do was recognize the fact that my mother did a great deal to make the party special for HIS DAUGHTER.
