Friday, February 17, 2006

Mom and Pop Come for a Visit

I'm excited that my parents are coming in. Really, I am. I haven't seen them since Christmas, and I've missed them. So, we're taking advantage of the long weekend, and they're coming up from Ohio for a visit.

It's an interesting problem when your parents visit from two states away: what do you do with them? Growing up, I did what I imagine most kids did with their parents--we watched TV together. We just did our own thing, but together. But now that I only see my parents a few times a year, I always want to make the visits special, or at the very least interesting. We go out to eat a lot, and we usually end up going shopping at some point, but we always return to that traditional pastime of all families: sitting in front of the TV. It feels like it should be awkward, but it isn't. I feel like I should constantly be entertaining them on their visit, but I can't think of anything else to do with them except eat, shop, and watch TV. Hell, that's all I ever do.

But at the end of the day it always turns out that whatever we do together is just fine--seeing them and spending time with them is what it's all about, after all. Now if I can just stop myself from compulsively cleaning my apartment for hours before they visit...

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome job...what with the stupid title that ripped off seinfeld. You winner...
Weak Sauce

Lucy said...

Certain things in the relationship with one's parents stay static. This is one for you.

My father still insists on paying for my meals when we're together, with teh simple explanation of, "I'm your father, that's why," when asked why I can't ever pay.

Sue Ellen Mischke said...

Hope you are having fun with your parents. Too bad it's too damn cold to leave the house. How about that first comment on the page. Yikes.

Anonymous said...

If they bring a vacuum, they can help clean...

Sue Ellen Mischke said...

Wha... what.... wha....

What's going on with your blog? Are you bored or something today?

Bone said...

Yeah, it is rare for my parents to let me pay, too.

And if my Mom ever asks for anything and I don't have it. Bread, potatoes, sugar, paprika, whatever it may be. She'll immediately insist on buying me four bags of groceries.