Party Of Five

We've taken my SIL in. And I'm not sure how long this living arrangement will last but I can tell you that it's going to be one of the biggest challenges I have ever encountered.

I'm not particularly fond of my husband's family.  They think I'm some uppity, snobby, arrogant city girl that thinks she's better than them and they believe I don't like them because they're poor country folks.

And I might be some of those things but that has nothing to do with why I don't like them. They are manipulative, racist people who abuse the welfare system, thrive on drama and have no sense of hygiene.

And none of that has anything to do with money. You could be a bazillionaire and I still wouldn't like ya.

His sister is probably the least offensive of the entire clan. Except the hygiene part. It's so rough - we're talking a lifetime of not brushing teeth or regular bathing. And my husband has addressed it but it really hasn't helped. Which I totally don't care if that's the way she wants to live - except that she's in my house!  I can't hardly talk to her without choking because the smell is just so overpowering.

Since my husband usually works weekends, I carted her around all day Saturday.  That was my first time in such a confined, enclosed space. With no air flow. At the first stop I sent him a text "I'm sorry but your sister CANNOT go with us next weekend." 

And that was a big deal because in our relationship, I'm not the demanding one. I don't usually make definitive declarations - I'm all, can we talk about this, or what do you think about that. I don't just lay down rules or say what is or what is not happening. But there is NO way I could be trapped in a car for 3 hours with her. No way.

So not only am I dealing with things like driving and watching her chew on her fingernails and then spit them out in my car but I'm also dealing with the fact that I have no privacy.

And that I'm super difficult.

Yeah, in case you haven't noticed, I'm picky, controlling, demanding, selfish and territorial. Just a generally difficult person. These personality traits do not make for a very gracious hostess. Which is why it goes all over me when I see his sister has gotten our mail, taken my clothes out of the dryer or moved my stuff around.  It even bugged me that she did dishes. 

Part of that is I've seen her do dishes,  so I know they weren't really clean.  Then I had to find a way to stick them in the dishwasher to rewash them without hurting her feelings. But mostly, I just don't want her to touch my stuff or mess with anything. I literally ran in the kitchen this morning and pushed her out of the way when I heard her doing dishes again so that I could do it instead. This is my house, I'll take care of  my own freaking dishes!

See, I have issues.

So this is gonna be a very trying experience and I'm just hoping I can survive. That my husband can survive. And that his sister leaves soon!