Sad Bastard of the Week: Camera shyster
Posted at 9:01 AM Nov 24, 2009
By Andrea Grimes |
This is the first holiday since my fiance and I got engaged, and they have already commented on needing a bigger lens to fit everyone in this year. However, I have no interest in being in their picture this year or any year. They sign the card "The Smiths," but I have no plans to change my name and don't feel this last name would be mine. I plan to decline to be in the photo since I have always looked forward to having my own family and sending our own pictures to family and friends. How can I gently say to my husband's family, "Time to cut the umbilical cord" and let your children start their own holiday family traditions?Prudence is appropriately scandalized by "Won't Say Cheese" and her presumptuous taintery:
You're probably aware, however, that a photograph of you with your future in-laws will not forever capture your image and make it impossible for you to send a photograph of yourself for your own holiday card. Speaking of which, your fiance's family is going to conclude that you're quite the card when you tell them you're not going to be in their picture, you will never consider yourself to be part of the "Smith" family, and that you believe your future mother- and father-in-law are infantilizing their grown children. Everyone will be filled with seasonal joy that you'll be around for the holidays for the rest of their lives.SNAP.
What I would love to see is a Lucinda Rosenfeld response to "Won't Say Cheese." Because this woman really sounds like the kind of BFF Rosenfeld has been waiting for. Instead of someone who wants to resolve conflict and make her own life better, "Won't Say Cheese" has an appropriate amount of hate in her heart. I'm imagining a response along the lines of, "How dare your fiance's family expect anything of you? The only person you should be obligated to do absolutely anything with is yourself, your pet and your significant other. Obviously this family's priorities are backward beyond belief--who cares about forming lasting bonds with people you're presumably bound to for a lifetime? Give them several pieces of your mind, and if they don't like it, slip a roofie in their drinks and blame them for it later."
Comments
I would love to date a guy whose family actually liked and cared about me. As opposed to seeing me as some terrible thing that was stealing away their precious son. Yes, please, I love families. I will take two.
Posted 11/24/2009 at 09:08:30 AMShe should Google "stupid family Christmas portraits" and be grateful for what she has.
Posted 11/24/2009 at 09:33:11 AM