Once in a great while H surprises me. When he came home on Christmas Eve, he had this huge tool set for my bs. We'd already gotten him a Sirus radio, and a yrs subscription to Sirus, but H decided to also get this tool set. Which means...we spent $50.00 more on my son than on his kids. His respons to my puzzlement? Your BS appreciates things :jawdrop:

I can remember one year, when all I could afford to give my son for his bd was a pair of sandals he wanted. You would've thought I gave him the moon! I really think that kids who grow up with a little less are better people in the long run..

Of course, we got the Skids the Wii. And for SD17, also a hoodie vest & sweater-which she looked at, turned to me in a snotty voice-and said "Who bought these?" (she knows damn good and well I did). Then promptly announces them too large-without even trying them on! Excuse me? Yes, I got her larges. Because they came from a Jr. store. And I also wear clothes from that same store and wear a medium (I'm 5'1", 108 lbs). She is 5'6" 125 lbs.! Not a small! H made her try on the vest-it fit perfectly. But not too her. Because she could actually move in it, and it wasn't skin tight.

So, no thank you. Nothing. Next thing I know, I'm in the kitchen, cooking something, and she marches by on her way downstairs. Bitching the whole way. I asked what her problem was? She said-I HATE my phone. All I can do on it is text and make calls-NOTHING ELSE. I HATE IT. Ummm, excuse me? She had a nice rocker. She broke it. The phone she now has is one she actually bought herself-because "Daddy" finally refused to buy her yet another new one after the three she'd broken this year.

Did H or MIL or skids thank me for anything? For all the bedding I washed up for them, the extra care I took with the house, with the food? I purchased and wrapped every present under that tree-I put up the tree, I put up the outside decorations. I made the fudge, the candy bars, the dinner. I ran between my Moms house and ours, because I had to use her oven to bake rolls, etc as the prime rib was in our oven. Not one thank you.

I've always loved Christmas. Until I took on H and the leeches. We may not have had fancy gifts, but we had each other. We did not eat prime rib, we ate turkey or ham. But it was so much better-so much more loving, kind, fun.

Really really miss my old life. I miss being able to buy myself a little treat, a sweater, a pair of jeans, without having to ask permission first, and then getting chewed over any purchase I make. Oh yes. Went to the grocery store yesterday. H told me to buy a sander, sand paper, smoke alarm. Because I have to refinish a dresser. The bill was $106.00. He was mad. Again. That's like $40.00 on groceries, the rest on the things HE told me to buy. Guess I'm not supposed to eat.

Missin' my old life bigtime. Sometimes you don't know what you've got till it's gone.