in-laws

[motherhubbard]

Another holiday.
First your family’s then mine.
We gather and go with smiles wide.

A man now in your father’s house
you read their paper and then nap in the chair.
I manage the children and help prepare the meal.
Going through the motions I listen
to your women cackle and cluck,
picking apart every weak spot
known to man.
Finally, when they have finished their
hen pecking, and the dishes are done
we are free to leave.

To my home we travel.
My comfort even in conflict.
I laugh and remember.
We sit around the table and drink coffee,
touching each other. I wonder
how will it be when they are gone?
You make small talk and check your watch,
fake sleep in my dad’s easy chair,
waiting until it’s finally over.
Loading the kids we wave and smile

It’s been a long day.
Back at home neither of us is happy with the other ,
and each is relieved we are not like them.


T. Arnold © 2007

[PrinceMyshkin]

Much as I liked the coziness Of this, I was confused by two references: "your women" must refer to the female members of hubby's family but calling them his women seemed to imply something patriarchal about him. And then "back home" didn't fit with the sense either in the title or the rest of the poem that you were now in your parents' home.

[Bii]

I like this motherhubbard, particularly the last 3 lines - it nicely sums up that feeling after spending time with family, when you're pretty fed up, your partner hasn't been perfect, you feel a little disgruntled but relieved because really it's just the hassle of the day which makes everyone grumpy. I like the reference to faking sleep also - my husband has done that more than once!

Lovely, as always.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I like the reference to faking sleep also - my husband has done that more than once!


But not, I trust, when you were expecting your conjugal rights?

[Countess]

I like the last stanza - all the depth/content exists in those lines/they wrap up the feeling nicely.

Wish I could fake-sleep - LOL!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Wish I could fake-sleep - LOL!

Or, perhaps, a sensibility to contemporary poetry! LOL my Aunt Fanny!

[Bii]

But not, I trust, when you were expecting your conjugal rights?

Obviously not - he'd be much better occupied!

[ampoule]

I kind of agree with Prince but when I read 'your women' I had to pause and read it again and then...ah ha...and with a knowing shake of the head...YOUR women. I get it.
In your last line, do you mean that you are not happy with each other or each other's families.
I appreciate that you were not one-sided on this, that it's not particularly fun for your husband either, although I wish it were.
And as far as not being like your parents/family, good luck with that. ;) I have the cutest song called, "I'm Turning Into My Parents". It makes it not seem so bad.

Nice poem.

[Granny5]

Hey Kiddo. You got it right! It's interesting to see that it's the same for you as it was for me. But you could always leave him at home. We're not three hours away.

[ampoule]

Hey Kiddo. You got it right! It's interesting to see that it's the same for you as it was for me. But you could always leave him at home. We're not three hours away.

But then what would he have to complain about at work? LOL ;)

[babybrother]

But then what would he have to complain about at work? LOL ;)

Would you like a list? We all have one! :lol:

Actually I liked the poem, It speaks of the truths a lot of us feel when putting in our time with our extended families.

[Pensive]

motherhubbard, this was fun to read! And so true in most cases! :p

[symphony]

Lovely and sounds so true too. :p

[motherhubbard]

Wow, I’m gone for a couple of hours and everyone has something to say. I wish I hadn’t missed it. I didn’t mean for this to be serious. It’s kind of like the bleach and onions poem, but less funny really. I was just thinking about how my husband’s family get under my skin and I’m sure the same is true for him at times. I thought the women would get it, I knew Granny would.

His women does refer to the women in his family. It is a patriarchal family, very much so. At the end where it says back home that referrers to our home, not the in-laws.

Thanks for all of the comments.