Katrina's Birthday Party Blues

"So remember how I told you my sister had this tennis tournament and needs me to take care of her boys? Well, of course I'm keeping them the weekend of Josh's birthday. So I re-arranged his birthday party, so it wasn't the weekend of her tournament. Anywho...I sent an evite out for his pool birthday party for Monday (his actual birthday) - the day after her tournament. She looks at the evite, waits a week and then sends me this email:


'Hey! How was Chicago? The pictures on FB looked great. All the parish moms at the tennis center were asking if you were back yet. I wanted to ask you about Josh's Birthday? Do you think he would be very upset if the boys didn't come? They have a swim meet that night which I had already filled out the form saying they would be attending. We filled these out back in May. I'm guessing I can tell them we couldn't come, but since we would be at your house the next night for family night, I didn't know if Josh would be upset. Let me know.'


WTF? Seriously? The kid is turning 6. I planned his kid birthday party around her schedule so his cousins could be there! A swim meet is more important than his birthday? Really?! He's never had a friend birthday party before. If you have to ask me if his feelings would be hurt then you should know that they would! Not to mention mine.


Am I over reacting? SO freaking selfish.


Follow-up email from Katrina's sister:


Katrina,


We will be doing Adam's kids birthday on Sunday, July 4th. Not sure of the time yet, but we will probably do a cookout with neighbors afterwards followed by fireworks. I couldn't remember if you were in town or not. Let me know if you can attend any of it that day.


Thanks,
Amy


Katrina:
OMG, shoot me now.
Really? We always go to the lake over 4th of July with my other sister and her husband. So you plan this on Sunday so we can't come. I am so pissed I can't see straight. How is having a kid birthday party turn into a cookout with the neighbors?


Rant via I.M.
L: Your sister is clueless


K: ok, so i'm not over reacting? i am so pissed. i think i'm going to call her today


L: I think you should tell her that you re-arranged the party not to interfere with her fucking tennis tournament, so they better as heeelll be there


K: but then it will be months again till she talks to me


K: somehow i will be the bad guys in all this


L: of course you will, but that will NEVER change


K: like i'm in considerate of her kids swim meet


L: well, why don't you do something small over the weekend with the boys in recognition of Josh's b-day - their own special time - take them to Chuckee Cheese or something and just let it go


L: and Josh will feel extra special


K: we'll be at the lake with them all weekend


K: it's all about the kids anyway


L: just let her be a freak, but don't let her mess with you


L: set boundaries to protect yourself and always expect that she will do the selfish thing


K: its ok when it's me, but when she starts taking it out on my kids and they lose out - that's what puts me over the edge.


L: I know


K: she is so inconsiderate of me and my time and my family


K: it just sucks and shouldn't be that way


K: my kids ADORE her boys


K: I completely understand, but it won't change


K: i know


K: and i should just let it go, but i can't


K: it eats me up


K: yet she sleeps fine at night


L: bitch to me as much as you want; have a small celebration at the lake - cousin-time


K: sorry to get on a rampage this morning


L: no worries


L: I bet she doesn't sleep fine - she probably worries about irrational crap


L: kharma is a bitch, so I am sure she suffers


L: it's just delusional suffering


K: oh no, she sleeps fine...she told me she was so exhausted the other day because she played tennis, went to the country club to swim with some people, then swam at the tennis center and she just couldn't do another thing


L: LMAO


L: damn, i want that life


K: wtf? i stayed up till 1:00 am making shit for the picinic, got up at 5 to ice the cakes, worked all day, went to josh's ball game and then took my kids to ride night. still had to pack for chicago and got up at 4:30 am to drive


K: but she was exhausted and couldn't do another fucking thing!


L: next year, just give them $6 so they can buy a cake at a local bakery :)


K: i'm still pissed and bitter towards her though!


L: that's ok


L: she's a freak


L: a selfish woman; it's sad that people can get away with that


K: would take the shirt off my back for the people i care about


L: then you'd ahve to walk around in just your bra


K: that would be so ugly


K: people would give me the shirt back!


L: right


L: give them something else


L: we don't want to be walking arund half-naked


K: might scare off the natives