Dear Blake,
I have four kids that can be fidgety as I prepare the Thanksgiving dinner and during the meal. They don’t realize the hard work I put in to feed them for that day, or enjoy the bonding as we eat. My husband thinks it’s no big deal and I’m complaining about nothing. All I want is a very memorable experience and to reduce the distraction from the kids, and the insensitivity from my husband. Do you think this is something I should be whining about?
Signed, Norma
From Tacoma, Washington
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Dear Norma,
I understand your frustration from you feeling that your time and effort is not being appreciated by your family. Which is why I am encouraging you this Thanksgiving to launch immediate counterattacks toward anyone in your household that gets on your nerves! Tell your kids that every time one of them aggravates you in the kitchen, you will destroy one of their Christmas toys that you already purchased for them. And to make your point (that won’t cost you anything), get an empty box of a very popular toy that they all would want, and smash it with a sledge hammer. As you do it, yell out some ancient battle cries used by fearless warriors in a foreign language to enhance their terror. Or you can tell them for dinner, the only thing they will be allowed to drink is salt water, and they can only eat after they watched “Jaws” and “Jaws II”. Hopefully they’ll make the connection of the subliminal scare tactic. As far as your husband, you can rattle his cage by asking him how much does he think he would have to pay in child support for four kids? Then tell him not to worry, because a DNA test might cut it down to just two. I hope this helps.
Blake