The Young Man and the Shirts
A young man was visiting his folks at Christmas and his mother gave him two new shirts. The fellow was pleased and immediately went upstairs to change into one of them. When he came down his mother looked hurt and said, “It’s too bad you didn’t like the other one.”
The Hunting Dog
Another fellow was tired of his friend being so negative, but he was sure the friend would be impressed by the fellow’s new hunting dog. So the two men went duck hunting, and when they shot a duck and it came tumbling down into the water, the dog went to retrieve it. But instead of jumping in the water and swimming, he walked on top of the water. He simply pranced over, picked up the duck, and came prancing back. The owner was thrilled and looked expectantly at his friend. The friend gave him a disgusted look. “That stupid dog of yours doesn’t know how to swim, does he?”
Sometimes You Just Can’t Win
Have you ever known people who always see things in a negative light? How do you handle it? Can you see the humor in it when it happens to you?
I think a lot of the time I am pretty impervious to it. Sometimes I can see the humour – it depends on the topic I think.
Jean, I am living that kind of a life on a 24/7 basis. Let me give you a flavour. Today, the daily help took leave of absence to visit her dentist. I cooked lunch, set the table and called my father for lunch. He enjoyed it, took his plate to the kitchen sink and came out and asked me, if the help hadn’t come. On being told yes, he asked if I had cooked, and when I answered yes, he was most upset. He said ” I did not raise you to be a cook! It is time that you occupied yourself with things that befit your intelligence and education.”
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Good one rummuser. Reminds me. My cousin’s husband was complaining about the dinner she cooked. She took his dinner & dumped it in the garbage.
When I showed my mother my new hairdo she said,”I like the way you used to wear your hair.” O.K. I’m being too sensitive.
I said “Mother, how do you think it makes me feel when we’re off to church & you say “Your hair is messy, your slip is showing & your posture needs improvement.”
She said “Well, your hair is messy, your slip is showing & your posture needs improvement.”
Evan,
I find humor helps a lot, and mostly I can manage it. Curiosity also works for me.
rummuser,
Again, humor and/or curiosity work best for me. Did your father ever have problems with help? Presumably he thinks cooking is demeaning, but what would he do if his cook wasn’t there for a meal? Have her prepare something cold ahead of time? How would he solve the problem?
Things are a lot different now than when he was younger. What other changes bother him? Is he “agin ’em all” or are there some changes that he likes? Does he have any sense of humor?
bikehikebabe,
Thanks. I like the idea of dumping the food in the garbage. My response would be more like, “A simple thank you would be sufficient.”
A fellow once said he tries to interpret everything as a compliment. So I tried it once when my husband and I were going to meet up on the land for a picnic. I was late bringing up the stuff and he greeted me with, “You’re late.” I thought of the fellow and said, “You wish I had been here earlier.”
Answer: “Yes.”
Me: “You missed me.”
Answer: “Yes!”
I felt loved and we had a nice picnic dinner. I was amazed and grateful that he didn’t say, “No, I was just tired of waiting.” He really scored on that one. 😉
when I was thinking of going to University…
a pal said (with negative tone)
“why do you want to do that?”
I replied…
“Because I can”
that pal went all funny for eons…then one day I was calling him at his office and he wasn’t available so I casually said to his receptionist.
“I got in to Uni and I’m going to start next Semester…”
She was congratulating me and saying “I’ll tell him as soon as he’s free…”
I hang up; thinking I wonder if that will make an impression
About an hour later, he called me and the positivity in his voice amazed me! I guess the receptionist really went to bat on the matter 🙂
“Wow, I’m so happy for you…I know you will do well….etc, etc.
I thought maybe this wasn’t the same guy who had been soooooooo negative a few weeks before!
Cathy,
Good for you! It just goes to show we can’t be unduly affected by other people’s opinions when we know we’ve made the right decision.
Jean, this is one of the problems of written communications. The point was not that I was handling domestic chores. The point was the HIS son who HE BROUGHT UP to be anything but a cook and dish washer, was letting HIM down! You have got to understand these narcissistic types. Once you do, you do not allow them to get under your skin and you can laugh at their picadilloes!
rummuser,
Yes, I did understand that and had to smile. I would be tempted to say, “Sorry you’re disappointed, Father, but I did give you your beloved grandson. That’s as good as it gets.” 😉
When I went back to work after staying home for 10 years with my daughter I went on an all-day hike with some colleagues and we stopped for dinner on the way home. Andy had decided he didn’t want to come and when I told my mother about it she was horrified. “What did poor Andy do for dinner?” I explained he was quite capable of getting something to eat. She said, “I would never have done that to your father.” I smiled and said, “Quite frankly, Mom, I think I’m having a better time than you did.” There was silence for a moment, then she laughed. “You’re probably right,” she said. And she never worried about “poor Andy” again.