I’m lucky I have lovely in-laws whom I’m really genuinely fond of. We get on well together. We can sit in a room and chat, or sit quietly together each busy with a book in hand. When we go out, we like pottering in bookshops and garden centers without getting bored. They also religiously visit and stay with us in Cornwall every summer for at least a week and also come down and spend Christmas with us, I’m afraid though that, that is about to end.
As I type this, they are down stairs in the lounge reading their books. When they stay with us, we gladly give up our bedroom for them. This visit though, they opted to stay in the lounge where we have a sofa bed. The reason for this is because my mother-in-law now struggles with going up the stairs.
They are well into their mid 80s now and are used to living in an old people’s home where they have their own flat. It really saddened me when they announced that they weren’t coming over for Christmas. They didn’t say that this was going to be their last visit, but sadly, my husband thinks that is the case, though I’m really hoping that he is wrong. If he is, then we’re going to have to just come on over then and visit them (which we do anyway), but it’s also nice having them around for a visit.
I don’t really like the word “end” or “endings, who does anyway? American Sci-fi writer Frank Herbert (known for writing the famous novel Dune) once said:
There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.
I’d like to make my own version of that quote:
There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story and pick up another one.
Here is the story then. A lovely elderly couple who used to visit their son and his family down in Cornwall has now decided to turn the table. Their son and his family will now visit them regularly.
My word of the week: In-laws
What about you? Are you also close to your in-laws if you have one?
Do share.
Oh, that is sad. I like your spin on it, though, it is just the opening to doing things differently next time, isn’t it? I hope you manage to create a new Christmas tradition that you all enjoy and make the most of this week with them staying with you x Thanks for sharing with #WotW
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It definitely is sad, but no one really likes to dwell on sad events right? 🙂 I’m sure we’ll manage to make new ones 🙂 x
Oh that is so bitter sweet, I bet they will miss coming to stay with you as much as you miss having them. We are a little short on in-laws. I have no family left and my partner only has his mum, his dad passed away last Christmas. It’s such a shame because my older kids grew up spending lots of time with their grandparents, while my younger ones only have one nanny.
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While my daughter’s both sets of grandparents are alive, sadly, we live miles and even oceans away from them, though she does manage to do face time and skype with my parents every now and then 🙂
So bittersweet. At least you have the lovely memories and can stay in touch via online/phone etc
True and we do intend to visit as much as we can 🙂
Aww this Is a sad story with a lovely spin though because now you will all be going to theirs more. I can imagine they will miss coming to see you all so much though. I really like how you put your own spin on the quote. Luckily enough my partners family stay 5 minutes away so it’s really easy to visit.
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Five minutes away? You are lucky indeed 🙂 x
Aw how lovely that you will be taking care of them and visiting when they can’t come to you. It is great that you have such a good relationship with them. I hope you have lots of happy times to come xx #wotw
My in-laws don’t really need to be taken care of 😉 They”d be horified by the idea, but wouldn’t mind doing it if needed. x
Aw, like Anne said that is bitter sweet. They sound so lovely and you are very lucky to have nice in laws. I clashed with my mother in law in the beginning (she is very negative, has to moan about everything and challenge everything), but we are much better now and she has helped me SO much with my daughter, which I will always appreciate.
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I’m glad things between you and your mother-in-law are okay now 🙂
What a beautiful quote you chose. It definitely helps not to dwell on the sad part. Sometime I think it’s so sad that we can’t make time to slow down.
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It’s best to always look at the postive side, isn’t it? 🙂 x
I am sorry to hear the change but I am sure they will appreciate the effort of you coming to visit them X #wotw
It’s not so bad, looking forward to visiting them actually 🙂 x
We are really close to my in-laws who live about 2 mins away. We also have my own parents within twenty minutes but don’t really see them as often.
Nice to hear that you are also close to your in-laws 🙂
Oh that’s so sad, its hard when you have done something for so long its becomes the norm and a way of life, for then to come to an abrupt end. My in-laws don’t live far, so we don’t have to worry about them staying with us, it can just be day visits. x
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You guys are so lucky to live near them! Wish we did 🙂 x
It’s so lovely that you have such a wonderful relationship with them, it’s sad that they won’t be visiting but I do think your version of the quote is a really positive way to look at the change. #WotW
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Thank you. x
Aww! This is so sad but it sounds like you are going to just make things happy again by turning things around. I hope you many adventures visiting your in-laws x
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I think we’re going to enjoy visiting them a lot 🙂
Oh this is really sad, I hope you get chance to visit them often x
We’ll try to do as much as we can 🙂
I bet everyone will miss these visits. My mum comes to visit quite often which is lovely. Unfortunately I don’t get on with my in-laws though so we don’t see them much.
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Too bad, but who knows, you might eventually get on with them in the future 🙂
I love my in laws. They have been so supportive with me and their granddaughter
Same here. Just feel really lucky to have them too.
Good you get on with your inlaws. That is the way to go.
Thank you.
Aww this is sad 🙁 I like how you turned this story around, a new story to be told 🙂
I guess you just need to focus on the positive side 😉
The reality of life unfortunately, is so amazing though that you and your family will be visiting them, eldrely people need to feel loved and wanted.
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Definitely!
They sound lovely! You are lucky to have them Dean. Now you will have to go to them and I think that its going to be a great experience! #wotw
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Thanks 🙂
It is sad when something like that comes to an end – how lovely to have had that time with your in-laws staying with you though. I do like the way you’ve changed that quote – that’s such a good way of looking at it. #WotW
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Thank you. A new chapter begins 😉
I dont see much of my in-laws which is fine by me, but I do miss my mum and dad who are a few hundred miles away x
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I miss my parents too. x
It’s a shame they can no longer visit but now you get to make new traditions and memories
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That’s definitely the plan, thank you!
I don’t have in-laws but I am sorry to hear about yours and that she can no longer manage the stairs. Age is a cruel mistress :/
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You are so right!
Love your version of that quote. And it’s right, it’s not an ending, just a different setting to make more memories 🙂 xx
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Thank you. x
Oh this is so sad!!!!!! I hope you get to see them again soon. It’s awful when things come to an end. You’re going to miss them so much. But it’s so amazing that you’ve made some lovely memories with them over the years, and so has your little one. x
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Looking forward to visiting them and like you said, make more memories 🙂
It’s so lovely that you have such a loving and close relationship with your in-laws, and that you choose to write about them in such a warm way shows this (unfortunately I don’t but I won’t dwell on that here!). It’s sad that they’re having to change what they do but you’ve flipped the situation beautifully on its head and no doubt you’ll continue to have lots of good times and make memories together, but you’ll just be in a different place geographically.
Make the most of your in-laws, they sound like really lovely people
#wordoftheweek
Thanks. I do feel fortunate that I have a good relationship with them and really look forward to visiting them more 🙂 Hopefully in time, you’ll have a good relationship with yours too. xx
I like your re-worked quote a lot! End of a chapter, on to another 🙂 #wotw
Thank you!
Oh this is so sad hun, I hope you get a chance to visit when you can. x
Yes, we’ll definitely visit as much as we can 🙂 x
It’s so lovely to read that you get on well with them, and I guess you have created some lovely memories over the years. I hope you still get to enjoy each other’s company for many years to come however that may look
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Thank you!