Lessons Learned The Hard Way

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

My mother loved the theater so when I was a child she took me to children's plays. The first one was a musical that I hated, but not wanting to disappoint my mother, I said I loved it. Somehow, when lying about a gift or event, most oversell, going on about how much they like it.

Big mistake and no surprise that I was taken to, and had to endure, hundreds of plays.

The lesson I learned then that's been with me ever since is that anything praised will be repeated evermore.

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

Like my newly acquired & growing🦩🦩🦩🦩🦩collection🙈

My friends think I need more & more🙄. I actually had donated all and any excess "collectibles" over past year BUT they can't help themselves. I just received a shower curtain, towels and bathroom set for a early bday gift.

I think I'm gonna have to put out a PSA "love the thought but please don't give me anymore"

@occasionalrain

FancyPhillyshopper · ‎05-02-2017

I constantly say I adore gold jewelry, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, Jaguars, and Maseratis, and now I am waiting for them all to arrive!!

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

When I was in college one of my best friend's boyfriends invited me to have Sunday dinner at his parents' home. It was my friend's first time eating with them, although she had met them.

His mom served lamb chops. I didn't eat them because I didn't believe in it. My friend didn't either, but she was in "impress boyfriend's parents" mode. We weren't sure what to do. We both kind of pushed it around and when his mom was in the kitchen, boyfriend took them wrapped in a napkin to the dog!

My friend and I praised boyfriend's mom's cooking and said how much we enjoyed the dinner. The rest of it, including dessert, WAS really good!

The following month I went with them again. His parents wanted me to come again, as they enjoyed meeting me. Guess what she served? "Since you girls liked dinner so much the last time you were here, I thought we'd have lamb chops again." The dog ate well again, and if his mom was aware, she never let on!

The next time they drove to campus, and we went out for spaghetti!

I was close to both of them and went through the ups and downs of their relationship with them. I loved both of them. I took DH to their wedding shortly after we started dating. They brought their newborn daughter to my wedding. Because of geography we haven't seen them in a long time. But I always adored my friend's husband's parents, and I'll never forget those dinners!

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@FancyPhillyshopper wrote:

I constantly say I adore gold jewelry, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, Jaguars, and Maseratis, and now I am waiting for them all to arrive!!

@FancyPhillyshopper

Be sure to keep us updated on the new goodies you receive.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@occasionalrain wrote:
My mother loved the theater so when I was a child she took me to children's plays. The first one was a musical that I hated, but not wanting to disappoint my mother, I said I loved it. Somehow, when lying about a gift or event, most oversell, going on about how much they like it.

Big mistake and no surprise that I was taken to, and had to endure, hundreds of plays.

The lesson I learned then that's been with me ever since is that anything praised will be repeated evermore.

@occasionalrain

You should have disappointed her, and encouraged her to find something else you could both enjoy.

Alas, as kids, we just don't have those insights yet. Years later, did you ever tell her you weren't crazy about plays?

jlkz · ‎12-02-2013

@FancyPhillyshopper

Laughed when I read your post ! It reminded me of an episode at my dentist appointment a few years ago. The assistant kept looking at my watch. She explained how she loved pink ! The casual watch had a decidedly pink watch band.

As I was getting up to leave, I handed her the watch and she was speechless. The dentist joined in " I really like that diamond ring "....at which we all started laughing.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

SloopJohnB · ‎04-25-2020

@beach-mom wrote:
When I was in college one of my best friend's boyfriends invited me to have Sunday dinner at his parents' home. It was my friend's first time eating with them, although she had met them.

His mom served lamb chops. I didn't eat them because I didn't believe in it. My friend didn't either, but she was in "impress boyfriend's parents" mode. We weren't sure what to do. We both kind of pushed it around and when his mom was in the kitchen, boyfriend took them wrapped in a napkin to the dog!

My friend and I praised boyfriend's mom's cooking and said how much we enjoyed the dinner. The rest of it, including dessert, WAS really good!

The following month I went with them again. His parents wanted me to come again, as they enjoyed meeting me. Guess what she served? "Since you girls liked dinner so much the last time you were here, I thought we'd have lamb chops again." The dog ate well again, and if his mom was aware, she never let on!

The next time they drove to campus, and we went out for spaghetti!

I was close to both of them and went through the ups and downs of their relationship with them. I loved both of them. I took DH to their wedding shortly after we started dating. They brought their newborn daughter to my wedding. Because of geography we haven't seen them in a long time. But I always adored my friend's husband's parents, and I'll never forget those dinners!

@beach-mom While reading your post about the lamb chops, I couldn't help but think of the Seinfeld episode involving him hiding mutton in his napkin because he didn't want to eat it. Have you seen it? Too funny. 🐑🍽🐕

I would give everything I own just to have you back again.......David Gates of Bread

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@SloopJohnB wrote:
@beach-mom wrote:
When I was in college one of my best friend's boyfriends invited me to have Sunday dinner at his parents' home. It was my friend's first time eating with them, although she had met them.

His mom served lamb chops. I didn't eat them because I didn't believe in it. My friend didn't either, but she was in "impress boyfriend's parents" mode. We weren't sure what to do. We both kind of pushed it around and when his mom was in the kitchen, boyfriend took them wrapped in a napkin to the dog!

My friend and I praised boyfriend's mom's cooking and said how much we enjoyed the dinner. The rest of it, including dessert, WAS really good!

The following month I went with them again. His parents wanted me to come again, as they enjoyed meeting me. Guess what she served? "Since you girls liked dinner so much the last time you were here, I thought we'd have lamb chops again." The dog ate well again, and if his mom was aware, she never let on!

The next time they drove to campus, and we went out for spaghetti!

I was close to both of them and went through the ups and downs of their relationship with them. I loved both of them. I took DH to their wedding shortly after we started dating. They brought their newborn daughter to my wedding. Because of geography we haven't seen them in a long time. But I always adored my friend's husband's parents, and I'll never forget those dinners!
@beach-mom While reading your post about the lamb chops, I couldn't help but think of the Seinfeld episode involving him hiding mutton in his napkin because he didn't want to eat it. Have you seen it? Too funny. 🐑🍽🐕

@SloopJohnB Exactly what I thought of when reading the lamb chop story! LOL!!

SloopJohnB · ‎04-25-2020

@haddon9 Right.....the inherited cloth napkins and the dogs following them home because the mutton was in the pocket of the coat. And they thought that he liked it so much, they made the mutton again. 👚🍖

I would give everything I own just to have you back again.......David Gates of Bread