photo: joshelliottstudios.com
While the sentiment in the photo is
lovely. . .
true story
Jeannie and Nelson were getting
married at a four-star country club. Jeannie’s parents had agreed to pay for
the reception. Two weeks before the wedding, her dad called to inform them that
he rechecked his finances and was making changes to the menu. Without consulting with Jeannie and Nelson,
he arbitrarily changed the surf-n-turf to chopped sirloin, cancelled the
wedding cake and substituted it with just ice cream.
Jeannie was devastated but too
embarrassed to feel angry with her father. Nelson, on the other hand, was livid
as this was not the first time her dad had pulled an inexplicably nasty stunt
on them. So, he decided to call the old man’s bluff.
Without conferring with Jeannie,
Nelson informed his soon-to-be father-in-law that he and Jeannie were
postponing the wedding until such times as they could afford their original
plans. Now it was the father’s turn to feel embarrassed.
When Jeannie found out what Nelson
had done, she took all of her anger out on him. A day later, Jeannie’s dad
suddenly “found” money and the menu was restored. By now, though, Jeannie and
Nelson weren’t talking to each other!
Often times, the hardest
conversations center on parents – yours and / or your partner’s.
How comfortable are you talking
honestly about your feelings towards your parents? Does your partner even know how you feel
about their folks?
Sanity Saver Questions ~
·
How do you handle difficult conversations with
your parents? Revert back to childhood? Become passive-aggressive? Argue
heatedly?
·
Have you been able to honestly talk to your
parents about what you want and don’t want for your wedding?
·
Have you asked your parents for specific help in
any areas?
·
What do you think are your parents’ obligations
to your wedding in terms of planning and / or helping to pay?
·
What are you willing and / or prepared to do if
your parents don’t like your ideas?
·
Is your wedding family-focused or
friend-focused?
·
How can you show your family thanks throughout
the planning process?
Remember:
You and your partner will keep each
other sane by being united in your vision and being willing to discuss that
vision with your parents – together and individually.
This is
an excerpt from my latest book –
Available on Amazon!
