Return of the cruise director...

**Dutchie** · 02-21-2010, 05:06 AM

...and she is not happy.
As I wrote in the family part of the forum, we are having a brunch today for my parents in law.
I was always the 'cruise director' for the family and a few years ago for various reasons I stopped doing it. One of the reasons was that everyone always just assumed that I would organize things. They never helped (they were asked but were always too busy - and 'I was so good at it').
Anyhow fast forward and our niece (35 years old) and I thought up the idea to do the family brunch today. Everything would be split regarding what had to be done.
Guess who has been left to do it all - ME!!!
She is too busy and just hasn't done the stuff that she had to do.
Yesteday I was running all over the place getting stuff done since she 'hadn't had the opportunity' to get it done.
We are just about to leave (we are going a little early to the location to get the flowers done) and I am NOT in the mood.
She was to arrange that the brunch would be paid for beforehand so that my parents in law wouldn't see any of the money side of it but for now the only thing that has happened is that we have had to pay for the cake, the decorations (they are lying here) and part of the food (still has to be prepared there).
I am not a happy camper at the moment but I will put a happy face on it for the sake of my parents in law.

PLEASE remind me NEVER to even think about organizing something for the family again.

**savvy_sniper** · 02-21-2010, 08:44 AM

Make the most of the occasion and NEVER volunteer to be the "cruise director" or CO-cruise director" again UNLESS you plan to do it all yourself.

I hope you learned your lesson young lady - LOL!!

**AmyBoz** · 02-21-2010, 09:12 AM

Sorry to hear that!!!

**NikoSan999** · 02-21-2010, 09:21 AM

I thought awhile back that we all swapped family members.

**Natalie's Nesters** · 02-21-2010, 09:47 AM

Don't you just love families? I wish we could pick families like we pick friends!!

**Debbie-cat** · 02-21-2010, 11:32 AM

So sorry dutchie. Always remember this moment so you won't get suckered into it again. You are just too sweet, that is why it is always dumped on your shoulders.

**Dutchie** · 02-22-2010, 02:13 AM

Somehow on the way to the location of the brunch I managed to get my act together, calm down and think of who I was doing it for.
My wonderful parents in law. They should NOT be the victim of anything.
When dh, dd and I arrived at the location we discovered that the staff had stayed behind VERY late the night before getting the tables ready, however that had prevented them from being there on time to finish it off.

Niece was there waiting for me. She (and dd) got busy with flowers and decorations, I went into the kitchen (in my best outfit), put on an apron (I'm messy in the kitchen) and started to help the guys with the food.
By the time that my parents in law arrived everything was ready (phew!).

They had the time of their lives. My dh gave a small speech (he is great at this kind of thing) and really put his mom in the spotlight where she should be.
After the brunch itself we had a beautiful cake and champage after which even my mil gave a small speech thanking everyone.

Everything worked out well for my parents in law and I am so thankful that they had a wonderful time which was the intention.

It was really nice to see my brother in law with his 3 sons there (no psycho present). It was clear that the whole psycho episode had left scars on all of them but bil is certainly doing his best to regain the trust of his 2 oldest boys.

Thank you for all your comments - they were appreciated.

**miss_thrifty** · 02-23-2010, 08:09 AM

Im glad everything went well for you. And were all proud of you in fv!!! You are a very sweet lady, and I know its hard with the family issues. It wasn't fair for them to dump it on all u and Im so sorry they did that. But look at it as a moment that u got to give his parents , u did a wonderful job.
huggsss

**NikoSan999** · 02-23-2010, 08:34 AM

So glad everything went well. Now it's over and you can take a deep breath and calm down. Hugs long distance.

**IntlMom** · 02-23-2010, 09:41 AM

I'm glad it turned out as well as it did.........
you sound just like me - when will we ever learn?

**Michelle68** · 02-23-2010, 04:02 PM

I'm glad everything worked out okay.

**Libby** · 02-23-2010, 04:10 PM

Kudos for you for being the bigger and better person - again. *hugs*

Having said that, now that the event is over I'd have a few strategically chosen words for the one who put you on the spot to be the cruise director. If it were me in your shoes, I'd simply let her know that I did not appreciate having to be the one to do EVERYTHING even though she volunteered me and I'd request she never do so again. For should she do such a thing w/o asking first, I'd let the party 'flop'. So be it if we have to order pizzas from the local shops or whatever is close by.