Excuse The Rant

Ok, so, I have been in a perpetual bad mood since about Tuesday of last week. Family issues.

You all know my sister is dealing with the after affects of a health crisis (she seems to be fine, by the way, thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts). As a result, she has missed a lot of work. Coupled with the fact that she has bills from her marriage which remain unpaid and still needs to live, she is in over her head.

She recently kicked out the good for nothing boyfriend who took with him his television set. So, my mom, knowing full well that sister has a list of bills so long it rivals the national deficit, buys her a new tv. Not any tv, mind you, but a $900 HDTV.

This irks me like no one can imagine. It is always the same song and dance. Little Sister takes advantage of everyone's generosity and then profits immensely. The parental units see she is lacking in something and rush out to buy it for her. Whenever I question it, I am told I am "acting like a spoiled three year old brat" or that I am "selfish and only care about material things."

This all stems from the fact that my sister has taken advantage of my parents for a lifetime. She was living with them, rent free, but they thought it would benefit her to have a home of her own for her custody fight with the soon-to-be-ex. So, what do they do? They buy a farmette for her. Oh sure, she is suppossed to be renting it, but I have yet to hear that she has paid a rent payment.

See where this is going? The parental units complain - nearly nonstop - that little sister is immature, incapable of handling bills, or that she just doesn't pay her bills period, including those she owes them. They harp about her mismanagement of money all the time. Yet, they bail her out of every bind, they give her every material thing she could ask for and they even support all her bad habits.

Now, lest you too, my dear readers, should think I am sounding like a jealous woman, let me tell you how my folks treat me. When I was buying my first home, my mom lent me money for the down payment. Every month before my payment was due her (because unlike little sister, I actually pay my folks back) she would call to remind me that I owed her $200 that month- in case I forgot. When I was in transition and needed a place to stay, she graciously opened her home to my family. The caveat? I had to pay for garbage removal, half the water bill, the dsl, etc . . . you get the picture. When I owed nearly $5,000 last year on my taxes because of a mistake at my husband's employer, I asked if I could borrow $5,000 from mom (cause she always has money) her response? No. I don't have it. Yet, she rushed out and bought a car for my sister in May right after she left the husband, and the farmette shortly there after.

I borrowed the money against my home, and it has since been paid off. However, when I am in need, it is always a big production. I'm told that I am well off, have a good job, suck it up. When little sister wants something, never mind the need, she simply asks and receives.

Look, I don't care about the tv. I really don't. My folks could buy my sister five tvs and I wouldn't care. What I care about is that she owes so much money to so many people. She hasn't been working steady and she can't make ends meet. To top it off, she used my name for a credit card, and she isn't paying the bill. That goes against my credit! That $900 spent on the tv would be better spent elsewhere.

I don't think I would care about the frivolous spending on the part of my folks except for the fact that they remind me daily that little sister has no money and that "I" should really help her out! Me! Selfish Oddy!

Two weeks ago, when my sister had surgery, I went to the grocery store and bought her food for a week. Now, I'm not rich, so my family went without for the week, so I could provide for her and my nephew. When she started her divorce proceedings, I borrowed against my house so she could hire an attorney. When her son needed new clothes because he had suddenly grown out of all he had, I bought his new clothes. I don't mind giving. I don't. My family has gone without extra so I could help her out. But my folks think I'm the selfish one.

Am I being totally out of line here? Am I mad over nothing? Wait before you answer that, here is another doozy.

Both my nephew and son have birthdays next week. My nephew will be four. My son will be three. My mother called to inform me that she had spent a lot of money on gifts for my nephew and that she wanted me to know because she did not buy my son anything. NOTHING!!! She said she will deposit money into his bank account.

While that is all good and fun, my son is three. When grandma walks into my nephew's birthday party with an armload of gifts, he will not understand. (Oh, and she said she isn't coming to my son's party anyway). He will think to himself, "she didn't get me anything." Trust me! I know my son. He is a smart cookie. I was wrapping gifts for my nephew this weekend and when my son asked who they were for, I replied for the nephew. My son, sweet as he is, began to sob. When asked why he was crying his reply was ____ gets everything. You never buy me anything. While an exaggeration, I could see his point. I then showed him all the gifts mommy had bought for him (thank goodness I'd wrapped them). He was happy. He will not be happy when he sees all the stuff grandma got for the nephew and when he realizes she didn't even get him a tiny gift.

Look, material things don't matter to me. My son's happiness, emotional well-being and all around level of comfort do matter to me. When I take him to the store and buy him a small trinket his first question? "Is this for me or for (the nephew)." A three year old shouldn't have to question those things.

Now, I'll ask again . . . am I overreacting? Should I mind my own business or continue to spew my opinion? Did I mention, no one in my family is talking to me because I'm "a selfish bitch who only cares about material things?"