TaraLee4
DisneyPrincess
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2006
- Messages
- 853
okay, a little backstory:
I have 2 aunts, each of whom have a daughter turning 16 this year. One Aunt is pretty cool, laid back, go with the flow, have a good time type. The other aunt is the high strung, has to top/be better than everyone else, and is generally a bit over the top. Their daughters (my cousins) generally have more or less the same personality as their respective mothers.
My cousin of the laid back aunt turned 16 in June. My aunt planned a suprise party for her. She called me about 6 weeks ahead and asked if i would make the cake for the party. (i make cakes as my 'hobby') She wanted that to be my gift to my cousin, and no further gift would be necessary, because (as she said) "i'm asking you to take the whole weekend off to make a cake. it's probably costing you more then it is me" (i waitress) So, DBF and i went to the party (Backyard BBQ) and had a good time. Cousin LOVED her cake. was thrilled that she had a cake "no one else would ever have"
Fast foward to last night:
While down visiting my mom last night she hands me an envelope with a real wax seal on it (no stickers here) inside: an invitation to rival a wedding invite, to my other cousins 16th birthday (her birthday is in november). An invitation to a masaquade ball. on a Sunday night (school, anyone?). at the Elks lodge. My mother informs me it's being catered and there will be a DJ. oooooooookay. The kicker? The bottom of the invitation reads:
"Formal wear, mask and invitation required for admittance to the event"
So i take the invitation home to DBF, who reads it and goes "um, no thanks. If you're going, you're going alone"
I understand it's important event in womanhood. But i most certainly did NOT grow up in an area where an "event" like it is common. Certainly not a formal event like this. This is wayyyyyy overdoing it. we don't do "my super sweet 16" type things here. Plus, we can't afford to:
*Take a sunday off now (Both of us would have to take the day off)
*Buy "formal" outfits appropriate for me and DBF
*Come up with money for a gift
Other kicker: it's in less than 2 weeks.
yeah. thanks for the heads up on this.
Me not going will probably start WWIII. My mom can't really afford it either, but is going because "she has to." I, however, am not going to be bullied into this. DBF and I are going to send a gift along with my mother. However, this is going to become an issue with my over the top aunt who is going to cause a scene because I "Clearly favor one cousin over another" because i make "more time" for the other aunt and her family. My mother has already made of point of telling me this. (she would know: it's her sister)
But honestly, who sends out an invite to a formal event less than 2 weeks ahead of time?? With NO advance warning that it was going to be anything more than a party at the elks lodge? even my mother had NO CLUE.
Okay, vent over. Normally, i'm pretty laid back about everything, but gosh, this is frustrating me!!
PS: Telling my aunt i can't go will result in 150 questions about what, when and what time i'm doing everthing that weekend. No thanks. Telling her i can't afford her party also isn't an option. Apparently, waitresses are "have plently of money"
I have 2 aunts, each of whom have a daughter turning 16 this year. One Aunt is pretty cool, laid back, go with the flow, have a good time type. The other aunt is the high strung, has to top/be better than everyone else, and is generally a bit over the top. Their daughters (my cousins) generally have more or less the same personality as their respective mothers.
My cousin of the laid back aunt turned 16 in June. My aunt planned a suprise party for her. She called me about 6 weeks ahead and asked if i would make the cake for the party. (i make cakes as my 'hobby') She wanted that to be my gift to my cousin, and no further gift would be necessary, because (as she said) "i'm asking you to take the whole weekend off to make a cake. it's probably costing you more then it is me" (i waitress) So, DBF and i went to the party (Backyard BBQ) and had a good time. Cousin LOVED her cake. was thrilled that she had a cake "no one else would ever have"
Fast foward to last night:
While down visiting my mom last night she hands me an envelope with a real wax seal on it (no stickers here) inside: an invitation to rival a wedding invite, to my other cousins 16th birthday (her birthday is in november). An invitation to a masaquade ball. on a Sunday night (school, anyone?). at the Elks lodge. My mother informs me it's being catered and there will be a DJ. oooooooookay. The kicker? The bottom of the invitation reads:
"Formal wear, mask and invitation required for admittance to the event"
So i take the invitation home to DBF, who reads it and goes "um, no thanks. If you're going, you're going alone"
I understand it's important event in womanhood. But i most certainly did NOT grow up in an area where an "event" like it is common. Certainly not a formal event like this. This is wayyyyyy overdoing it. we don't do "my super sweet 16" type things here. Plus, we can't afford to:
*Take a sunday off now (Both of us would have to take the day off)
*Buy "formal" outfits appropriate for me and DBF
*Come up with money for a gift
Other kicker: it's in less than 2 weeks.
yeah. thanks for the heads up on this.Me not going will probably start WWIII. My mom can't really afford it either, but is going because "she has to." I, however, am not going to be bullied into this. DBF and I are going to send a gift along with my mother. However, this is going to become an issue with my over the top aunt who is going to cause a scene because I "Clearly favor one cousin over another" because i make "more time" for the other aunt and her family. My mother has already made of point of telling me this. (she would know: it's her sister)
But honestly, who sends out an invite to a formal event less than 2 weeks ahead of time?? With NO advance warning that it was going to be anything more than a party at the elks lodge? even my mother had NO CLUE.
Okay, vent over. Normally, i'm pretty laid back about everything, but gosh, this is frustrating me!!
PS: Telling my aunt i can't go will result in 150 questions about what, when and what time i'm doing everthing that weekend. No thanks. Telling her i can't afford her party also isn't an option. Apparently, waitresses are "have plently of money"
