Yes, of course it does. My mother drives me completely bananas and knowing this I've some how convinced them to come for a visit and stay with me. I think I must be losing my marbles and my mother-in-law tells me God will just love me more. I'm not so sure about that but okay, I'll take the gold star.
There's a family party for my mom's brother, whom she doesn't really keep in contact with (she's intimidated by him but then she's intimidated by most people). She and my step-father say yes they're coming. I'm not convinced because I know she's liable to throw a hissy fit over something and not go. My step-father really wants to come to the party but funds are low. I offer the trip as a Christmas present and tell him he can tell my mother I'll be really mad if she doesn't come; especially since we always have to go visit them and they never come here. (yeah, I can tell you exactly where I learned emotional blackmail). He says that works for him.
Now I'm borrowing a blowup bed with a frame from my in-laws to house crazy people for a long weekend. It may be a very long weekend indeed.
