Cat-Napping?

 I met my new daughter-in-law and loved her immediately. She loves my son. Their relationship is downright normal! She is from Peru and although I am sure she understands more than she lets on, she does not speak English. She has three grown children, who are all here in the United States. Legally!! Her oldest daughter was the first to come and she has a delightful 10 year old daughter. A very well-behaved child. Her son and youngest daughter just recently came to the states. They live in the 2 bedroom basement apartment of my son's house and they pay rent.

My son would forego that rent, but my daughter-in-law and I share the same ideas about raising children to be responsible adults. After our initial meeting we left knowing that my son was finally in a normal relationship. On our next visit to Minnesota, it was graduation time. We were invited to my sweet grandson's graduation, but not to Child One's big day.

My son was not allowed to attend his daughter's graduation either. He did agree to let her have his car for the evening to attend parties with her friends. Her mom refused to even consider letting her use her car! We were all at my son's house, having attended my grandson's graduation the day before. We ate a feast of Peruvian food prepared by my sweet daughter-in-law to be as we waited for Child One's event to be over so that my son could take his car to her and then be dropped off. 

So, despite the fact that there was absolutely no reason for the evil one to show up at my son's house, she did anyway. We were outside with my dogs and my newest granddaughter and her daughter when Child One dropped off her dad and left immediately because her mother was right behind her. She asked my son to offer her apologies and say that she would be back to see us after the evil one left.

Her excuse was that Child One forgot her bouquet of roses and she was just trying to bring them to her. Child One was not happy with her mom because she prevented her dad from attending her graduation. The other two girls were dressed like hookers! I know that sounds extreme, but I honestly cannot think of a more apt description. They had those stretchy mini dresses on, all glittery and high heels. You have seen those tiny dresses that ride up with every step. I was appalled at the fake eyelashes and make-up, too. Just not appropriate for a 13 and 15 year old.

In contrast, the evil one was dressed like Holly Hobbie in a cotton print dress that came mid-calf and had a pinafore type over dress. We all just stared at her. The girls announced that they were so hungry and went into the house to eat. No one invited them, they just demanded food. They were at their dad's house, and they might have been offered food had they not just marched in and demanded to be fed.

My son was inside with his bride to be and took over, making a plate for each of them on disposable plates so they could take the food with them. The evil one tried to engage me in conversation and proceeded to try to teach me about the care of the honey crisp apple tree that was awaiting to be loaded in my RV. A gift from my son's new family.

Failing to have a chat with me she tried with my son's new stepdaughter. Gave up and just walked into his house! It was quite awkward. After she finally took the girls and left, I took my son aside and told him to put a stop to that woman interfering with his life or he could kiss the new family goodbye.

This was and is still a bone of contention between my son and his wife. I thank God that she loves my son enough to hang in there with him. The evil one did not want him, but she did not want him to be happy with anyone else. She had destroyed him financially and he finally listened to me and got his child support reduced to be commiserate with his earnings. The spousal maintenance could not be lowered due to the way the divorce settlement was worded.

Life went on and he continued to pay to see his children. Most of the payment went unnoticed by his new family. She had stopped texting me and emailing me. Her last email was an attempt to reconcile with me. Not once did she admit her part in the break in our relationship. I only tried to remain in her good graces to be able to see the girls and remain a part of their life. Telling them that Gramma conspired to kill the cat was her own undoing.

About that cat ... I already mentioned that it was not litter box trainable and never would be. Some cats just decide to do their own thing. The whole "killing of the cat" episode was highly distorted. The actual event that took place?

Child Three exited the bus at her dad's house and went to the front door and knocked. Her dad wasn't there, and she knew that, but my grandson opened the door, and the cat flew past him to the great outdoors, as cats will do. Child Three screamed and chased after the cat, caught it and put it in the car with Other Gramma who was on pick-up duty.

Having "saved" the cat, she confronted her cousin and demanded to know why he let her cat out. He told her that he was unaware of the cat when he opened the door and it was an accident. The next bus came and delivered the other two girls, and they went home, with the cat.

When the evil one got through rearranging and adding to the story, she started her accusations that we were trying to kill the cat. That I had told my grandson to get rid of the cat and the "indoor cat" was left on its own in the big world of nature unable to defend itself and so you see .... it only stands to reason that we wanted the cat to be killed by a predator.

The cat was never declawed, not defenseless. Furthermore, this cat, who disdained the litter box was not defenseless at all. I had seen the cat bring home birds in her mouth that she had caught when she was left to roam the neighborhood. Not only that, but she also indicated that the cat was still at large. All this time the cat was right there in her house!