Sunday, July 27, 2008

Really Bad Timing

My MIL and FIL (and Handsome's Grandma and Aunt) came up Thursday night to watch Handsome's latest show. After the performance the lobby was filled with the usual congratulatory and semi-honest hugs and compliments.

In the middle of all this joy and celebration, my MIL announces to her mother, sister and children, "They found a lump in my breast and I went in last week to have it removed. It wasn't cancerous but I didn't want anyone to know until it was over."

Shocked silence.

Handsome's mom, aunt and grandmother just lost a sister/daughter to breast cancer in January.

Needless to say, her announcement was a real killjoy.

Yes, everyone was happy it wasn't cancer, but not so happy she didn't say anything about it until after the fact. They are a very supportive family and I think a little hurt she didn't say anything sooner.

And, she could have picked a better time and place to have announced it.

I was irritated that she did that, but maybe I'm just over-sensitive. I'm not sure what I would have done in that situation, but I probably would have told someone other than just my husband. I suppose everyone is different. No one ever said that tact was a strong suit of my MIL...

2 comments:

Brigindo said...

People do handle these things very differently. I agree the timing was horrible but maybe she just couldn't keep it in any longer.

My BIL lost his mother to cancer many years ago (before he was my BIL). His mother never told ANYONE she had cancer, not even him and he was still living in the house with her. I suppose eventually she couldn't hide it but it was already the end.

I obviously never met the woman but it seems a very cruel and selfish thing to do to me. b's mother said if she had a terminal disease she would keep it a secret. I don't get it.

Sizzle said...

That's rather odd. Hmm, timing was definitely off but good news that she is ok.