Are You Estranged From Someone in Your Family?

Are You Estranged From Someone in Your Family?

I was at the salon the other day getting one of maybe less than 10 pedicures I have ever had in my life. It was kind of a big deal for me just to be there.

The person painting my toenails asked me, "Are you close with your Mom or your mother in law?" I held my breath. It felt like I might cry. I told her the truth. I love them both. I don't know why it is so difficult for me with either of those relationships. I am not alone in having difficulty relating to either person, but that doesn't seem to help. Poor woman. She was probably looking for a simple, "Yes" or "No" response. She probably only expected to hear, "Yes, I am. They are wonderful."

I have no idea what the conversation would have been like if I had said that. I wish I did know. I don't wish it enough to pretend. I think I tried that when I was younger. It made the people around me wonder if I was not connected to reality. Whenever I tried to pull off saying, "Yes, we are so close..." there seemed to always be a natural consequence of circumstances proving me wrong. I don't know if God or the Universe didn't like to see me lie or if it was a God's protective method of snapping my hand away from something that would hurt more than honesty.

Maybe, instead I could just say, "We do our best to be close." I don't think that's a lie.