We love our families and try to be there for them when they need help because that’s what family is all about, but do you ever feel like your being taken advantage of even if your not. Do you do things even though you don’t feel like it and then feel like you’ve been put upon even though you agreed to help? Some people just really have a hard time saying no to anything because they don’t want someone to get mad at them or upset and everyone needs someone they know they can depend on. 

That brings me to the man I share my life with, Bill went over this past weekend to “help” my brother put up a drop ceiling. The operative word here was suppose to be help, Bill ended up doing it while my brother kept him company, but according to Bill he did hand him things every once in awhile and he tells me that he and Cecil make a great team so I just laugh. I’m glad my brother likes Bill, but he has 2 “young” son-in-laws doing nothing that could have done it. Bill works very hard during the week so he needs those 2 days to unwind not do extra work.

Don’t get me wrong I love my brother and see nothing wrong with helping, but sometimes family do sort of take advantage of a good thing, but only if we let them. I really don’t like the idea that Bill may feel obliged to help just because it’s my brother, he assures me that Cecil is his buddy so he doesn’t mind, but it bothers me because I don’t want my family to take advantage of his good nature. I’m just glad it was a rainy Saturday so we couldn’t go riding. I of course really don’t have a problem saying no to something I don’t want to do.

Bill is the sweetest most generous man I have ever met, yes this is a testimonial, in my lifetime. I never try to tell him what to do and he gives me the same respect, he doesn’t like tension or friction and has the tendency to give away things if someone admires something, so long as it’s his choice then that’s fine with me, but I don’t want to hear regret later which has happened a couple of times. Like the Pontiac we had and my brother wanted it so much.

Bill had absolutely no reason to sell that car because he loved it and it was cheap on gas, but my brother was always after it and Bill said if he ever sold it that it would be to him. I guess after several years he felt sorry for Cecil and when my brother offered him what I thought was a fair price and asked me what I thought I told him it was up to him that I wasn’t involved and not only did Bill sell it to him, but he even lowered the purchase price.

Okay, I’m done with my family rant now since Bill doesn’t want me to say anything to my family I needed to get it off my chest, but I’m quite sure in the future when my family asks Bill to “help” with anything I will be right there to make sure that’s all he does and since it’s my family I can say no easier than Bill although I’ve noticed he can say no easier to his family than mine, see that’s what I meant about him feeling obligated because of me.