Enough

I remember the first real conversation we had about it.

It started off small. I was still the "girlfriend", so I wasn't trying to come in hot with my opinions. After dinner at The Balkan Storm's house, everyone left, and we were cleaning up when I asked: You always let your daughter talk to you like that?”

Because what I had heard all evening from grown adults was a lot of attitude, sarcasm, and straight-up condescension.

He shrugged. “That’s just the way she is. “

When I gave him a look, he added, “It’s a Northern thing, we just talk differently to family.”

I reminded him that his kids were raised further south than my corn-pone ass, so that explanation didn’t exactly make sense.

"Weird," I said. "You and your mother are Northerners, and I’ve never heard you talk to her like that. I’ve never heard you talk to anyone like that.”

Yes, Northerners can be direct. I’m not unfamiliar with the concept.

This wasn't that.

He paused for a second, then admitted I was not the person to bring it up.
That’s when I knew we were in for a loooong, bumpy ride.

Little did I know this was the least of our problems.