[HokeyReligions]

Hubby has a weird friend. She's around his age (late 50's) is married and has a 15 y/o daughter. Hubby's met her when she hired him to do some graphics for a video she was doing for a church - this was around 4ish years ago. Hubby was invited to the church dinner to see the video and watch his friend get some award. He sat at the table with the daugher.

Fast Forward. Hubby is now considered "Uncle" to the daughter and thinks he and this woman are great friends. Ive been dragged to the kids school plays and we've had them all over for a christmas party a couple years ago. (although I've never been to their house - hubby has many times)

Hubby sometimes sends musical greeting cards to daughter. He took her out for a day of fun once. I pick out her christmas & birthday gifts. There is nothing sexual or romantic going on. Hubby is incapable and its not that kind of friendship.

Anyway, over the years this woman has gifted us a lot of items - mainly because they are loaded and think we are just such poor people (we are not, we just aren't millionaires like them). We've had their old sofas, dressers, patio furniture, bookcases, yada yada yada. A few weeks go they left a HUGE picture by our front door. This thing probably cost $400+ new when they bought it 10 years ago. I guess they figured we would like it.

This kinda thing bugs me. Hubby has no shame or pride, but now this woman called him last week and asked him to buy another musical card for the daughter because she sometimes has a hard time in school (like when she doesn't get to be #1 - this is really a privliged kid and a popular kid)

Anyway, the mom says that she keeps all the cards hubby sends and decides when her daughter is feeling low and needs a card (isn't interferring with US Postal mail a felony?) but then to tell hubby to buy a card and send it! OMG!

Of course hubby did it and laughed it off. He loves being like an Uncle to this girl. He didn't want kids with me and he didn't grieve much when we lost the ones we had because he never wanted them and made no bones about letting me know that. But now he has this girl he just dotes on. I guess that's why this woman didn't think anything of telling him to buy her daughter a card and telling him that she saves the ones he sends until she feels her daughter needs it.

Even the gifts I pick out the mother and daughter both thank hubby for - profusely. (I do have good taste)

Oh, they've also asked hubby to teach her to drive. I laughed! Hubby has had more tickets and accidents than anyone else I know - he's a horrible driver!! But hey - let 'er rip! Just not in my car that I'm paying for.

[quankanne]

maybe being this child's "dutch uncle" fills a void left behind by the loss of his own children? Esp. when if being a dad was awkward and now it's too late to make amends? My vote is to spoil the kid horribly ... knowing that you will be her trusted friends/peeps whenever she is not able to talk with her own family. At least this has always worked well for me.

as for DH's Driver's Ed ... oh, hokey, think of all the payback of frustrations that kid would provide

[JackJack]

Well, what I was going to say I thought, you already said your hubby was incapable of so, I'll just say that he must provide a father figure type of deal for the girl.