Awkward Situations, Part I

Saturday, May 8, 2010

We’re up at the in-law’s house for the weekend. Hubby is supposed to be helping FIL fix things around the house (the usual). Hubby and I are standing in the office when FIL starts explaining where he had the new waterline installed to service the hot tub, and I guess the backyard. I asked my usual engineer questions – What type of line is it? Did you run the PVC with locating wire? FIL looks up at us and says that he’s telling us so that we will know where it is,in case we need to know later. Because… ‘I thought you might like to have the house.’

GAPING SILENCE

What exactly to you say to someone when they tell you that they are thinking of giving you a house? We knew that it was a possibility, Hubby does want to move back there to be able to teach college courses after he retires, and the house is SO close. But really, what do you say? “Thanks for the information, we were already expecting you to leave us the house?” Wow. We weren’t sure what to say, so we said nothing. Probably not the right move, but that’s okay.

If you’re reading this, FIL, I appreciate anything you’re willing to give to us. We’d gladly take the house. I just don’t know how to respond to situations where it would sound like we thought we were: a) entitled to the house, b) unappreciative of the gesture or, c) not interested in the house.