I'm sending a package to my parents and am including a letter. Tell me what you think.
"Mom and Dad,
This is a list of what is contained in this box:
1 pair of shoes, 5 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, 1 T-Shirt, 1 See's coffee mug, 2 Awake magazines with information attached.
I am returning and sending items that were left at my house. I did not withhold the cookies. I simply forgot to give them to Mother. I did not take the See's mug. That mug was sent to us along with other items when you moved from San Carlos to Rocklin. Since you believe I took it, you can have it back. I don't need it.
I will not apologize since I did nothing wrong. I was not the one who behaved badly and I don't have to put up with that kind of behavior...not even from my parents. If you wish to believe that since I am your daughter that you can treat me any kind of way you like including being rude and disrespectful then we should not have any further contact. I find it funny that you Mother boasted of how you were able to avoid having any run-ins while visiting my sister but failed to handle me the same way. Maybe you think you're safe to disrespect me with small slights and minor rudeness. You're not and I won't stand for it anymore...I've dealt with it long enough and am not willing to do it anymore.
I'm returning the Awakes that my son politely and respectfully accepted but in reality he doesn't want them. And likewise I don't want them in my house. I will never try to persuade you to leave the witnesses and I will try not to say anything negative in your presence but that life is not for me and my kids. I would appreciate it if you not give my children anymore of the watchtower material. If you try to go around me and go against my wishes the magazines and/or books will be sent back or destroyed.
We can go on from this but I see now that I have to be more firm in my boundaries with you. So this is the point: You need to treat me the same way you treat my sister...with kid gloves. That means you need to be on your best behavior and if you have anything mean or rude to say...don't say it...say it for later when you two are by yourselves...I don't need to hear it and I don't have the patience for it. I was taught this by my parents along time ago that if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all."
Oh, they won't like it but they will have to deal with it.
Josie