Saturday, from 9-2, is family day at the ED Treatment Program. We meet in permutations of small and large groups with parents alone and the whole family. Everybody looks forward to the day because the families appreciate the support, camaraderie and guidance they provide one another and the teens look forward to a break from the routine. We have breakfast, snack and lunch together, and the lunch is a treat because it's from different local restaurants each week.
Family day is also open to friends if arrangements are made in advance, and Peanut went with us yesterday. It was so wonderful for her to be able to support SB and to get a behind-the-scenes look at how recovery works.
During the after-lunch family session the new families are introduced. This was Mr. Fix-it's first time with us, so he introduced himself as well. All but the two new families were aware that MFI is only home a couple of weeks of the month.
Have I mentioned that my husband's sense of humor is both dry and slightly twisted?
His introduction began like this, "I'm SB's dad and this is my first time here . . . I've been at my other home in Salt Lake City with our sister-wife . . ."
Let me just say that the therapist had no success at all in keeping a blank face. Her thoughts passed across her face as if they were the scrawl at the bottom of the T.V. screen. "Must not pass judgement . . . oh. my. god. . . . what the hell do I say? . . ."
SB looked up from her drawing and smiled, "Dad! They don't know you well enough to know you're joking."
The relief, my friends, was palpable and followed by roaring laughter from almost everyone in the room. It was quite a moment--it's not often that a room full of parents fighting for their children's lives has occassion to belly laugh and it was much appreciated. I'm sure the therapist also appreciated not having to map out a plan for dealing with our "unique" family situation.
Love MFI! Humor is all that.
Posted by: mrs. g. | March 18, 2012 at 11:41 PM
I'm sorry that I haven't gotten to meet MFI yet. Now THAT is hysterical, Jenn! Your family's sense of humor will win the day! Keeping all of you close in my thoughts and prayers!
Posted by: JCK (Motherscribe) | March 19, 2012 at 12:17 AM
HAHA!!!!! Good one :) In terms of humor, every time I see my doctor she is like "any trouble with ED?" her polite way of asking if me and the wife can still get it on. Her definition of ED is ENTIRELY different than yours...and so a) I have to look twice every time you write ED and b) NO I do NOT need the little blue pill..... ;)
Posted by: gary rith | March 19, 2012 at 08:21 AM
It's hard to secretly read your blog at work when your content makes me laugh out loud! Good thing I wasn't in a meeting:) Humor always helps a stressful situation. So glad your husband was able to lighten the mood.
Posted by: Kristen | March 19, 2012 at 09:42 AM
Oh, I love his sick sense of humor too!!!
Posted by: Busy Bee Suz | March 19, 2012 at 10:39 AM
snort. MFI's awesome. and SB finessed the situation beautifully.
Posted by: magpie | March 19, 2012 at 01:51 PM
That's hilarious! I can just imagine everyone's faces!
Posted by: mom taxi julie | March 19, 2012 at 02:00 PM
That is hysterical! I would have loved to have seen it :-)
Posted by: Cassi Renee | March 19, 2012 at 02:25 PM
Priceless! I especially like SB's way of dealing with her Dad's sense of humour. So many other teenagers would be mortified in the same situation. Goes to show the kind of close and loving relationship your family has.
Oh - and I'm glad I didn't read this post at work... I would have sprayed coffee all over my keyboard!
Posted by: allmycke | March 19, 2012 at 02:41 PM
Your husband is too, too funny! That is something my dh would have said, too. The exception would be that my kids would either have totally not understood what he said OR they would be too busy laughing to explain.
Posted by: Karen (formerly kcinnova) | March 19, 2012 at 04:17 PM
THAT is funny! Way to go, MFI!!
Posted by: Minnesota Matron | March 19, 2012 at 05:31 PM
One word: AWESOME!!!
Posted by: lanes | March 19, 2012 at 05:58 PM
Love it!
Posted by: Jenrantsraves | March 19, 2012 at 08:20 PM
Makes me wish he were coming to MN at least one week a month to be this sister-wife's husband! What a goof.
Posted by: Jocelyn | March 20, 2012 at 10:37 AM
I like the sound of that man!
But yeah, in a group of strangers, it would give them pause!
Posted by: Green Girl In Wisconsin | March 20, 2012 at 11:36 AM
I don't know, the therapist might have been thinking about the paper she could have published on THAT subject!
Posted by: Brightside-Susan | March 20, 2012 at 02:13 PM
Too funny.
Posted by: jean | March 20, 2012 at 11:04 PM