My family has an apartment in Madrid. It has been rotting for some while due to the fact that we did’nt go to Madrid that often and in the past year, my parents have decided to remodel it.
So, they talked to the construction people and have had plans to redesign it for the better part of a 7 months and finaly, both of them went to Madrid about 2 1/2 months ago.
They were only planning to only spend about 3 weeks there, but alas, things did not work out the way they should have time-wise, and my father had to return to Santo Domingo to continue his work.
I had been planning since last Decemeber with two friends to spend 3 weeks in Spain, counting on the fact that the apartment would have been done at the time it was supposed to be done, but it did’nt happen due to certain circumstances. We had almost the whole exact date pinned out but at the last minute I had to tell them it was’nt possible to go under the circumstances that we wanted, and the circumstances the parents of my friends wanted. So it was cancelled.
My mom, meanwhile, has spent quite a lot of time fixing the apartment, almost entirley by herself, with the occasional help of my brother and some of the friends she has in Madrid.
My mom, so it happens, misses the family alot especialy me and my father and she is afraid of flying, but has improved upon this fear significantly with medication and “family” therapy.
It now so happens that my dad wants to go to Madrid to “help” her out, but in fact the aprtment is almost done.
I really don’t want to go, because:
- I have no good excuse for going and telling my friend that I’m going because my mom wants to see me and my dad
- I just bought a puppy and I am the person who looks out for him the most, he is only a month old
- I have a gym routine that will be broken and I am under a strict diet
- I will see my mom for a month and a half before I go to college anyway
My dad first agreed with me. A few minutes ago he comes into the room and says “You know, sons can be selfish too.” "Your mom has been busting her ass off for 2 1/2 months and you don’t want to go because your afraid of looking bad in front of your friend? Who’s more important you family or your friend?
“I would like you to acompany me, I don’t want to go either, but it would make her so happy given all the effort she’s done this last month.”
I told him he was guily tripping me (in a nice way) and that it was also selfish that my mom want to go all the way to spain for 10 days (for me it is pointless to take a 9 hour flight for just 10 days, *maybe *more, nothing is definitive with my family and flight departures) just because she wanted to see me and is afraid of flying. She will see me anyway. And my dad will accompany here anyway.
He really did’nt listen to much and still said I was being egotistical.
He said that we already have been very nice to my friend and that he should understand the circumstance, which I believe and ridiculous to begin with.
He says the dog will be taken care of by the peopel who work in my house, which isn’t very true, they don’t really care for the dog.
He just left and is in one of those “I am right you are wrong and no more discussion” type of mood.
Now, I do understand hsi points, I may be being selfish, but he is being selfish as well.
I loathe flying. Going to Spain for 10-14 days is pointless IMO, because Madrid is almost empty in summer and we will not spend more time there just to spend money.
Again, My mom WILL see me again. And I do think they are being a bit selfish as well.
What advice can you give me?