I’m quietly grinding my teeth and counting to ten.
Background: I left home but always went to my Mum’s for Xmas. When Gill and I wed, we both went to Mum’s and travelled to her Mum’s in the evening. Eventually, as our girls grew we brought Mum and Dad to our house on the day and brought Gill’s folks over on Boxing Day. Now it’s just Mum who comes to us on Xmas Day.
We’ve just had a call from the Dear Lady asking about a gift for Cerys.
At the end of it she said that “if all else fails” she had two options for Xmas. She could come to us or go for a meal with all the biddies in the local church hall.
😱
Bear in mind that neither of my brothers make any effort at Xmas. Some years they don’t send cards. They phone, sometimes.
We go and get her and take her home, walking her in and making sure she’s okay before leaving.
I was really shocked.
Does she want an over the top response so that she can go and play the martyr in church, saying her family don’t want her?
It does make me wonder how much of the way my brothers’ behaviour is contrived by her or even constructed by her behaviour.
If you drive people away you can say you’re alone and unloved and play the hard-done-by.
She’s seen my kids every week of their lives (barring illness and holidays) and always been made welcome. Ashley sits with her, Cerys chats about her tablet and games she plays. The older girls have started visiting her too. We are only a phone call away if she needs help or a bit of shopping.
It’s exasperating as there’s no cause. She is and always will be welcome and we have told her this many times.
Thoughts?
Ashley and Nana at his Xmas Dance performance
Ashley and his Nana
Visiting Nana
