Estrangement from daughter and grand daughters

Elegran he wasn't best pleased:
'But he answered his father, "Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him."'
The father explains why celebration is appropriate:
'"But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found."

And yes, soon, I know it was a parable.

His father wasn't God.

The dad told him he was just glad to see the boy back home, and that he would have done the same for the bro if the situation had been reversed.

He was told that what his father [God] had all those years, had always been his.
In other words, God has enough for everyone.

He came back to his family. Doesn't sound as the daughter in this case is likely to do that.

If the original poster posts again along the lines of "my daughter wants to be friends with us again", then, of course, the answer should be, "welcome her back with love".

But don't take any old shit she feels like handing out in the meantime.

That Ok with you ja?

I sometimes wonder just how the other son felt about it, after his years looking after his parents.

Remind me again jingl, what was that parable about the prodigal son?

Don't contact her. Let her contact you. If it happens, be polite, nothing more. She needs to prove to you that she can be trusted not to hurt you again. This will take years. And there are other family members who she needs to consider too. Your son and partner stood by you when she did not. If she is not prepared to work for their trust too then forget her.

We can't judge that Budgie's DD is horrible, just on the info we have.

Saying 'that'

I cannot imagine saying to any of my children. I was talking about the daughter of the original poster - going by what she has told us. She sounds horrible.

I think I would find it impossible to tell one of my children to "bog of" whatever they had done. You are clearly made of sterner stuff!

God! I would have told her to bog off long ago. Cultivate a good relationship with your son. Give him the odd treat if you can afford it. And then write and tell her how much he enjoyed it.

How very difficult for you. I do agree that you need to protect yourself - we can only stand so much emotional pain and you need to look after yourself.

Are any of her reasons for breaking off contact ones that you can understand and have any sympathy with? Or does her behaviour seem totally irrational? Is her father around at all and in the picture? Does she have contact with him?

It does sometimes happen that families split down the middle, especially with a step-parent situation. One child sides with one parent, the other with the other. Maybe this is what has happened here.

I think the biggest difficulty for you is to know how much to say and how much to bring out in the open to discuss with her when she does make contact. You do not want to initiate a discussion whose emotional content will run you ragged and at a time when your OH is away. It all depends how much you want to "have it out", get it out in the open and put it all behind you. Only you can know how much you can cope with - you do not want to make yourself ill. You need some peace of mind.

I am reading it that she has not sent you her change of address details - but does she know that you know? - i.e. will your friend have told her that she has told you this information? If so, there is nothing to be lost by sending a fairly neutral note that says you hope they are settling happily in their new home.

I know that there must be a seething mas of emotion under all this - how could it be otherwise? - and so stressful for you. I do hope there will, be some way of resolving this.

Your DD did not agree with the friend who said that she must still have feelings for her mother? That is slightly confusing, given the texts and cards you have had lately.
Have you responded to your DD and do you have a way of contacting her now, or only through your mutual friend?
If you can contact her maybe you could just send a card saying you have heard she plans to visit in April and that you will be very happy to see her, at that time or sooner?

Could you speak to your sister and ask for her advice on this?

I'm only making guesses, of course, based on the info you have given, and I understand you want to protect yourself, as far as possible.

Tricky.
Tread carefully whatever you do. I cant see your daughter becoming a chatty type anytime soon.

It does seem to me though that she is making quite a serious effort.

The list of faults of you and your son. Were some of them justified?

I think it would be nice to just send her a card or note, saying something small like, it is nice that you are living locally now. Just that. Then it becomes up to her what her next move is.

Life is short budgie.
I'm wondering why your daughter is waiting till her stepfather is away before contacting you. Is he part of the problem?
It sounds as though your daughter does want to make contact - I have no experience of this, but I think I would welcome her with open arms and try to forgive the past, without expecting too much.