I write this as a grandad of a 16 month old baby boy (with a heart condition - but that's another story). He is however relevant to the next bit.
I have two daughters, both in their late 30s (there is only 18 months between them). For more years than I care to remember my eldest was vociferously opposed to having children, this was not helped by having a small succession of what I considered to be unsuitable partners, one of which she married (another story again). She also often seemed stressed but would never open up to me properly. In all that time her wish not to have children never wavered, UNTIL she met her current partner who has two young children from a now dissolved marriage. The two have come to stay every other weekend almost since the beginning of them getting together. They got on really well with my daughter from day one and she with them and, probably because of this 'awakening', she became pregnant and gave birth in December 2020. She has been an absolute model mum ever since, in my opinion. She has a high pressure senior job in HR and has had to juggle that with visits to Bristol with grandson for heart surgery, recovery times, routine hospital appointments. In most of his little life they have had to juggle with Covid as well, as we all have. Her partner is also a rock and is a lovely calm and organised man.
Now, I always felt that her sister would mostly likely be the one to be a mum. She has always been bouncy, bright,caring and loving. Now, however, she has become much quieter, has lost her spark and has become quite unsociable with the family, preferring a few long-term close friends. A few weeks ago, she got married to her long term partner (10 years+) without telling a single family member (including her sister) and simply announced it after the event. She said they wanted a quiet wedding with "no fuss". Fine, we would have respected that, but not to tell any of us in advance? Is that odd?
Frankly it's almost like they have both had personality transplants!
Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?
*Apologies for the lengthy ramble!