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Estrangement

Daughter’s birthday, should I send her a birthday card ?

(384 Posts)
Dibbydod Mon 13-Jul-20 10:36:07

I really need to have some constructive opinions on this .My long term partner of 22 years ( we never lived together) passed away last October, and I was so consumed up with grief that I hit rock bottom over the next few months . During this awful time , my daughter decided she had enough of me ( I know I was very difficult to deal with , but couldn’t pull myself out of the hole I was in ) , then one morning, bit out of the blue , she sent me a hurtful text , saying a host of awful things to me , adding that if and when she decides to talk to me again it will be on her terms . I’d messaged her back pleading not to be like this ,that I was sorry that I’d been such a pain to deal with , that my doctor has put me on antidepressants, and to say that I love her and are very proud of her. She read it , but never replied .
She ignored Mother’s Day , not contacted me once over lockdown to see if I’m ok or want something ( I am registered disabled but I have car and try to be independent as much as possible ) , and worse still , my 68 th birthday was last week and was totally ignored by her .
I have mixed feelings about all this , because I have couple friends who’s daughters have done the same to them , also read many posts on here of similar situations. I feel I cannot go through rest of my life feeling so hurt and upset , wishing and hoping she will contact me , and , if and when she does , I know I’ll be walking on eggshells as be worrying if she will do this to me again. I’ve not been brought up to be doing any of this sort thing to my parents , if we have an issue , we talk it through , to resolve things , never to cut them out of ones life , and be so hurtful and disrespectful. My Mum would be mortified by this behaviour, so would my beloved partner . I didn’t raise my daughter to be so heartless. My son is very hurt also , saying that his family are falling apart .
With all this emotions going on, it’s her birthday coming up in couple weeks time , and I’m at a loss as to wether to send her a card , part of me says yes , I should, ( but feel she will rip it up ) but then I feel that I don’t want to , so maybe that way she will hopefully feel some hurt to know how it feels .
I’m in state of limbo , and would appreciate thoughts on this one. Oh , and I’d like to add, that I love my daughter dearly , have always been proud of her , and miss her terribly.

Starblaze Tue 15-Sept-20 22:14:23

So, to clarify Pantglas I hate you, because you are reconsiled without doing any work to improve yourself as a parent, despite the fact I have no idea why your daughter needed a break from you which has nothing at all to do with my relationship or how horribly my mum treated me because you have apparently made the assumption that it can't have been that bad?

Sure, fine, makes total sense.

I don't think very highly of you after talking to you but I'm not going to waste any hate on you, you are just words on a screen

GG65 Tue 15-Sept-20 22:12:34

Pantglas2

My DD eventually reached out to me (after many attempts at reconciliation on my part) is the important part in this estrangement tale GG.

It is also her decision to not address her decision to estrange so many moons ago and I respect that. She was in a difficult place regarding her marriage and our space and she’s now found her ‘happy’ place with all of us!

We happily move on with good hearts ?

I wish you and your daughter all the best going forwards Pantglas2.

Pantglas2 Tue 15-Sept-20 22:08:14

My DD eventually reached out to me (after many attempts at reconciliation on my part) is the important part in this estrangement tale GG.

It is also her decision to not address her decision to estrange so many moons ago and I respect that. She was in a difficult place regarding her marriage and our space and she’s now found her ‘happy’ place with all of us!

We happily move on with good hearts ?

HolyHannah Tue 15-Sept-20 22:06:05

GG65 -- "I would also disagree that a person’s reasons for estrangement disappear when reconciliation happens. Just because it isn’t being discussed, doesn’t mean the reasons have disappeared. It is just rug sweeping the issues." -- I agree.

If I were to 'reconcile' with my 'mom' I wouldn't bother to speak of what the issues were. It's pointless, because to her? They don't exist. That's why I am not willing to try to 'fix' the situation, not because she won't deal with 'the past' but because she wants the "old Me" back and I am not her victim anymore. I refuse to rug-sweep so it's called and 'impasse'.

GG65 Tue 15-Sept-20 22:04:01

Pantglas2

Course they do GG! I’m thrilled to share ongoing efforts (on all all sides) for a happy ending with all who are ploughing through the mire of estrangement and why wouldn’t anyone with a good heart do that?

I think those posters aren’t particularly interested in conversing with you and some other posters given their past and current experiences of those interactions, it seems.

I mean, I don’t read this board often but even I can see it clear as day!

GG65 Tue 15-Sept-20 21:57:04

Pantglas2

I think Starblaze that those who show negativity towards reconciliation would be happy to own it - why not, because they can’t justify it, can they?

Their reasons for estrangement disappear when reconciliation happens without their 1-2-3 or 100 step approach to making amends!

Some of us kept it simple all along, however long it took... which is why the haters hate!

You say you “kept it simple all along, no matter how long it took” but wasn’t it your daughter who reached out to you?

It’s a bit of a risky strategy.

There was always the chance that your daughter wouldn’t reach out to you. I’m not sure it is a chance I would be willing to take.

I would also disagree that a person’s reasons for estrangement disappear when reconciliation happens. Just because it isn’t being discussed, doesn’t mean the reasons have disappeared. It is just rug sweeping the issues.

Pantglas2 Tue 15-Sept-20 21:51:43

Course they do GG! I’m thrilled to share ongoing efforts (on all all sides) for a happy ending with all who are ploughing through the mire of estrangement and why wouldn’t anyone with a good heart do that?

Bibbity Tue 15-Sept-20 21:49:22

Pantglas

As far as we’re concerned the estrangement is the conclusion. It has resolved everything.

I will never ever reconcile with my MIL. My husband to date unlikely to.
If he did that’s up to him. If he wanted her to be around the kids then that’s something me and him would have to have out.

I’m not full of hate. Just state facts. I only ever really discuss it here.
Now and again a friend or relative will ask if she’s been in touch but I could count on one hand the amount of time that’s happened this year.

GG65 Tue 15-Sept-20 21:43:41

Pantglas2

No, GG, you can see who doesn’t like reconciliation on this and other threads because it undermines their posts, the evil irreconcilable EP who can’t see sense.

When EAC decide to approach EP after a long estrangement of their own making it is rarely rebuffed by EP and reconciliation starts, hopefully to a fruitful end.

It is always a work in progress and why wouldn’t anyone rejoice in that? Unless they were full of hate and negativity of course.....

I have never seen “posters who don’t like reconciliation” and I don’t even know how that would look, to be honest.

I know which posters you are talking about and I have seen them query reasons for estrangement and encourage accountability when it comes to estrangement. To what end then, if they don’t like reconciliation?

Honestly, I am pleased for you that you have reconciled with your daughter but I don’t know why you would expect strangers online to rejoice in you and your daughter’s rebuilding of your relationship.

Anyone’s lack of rejoicing is more likely to be attributed to their lack of interest in your personal life as opposed to them being full of hate and negativity. It’s not personal. People have their own things going on.

Hithere Tue 15-Sept-20 21:40:20

Why did I know our words would be used against us?

How predictable

Pantglas2 Tue 15-Sept-20 21:35:35

I think Starblaze that those who show negativity towards reconciliation would be happy to own it - why not, because they can’t justify it, can they?

Their reasons for estrangement disappear when reconciliation happens without their 1-2-3 or 100 step approach to making amends!

Some of us kept it simple all along, however long it took... which is why the haters hate!

HolyHannah Tue 15-Sept-20 21:26:16

Starblaze -- If I am full of "hate and negativity" WTF does that make my 'mom' full of??? What are the word(s) you use after those? Evil?

Starblaze Tue 15-Sept-20 21:07:09

Pantglas you could name who you are talking about, unless you are happy to take the risk of upsetting/alienating every EAC here?

Pantglas2 Tue 15-Sept-20 21:01:36

No, GG, you can see who doesn’t like reconciliation on this and other threads because it undermines their posts, the evil irreconcilable EP who can’t see sense.

When EAC decide to approach EP after a long estrangement of their own making it is rarely rebuffed by EP and reconciliation starts, hopefully to a fruitful end.

It is always a work in progress and why wouldn’t anyone rejoice in that? Unless they were full of hate and negativity of course.....

Smileless2012 Tue 15-Sept-20 20:33:32

It's so sad isn't it. You want something you never had and I want something I thought I had but whether I did or not, can never have again.

Starblaze Tue 15-Sept-20 20:23:24

GG65!

The only thing I won't do to have a relationship with my mum is be abused and it took half a lifetime to finally draw that line.

I want something I've never had. I want what I needed growing up.

To say EAC are disappointed somehow by reconsiliation is ridiculous, illogical and judging by recent comments to EAC utter projection.

Smileless2012 Tue 15-Sept-20 20:17:36

I guess so.

HolyHannah Tue 15-Sept-20 20:15:15

My 'mom' wouldn't jump over a stick an ant could trip on if it involved her having to admit she's not perfect... Different standards I guess.

GG65 Tue 15-Sept-20 20:14:11

Pantglas2

Well Smileless I’ve always been impressed with your ability to see things how they are but your acumen on all of this on top of what you’re presently going through is astounding!

I take my hat off to you, you’ve summed up very succinctly in those paragraphs how those of us who have reconciled (and we are many, in spite of the naysayers and doom mongers) have managed it, supposedly against all odds, to their chagrin!

I don’t understand either. To whose chagrin? Are you talking about posters on Gransnet? Why would anyone be annoyed? What an odd thing to say.

Smileless2012 Tue 15-Sept-20 20:06:35

I'd walk on broken glass for my children as would many of us, but sadly for some of us, even that wouldn't be enough.

Smileless2012 Tue 15-Sept-20 20:03:23

Thank you Pantglas smile. I have no personal experience of reconciliation as you know, but my years of talking about estrangement here and elsewhere have taught me that despite similarities in many cases, no two cases are the same.

What is the same is the pain. Whether you're the one who estranged or the one who was estranged, there is pain and no one has the monopoly on the extent of that pain, which ever 'side' they're on.

Starblaze Tue 15-Sept-20 20:02:22

Also can I point out, asking questions and not addressing responses is not open honest discussion.

Its just an interrogation.

I'm not going to waste my time, which matters to me, being interrogated.

Starblaze Tue 15-Sept-20 20:00:31

Pantglas

Really don't understand your point, you aren't estranged because your situation has been resolved. If my situation were resolvable, I wouldn't be estranged either.

Or do you think that my criteria are really that unreasonable and that a parent who wants their child back shouldn't have to apologise for 4 decades of emotional abuse, go to counselling for a few months and make positive changes to their behaviour?

Because frankly, I'd crawl on broken glass for my children.

HolyHannah Tue 15-Sept-20 19:55:04

Starblaze -- I think my family would love to be able to show all kinds of loving pictures with the grand-children as a show of, "Well, if we are good grand-parents, then we must have been 'good' parents!" I'm sure they'd love to rub those pictures in Our faces...

Too bad only the two Scapegoats that married each other are the ones with children! My sister is far too old and husband's brothers neither have children yet...

Pantglas2 Tue 15-Sept-20 19:52:03

Well Smileless I’ve always been impressed with your ability to see things how they are but your acumen on all of this on top of what you’re presently going through is astounding!

I take my hat off to you, you’ve summed up very succinctly in those paragraphs how those of us who have reconciled (and we are many, in spite of the naysayers and doom mongers) have managed it, supposedly against all odds, to their chagrin!