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Estrangement

Familiarity breeds contempt

(55 Posts)
Fethiye53 Thu 26-Oct-23 18:12:22

For the last 8 years Ive helped my DD and SIL out unconditionally. Always been available because I am the only helper they have here. I changed jobs, I moved city, I change my work hours around to fit in with them and annual leave. As a result of my help theyve been able to move home 3 times. Get good jobs. Manage their lives with the granddaughters. All his family live down south and abroad. During this time Ive put up with my daughter verbally lashing out at me on occasion due to the high powered stressful job along with motherhood she does but the other day was the last and final straw.

I try to not get caught up in their rows and keep my opinions to myself. Im not prone to moods and just tootle alone going about my day.

I was asked to look after the granddaughters on a Saturday which I did but they didnt tell me why but thats okay none of my business. On Sunday I got a videocall from the SIL showing me a dog they'd got which they must have gone to see a breeder that Saturday. Considering the stress levels they both complain about doing fulltime jobs, caring for two young daughters aged 4 and 7, which I picked up and droped off at school 2 days a week on my way to and from my own job in a local hospital I inwardly thought this was a mistake. I was unable to show any enthusiasm for their purchase. They know my views on dogs. The next thing I got a text message off the SIL saying you dont have to do anything as per the dog in any way as my mum will look after it if necessary orvwell take it away with us etc when I mind their house and cats when they go away.

Im having therapy at the moment for various reasons to do with a lifetime of abuse.

On the tuesday when I turned up to pick the girls up there was a distinct passive aggressive air from the SIL towards me around the dog.

On the Wednesday when I arrived to pick the girls up the DD and SIL had been up since 4:30am cleaning up dog diarrhoea from all over the livingroom.

Later that afternoon after Id brought them home from school and theyd eaten their tea.
The SIL said to me in the kitchen cant you say anything positive about the dog and laughed.

My little granddaughter went upstairs and came down in a little costume. My SIL went upstairs to carry on with his job after cooking the girls tea and my daughter came downstairs to babysit the dog in the kitchen with her laptop still doing her job. The dog got hold of the hem of my granddaughter's little dress trying to pull her down so I said a firm NO to the dog. My DD roared at me shouting you're not supposed to shout at the dog!!! I said I didnt shout but said a firm NO. My DD just launched into an attack on my mental health shouting have you HAD a diagnosis yet? And to stop using her as a punching bag when I said I cant do right for doing wrong. here?? After more abuse hurled at me I started for the door to get my coat. Thats right she shouted after me in a mocking tone go on run off in a hissy fit like you always do!! All this was in front of the grandchildren. I removed myself from their home for this reason. After all Ive done for them. I never ask for anything for myself.

I got home still enraged and sent a text to the SIL who was oblivious to all this downstairs to say I was withdrawing my services and Im sorry I know this might mean I may never see the girls again (because I felt that I had to absolutely make a stand)and that I am done with the life sentence of recurrent bouts of contempt and hatred I face from both my children ( son stopped speaking to me over 16 years ago) due to past misdemeanours as a young struggling single parent. Yes perhaps not the most sensible thing to do but I was hurt and angry and full of how dare you berate me in front of the grandchildren, attack my mental status and accuse me of being violent. She wouldnt dare do this to her father when he was alive or his parents so why me the one thats helping them. Since then there has been a deafening silence. I have offered the olive branch but again met with silence. I dont know where to go from here I feel I am being seen as the one who is at fault here. Its making me feel so ill. All because I scolded the dog.

VioletSky Mon 30-Oct-23 01:01:39

That's such a wonderful outcome

Sometimes children forget that when they are grown we are no longer the ones to support all their needs and calm their tantrums ... So need a reminder

But the truth is, that sometimes we see the worst of them because we made them feel safe enough not to hide their emotions and those emotions were only in the moment

DiamondLily Mon 30-Oct-23 18:13:05

Fethiye53

Met with the daughter. Had a good long 2 hour adult chat.

I was able to see things from her perspective and she could see things from mine.

We have come to an agreement on many issues and that I especially want my remaining years to be contentment and happiness and she agreed.

She doesnt want me to stop seeing the grandkids and neither do I even if I stopped the school run or other help. She tells me they love me very much and she would not stop me seeing them.

The dog is not the issue here. The dog is fine and enjoying life in its new place for all those concerned about the dog. Seems to have settled down and made itself at home.

I will continue to support for now with my grandchildren when I can. This is not being a doormat because its with my agreement and on my terms.

Thank you for all your support and help it was appreciated.

Good. Glad it all went well. Sometimes family members need to be reminded about boundaries.👍

eazybee Mon 30-Oct-23 18:57:11

Good that your meeting went well with your daughter and you both listened to each other.
You have asserted yourself and now you the childcare is on your terms, which is as it should be.
Thank you for letting us know the outcome.

Fethiye53 Tue 31-Oct-23 04:26:41

VioletSky

That's such a wonderful outcome

Sometimes children forget that when they are grown we are no longer the ones to support all their needs and calm their tantrums ... So need a reminder

But the truth is, that sometimes we see the worst of them because we made them feel safe enough not to hide their emotions and those emotions were only in the moment

So true. She did say she felt at the time of the row she had regressed back to being 16 when life was hard for all of us and and she would call me names to make me cry as teenagers often do back then and I said I felt taken back there also. Oddly enough I said as much in my text to my SIL. She said she still saw me as that angry person back then. I was a struggling single parent trying to make ends meet and fighting not to lose my home with debt and everything else.

Unfortunately I reacted in the same way by removing myself as I did many years back for the same behaviour coming from both my kids. Funny how we think we've moved on and in fact we havent.