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Estrangement

Gifts to GC when estranged

(470 Posts)

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Ladysuisei Sat 03-Feb-24 16:29:54

Although I’m not ( quite) estranged from my son yet I’m already banned from having a relationship with my grandson ( only one ) who is due in March . My son has metered out so much cruelty to me over the last few months - but the most hurtful thing he’s told me regarding my new grandson is : Do not send any gifts . He will not be receiving anything from you .

This whole situation has escalated from a miscommunication which occurred in August last year , not discussed then allowed to fester . Much more has happened since sadsadthen of course . It’s devastating.

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 21:37:45

maddyone

I said upthread that the most likely people to harm children are their parents and/or step parents. The statistics bear me out on this. My own experience as a teacher of young children bear me out on this. And some personal observations bear me out on this. Consequently I find it difficult to understand the tsunami, it seems, of estranged grandparents. Obviously some will be extremely dangerous to their grandchildren, but that must be a very few. As a teacher I never came across a child abused by their grandparents, but I came across a fair few who were abused by their parents and step parents. Some cases were very distressing, others less so.

There is a huge disconnect in your thinking here

Those parents become grandparents... And no magic occurs to make someone not abusive when a grandchild is born.

Abuse from parents is more apparent because the child lives with their parents, grandparents have less contact with children in general but that doesn't make them any more safe to be around

You would not leave your child alone with someone who was sexually or physically abusive and emotional abuse is just as bad and proven to cause huge amounts of harm.

So it is not possible to say that "it is mainly parents who are abusive" when those parents become grandparents

Thanks to the wealth of information online, many people are now estranging abusive family members and protecting their own children.

Many parents are still sadly abusing their own children and hopefully will be estranged one day, preferably before they become grandparents and another generation of children are exposed to them

That's how time works

The good news is that emotional abuse is becoming legally recognised as a crime and hopefully the system improves further and more children are protected

maddyone Fri 09-Feb-24 21:43:34

Sorry, you’re wrong.
Statistics bear me out. Most abuse comes from parents and/or step parents.
You may not like it, but it’s true.

March Fri 09-Feb-24 21:45:54

maddyone

I said upthread that the most likely people to harm children are their parents and/or step parents. *

Which is why when those children are old enough they choose limited contact/no contact because of said damage.
Children don't stay Children for long.

Most abuse comes from parents and/or step parents.

Absolutely.

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 21:50:46

maddyone

Sorry, you’re wrong.
Statistics bear me out. Most abuse comes from parents and/or step parents.
You may not like it, but it’s true.

Ok so grandchildren cure abusive people?

Is that what you are saying?

March Fri 09-Feb-24 21:52:23

*Sorry, you’re wrong.
Statistics bear me out. Most abuse comes from parents and/or step parents.
You may not like it, but it’s true.*

That's literally the whole point of why some Adult Children choose no contact with their parents. They might like it, but it's true.

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 21:56:01

Reasonably it is exactly why there are an epidemic of estranged children isn't it

And so many of us wake up to the fact our own childhoods were not normal, when we have our own children and would never want them to feel the way we did

Madgran77 Fri 09-Feb-24 22:04:12

maddyone *Sorry, you’re wrong.
Statistics bear me out. Most abuse comes from parents and/or step parents. You may not like it, but it’s true*

VioletSky Ok so grandchildren cure abusive people? Is that what you are saying?

I am struggling to work out how you are taking what maddy has said to mean that VS. She is stating statistics regarding about where most abuse comes from. How does that in any way imply that GC cure abuse? I'm genuinely confused.

Madgran77 Fri 09-Feb-24 22:08:39

That's literally the whole point of why some Adult Children choose no contact with their parents. They might not like it, but it's true

Yes it is obviously why some choose no contact with their parents. Its also why some parents choose no contact with their AC.

But it's not the only reason why those choices are made.

March Fri 09-Feb-24 22:17:28

I know, which is why I said some

*Sorry, you’re wrong.
Statistics bear me out. Most abuse comes from parents and/or step parents. You may not like it, but it’s true*

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 22:21:04

Madgran please could you engage in the actual conversation and what people are actually saying instead of pulling up or correcting unnecessarily

Bridie22 Fri 09-Feb-24 22:24:52

Correct, the cards would say a message, happy / birthday / xmas, love from , how does that cross a line into potential harmful ground!!
A simple happy greeting just to let you know the GP was thinking about them...is thinking harmful now ?

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 22:33:13

Bridie22

Correct, the cards would say a message, happy / birthday / xmas, love from , how does that cross a line into potential harmful ground!!
A simple happy greeting just to let you know the GP was thinking about them...is thinking harmful now ?

Because every birthday brought you sadness didn't it? Every missed special occasion? Every milestone? You didn't stop, you remembered them on every single one of their special days and you never stopped.

They will see this in every card

You are sending reminders of your pain and sharing it with them and they will carry that pain of yours and perhaps add their own to it too

Bridie22 Fri 09-Feb-24 22:37:15

No No No! You are so wrong, we are sending love, cards of love, no sadness .
You have a very warped view of this thread, its very controlling and sad the set way your mind works, I feel for hard heart.

Smileless2012 Fri 09-Feb-24 22:42:35

Good and patient posts Madgransmile.

We've just back from the theatre so I've been catching up and see we're still going around in ever decreasing circles, and there continue to be jibes and digs at EGP's which I wont repeat, because I'm sure I'm not the only one whose finding them increasingly tedious.

The key word here is some. Some AC estrange their parents because of how they have and continue to behave but as you say Madgran, "it's not the only reason why those choices are made".

You may not like it VS but it's true.

In 2015 Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act created the offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.

One would have to be incredibly naive or blinded by their own prejudice to assume or claim, that this type of behaviour is never a factor in some parents being estranged by their AC.

They weren't estranged because they're abusive. They haven't been prevented from seeing their GC because it's believed those children need to be protected because having a relationship with them would put them at risk.

So the only thing these GP's are going to leave in the memory boxes they create for their EGC is their love and I find it sad and rather disturbing that anyone would suggest otherwise.

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 22:43:11

That's not true at all

I feel for these grandchildren though...

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 22:48:14

And how could you possibly ever know that your grandchildren won't view things the same way as me?

Because my opinion really isn't as "out there" as you seem to think...

And I haven't had a single valid argument against it... Just how horrible you think I am for caring about your own family members feelings and trying to help you ensure a favourable outcome

March Fri 09-Feb-24 22:53:55

*No No No! You are so wrong, we are sending love, cards of love, no sadness .
You have a very warped view of this thread, its very controlling and sad the set way your mind works, I feel for hard heart.*

From your point of view..
But if they've asked for no contact because it's hurtful and you're ignoring all of that, because you think you know better than them, it's you with the controlling streak.

Just leave them alone, they have their reasons.

I do think the memory box is a good idea,it's their history, maybe look into Ancestry online and the DNA. It's amazing and something to leave behind that goes beyond you if that makes sense.

Smileless2012 Fri 09-Feb-24 23:01:13

Really!!! You are now claiming that you are caring about our family members feelings; unbelievable.

I suppose it's something that you understand that what you are voicing here is your opinion. There are pages of valid arguments against your opinion VS, you are just either unwilling or unable to see a point of view that differs to your own.

"I feel for these grandchildren though..." well if you do, it's a shame you don't have any care for their GP's too isn't it, and I've no idea why you have the temerity to apparently know what's best for our GC.

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 23:06:17

I've been saying that all along, just go back and see

And your replies are not a great reflection on you I am afraid

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 23:08:45

If you just send the photos and heirlooms as a memory box, that is something that may very well be kept and cherished.

Putting anything in that highlights the estrangement in any way... It's just a bad idea

Smileless2012 Fri 09-Feb-24 23:13:00

Oh I think my replies are a very good reflection on me VS but I can't say the same for how yours reflect on you.

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 23:18:37

The real issue here is that my engagement in this thread has now become less about explaining a potential issue that protects both the grandparent and grandchild and more about defending against untrue comments

Given that absolutely no one has any right to assign motivation, thought or intention to anyone else. I have absolutely no need to put up with that...

So I will simply keep going until it stops

Smileless2012 Fri 09-Feb-24 23:24:22

But you're the one constantly making untrue comments VS hence this thread becoming more about those on the receiving end feeling the need to defend themselves.

"Given that absolutely no one has any right to assign motivation, thought or intention to anyone else" so stop doing it then.

VioletSky Fri 09-Feb-24 23:29:35

I have not assigned motive to anyone else, I have clearly stated that good intentions do not ensure a positive outcome. Would you like me to quote the many times I said it?

Shall I also quote the many times I have been told that my own estrangement means that I my opinions are somehow skewed of otherwise means I must have bad intent here?

I don't

I will defend my right to say that there is a potential negative outcome to the grandchild against unfair means of dismissing me

Smileless2012 Fri 09-Feb-24 23:32:55

I'm not engaging with you on this thread anymore VS it's a waste of time.