I’m new to Gransnet, hello!
I’m curious if anyone here has experienced what I’m about to explain. If so, I am extremely open to advice, thoughts or suggestions.
I was a widow who raised 4 sons who were all 2 years apart. At the time their ages were 15-7.
Partially due to the circumstances we went through as a family, my sons and I have always been very close. I’m talking about nearly every day communication type of close, even after they became adults. We’re pretty honest with each other even when times are tough and I have found this to be kind of rare.
3 of my sons who live close to me became fathers for the first time all within one month of each other. One of my sons, for this story I’ll call him #2 moved to a far away state and has a stepson. (But he, my DIL and I keep close contact on the phone and FaceTime.
My oldest son #1 is married and lives 2 hours away. We also have a very close relationship and also with my DIL’s parents.
Son # 4 was living with a lady and it didn’t work out so they broke up shortly after the baby was born. They both work hard but could not afford daycare. My new partner in life offered to support us if I quit my job to daycare my grandson for son #4 so this is what I’m doing and I do it for free.
Here is my quandary: son #3 got a lady pregnant after only 3 months together they are 26 years old. This son #3 was a surviving twin to his sister at a full term birth. It was very traumatic for me (I am aware of my psychological triggers) and I have used extreme caution not to transfer anything from that to this situation. For the first 3 months of their relationship we gave her and my son a job, they lived with us as roommates during my son’s transition and everything seemed fine. They moved to their own apartment and still everything was good. They didn’t have a washer dryer so I regularly did laundry for them.
Anyway, son #3 had the only granddaughter.
The mother, her partner still, had a very controlling mother/daughter relationship (spoken to me by her own words) she tries to be very independent. I tried to be supportive all through the pregnancy and up till my granddaughter was about 3 months old. But nearly every time I offered it was rejected. I thought it best to give them space so I quit offering.
It has been a year now and the only time I’ve seen my GD is when my son invites me when her mother isn’t home (rare, as she is 100% breastfeeding and I’m told refused packets or bottle) or they have all come to my home for 30 min. No one in the family including me has been allowed to bond with this babygirl. I couldn’t tell you anything about her personality because her mom won’t give me 5 minutes to just hold her.
None of my other adult children or their partners feel that I was over the top excited to be having 3 grandchildren at once or that I have been anything but helpful. However,
The partner of son #3 has accused me of the following:
I only see her as an incubator
I’m a danger to her daughter
I compare grandchildren
I wish she was dead so I could take her child
I don’t know what her child needs.
But here’s the kicker!
My son #3 has told me that he recognizes that I have done NONE of this and that his partner has major issues. The only thing I recognize that I’ve done or said is that I inquired as why my one year old GD had never had anything but breast milk and I asked my son if his partner could be suffering from postpartum depression. I did tell my son in a private conversation that I was worried and suggested that maybe she needed to talk to a professional to assess where she’s at. He has said he wants to stay and try to get through this even though she is abusive to him and I told him that this is the choice he gets to make because this is his life. I love him and am always here for him.
But I am obviously heartbroken. I am not perfect, I have my own emotional issues, and have had therapy to deal with them, but I don’t know what to do with this. I feel like me having a relationship with my GD is akin to being held hostage. I foresee a shallow acquaintance at best in the future. I don’t know what is more painful… the shock of what has happened or the ache of what, more than likely never will. I don’t want to be fake or controlled by his partner. To be honest, I don’t know if this is just who she is or if it’s something she will eventually work through. I want my GD to know who I really am, not some version her mother will allow me to be. I’m so torn about what to do next. But son #3 has implored me to be a part of his daughter’s life even if that is what it takes. I am going through my own pain and triggers of losing his twin, my daughter through all of this, and it honestly feels very different from my other GC who I’ve deeply bonded with although I’m quite a distance away from. I would appreciate any advice or thoughts from other Grands.
So it begins….. Streeting resigns
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