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Grandparenting

Invisible Step-Granny

(57 Posts)
ginny Tue 28-May-24 08:06:59

I don’t think it is worth saying anything although I understand how annoying it must be.
You are obviously accepted in the family otherwise.
Just enjoy your visits when she is not there, don’t make it into a competition.

Urmstongran Tue 28-May-24 07:57:41

Blimey - so Judee remarried 22 years ago and still wants to be numero uno grandma front & centre. It’s in her DNA and you’ll never change her so don’t try. Irritating though she is to the highest degree, ignore her and keep it zipped. She WILL come out on top by fair means or foul so learn to roll your eyes, shrug and move away from her. You have enough family gatherings without her it seems so accept what you DO have instead of focusing on what you don’t. If you make this into a drama you’ll look silly after all this time and your family could fracture. Don’t risk it I’d say.

GrannyIvy Tue 28-May-24 07:47:35

I’m sorry it sounds so difficult and don’t know what to advise except carry on being you and try to ignore her when she is around. Hope it gets easier to manage her. My son in law’s mother has always pushed me out at family do’s and makes me feel like horrible grandma. I ignore her and smile. The GC love her, my daughter thinks she is perfect so best just to keep quiet!

Grandmabatty Tue 28-May-24 06:14:48

I wouldn't say anything to her, if it was me. If she's as dramatic as she seems to be, that could go badly. In addition, she's your step daughter's mum so that also has challenges. I would ignore her performances. My son in law's father is very much competitive grandad and I'm polite but I don't engage in his antics. My elder grandson loves his grandad very much and it's clear he is his favourite grandparent. I am the favourite of dgs2 at the moment but it all can change. You risk making your step daughter having to defend her mum and fracturing your relationship

SMA1218 Tue 28-May-24 03:42:40

Yes, I know. What a quagmire of a situation. There is no precedent for this type of behavior.

Macadia Tue 28-May-24 03:34:27

I am sorry SMA1218 I don't have any wise words to give you but it sounds dreadful. Thank you for posting. I hope others can give you advice because I cannot. But HUGS for you.

SMA1218 Tue 28-May-24 03:17:07

I have been married for 22 years. My husband's ex-wife is also remarried for 22 years to her current husband. I will call her Judee. Judee is unable to restrain herself from intruding when I happen to be at a our grandchildren’s party, ball game etc. She is a bit sly about it all, but she is annoying. For example, (one of many similar situations) We show up at a birthday party. The moment she sees us come in, or the moment we walk over to say hello to the kids, she hovers in the space near us regardless of how large the venue is and then Judee transforms into Grandma Extraordinaire. She starts speaking loudly in a sing song voice, and begins using ridiculous superlatives as she practices soliloquy techniques, and speaks out into the universe near us so that we can hear whatever she is saying. I might be bending down to give the 4-year-old a hug, and in the very near background I hear Judee harping over me interrupting our interaction with something like, "Oh, isn’t she so precious in her lovely sparkling dress, isn't she just gorgeous?" Speaking to no one in particular.
Same party, we decided to leave a bit early and asked if we could let the party girl sit with us in a spot off to the side to open our present for her. My stepdaughter is most agreeable and said, "Sure" We sit down while everyone else is playing and visiting. The moment Judee sees my husband and I sit down with the child, Judee is bounding over, "Oh, is she opening her presents now?" My Stepdaughter says, "No, My Dad and Granny are just letting her open their present." Judee takes a position just above where we are sitting and commentate the entire present opening right down instructing her to tear the paper and to asking the child if she loves it and loudly expressing her opinion to the universe of the "extraordinary" gift.
In addition, we have quit telling my step-daughter when we will be at games, and now we just show up because if she mentions it to her mother in passing, Judee will be there every time doing her best Mary Poppins. She just can't help herself. I am waiting for her to break out in song and dance one day.
Before you chide my husband, we are both at a bit of a lose as to how to make her go away since she is pouring on the nicey nicey, singy songy, with the kids all the while ignoring me, speaking over me, and interrupting any meaningful interaction that I have with the kids.
After trying to ignore her rudeness for years now, I have decided that the next time she hovers and interrupts I am going to stand straight up and say, "Oh my, I am so rude. Did I interrupt yours and Child's conversation or interaction? Excuse me, I will come back when you are finished." I have decided to us my feet to remove myself from the situation. Any helpful suggestion on how to handle a rude interloper who just can't accept that her children and grandchildren actually love me and vice versa. They often come to our house, and all is well and normal when Judee is nowhere to be seen.
It is good just to vent and to put something out on the internet that might help other people as there is a dearth of information about how to handle exes after grandkids come along. She has always ignored me, so this is nothing new. Thank you in advance for helpful kind comments.