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What do I do now?

(55 Posts)
Peacelily Tue 06-Sept-16 11:04:19

Hi. This is the first time I have posted, although I regularly read other posts & feel you are all a great support system.
I wondered if you could give me some advice on the situation I find myself with my DD. She is 40 & lives 1 1/2 hours away.
I thought we had a fairly good relationship, as up to March '15 she used to send me cheery & loving emails This all changed when my ex MIL's Will was read in mid March '15. I got on well with my ex MIL, but my DD totally disagreed with the Will. My DD sent me some very hurtful emails & refused to talk to me for several months. She even said she had been angry with me for well over 20 years when her Dad & I had split up. This was the first I had heard of this anger.
I have been trying to build bridges ever since, although she still won't talk it over with me.
We seemed to improve over the months & she occasionally emails me, although these are generally rather factual.
I phoned her a couple of weeks ago & asked her if "we were OK now". She said we were, so I asked her if I could come and stay for a few days. There was a long silence & she said she wasn't ready for that.
Sorry for the long post but where do I go from here?

Ana Tue 06-Sept-16 11:09:18

Sounds as though it all hinges on your late MIL's will. Did your DD expect to be left something and was not? Does she now expect you to hand over what she considers to be her right? Would you be willing to do this?

Sorry if this isn't the reason for your estrangement, but it's the one that seems most obvious.

ninathenana Tue 06-Sept-16 11:28:33

It does sound as Ana says but if so she is being unreasonable.
You had no say in your x MiL will. Forgive me for asking is your D's father still around? If so maybe she'd be better taking his mum's will up with him.

Peacelily Tue 06-Sept-16 11:28:44

She was left money in the Will, as was I. I have done what she asked me to do and given her and DS they money that was left to me.

Ana Tue 06-Sept-16 11:34:43

Oh dear. It sounds as though there is a lot more to this falling-out that goes back a long way.

Perhaps all you can do is be patient and hope your DD's attitude softens towards you in time. How do you get on with your DS?

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 06-Sept-16 11:41:01

Well, what do you think it's all about? Sorry but we can't possibly know what caused her off-handed nests. And without knowing that, how can we help? It would have to be guesswork.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 06-Sept-16 11:43:10

She does sound a bit of a brat. Ignore her?

thatbags Tue 06-Sept-16 11:50:38

How puzzling. Was it a large amount, the money that was left to you but that your daughter demanded (impudent, much?) be given to her? Did you just hand it over or was a bit of 'persuasion' by your DD and SiL required?

Esspee Tue 06-Sept-16 11:51:10

She asked you to hand over the money that was left to you in a will? And you did?

FarNorth Tue 06-Sept-16 11:56:17

Asking to come and stay was maybe pushing it a bit, if you'd only just found out that things were "okay".
Not saying your DD is in the right, as I don't know the situation, but clearly you have to take your cues from her and go at her pace.

gettingonabit Tue 06-Sept-16 12:15:21

I'm not sure I've read correctly but, like others here, I'm wondering if she asked for money that was left to YOU?

Elegran Tue 06-Sept-16 12:24:46

In your first post, you didn't mention that important fact (DD and DS asking you to hand over money that was left to YOU in ex MiL's will)

Why was that? It makes a difference to how we see things. The story seems to get worse as it goes along. I have my own thoughts about this thread, but I'd like to know why you didn't consider it worth telling until after Ana's post?

Tizliz Tue 06-Sept-16 12:33:24

It is a shame whatever the cause. Life is too short. My daughter and I fell out over the GCs behaviour and I so missed talking to her, can't remember how we were reconciled but so glad we both gave in. Can't you ask if you can both start again and put the past behind you?

Peacelily Tue 06-Sept-16 12:44:39

I get on really well with DS and his family. There was a lot of persuation needed on my part

Peacelily Tue 06-Sept-16 12:49:50

I was happy to pass the money over, just not the way it was done. I have tried very hard over the past year to be reconciled, and I miss her and DGC very much, just don't know what else I can do

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 06-Sept-16 12:51:19

sad

Tell her that, by text.

Peacelily Tue 06-Sept-16 13:07:45

it is a complicated situation. I was just hoping you could give me ideas on how to go forward

gettingonabit Tue 06-Sept-16 13:19:04

Well, you seem to have tried your best to reconcile with her.

Why did you give her money that was left to you?

I think you're leaving a lot of detail out here-could you fill in some blanks?

lionpops Tue 06-Sept-16 13:27:31

Leave her be and get on with your life. Any daughter who asks for money that was left to her mother is beyond the pale. I am not sure what advice you expect here and I think you should speak with your ex and find out what is going on with your daughter. Relationships are complicated and I get the feeling that whatever you do it will still not please your daughter. You need to face up to this and move on. Tell her you are leaving your money to a cats home! My daughters have no expectations of getting any thing out of me, although I hope there will be something.
My late father said that children suffer from selective memory syndrome.

BlueBelle Tue 06-Sept-16 13:30:17

Hi peace lily I think posters are trying to help but are saying there really isn't enough info for anyone to make a fair assessment and I m finding it a little bit muddled

Did your daughter and son blame you for the marriage break up ?
Where is their father in all this hoo ha
Were the children kept away from the other grandparents or did they have a good relationship with them ?
'Persuasion needed' on your behalf by who,about what? as you say you were happy to hand it over
Was your daughter son and you all left money and then you gave them both your share as well, if so why? are they struggling ?
Why do you think your daughter might be angry and not your son ?
Asking to stay was maybe a step too far at the moment, unless you often do it ...could you just go over for an afternoon

Hopefully you ll come back with a bit bigger picture for people to get to grips with

thatbags Tue 06-Sept-16 13:35:32

She'll want to be reconciled with you when she wants some more of your money. Sorry to be so cynical but the impression the story gives so far of your daughter's attitude is not good.

dorsetpennt Tue 06-Sept-16 13:46:57

This is a very familiar tale , people turn nasty when they don't get what they think should from a will. You were left the money because your ex- MIL liked you and felt you deserved it. She obviously didn't feel that way about your daughter , not your fault. It's up to you what you do with it . Does your daughter deserve a cut after the way she had treated you. ? You enjoy it to hell with everyone else. Lucky you .

Smileless2012 Tue 06-Sept-16 13:55:29

TBH Peacelily if you'd posted asking what people thought about you passing your inheritance from your ex mil to your son and daughter, I'd have responded by saying that in your shoes I'd refuse.

An inheritance isn't a right, it's a gift and when a beneficiary gives theirs away, they're going against the wishes of the deceased.

I agree with thatbags and lionpops, from what you've said this all started over money and even though you've forgone your inheritance your daughter still isn't satisfied.

To wait for 20 years to tell you she's been angry with you for 20 years over the breakdown of your marriage to her father is ridiculous.

I've been told more times than I care to remember in the last 4 years that we've been estranged from our son that 'life's too short'. Well, what I've learned having tried to repair the damage done to our relationship is that yes, life is too short, too short for taking undeserved crap.

Hilltopgran Tue 06-Sept-16 13:58:29

Sorry to read of the difficult siuation, but keeping line of communication open is important. It is very hard as a parent to await the convince of sons, daughters and their partners. Could you manage to visit for a few hours or is it difficult for you travel in a day. We have stayed in a nearby b&b when visiting D and SIL, it just gives everyone some space. Several of our friends do the same , keeps visits to manageable shorter times each day gives everyone some space and you can retreat to your own accommodation if things become difficult.

Peacelily Tue 06-Sept-16 14:12:46

Ex was estranged from his mother for some time before her death. DS needed the money to go towards a deposit for a house, which was I agreed for them to have my share. Obviously if DS was getting some of my share then DD would have her share too. Whats done is done, and I just want to move on and have a reasonable relationship with my DD. When my ex and I broke up DD said she understood why, and for 20 years we had a good relationship