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Family unforging

(95 Posts)
JPB123 Sun 14-Aug-22 11:36:39

My 75 yr old brother has admitted his behaviour was shameful
one evening ,whilst away to stay with daughter and her hubby and children.He was morose,drank too much and said the c word. His wife and his daughter will not let it go ,although he has sincerely apologised and had apologised at the time.He has now written to them and again apologised for his unsociable bebavior….but to no avail.His daughter has now said she has cut her father out of her life.previously they were very close.Why does no one forgive?

lemsip Thu 18-Aug-22 08:35:28

well he didn't just say the 'c' word out of the blue did he, it came out amongst a lot of other words , that happens when alcohol loosens your tongue!

FarNorth Thu 18-Aug-22 10:41:11

Indeed lemsip.
I'd guess there is a big backstory, not known to the OP, and a lot more happened on the day than she's been told.

welbeck Thu 18-Aug-22 10:45:05

anyone else think this is a wind-up ?

FarNorth Thu 18-Aug-22 11:10:25

Does it matter?

JPB123 Sun 21-Aug-22 13:32:16

No wind up,I can assure you.I am really upset about the situation.My brother had a couple of glasses of wine, and much later 2 whiskies before bed. He was extremely tired ,had driven for 7 hours,then had been asked to mow the lawns!! I feel that he has been much maligned and would have been better off staying at home.

JPB123 Sun 21-Aug-22 13:33:10

You are probably correct.

JPB123 Sun 21-Aug-22 13:36:01

I agree with you.

JPB123 Sun 21-Aug-22 13:41:35

Norah

Summerlove why are the women in his family not allowed to have this boundary?

Indeed, why are the wife and daughter held to solving bad behaviour they didn't cause? They may well need a very long time to "forgive" the man's atrocious, shameful actions - if ever.

He had driven for 7 hours,then had been asked to mow the lawns ,then relaxed along with everyone else and had two glasses of wine,later two whiskies before bed.That is not being drunk,that’s being tired out! He was told it was his drinking .
I feel he was wrongly maligned.

MerylStreep Sun 21-Aug-22 13:41:54

Ah, I see it all now. He mixed the grain and the grape. Definitely a No no. ?

Hithere Sun 21-Aug-22 13:57:57

Sorry OP

Why that much drinking? Why mixing? Both big no nos

A request to mow the lawn does not deserve calling anybody a bad word

Still too many unknowns in this story and no background

It doesn't matter what we think, we are internet strangers - we have no power to change what happened

FarNorth Sun 21-Aug-22 14:30:28

Sorry JPB123 I still think there's backstory you don't know and probably won't be told.

All you can do is continue to be civil with the individuals involved.

Summerlove Sun 21-Aug-22 18:07:09

He had driven for 7 hours,then had been asked to mow the lawns ,then relaxed along with everyone else and had two glasses of wine,later two whiskies before bed.That is not being drunk,that’s being tired out! He was told it was his drinking .

He could have said no to mowing the lawn. He’s allowed to have that boundary too.

Driving 7 hours and doing the lawn certainly doesn’t give him an excuse to get drunk and swear at his family.

You’re missing part of the story.

Maybe you should just invite him to stay with you full time and you can baby him in the way you expect him to be treated.

Once again, why do you feel the women in his immediate family are not allowed to have boundaries?

Norah Sun 21-Aug-22 22:47:55

JPB123 He had driven for 7 hours,then had been asked to mow the lawns, then relaxed along with everyone else and had two glasses of wine, later two whiskies before bed.That is not being drunk, that’s being tired out! He was told it was his drinking. I feel he was wrongly maligned.

You may choose to feel he is wrongly maligned - the women in his family feel cutting out is their answer to his behaviour.

His wife and daughter are dealing as best they can, I think, really.

Oopsadaisy1 Mon 22-Aug-22 16:34:56

I think the OP thinks the world of her brother and no matter what we say she won’t hear anything bad about him.

It seems to be someone else’s fault.

JPB123 Thu 25-Aug-22 08:40:43

This is not so.I asked for advice and read all the comments in
an unbiased way,I think it’s far too complicated for me to get involved.I’m staying out of it.I don’t live near any of the family,it’s up to them to resolve issues.He should go and speak to his GP first and foremost.

Oopsadaisy1 Thu 25-Aug-22 20:20:11

I think you are right not to get drawn into the situation between him and his wife and children. But I’m not sure why you think his GP can help?

Allsorts Sat 27-Aug-22 07:01:08

JPD, there us nothing you can do except support your brother without getting involved as it will back fire on you. I find it impossible to understand because of one stupid act a family can just bin a husband and father and grandfather. Have none of them never made a mistake? They are obviously above reproach and must have been looking for a reason to get rid, the can be no other explanation being to judgemental and unforgiving of this elderly man. He is in a vulnerable position, they must feel pleased with themselves, one day it found rebound on them.

specki4eyes Sun 28-Aug-22 22:18:01

At the risk of inciting those few Gransnetters otherwise known as 'Holier than Thou', I'd like to ask this question: after a lifetime of caring for offspring, spouse(s) parents and grandchildren, does anyone ever reflect that there could have been an alternative life?
I ask, having just singlehandedly given two days of my life cleaning and restoring my home after back to back visits from my two sons and their families.
Both visits were fraught with undercurrents..sullen and/or demanding teenage grandchildren who spent their waking hours glued to mobiles. One son at war with his wife, the other son picking me up angrily on every opinion I dared to express. My home trashed, my fridge, larder and wine cupboard laid waste. Bedrooms and bathrooms left like tips.
I live in a tourist area and I'm sure that "visiting Mum" for free bed and board and home cooked meals leaves me under no illusion. But couldn't they have taken me out for dinner once or bought a bottle of wine or flowers or a small gift?
Is it only me who gets this treatment? I have not complained but there's part of me that wants to step right away from the lot of them.

Doodledog Sun 28-Aug-22 22:37:53

You might want to start a thread of your own for this, speki4eyes. There's a 'start a new discussion' button at the top of each of the forums.

I know what you mean - when mine leave there is always a lot of clearing up and it feels like very little thanks. I usually find that my fancy bath oil has taken a hammering too grin. But the other way to look at it is that they see your house as their home, even though you may now see it as (finally) yours again. They are just behaving as though they had never left, and in many ways that's quite a good feeling. They know they are welcome, and don't see themselves as guests.