This is gonna sound really, really mean but those who would know our family would totally agree with this statement. My in-laws are ever so much easier to get along with now, because they are both in heaven. My FIL was a Meth. minister and his wife was a perfect preachers' wife..She had a girl picked out for her son, my hubby. I grew up very poor, but with a good family and ambitions to become educated and do the very best I could. To her, I was not good enough for her son or family- you know, the poh white trash mentality.- nor were our children. There were times when they absolutely needed me to act as nurse, and I did, but otherwise, there was very little interaction. Long after she died, I learned that my MIL talked to the WHOLE family against me. I chuckle when I remember a cousin jokingly saying she did not know my first name was NOT "That", cause my MIL would start every conversation about me with the phrase "That L...." even her brother told me things she said and frankly, they missed out on a lot when they chose to discredit me. My kids were not spared until later years. Both in-laws needed me in their last years and of course, I was there. I do not believe that we should deny things and care to the elderly in the family because of past feelings. I personally, feel we still have an obligation to cae for them. My mom and dad divorced after 34 years for another woman. My mom was my bestest friend. In late years, my dad depended on me to help with him and his second wife and again, I was there. AND, I gladly cared for him even though the remainder of the family would not speak to them. I loved him and and my mom and I dealt with them from mt perspective of love.
Okay, chapter is finished..I was a middle kid, older sis who was dad's fav died of Lou Gehrig's disease at 49 and my brother was my mom's fav.
My granny was the model for my life-strong, determined, nothing got her down even thoough she was in W/C and I had to care for her from age 7...I am thankful for her more than anyone else in my childhood.. |