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Bit of a dilemma

(42 Posts)
ninathenana Fri 17-Jul-15 14:15:01

DH and I have been invited to a friend of a friends 60th bbq tomorrow afternoon. I only got the message yesterday from her DD via FB.
Although I have known her and her DH for many years (I introduced them to each other smile) She is more S's friend. S can't come so DH and I will know no one. I've never met the daughter that invited us.
I sort of want to go but...... What to do ??

rubylady Sat 18-Jul-15 03:03:22

NfkDumpling grin They are not having a wedding cake even, just cupcakes. confused

One crux came when holding my newborn second DGS in my arms for the first time (2 days old) and she told me that she would have had him aborted had he had anything wrong with him. I was so horrified, I couldn't speak and it's gone over in my head many a time since that she could even say it when he had just been born, if at all!

It's a good job my mother never thought that as I, and my sister had life saving heart surgery shortly after birth. How do any of us know what we will encounter with our children? Autism for instance isn't picked up in the womb but it still comes with its challenges. In her eyes all children should be aborted who have problems.

Her job? : - Youth worker manager.

A job she has had since before leaving university so about 7/8 years now. She is 27 years old, my DS is now 18.
She did voluntary before this from age 15.
When her brother was going through a really bad depression some 4 years ago, she wouldn't even put herself on a train to come to see him once. She would leave her eldest son with his dad to go on work conferences or taking the kids from work out for youth camp but no visit to help her only younger sibling. She is professionally trained for youth depression, apart from it being her flesh and blood. He was a child in need and she was his adult sister. I asked her again and again to help but no.

Do you know, this stuff goes over in my head and I think at times I am being unreasonable but when I write it down, it isn't, is it? And that's just the tip of the iceberg. She stole her prom dress because I had no money and then got her friend's grandma to buy her her shoes. She got another friend's mum to pay for her to go to the leaver's dinner because I said she was grounded and then lied to me about it being a privilege that prefects were being paid for by the school. I know these are a while ago now but lies are lies. She lied about getting pregnant by accident when she had done it on purpose. I don't think her fiance still knows that one yet. And he has given his university course up twice to get a job to fund the family. Her eldest was sick on a visit from us when he was a few months old and she told me I had "freaked him out" and made him vomit. Charming. I have to stop because it is doing my head in. Loads and loads more, it's amazing really. But I am not responsible for her being like this. I did not bring her up to behave in this manner. My mother is very similar and I think genes will out.

rubylady Sat 18-Jul-15 03:54:50

I'm sorry to have hijacked this thread, it just seemed to all come out tonight, must have been in my subconscious. smile

Lona Sat 18-Jul-15 08:11:55

ruby its good that you can let it out flowers I'm sure Nina won't mind too much.

ninathenana Sat 18-Jul-15 09:07:26

ruby flowers
Nina doesn't mind at all. smile

NfkDumpling Sat 18-Jul-15 16:49:18

An alcohol free wedding Ruby - and no cake? Definitely not worth the bother!

Sometimes all you can do is accept someone the way they are - and keep them at arms length.

(Can't wait to hear if Nina went and had a good time)

Nonnie Sat 18-Jul-15 17:03:16

Last summer we flew to an alcohol free wedding and had a lovely time. I like a drink but my enjoyment doesn't depend upon it!

I agree with those who say go and then just leave if you are not enjoying it. Be open minded you don't know what you may miss if you don't go. The last wedding anniversary party we went to they said 'no presents' but of course we took a card. Maybe you could take a bottle or some flowers?

Maybe it is easier for me as we have moved around a lot and therefore gone to lots of events where we knew no one but I now take the attitude that if I like people I will socialise and if I don't I won't. I don't actually give much thought to whether they like me or not as that is beyond my control.

harrigran Sat 18-Jul-15 17:35:34

ruby do be careful what you say on a public forum, it could come back to bite you on the bum. To not attend your DC's wedding is unthinkable, you could be cutting off your nose to spite your face.

etheltbags1 Sat 18-Jul-15 21:11:18

ruby you've got enough problems without worrying about 'outfits that will never be worn again'.

Why do so many people do this, I just wear something cheap and cheerful, at both DD graduations I wore a pair of black trousers with a new shirt and a borrowed coat for the winter one. I wore my best shoes which I keep for special do's and the clothes can be worn for work.

I never saw anyone wearing posh outfits at either graduations.

I feel the same about weddings and other occasions, as long as I am clean and smart I wear something that can be worn again.

I vow to go to a second hand shop if DD ever gets married and re sell the outfit afterwards.

Jomarie Sat 18-Jul-15 22:13:02

Nina - if your OH is happy to go to BBQ then do pop along, a bottle and/or bunch of flowers is sufficient to take with you - agree with suggestion of pre-arranged signal between you for leaving - but if OH isn't keen (or is saying it's up to you - it doesn't bother me) then don't feel you have to go - after all the invite has come rather late in the day don't you think? If it came 3 or 4 weeks ago then it's a different matter, but a day or so before the event, seems a little desperate to me. flowers wine your choice!

Rubylady - good to get it out there - I think you are so right in just letting it be and keeping well away. We give birth and do the best we can for them and then sometimes it goes right, sometimes it goes wrong. I think you have made the right decision - let her get on with her chosen way of life - you don't have to be there if you don't want to be. Whatever you do you know she will turn it to her advantage - she's just that kind of gal!! Sometimes we have to turn our backs on loved ones to protect ourselves and our other loved ones - strange but true. flowers

rubylady Sun 19-Jul-15 02:43:53

harrigan I currently can hardly breath, am on 4 lots of medication and nearly got took into hospital on Friday. My DD knows how ill I am, I do send the odd email but with no response. If she wants to invite me to her wedding she knows how to get in touch.

And I will say what I want online, I know the risks. It has been a very long time kept in and believe me, there is plenty more rubbish in my life where this has come from and more from other family members which I keep to myself.

Jomarie Thank you, smile

rubylady Sun 19-Jul-15 02:44:52

harrigan the 4 meds are for the breathing, that's not to mention the heart pills I take every day, morning and night.

rubylady Sun 19-Jul-15 02:46:33

breathe

ninathenana Sun 19-Jul-15 12:12:29

Jomarie I did feel we'd been invited to make up numbers smile
Well........ I decided not to go. 'Ann' and her DH are lovely down to earth people but they both have really well paid jobs a large house and mix with people DH and I would have nothing in common with.

Jomarie Sun 19-Jul-15 14:54:20

Good decision nina - enjoy the afternoon - hope it's nice where you are smile Sun is shining off and on here but very windy - OH wants it to rain!!!!

Lona Sun 19-Jul-15 15:56:36

Good for you nina, life's too short to do things that you don't want to do.

Jane10 Sun 19-Jul-15 16:14:25

Absolutely true. Life's too short nina. Re rubylady - its such a catalogue of reported failings by the DD that it would be interesting to hear her side of it.