Heartbroken and Depressed

[Flick James]

Thanks, everyone. Your words mean alot, and they do help.

[Trevor]

Thanks, everyone. Your words mean alot, and they do help.

Hang in there: things will come right. 

[Doggett]

Thanks, everyone. Your words mean alot, and they do help.

Hey, we're here for you, fella.

[AndyC]

Yeah, your family is supposed to be a source of stability and comfort, a shelter from the outside world. When it isn't working right, where can you turn?

I'm glad my siblings are all fairly independent, and not likely to start squabbling when my parents go. My parents are sensible enough to have already divided the family heirlooms between us, and for the most part own nothing of value besides money, which can be easily divided. My family are pretty practical in such matters, and will usually agree on the simplest solution. On the other hand, we're also not a terribly close family either. My wife's biggest complaint/joke is that all of our holidays, gatherings and whatnot are organized for maximum efficiency, so preparation is minimal, cleanup is minimal, and everyone can get in and out again as easily as possible after spending a reasonable amount of time together. So family squabbles aren't a problem for us, but I suppose it comes at a price.

I'm just glad I don't have to deal with the situation in my uncle's family. His wife was a strong-willed woman, a genuine matriarch, and the centre of a large extended family of children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren. She died a couple of years ago, and things have kind of fallen apart there. It didn't help that within a few months, my uncle entered a relationship with a long-time female friend who had lost her husband. That's pretty common for a widower his age. He's been married most of his life, and he needs somebody. And being over 80, why wait? But my cousins feel betrayed, and since he has some money, and some farmland that has become very valuable, they're worried about her cutting in on their action, the vultures. She has apparently assured them that she has her own money, and doesn't want his, but the last I heard they were trying to get her to sign some kind of a legal document. Sickening. Their dad just wants to be happy.

Anyway, Flick. From my point of view, your immediate family is what's important, your wife and kids. Protect that, even if it means being on the outs with your mom. And if she wants access to her grandkids, she's just going to have to swallow her pride and behave herself.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I heard a saying by Issac Assimov-
"Life is like a chess game,except after checkmate,the game continues." (something like that)

And for those that feel they are above everyone else, they must also remember that "after the game is over, the King and the Pawn go back in the same box."

One of my fave sayings (though not directed ay anyone here, btw).

[Flick James]

Anyway, Flick. From my point of view, your immediate family is what's important, your wife and kids. Protect that, even if it means being on the outs with your mom. And if she wants access to her grandkids, she's just going to have to swallow her pride and behave herself.

That's the way I see it. It's just painful. I have faith my Mom will figure that out, and I think she already is. I just gotta work on my wife's defenses. If I can do that, everything will turn out okay.

[retrorussell]

Sorry to hear Flick.  I'm kinda in the same boat in some respects.  My sister married a complete douche who apparently was rough with my neice Grace.  Now they have Grace doped up so she can't remember the episode, from what I can tell.  The rest of my family hates my sister's guts to the point that they want nothing to do with her.  I haven't seen her in forever and though we always got along, I hate her husband.  I miss my neice but I won't be able to see her until she moves out.  Only 3 more years hopefully..