Okay. It's about six years later and this just sank in today. As I said in my last post, I must be a bit slow. There are some things that happen and you just do them without really looking at the truth of it. The truth of a prior situation finally hit me today.
I had called my eldest daughter's grandmum and asked her to visit but she was working in another state and did not want to leave her job to visit. So we paid her. $350 a week. That's the truth and it's....well....distasteful to say the least.
I was thinking today while watching our now 12 year old daughter that it sucks that she doesn't have that connection with her father's family or her father for that matter. It wasn't for lack of trying on my part even though I have a habit of beating myself up mentally for not trying harder for something society thinks is necessary. On the other hand, what kind of message does that send a child if you have to pay an immediate relative to visit her? What kind of grandmother is that where I have to offer a good bribe? Not one that's needed in our lives obviously.
Aunts won't visit unless there is shopping with my credit card involved and a missing father who's last words to me were "Make sure whoever you're with takes care of my daughter." then walks away without looking back. Except for that one time where he tried to hit me up for a few grand and landscaping equipment. Thankfully I was broke.
So, six years later, it's absolutely amazing to me. I really had to do that!? Amazing. Did I mention that I haven't seen or heard from her grandmum since the lady left? Not a word. It's like she never existed.

That is one of the saddest things I have read in a long time. I want to give you a hug.
Posted by: Peter L | November 18, 2009 at 03:29 AM