Dear Amy: I am a 28-year-old woman, working at a job I love.
My father routinely lies to me.
When I was growing up he sold his business for several million dollars. He chose not to pay his taxes, invested the money, lost it all and then kept it hidden from my mother until the truth came out that he was under IRS investigation.
He has always been secretive and deceptive with his money, hiding money in the ceiling, taping it to the backs of photo frames and opening secret bank accounts and bragging that my mom didn’t have access.
Fast-forward 10 years. My parents are divorced. I paid my own way through college, spent four years in counseling and am in the process of buying my first home. My dad agreed to give me $10,000 toward my down payment in lieu of contributing toward a wedding. Two weeks later he denied ever having that conversation.
Last month, he was bragging about saving more than $75,000 in 2015. He says he received approximately $500,000 in inheritance.
When my offer was accepted on a home, I let him know that I needed him to write the check. He accused me of being “manipulative” and “backing him into a corner.”
Now I am angry and bitter. I don’t know if I should still try to work toward having a healthy relationship, or back off with the realization that his money is more important to him than keeping his word.
What do you think?
Sad