Moms and Maids

My grandfather won't go to my wedding (long)

Ok, so here's the long story. I've had no relationship with my mom, stepdad and 3 brothers for 11 years. They're all just very toxic people and I wasn't raised by them. I was raised by my grandparents and was incredibly close to my grandma who died of cancer 10 years ago. I haven't been very close to my grandpa since then but I've have kept in contact with him about once a month. I love him very much and he's the only family I have that is even remotely normal and decent. I think he has bad feelings for me because my grandma and I had a huge falling out when she was dying with cancer. We mended things before she died. (I was just having a hard time handling and accepting her dying) I just turned 18 when she passed so I wasn't mature enough to know how to handle basically loosing my mother. It just seems no matter what I do in life he is unimpressed and sometimes even surprised that I could have any success in my life. He doesn't EVER call me, has never been to my home, never has invited me, my fiancé or my stepson to his house. I usually go over by myself uninvited. He's very nice and asks about my life but that's as far as it goes.

So when I told him I got engaged he seemed excited. I asked if he would walk me down the aisle, he agreed. He asked me if I have told my mom about my engagement and I said no. I'm not inviting her so why would I tell her. She could care less. (I've talked to her once in 11 years) We've never had any relationship. He disagreed that I should invite her because she's my mother. I explained to him that my wedding was going to be a small wedding with only our close friends and family and that he and his new wife would be the only family of mine invited. He dropped it.

He has asked since then if I've decided to invite my mom. I told him she will not be invited. He said "what if I won't go to your wedding if you don't invite your mother?" I was immediately shocked and devastated. I was calm and told him that I understand that me not inviting her puts him in a bad spot with my mom. But if he decides not to attend my wedding because of that it will not change my mind or damper my wedding. We are having a small wedding surrounded by our close friends and family. Only amazing positive people in our lives will be there and unfortunately my mom doesn't have a place there.

He thinks that I hate and resent my mom and I need to get over it. Honestly I really don't. She is a stranger to me and I don't want her there. It would just make things weird at my wedding and I just don't think I should have to endure that just because she gave birth to me.

I'm pretty sad about the whole situation because I've always wanted my grandpa, the man who raised me, to walk me down the aisle. Its hard enough not being able to have my grandma there but now my own grandpa!

Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated!

PS I'm NOT inviting my mom so please don't tell me to invite her, please

Re: My grandfather won't go to my wedding (long)

  • lauraf1202lauraf1202 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_grandfather-wont-wedding-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:d8b7cf06-518b-440c-9382-da04ee27063aPost:8dd1fb18-34fc-42da-949d-e45ada0a046a">My grandfather won't go to my wedding (long)</a>:
    [QUOTE]Ok, so here's the long story. I've had no relationship with my mom, stepdad and 3 brothers for 11 years. They're all just very toxic people and I wasn't raised by them. I was raised by my grandparents and was incredibly close to my grandma who died of cancer 10 years ago. I haven't been very close to my grandpa since then but I've have kept in contact with him about once a month. I love him very much and he's the only family I have that is even remotely normal and decent. I think he has bad feelings for me because my grandma and I had a huge falling out when she was dying with cancer. We mended things before she died. (I was just having a hard time handling and accepting her dying) I just turned 18 when she passed so I wasn't mature enough to know how to handle basically loosing my mother. It just seems no matter what I do in life he is unimpressed and sometimes even surprised that I could have any success in my life. He doesn't EVER call me, has never been to my home, never has invited me, my fiancé or my stepson to his house. I usually go over by myself uninvited. He's very nice and asks about my life but that's as far as it goes. So when I told him I got engaged he seemed excited. I asked if he would walk me down the aisle, he agreed. He asked me if I have told my mom about my engagement and I said no. I'm not inviting her so why would I tell her. She could care less. (I've talked to her once in 11 years) We've never had any relationship. He disagreed that I should invite her because she's my mother. I explained to him that my wedding was going to be a small wedding with only our close friends and family and that he and his new wife would be the only family of mine invited. He dropped it. He has asked since then if I've decided to invite my mom. I told him she will not be invited. He said "what if I won't go to your wedding if you don't invite your mother?" I was immediately shocked and devastated. I was calm and told him that I understand that me not inviting her puts him in a bad spot with my mom. But if he decides not to attend my wedding because of that it will not change my mind or damper my wedding. We are having a small wedding surrounded by our close friends and family. Only amazing positive people in our lives will be there and unfortunately my mom doesn't have a place there. He thinks that I hate and resent my mom and I need to get over it. Honestly I really don't. She is a stranger to me and I don't want her there. It would just make things weird at my wedding and I just don't think I should have to endure that just because she gave birth to me. I'm pretty sad about the whole situation because I've always wanted my grandpa, the man who raised me, to walk me down the aisle. Its hard enough not being able to have my grandma there but now my own grandpa! Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated! PS I'm NOT inviting my mom so please don't tell me to invite her, please
    Posted by OctoberWedding41582[/QUOTE]

    It might be that he's weary of all the turmoil.   You mentioned that you had a big falling-out with his wife, your grandma, on her deathbed.  Now you've decided to not invite his daughter, your mom, to your wedding.   I'm not trying to be a jerk-- I'm sure you have your reasons for everything.  But that's a lot of drama for anyone.
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  • edited December 2011
    That's definitely not it. The drama with my grandma was about college. I was planning on going to an out of state ivy league school. She wanted me to go to the college in our city and live at home. She was worried about something happening to me if I lived out of state and she wanted me there to help my grandpa with her passing. I ended up going to the college local but didn't stay at home. (visited and talked to my grandpa regularly until I was getting my masters degree) As far as my mother not being invited has been 29 years in the making. She hasn't had any part of my upbringing. I would see and talk to her as much as you would a distant relative. But unfortunately we lived in the same city. After I started college we would never speak unless I called her. Eventually I stopped making that effort. As for drama with me. There isn't any. (other than not inviting my mother) I can honestly say i am the ONLY member of my immediate family, with my grandpa being the exception, without a constant state of drama and disorder. I have my phd and research cancer for a cure, my awesome fiancé and I have been together for 9 years and I have an amazing 12 year old stepson who adores me. My life is incredible and normal because of my grandparents. I feel terrible for the rest of my family cause they've never been able to get it together and just take for granted my grandpa will bail them out. My family is like watching an episode of cops or trailer park boys. Being around that chaos doesn't appear to have as much of an effect on him as it does me. It's almost like he needs them to need him.
  • lauraf1202lauraf1202 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I apologize; my response was based off of the initial post.  I'm glad that you clarified.

    As far as your grandpa not coming, I would be really hurt about that also.  But, it's his decision to make.  Just as its your decision not to be emotionally blackmailed, as hard as that is.  Don't let anyone try to make you feel guilty because the rest of your family can't get it together. 


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  • sarah42ndsarah42nd member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Well as you know you can only change your reaction to situations and no one elses. So with that said  just say to him' I understand where your coming from but the descision has been made. The invitations always open for you ( and your new wife) to come to the wedding .'  Or something along those lines.  Your wedding is still 6ish months away alot could change with your Gpa.
    Anniversary
  • edited December 2011
    Thanks! When he said that to me I think my heart must have stopped for a moment. I wanted to immediately start crying and beg him not to do that to me. But I held it together and just talked calm and let him know if that's what he decides that it won't change anything. And that I really wish he would come. He is just set on his ways and his new wife also thinks I'm wrong to not invite my mom too. I will still call him and talk about the wedding, send him std's and an invitation. I was really hoping that this wedding would help us to be closer. He had always bugged me about when me and my boyfriend would get married. But I didn't think it would come to this.
  • tidetraveltidetravel member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_grandfather-wont-wedding-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:d8b7cf06-518b-440c-9382-da04ee27063aPost:01d776b1-61d7-44e2-8771-0a9b058f2c0a">Re: My grandfather won't go to my wedding (long)</a>:
    [QUOTE]Thanks! When he said that to me I think my heart must have stopped for a moment. I wanted to immediately start crying and beg him not to do that to me. But I held it together and just talked calm and let him know if that's what he decides that it won't change anything. And that I really wish he would come. He is just set on his ways and his new wife also thinks I'm wrong to not invite my mom too. I will still call him and talk about the wedding, send him std's and an invitation. <strong>I was really hoping that this wedding would help us to be closer.</strong> He had always bugged me about when me and my boyfriend would get married. But I didn't think it would come to this.
    Posted by OctoberWedding41582[/QUOTE]
    Unfortunately, that doesn't often happen.  More commonly, weddings bring out the worst in people, and cause divisions in relationships that were previously solid.
    Holy Crap. We survived the first year!
    http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
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  • SwededSweded member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Could he be trying to cater to his new wife's way of thinking?  I'm a hothead, so I'd be tempted to say: "Listen lady, you weren't here.  You don't know.  Mind your business."  However, if you think maybe she's in his ear, is there any way you could invite her to lunch "woman to woman" and try to explain the situation (without finger pointing)?  Even if it's not her idea to not go, maybe she could get through to him?

    I'm sorry you're going through this.  The good news is:  you're about to get a brand new family.  That's pretty cool, right?  Do you have a close male friend that could give you away?  Heck, doesn't even have to be a male.
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  • edited December 2011
    Try to improve your relationship with your grandfather, regardless of his decision. He may be trying to reconcile with your mother and the wedding is complicating that situation for him. Let him work it out and do whatever he feels comfortable doing. But stay close to him, so that the other family members don't take advantage of him.


                       
  • edited December 2011
    She is definitely in his ear but I don't think he would make a decision on it based on what she thinks. Maybe though....Her and I have talked and I have explained to her my reasoning. But she's 85 and set on her old ways of thinking that if my mom gave me life, it gives her the right to be included in life events. Period! Lol It just makes me sick when they make excuses for my grown mother. She hasn't ever called me and he says "well she doesn't have long distance on her home phone". I'm like grandpa, she is a grown woman, if she WANTED to be a part of my life she would make it happen. They have calling cards, prepaid cell phones, she could use his home phone when she visits him. If she cared about having a part in my life SHE could make it happen! He would then respond "when have you called her?" Like I should be the one making the effort. I am her child! Eeeerrrr!! I LOVE my in-laws! I am one of the lucky ones in that regard. They all know about my family issues and they love me regardless and think I'm amazing. It's funny cause my fiancées mom and family gushes about me the MY family should. I could never do anything wrong and I'm perfect in their eyes. So not having any of my family at the wedding won't be a surprise to them. I think it's still sad on my part though. If my grandfather doesn't walk me down the aisle then I will just go it alone. I'm 29 years old and I don't need anyone to give me away to a man I will have been with for a decade already. Lol I just thought it would have been nice to honor the man who raised me. Thanks ladies for your support! I really appreciate it!
  • edited December 2011
    Good luck with everything. If you've explained to your grandfather and his wife the reasons it would be hurtful to have your mother there, and expressed that you really want him to come anyway, there isn't much more you can do. I hope he changes his mind. 
  • edited December 2011
    I'm so sorry for your situation, and so admiring of what you have made of it. I support your decision, and have a few ideas. You could have your future in-laws walk you down the aisle to their son. You could walk with your fiance down the aisle toward your future together. You could walk alone. It sounds like you are a very brave and independent woman. I'm sorry that things are not working out the way you would like, but it also sounds like that's never stopped you before, and good for you! Good luck on a wonderful future!
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