Wedding Etiquette Forum

No Invite for "Grandma"

So my father was adopted and about 8 years ago he decided to search for his biological mother, Katherine. After a couple years of searching we found her living in California (we live in Wisconsin). Since we've found her my dad has flown her to Wisconsin for various occasions, graduations, weddings, etc. The more time we've spent with her we've realized how manipulating and selfish she is (pretty much explains why she gave my dad up for adoption). Whenever she visits it's at least for two weeks, she stays in our home, we treat her to every meal, my mom gives her clothes, takes her shopping and ships the things back to Cali for her.

In August of last year my younger brother decided to move to Cali and go to school. For a few months he was living on his own but some things happened with his financial aid so he ended up moving with Katherine. She made it seem like she was excited she'd get to spend time with her grandson but she only wanted him around to do everything for her. She was also planning to move to a new apartment soon and wanted him around to help her move (which I figured out myself). Within a few weeks of my brother moving in she started asking him about his plans and when he would be moving back to Wisconsin. She was already pushing him out the door once she'd already gotten out of him what she wanted.

My brother ended up moving back home to Wisconsin within a month because he didn't feel welcome. She cooked for herself, never offered him anything. He had to walk everywhere or bus even though she had a car. She treated him the exact opposite of how she was treated in our home. There have been so many other situations that have just come off so selfish, she will only put into a situation where she can get something out of it and have no respect for her. She doesn't deserve the title of "grandma" to me and that's why I refer to her as her first name or my father's mother.

Now I'm being put in a situation where I don't want her at my wedding and my father does. He plans to pay to fly her out to Wisconsin and have her stay in our home again. My brother has one box of stuff left in her place and she won't even ship it unless my brother pays for it. CRAZY! My dad is such a sweet person but he is being taken advantage of but he doesn't see it like that because it's his mother and she is almost 80 years old. She is very able-bodied. I have no respect for her so my question is, what would you all do? I've expressed to my dad I don't want her there or for him to pay for her to be there but he keeps insisting on me inviting her.

Re: No Invite for "Grandma"

  • Who is paying for the actual wedding?  If your dad is paying anything I think he gets a say.  I feel like you'd be creating more drama by not extending an invite.  Be the bigger person.  When you say she's staying at "our house" do you mean your parents' home or your personal home?  If it's your personal home you certainly don't need to allow anyone to stay with you.
  • mlg78mlg78 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    I agree - if your dad's paying, she needs to be invited.
  • My FI and I are paying for the majority of it, my parents, his parents & stepparents are contributing towards specific things. Our house is my parents home, which I will be staying until the wedding (no shacking up :( ) I guess her being there doesn't bother me as much as my dad paying for her to come. She doesn't deserve the treatment she is receiving from us. I feel like she has so many years to make up in our lives and the treatment we give her it feels like we are the ones who gave her up instead of the other way around. She has one other child still living who she partially raised who barely wants anything to do with her because she uses everyone. I have another grandma still living and I don't think they deserve to be treated equally which might sound stupid but she hasn't earned a "grandma" title to me. She wants to be at the wedding to see what she can get out of it, not to support myself and FH, her heart is never in the right place.

    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_no-invite-for-grandma?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:29da224e-678b-4f48-b05e-d2097aae086fPost:49ab38fa-0472-462c-8466-0a57c6525288">Re: No Invite for "Grandma"</a>:
    [QUOTE]Who is paying for the actual wedding?  If your dad is paying anything I think he gets a say.  I feel like you'd be creating more drama by not extending an invite.  Be the bigger person.  When you say she's staying at "our house" do you mean your parents' home or your personal home?  If it's your personal home you certainly don't need to allow anyone to stay with you.
    Posted by MrsGandthebeag[/QUOTE]
  • I'll also add my mother and siblings feel the same way I do. My mother agrees he is being taken advantage of he continues to make excuses for her behavior.
  • mlg78mlg78 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    I would try to just let this go and focus on your wedding day.  People who are adopted go through emotions that others never experience or understand.  I'm sure your dad wanted a relationship with her or he never would have sought her out.  He was lucky enough to find her and meet her, even in her elderly age.  Let him enjoy his relationship with her knowing you've spoken your mind and done what you needed to do...but ultimately, this is your dad's decision to have this relationship.
  • Im trying but it's just so hard to do. There was situation this past year when my dad went to visit her in Cali. She introduced him to one of her friends who later accused my dad of stealing from her home, and Katherine agreed with the woman. It sucks to see my dad being treated like that and still seeing positive in the relationship. But I will try to put up with her, even if I have ignore her.

    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_no-invite-for-grandma?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:29da224e-678b-4f48-b05e-d2097aae086fPost:3260211a-95aa-4043-9350-56b097328cf7">Re: No Invite for "Grandma"</a>:
    [QUOTE]I would try to just let this go and focus on your wedding day.  People who are adopted go through emotions that others never experience or understand.  I'm sure your dad wanted a relationship with her or he never would have sought her out.  He was lucky enough to find her and meet her, even in her elderly age.  Let him enjoy his relationship with her knowing you've spoken your mind and done what you needed to do...but ultimately, this is your dad's decision to have this relationship.
    Posted by mlg78[/QUOTE]
  • Maybe she's not that interested in the relationship and doesn't know how to directly relay that.  After all, she made the decision a long time ago that she didn't want a family right?  Why does your family (it sounds from your OP like your Mom especially) continue to go out of your way to host her for extended periods of time in your home?  Especially going so far as to buy  and ship her clothes?  Though it would be nice if your hospitality was reciprocated, I can't imagine that most 80-year-old ladies would be that excited about a college student living with them.  Most elderly people are pretty set in their ways so cooking for another person and driving your brother around may just not have been her priority.  Also, in terms of her not paying to ship your brother's things, she may just not be financially well off.  A lot of elderly people aren't.     
  • freebread03freebread03 member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 250 Love Its First Answer
    edited March 2013
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_no-invite-for-grandma?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:29da224e-678b-4f48-b05e-d2097aae086fPost:75f239b6-35b2-4205-84b1-cc59130699f4">Re: No Invite for "Grandma"</a>:
    [QUOTE]My FI and I are paying for the majority of it, my parents, his parents & stepparents are contributing towards specific things. Our house is my parents home, which I will be staying until the wedding (no shacking up :( ) I guess her being there doesn't bother me as much as my dad paying for her to come. She doesn't deserve the treatment she is receiving from us. I<strong><u> feel like she has so many years to make up in our lives </u></strong>and the treatment we give her it feels like we are the ones who gave her up instead of the other way around. She has one other child still living who she partially raised who barely wants anything to do with her because she uses everyone. I have another grandma still living and I don't think they deserve to be treated equally which might sound stupid but she hasn't earned a "grandma" title to me. She wants to be at the wedding to see what she can get out of it, not to support myself and FH, her heart is never in the right place. In Response to Re: No Invite for "Grandma" :
    Posted by Andama08[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>OP, I can understand that you don't feel close to this woman and feel as though she takes advantage of your family.  You have every right to feel that way, but is not inviting her really the hill you want to die on?</div><div>
    </div><div>However, I think your overall attitude towards your father's adoption is skewed-you say that she has "so many years to make up" in your lives.  Make up for what?  Putting someone up for adoption isn't a shameful thing that requires "making up for" as you are implying.  Your father found her, reached out to her, invites her to things.  See where I'm going with this?  Maybe she isn't as interested in being part of your lives as your father is hers.  By my calculations, she was in her 70s when your father found her.  To expect her to change her life and embrace your family is certainly optimistic, but she has no obligation to do this.  Just like she had no obligation to host your brother when he couldn't make ends meet.  I can understand not wanting to care for a grandchild that you barely know.  She probably should have said "no" to him moving in anyways.</div><div>
    </div><div>Elsewhere I think you implied that she did something shameful by giving your father up for adoption, or took the easy way out by doing so.  I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for her to make, and it sounds like you are almost punishing her for doing so. It just isn't that simple.  If your father wants a relationship with her, let him have it, but don't judge.  Living your life for seventy years and then having someone come into your life like that is a huge, life changing event, and people don't change overnight-or at all.</div><div>
    </div><div>I myself was adopted, and having new family into your life isn't easy.  My birth family found ME a few years ago, and have tried to have a relationship with me.  I am happy to oblige to some degree, but I have my life, and it wasn't my choice to have them become part of it.  Maybe your biological grandmother feels the same.  And, calling her "grandma" isn't really necessary, just like calling my biological grandmother who I've only met a few times "grandma" isn't necessary either.</div><div>
    </div><div>Don't invite her if you don't want to, but be prepared for your father to be hurt by this.  You need to decide if this is really a hill you want to die on.</div>
  • IMO, I would invite her to make your father happy.  I agree with PP a lot. 

    It sounds like she's not going to win any awards for being a good grandmother or even a good family member or person, but she seems to mean something to your father and I get the impression he means a lot to you.

    She doesn't have to be in all your photos or play a role in your wedding.

    Maybe she will bring your brother's stuff back.
    imageimageimage

    You'll never be subject to a cash bar, gap, potluck wedding, or b-list if you marry a Muppet Overlord.
  • My mom was adopted and found her bio family 15 years ago. Despite having two living bio grandparents, an uncle and four aunts, I am only inviting one aunt and her family. My mom understands and supports my decision after explaining my thoughts to her. You are not a bad person for not wanting to invite her.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_no-invite-for-grandma?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:29da224e-678b-4f48-b05e-d2097aae086fPost:8fda9e14-6de3-4d53-b982-73c5ee396ec3">Re: No Invite for "Grandma"</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to  Re: No Invite for "Grandma" :. Don't invite her if you don't want to, but be prepared for your father to be hurt by this.  You need to decide if this is really a hill you want to die on.
    Posted by freebread03[/QUOTE]

    <div>This. </div>
    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
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