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Wedding Etiquette Forum

family issue, asked not to invite someone (sorry long)

CN: We had originally planned to invite my grandmothers caretaker to the wedding, my aunt called and asked me not to invite her because finding care for my grandmother would be stressful or her.

My grandmother needs full time care, and her neighbor has been her caretaker for about 4 years now.  I visit regularly so I see her regularly, and like her, and she's been great to my grandmother.  She is actually the person my FI gave his number to to give to me at the hospital where we met (his mom/my gram were roommates and we visited at the same time).

There are other people involved in my grandmother's care, but my aunt and this other person are the two people who can handle all that is involved in caring for gram.

My aunt called me and asked me to not invite my grandmother's caretaker because she "would certainly come" and then she'd stress about it for the next 3 months until the wedding.  I said why can't XX sit with gram during this time.  Her response was sometimes she's flaky, and also that they (aunt/caretaker) shouldn't both be "out of town" at the same time (wedding is 20 min away).  She said she's spend the whole time stressing if I invited her and "isn't she more important to me".

I understand where my aunt is coming from, but I also feel like this put me in a difficult/uncomfortable position.  I don't think I sent her (caretaker) a save the date (I may have included her on gram's when I thought gram might be able to make it), but I'm sure at some point we've talked about the wedding.  My aunt insists she doesn't even think the caretaker expects to be invited.

So, do I not invite her and not say anything (which feels weird to me)?  Do I mention to her that we really would have loved to have her at the wedding but that my aunt was worried about grandma's care for the day?  I'm not really sure what to do here, and my parents didn't have a strong opinion/advice on the issue.  Thoughts?
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Re: family issue, asked not to invite someone (sorry long)

  • I'm sort of confused. If you don't invite the neighbor/ caretaker, who will watch after your grandma (it's seems as though she needs constant care) at your wedding?

    Is your aunt basically saying she'll take care of grandma?
  • That's really weird.  I think if you want to invite her, then invite her.  If your grandma is at the wedding, why can't the neighbor be there too?  That's a head scratcher to me.
  • we invited my grandmothers caretaker... she's so much a part of our family, it would've been horrible not to invite her. she couldn't make it (different situation than your's- it's a 7 hour drive), but she was so thankful for being invited.

    she's one of the reasons my grandmother is still alive- she loves her, spends so much time and effort with her... it would've been offensive not to invite her.

    I say invite her, explain to your aunt that it's important, and if your aunt brings it up again, kindly explain that it's important to you that she's there. spend the next three months finding someone to take care of your grandmother, and then let the hardworking caretaker enjoy herself with some time off for your wedding.
  • My understanding is that Grandma is unable to  attend the wedding.  Is that correct? 
  • tlv204tlv204 member
    2500 Comments
    I think the grandma can no longer make it to the wedding, meaning no one could care for the grandma at home during that time, but i could be wrong.
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  • So if I read this correctly. Grandma cant come, and if you invite the neighbor your aunt will have to find someone else to watch her for the evening?

    See if you can find someone for the evening to help your aunt out. Maybe call a local home health care service, and give her the number?
    Invite the neighbor.

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  • I'm assuming your grandmother ISN'T attending your wedding?  If she needs full time care, then your caregiver can't attend your wedding because her job is to watch after your grandmother.  If the only other person who can watch over your grandmother is your aunt (who will be attending the wedding), then the caregiver can't go, unless there's another backup caregiver with whom you have no relationship.

    If your grandmother could go to the wedding, it'd be nice to invite the caregiver along, but other than your grandmother's disability, do you have any real relationship with the caregiver?  I doubt she expects an invitation, especially if you don't talk about the wedding with her regularly.
  • I really don't understand why the Aunt wouldn't want the neighbor/caretaker there.  Can you explain that a little better?
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  • Oh, I see now. I misread. I agree with others. Invite the caretaker; there's plenty of time for your family to find someone to attend to your grandmother on your wedding day. I think your aunt is being a little selfish.
     
    Is your grandmother lucid? You could set up a video stream and she and the caretaker could watch remotely. I think Amoro did that and it worked out.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_family-issue-asked-not-invite-someone-sorry-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c61ffc6b-e180-4e56-9a5f-c455c099707ePost:582ba870-889b-47fb-85d5-b62d5a8b29a5">Re: family issue, asked not to invite someone (sorry long)</a>:
    [QUOTE]My understanding is that Grandma is unable to  attend the wedding.  Is that correct? 
    Posted by ohwhynot[/QUOTE]

    This is what I got out of it.

    If the caretaker is that important to you, invite her.  Especially since you know another person who can look after her, 'flaky' or not. 
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  • Ooh.  So if the grandma can't make it, well, I think you should still invite the caretaker, and let the aunt and other lady sort it out themselves, honestly.  I'd rather not offend someone performing such an important task for the whole family.
  • Well it sounds like the care of grandma is so involved that no one else could really step in easily and do it?
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  • There are a lot of home-care specialists.  Registered nurses and physician assistants who will do home care on an as-needed basis.  Have you perhaps looked into that?  Not that it's your responsibility to do so, necessarily, but as a way to ease everyone's minds that Grandma will get good, reliable, quality care on that day? 
  • Yeah I'd invite the caretaker. She is important to you, and as Amoro said, I wouldn't want to risk hurting the relationship of someone who is performing a pretty important task for your family. 

    If your aunt is so worried about X being too "flaky", then she can drive the 20 minutes whenever she wants to make sure Gram is ok. I think you all have plenty of time to make arrangements that everyone is comfortable with.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_family-issue-asked-not-invite-someone-sorry-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c61ffc6b-e180-4e56-9a5f-c455c099707ePost:582ba870-889b-47fb-85d5-b62d5a8b29a5">Re: family issue, asked not to invite someone (sorry long)</a>:
    [QUOTE]My understanding is that Grandma is unable to  attend the wedding.  Is that correct? 
    Posted by ohwhynot[/QUOTE]

    Yes, Gram is unable to attend. 

    Also, there are other caretakers (though not one's who put her to bed or can change her), so it is likely that she would need to return early for that (so my aunt could stay).
  • What do your parents have to say about all this?  Clearly your Aunt is worried about her mom, which is understandable.  But maybe someone else in the family could talk to her, or look into another caretaker to look after your grandmother for a while.

    As you said, the wedding is 20 minutes away, so someone could pretty easily get there in the case of an emergency.

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  • edited June 2010
    Sorry, didn't mean for the post to be confusing.

    I think that my aunt feels it will be less stressful if she doesn't have to worry about anything that day, and I understand that.

    I don't want to stress my aunt out, and I don't want the caretaker to feel she wasn't wanted at the wedding either.  Especially since she had a hand in FI and I getting together!

    I did bring up the idea of the alternate care, and my aunt just shot that down right away.
  • ohwhynotohwhynot member
    2500 Comments
    edited June 2010
    I think, after reading more, that your aunt is being unreasonable.  There is nothing wrong with calling a professional in-home health care provider and asking them to watch/care for your grandmother for one day.  They are trained medical care providers! 

    I can see, I suppose, her being worried about relying on someone with a history of being "flaky," but going with a home health care service really should be sufficient.  I am sorry you're dealing with this - it must be very difficult.  Have your parents chimed in on this?  Your grandma is their mother, too! 
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_family-issue-asked-not-invite-someone-sorry-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c61ffc6b-e180-4e56-9a5f-c455c099707ePost:8ab29cc5-1c24-4114-86cb-744171a3bdba">Re: family issue, asked not to invite someone (sorry long)</a>:
    [QUOTE]Sorry, didn't mean for the post to be confusing. I think that my aunt feels it will be less stressful if she doesn't have to worry about anything that day, and I understand that. <strong>I don't want to stress my aunt out, and I don't want the caretaker to feel she wasn't wanted at the wedding either.  Especially since she had a hand in FI and I getting together! </strong>I did bring up the idea of the alternate care, and my aunt just shot that down right away.
    Posted by karbar42[/QUOTE]

    Invite her. 

    This sounds kind of callous, but let your aunt stress if she's going to stress.  It sounds like this caretaker is really important to you.
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  • It sounds to me like any stress your Aunt will feel will be her own doing, not yours, since there are viable options for your grandma's care that day.  Talk to your parents about this and get their take on it.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_family-issue-asked-not-invite-someone-sorry-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c61ffc6b-e180-4e56-9a5f-c455c099707ePost:5ba48a05-ccfa-4638-89bc-45bcbf9adccd">Re: family issue, asked not to invite someone (sorry long)</a>:
    [QUOTE]I think, after reading more, that your aunt is being unreasonable.  There is nothing wrong with calling a professional in-home health care provider and asking them to watch/care for your grandmother for one day.  They are trained medical care providers!  I can see, I suppose, her being worried about relying on someone with a history of being "flaky," but going with a home health care service really should be sufficient.  I am sorry you're dealing with this - it must be very difficult.  Have your parents chimed in on this?  Your grandma is their mother, too! 
    Posted by ohwhynot[/QUOTE]

    To quote my mom "I'm sorry you have to make these difficult choices."  I think that, on some level everyone sees her side of things. 

    I feel like instead of sitting down and having a discussion about gram's care that day and what the options could be, the "easier" option was to call me and ask me not to invite the caretaker, in her mind problem solved.   She acknowledged that this was probably selfish of her.  I just feel bad about not sending the caretaker an invitation.  I mean, I've seen her almost weekly for four years, and she without her help gram would be in a nuring home.
  • I would invite her.  She knows that your grandmother will need alternate care on that day so once she gets in the invite, she'll have to work out with your aunt what that care will be.  Does your aunt take over the care every time the caretaker has a day off?
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  • Honestly, if I were in your situation, I'd invite the caretaker and personally take care of finding a home care assistant for the day. Your aunt is making this all about her, and I can't believe your parents aren't backing you up on this.  
  • After re-reading your post, I'd invite the caregiver.  She seems to be important to you.  She can make the decision on her own if she feels comfortable attending, and perhaps she could help your aunt find temporary help for your grandmother since she probably understands your grandmother's needs best.
  • I would invite her.  Just because you invite her doesn't mean she will come.  She might want to stay with your grandmother instead, or she might just attend the ceremony and skip the reception. 

    I get that your aunt is worried about the care her mom will receive from someone else, but honestly, that's not something you need to stress about.  It's not your job to find someone to take care of her.  Invite the lady and see where it goes.  Your aunt may not even have to worry about coming up with an alternate caregiver if the lady declines. 
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  • Have you explained to your aunt that the caretaker had a part in you and your FI getting together and it's important to you to invite her? Your aunt sounds like she's going to freak out anyway, so invite the caretaker.
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  • As a co-caregiver to my FI's father (with alz) I say, invite the woman. If she wants to come, she and the aunt can arrange care with a home health-care service.  It doesn't sound like they've been using this kind of service at all, which puts a TON of pressure on the neighbor and aunt.  Respite care is intended to provide a break for the primary care givers, which we desperately need.

    I know it's a hard situation, but if you don't invite her you are basically punishing her for doing something incredibly kind and difficult for your family.

    Frankly, if they haven't been using respite care, this might be the impetus they need to get started.  They might find life after a bit easier- I know we did.
  • I think you should invite her if you want to. It seems like she is a part of your family now, and I don't see any reason not to invite her. Its her choice whether she attends or not, so if she is going to be stressed, she won't come.
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  • I think you should invite the caretaker. Does your grandmother have a case manager or an assigned social worker? They could help you find a reliable replacement for the night of your wedding. Respite care may also be an option.
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