At 16, she hit the road, couch-surfing at friends places until she could snag her own crib.
Fast forward to age 25, when she met her prince charming and tied the knot three years later.
The OPs husbands family is the complete opposite from hers.
They are kind and loving and, yes, quite well-off.
The OP has been embraced by them and even calls them Mum and Dad.
But the money bit?
And she was not alone, she brought a 2-year-old baby with her, the OPs little sister.
Mom had a change-of-life baby, and she wanted to reconnect with her estranged daughter after 10 years.
The OP decided to give her mom a chance, hoping she had turned over a new leaf.
But old habits really die hard.
The OP and her hubby thought it over long and hard.
They made it official with a lawyer and everything.
The in-laws were over the moon.
The furious mom had a meltdown, calling the OP names and playing the victim card hard.
To that end, explain to your relative why you arent able to help.
If youre not able to help them again after this time, tell them that.
After the confrontation with her mom, the OP was left shocked and stewing in guilt.
Herhubbywas ready to launch the wallet to ease her conscience, but the OP was being cautious.
Would the money help or just fuel moms old habits?
Her moms past actions suggested she might not have handled the financial help responsibly.
However, she couldnt help but feel guilty about not helping out hermom.
Guilt can lead to actions that are designed to help ameliorate the feelings associated with the guilt.
These can include apologies or attempts to reconcile previous actions with current intent.
So, it is understandable why the OP felt guilty about not giving money to her mother.
This story is a true rollercoaster, and its easy to see why the OP was feeling torn.
Family can pull us in all directions, and when moneys involved, things get even messier.
Whats your take on this family drama?
Was the OP a jerk for not telling her estranged mom about having money?
Share your nuggets of wisdom in the comment section below.
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