I (74F) and my husband celebrated our milestone recently. Our 50th anniversary was a casual garden party, just 15 guests. I told my DIL to leave her 2 boys home and bring my granddaughter. She said nothing all night.
I’ve always been closer with my granddaughter Lily (16) than with her brothers (10 and 12). I thought the boys would be bored at an adult party, while Lily was old enough to participate.
After the party, my DIL seemed distant but I didn’t think much of it. Two days later, at 3AM, I got a call: “Granny, help me!” It was my grandson crying. I rushed over to their house.
What I saw made me go numb. My DIL was loading suitcases into her car while my son begged her not to leave. Lily and her brothers were crying on the porch.
When my DIL saw me, she exploded: “Here’s your perfect mother! The woman who’s been dividing this family for years!”
She accused me of showing favoritism toward Lily – expensive gifts for her versus gift cards for the boys, special trips with Lily while excluding them, and now barring them from a family celebration.
My son finally admitted he’d tried talking to me about this for years. Even Lily spoke up, saying my different treatment made her uncomfortable.
The worst part? All four of them – my DIL, Lily, and both boys – got in the car and left. My son looked at me with tears: “My daughter is leaving the man she loves because he didn’t stand up for her brothers.”
Now my son is sleeping in our guest room, my grandchildren are gone, and my husband is furious with me. Was I really showing such terrible favoritism?
Source: brightside.me