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Our daughter and her hubby, have 2 adopted babies, ages 2 1/2 and 10 months, both babies were adopted at birth and both are open, in-state, adoptions. Our daughter feels more obligation to the b-parents than she does to us ... she actually referred to them as 'their parents' in a conversation we had recently about the kids. she stated that she feels more obligated to make 3 hour trips to see 'their parents' at their beck and call, than she does a to make a 20 minute drive to our home or to visit other family members. I need some input here. What can I do to help her realize those are HER BABIES ? She works full time and I honestly don't feel she has had the time to fully bond with either of them. Am I wrong in feeling hurt and confused about this? Thank you for ANY input you can offer! I want to understand.
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Adoption
Our daughter and her hubby, have 2 adopted babies, ages 2 1/2 and 10 months, both babies were adopted at birth and both are open, in-state, adoptions. Our daughter feels more obligation to the b-parents than she does to us ... she actually referred to them as 'their parents' in a conversation we had recently about the kids. she stated that she feels more obligated to make 3 hour trips to see 'their parents' at their beck and call, than she does a to make a 20 minute drive to our home or to visit other family members. I need some input here. What can I do to help her realize those are HER BABIES ? She works full time and I honestly don't feel she has had the time to fully bond with either of them. Am I wrong in feeling hurt and confused about this? Thank you for ANY input you can offer! I want to understand.
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we have invited them to our home for dinners, to meet us places to eat or just get together, family gatherings (including most recently, the babies great grandmothers 98th birthday gathering), we encourage them to go out and let us watch the babies, we stop by their home every chance we can. They always have an excuse. We have reached out in many ways. I'm at a loss. My birthday is this weekend, I pray that they will take a few minutes and come see us. We raised a loving family so we are really hurting and feel left out of their lives.
So this isn't really about the open adoption, your concern about your daughter not bonding because there is another mom.
This is about them not paying enough attention to you.
Have you asked them what it is that you said, or did to cause the rift? That's my guess and if I am correct - then you need to own that you said something wrong, apologise and make amends.
My guess is that you said something negative about adoption, open adoption or the kids other parents. Or perhaps all three. If you have other grandchildren do you treat your adopted grandchildren the same? Have you said anything that could be taken as not supportive?
Kind regards,
Dickons
I agree with Dickons.
This isn't about the biological family.
It's about your relationship with your daughter. If you're trying to connect with her in various ways and she just gives excuses for not seeing you, the issue is with your relationship.
How long has this disconnect existed? Has it existed for 2.5 years (the age of her eldest child)? Did it exist before she adopted, or was this a more recent happening?
You need to have an honest discussion with her. You need to be straightfoward and aske what you did or said to upset her to the point that she has virtually excluded you from her life.
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I read this thread last night and had the same reaction that Dickons and L4R did...but was hesitant to say anything. I agree with them in that it sounds like the real problem here is not with your grandchildren's first parents. Rather, it sounds like the problem is your own relationship with your daughter.
I can tell you feel hurt...snubbed...ignored. And I know it doesn't help to hear that this sort of thing happens all the time when kids grow up and leave the nest. Maybe you should have a heart-to-heart discussion with your daughter about how you're feeling. She may not even realize that you feel left out lately.
Adoption
Our daughter and her hubby, have 2 adopted babies, ages 2 1/2 and 10 months, both babies were adopted at birth and both are open, in-state, adoptions. Our daughter feels more obligation to the b-parents than she does to us ... she actually referred to them as 'their parents' in a conversation we had recently about the kids. she stated that she feels more obligated to make 3 hour trips to see 'their parents' at their beck and call, than she does a to make a 20 minute drive to our home or to visit other family members. I need some input here. What can I do to help her realize those are HER BABIES ? She works full time and I honestly don't feel she has had the time to fully bond with either of them. Am I wrong in feeling hurt and confused about this? Thank you for ANY input you can offer! I want to understand.