My ds doesn't know they were meant to be coming but I have just cancelled his family birthday lunch (he is having a party with friends later). I cancelled it because my sister and I have a long battle which has never got solved and she has started being cold and distant with my children. My mother went nuts on the phone at me the other week because I refused to say she was a 'perfect mother' (she emotionally abused us all for years). My brother threatened to come and beat me up because my mum went hysterical on the phone. My niece is following in her mothers footsteps and is becoming a bit game-playing and frosty. So I cancelled his family lunch. Just feel so sad I had to do that but I honestly think we might be better off without them.