I’m a mum and a grandparent with three daughters. The oldest and youngest are both very successful in their careers and managing well. My middle daughter, however, has me feeling frustrated lately.
She worked hard to get a degree and a master’s, and I thought she would take off in her career. But after meeting her husband, she seemed to falter. She decided to work in a low-paid, minimum wage job with no real career progression, which has been really disappointing to watch. Even though she’s now married, she relies on me a lot support, whereas the other two daughters, who are single parents, manage and are grateful when we help them out.
Since my daughter met her husband, she hasn’t made any strides in her career, and I can’t help but feel sad for her. She’s got a master’s degree, but she’s now stuck in a job that requires no skills, earning next to nothing.
I also feel like it’s time for her husband to step up with the grandkids. I’ve always been the one to step in for things like inset days and school holidays, but he hasn’t once taken annual leave where theres an illness day or inset etc.
My youngest daughter is 6 years younger than her sister and has a daughter who she raised alone since birth. I can tell she's probably annoyed at how much support we give to her sister and husband and their kids, and she feels it's unfair because she's taken the time to build her career and do it herself alone. My other daughter will call upon my husband and I to mind the kids so she get her nails done and I know she finds it irritating and makes it known.
Its hard because I feel pulled in all directions and I love my kids all equally but I don't know what's best.