I come from a very close family, I have two brothers, one a year younger than me (26) who is engaged and has a two year old daughter. I live over 100 miles away from the majority of my family but still see them monthly and have a close relationship with them. My brother and his fiancee( who has a large family) live near my parents and I have a good relationship with them they are helped out considerably both financially and with child-care , even though they both work and my brother has got a very good job- this I dont mind honestly as my brothers fiancee was still a teenager when she had her daughter and they have a lot of financial responsibilities. I have always tried to help them out and used to spend a lot of money on them as I didnt see them as often as I would have liked, I always make an effort with birthdays, Easter and Christmas but they rarely do the same, they have missed both mine and my fiances birthday this year and didnt get my son an Easter egg, instead they showed me how much stuff their daughter recieved. When my mother asked them why they didnt get my son a easter egg they said they forgot and didnt remember that I got my niece a egg!
I appreciate that I may sound envious I am not at all as I am usually the first one to help them both but now I am not in the position to give as much as I used to though I never forget special occasions. Its almost like they dont care- even a card would be appreciated but very often I have to settle for a text or facebook message if anything! Should I just let this go or confront them- I am starting to back away from them because I feel a little hurt. Its not the first time I have felt they have taken advantage of me one instance was when I was down to my last tenner, my sis in law said she didnt have enough money for her lunch I paid for her and then she went out and bought her daughter a new outfit!!! I am unsure what if anything to do/say!