Hello! I live with my teenage daughter 150 miles from her dad and his family. I'm married again and have a grown up stepson.
My daughter's dad's family never visit her. She gets invited up to see them (dad, stepmum, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins) a few times a year and I drive her there as no one will pick her up (I have asked, but excuses are made.)
In between none of them phone or text except for her dad who texts the same messages and emojis over and over. No real conversation. He never contacts me about anything to do with his daughter's welfare and he has ignored all my recent texts updating him about how she's getting on.
My daughter finds it difficult to talk to her dad and grandparents because they are very religious and she isn't. Lots of taboo subjects!
My husband's son doesn't contact us much because he works all over the world and is all about money. Totally different from my husband himself.
All my family are long dead, other than my husband and daughter. My husband is fifteen years older than me.
I'm worried that my daughter won't have many people to turn to in the future, except for me. I am trying to encourage her to value her friends, in anticipation of this.
Anybody relate to my situation? I always wanted a big family but unfortunately it was not to be.