How do you cope with divorced grandparents?!

[Orangepen13]

Just that.
my parents divorced when I was 8, and it was not amicable. They’ve mostly avoided each other since, save a graduation here or there. (Also my dads current partner may have been a factor in their separation, IFYKWIM)

Now it’s my LO 1st birthday coming up and the true headache of managing several sets of parents is upon us. Doesn’t help that partners parents live 4 hrs away and both mine live 2 hrs away, so they all have to stay over.

Do you do joint gatherings?! Separate it off? Spread birthdays over the entire month 😂

Help!

One gathering and I expect my divorced parents to be civil for a couple of hours! They are both adults. They know that if don't want to be civil they don't come and they miss out. In your situation I'd tell them all they need to stay in a hotel then you can't be deemed to be favouring one set over another.

Isn't that pretty normal these days? It's never really been an issue as my dad hasn't really been involved in the day to day lives of DC, also we didn't have first birthday parties involving inviting people who live hours and hours away, just a little local celebration.

One gathering, invite them all, let them decide what they want to do, at the first hint of any unacceptable behaviour have a word with them and say you don't want them ruining a special day. They're adults - they should be able to manage themselves!

I have the same situation for my parents and my partner's so feel your pain. But I invited both sets and they were mature enough to just be normal, I've also since invited both my mum and step mum to my hem do next year which I feel will be more dramatic than the first birthday 😂