I am a little confused by my relationship with my parents who moved to the same town as me about three years ago. They moved saying that they would spend more time with us, our children and would be keen to look after them more so I could return to work without having to worry about child care.
Fast forward three years and they barely see us each week. They never contact us so we drop by occasionally but often when we do my Mum has gone out to a local craft group. I am pleased for her as she has really settled well as has my Dad but I am suprised at how little contact they have with the grand kids (their only ones as I am an only child) and any contact is usually initiated by me.
When I visit and if my Mum is there she tells me about all her new friends and how busy their life is. She has also started to have contact with her brother who lives a long way away despite Him trying to extort money from her and her siblings after the death of their Mum. She has even visited him twice in four months despite having nothing to do with him for over ten years.
My DH works away a lot and my parents do acknowledge the challenges this brings but never offer to take the kids off to do something or suggest cooking us dinner etc. They have never taken kids out during holidays and tell me about their trips off with friends which I find quite disappointing.
Fair enough but I suppose I cannot quite match what they do with what they said their motives were for moving to be nearer us.
I can feel myself having less and less to do with them which
I am not bothered about for me but I would like my DC to have some sort of relationship with their grandparents.
I suppose I am disappointed with our lack of relationship but wanted some others perspectives....