Thirty five years later and it seems nothing has changed.All those years ago I 

Spend the whole of Xmas Day with your Mum .You both can create your own special traditions.I bet she would love it as once she would have spent Xmas with your Dad and his big extended family and probably misses it.Wishing you a very happy Christmas!

How refreshing to read of a young mother  facing very difficult in-laws and not responding with the usual ‘I can’t cope so I insist on no contact’.The writer should be proud of herself for managing to keep the family together in spite of great difficulty.As a result the grandchildren have their grandparents in their lives and vice versa.Shows maturity,kindness and respect.

Also veterinarians.

@jane plain I completely agree with you.I have been shocked at the trend in recent articles to always blame the parent when any adult child estrangement takes place to the point of even counsellers encouraging the child to go no  contact’for at least six months.In extreme cases of abuse this might be very wise but in some cases it is just so devastating for the parent and has led to the parent contemplating /committing suicide.Remember there are always two sides to the story.Best of luck to the author and I hope she reconciles with her child.

Much respect.It’s a lot harder to be ‘not the cool Mum’

@anna louis  Unfortunately it doesn’t matter how you bring up your children,your son will be named a ‘mummy’s boy’ by his partner if he regularly calls or helps out his mother.I am now disabled and all the extra load is on my daughter now as it causes too much friction in son’s relationship if he’s taking time off work to help me with medical appointments jobs around the house etc.Society needs to change its expectations of daughter’s responsibilities to aging parents as sons seem to be totally irresponsible in this area.