Hello

[chelmsford36]

I would recommend not comparing your situation with the other GPs.  There are a host of reasons why the maternal and paternal sides of the family get different treatment.  Gone are the days when the wife is the family social secretary so you can blame DIL if your side of the family feels second rate.  However busy DS is, you are his relatives and therefore his responsibility.  If a DIL wants to pick up her husband's slack, that's great.  But if she doesn't want to for whatever reason, you shouldn't feel she is slighting you.  I know this gives the maternal relatives a huge edge since women are still better adept and willing to maintain family ties.

I've just started to read this thread and I've come accross so many amazing ideas that I have to post again. Everything which is said is so comforting and supporting of the way I have chosen to live my life now. Everybody is taking so much time to reply and shows so much concern for Chrisky and everybody else. I'll keep reading, maybe I'll be back with another quote. Thanks.