When my daughter and her husband got married, they didn’t have a place to live, so I offered them my two-bedroom apartment without hesitation. In exchange, I moved in with my mother in her one-bedroom apartment.
Raising my daughter on my own was challenging, but my mother was always there to help. Initially, I had considered offering my mother’s apartment to my daughter and suggesting that we move in together, but my son-in-law’s mother discouraged me.
She said that the young couple would eventually need more space, especially if they were planning for children.
One day, my son-in-law’s mother called, asking when I planned to renovate the apartment for the newlyweds. I was taken aback because the apartment was in good condition.
When I mentioned that I didn’t think any work was necessary and suggested she do it herself if she was concerned, she explained that she didn’t want to invest money into someone else’s property.
And so, my daughter and her husband moved into my apartment, and I continued living with my mother, being careful not to overstep and always giving them their personal space. I helped as much as I could, watching over my grandson, buying groceries, and even renovating their home. Then, just before the holidays, I went to the store to buy groceries and decided to get extra to bring to my daughter’s house. My phone died that day, so I couldn’t let her know I was coming.
When I arrived, I walked into the living room and saw my daughter and her mother-in-law sipping coffee. I noticed a list of dishes and groceries they planned to buy for the holidays. As I read through it, my heart sank. My daughter had planned a New Year’s celebration with her husband’s side of the family—yet she hadn’t invited me or my mother.
I was overwhelmed with disappointment. After everything I’ve done for them, helping with the baby, the house, the groceries—this felt like a betrayal. How could they exclude me from a celebration in the very home I gave them? Now, I don’t even know how to look my daughter in the eye.
Feel free to adjust the wording as needed, and I hope this captures the emotions you want to express.