I am glad you got it sorted out. Maybe I need you as a mediator in my family because one of my brothers and one of my sisters won't speak to the rest of the family. I guess I think that is their right, but it's a shame. My problem in the past was that I kept reaching out like Charlie Brown goes after Lucy's football everytime. I was really stuck on an ideal of one big happy family. Well, we didn't come from one big happy family and I just was enhancing codependent tendencies when I kept trying to reach out to these family members. At best, they would snub me in public at times; at worst my older sister attacked my younger sister physically while the former was holding her child in her arms. The other day my older sister called and left a message on my machine that she would not be allowing her daughter to babysit for my daughter. My older sister stated this was because of political beliefs I hold. I don't discuss my political beliefs with my sister. But she attacks me verbally every time she sees me because of who I voted for in the last election which I made the mistake of telling her. Actually, I suppose that counts as her speaking to me, but I guess I meant she doesn't speak to me as a person, kind and polite and civil. I spent a part of yesterday trying to find out how I can block her phone number from my home. She has left far too many ugly messages on my answering machine that my young daughter has heard. It is time to end this practice. I didn't figure it out, but when I do, I will have to block her number. I will miss my niece and nephew but enough is enough. I would not be surprised if having to cut off ties is common when one has been raised in an alcoholic family as we were. I think my sister and brother have a lot of unresolved issues from how we were raised. I know I do but I have sought help and also shared with them about the help I have sought. They--as far as I know--do not think they are in need of help. Again that is their choice but I also have a choice to walk away from them, instead of accepting further mistreatment. This means I will not be seeing these siblings I suppose for the rest of my life, unless we accidentally run into one another. When that occurred to me, I was greatly relieved. I didn't realize how much trying to have a positive relationship with them, in spite of our differences, was taking out of me. I suppose they may mellow or something could change, but for now I have to make peace with the situation. Life is, as they say, too short.

Glad it worked out for you.

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