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In reply to the discussion: This might be a good year to skip gifts for Christmas. [View all]Rorey
(8,445 posts)When my kids were young, two brothers who lived across the street, and were friends with my kids, used to almost always show up at supper time. We were struggling, but of course we let our kids invite them to eat with us. One day my husband asked them why they always showed up at meal time. They told him that they were "grounded" from eating with their mom and younger sisters. After the mom and sisters finished eating, they were allowed to eat what was left, which was usually not much. Then they got to do the dishes and clean the kitchen. I have no idea why they were being punished. Probably for existing.
For Christmas they got very little from their mom. She would shower whatever boyfriend she happened to have at the time with gifts, and their sisters got gifts, but they got practically nothing.
The boys grew up and had families of their own. They were always very sweet. Then one day I found out that the older one had committed suicide. It was pretty heartbreaking to hear. I wonder if his mother even cared.