The question has been asked: When will my oldest’s Dad and grandparents come to
visit the new grandbaby? Short answer: They aren’t coming. Ever. But why????
Prepare for some venting… 
I have been contemplating for hours about how
to answer this question without making it sound unreasonable or disrespectful.
Despite painting a rosy picture over Mark’s reasons for doing one thing or another
for 20 years, I can’t seem to come up with a pleasant explanation. I mean, I
could say they don’t have the money or the health for a cross-country trip,
which would be true. But, the truth is, even if they could, they wouldn’t.
You
see, my oldest was sent away to live with my Dad as soon as she was an adult because
she was seeing things that weren’t there and having conversations with these
unseen beings. This, being coupled with the normal teenage questioning of authority,
meant that she was “demon possessed” and in need of reform. Since she wanted to
move out anyway, I didn’t fight it too much. (though I did wonder why they thought
sending a demon to my Dad was such a good idea 
) When she was diagnosed with
schizophrenia, the opinion remained the same.
Then, my oldest had the audacity to
start dating a guy outside of the religion she was raised in, verifying her
obvious backslidden state. Even though he was baptized before they got married,
Mark and his folks were still disapproving of the couple, refused to come to
the wedding, and were appalled that I planned to attend without their consent.
Furthermore, I dropped a HUGE bombshell when I let it be known that I would
be visiting my oldest and helping her through any future pregnancy she might have
if needed (as they were planning on having kids – much to their disapproval
because of my oldest’s schizophrenia). Within a week, it was decided that we’d be
getting a divorce.
Their opinions have not changed during the past two years.
They have no interest in visiting my oldest (who will forever be plagued with the
demons of schizophrenia) or the husband of her choice (not heeding the counsel
of her elders) or the child they didn’t think they should have. And it doesn’t
help that the insubordinate ex-wife lives just a couple hours away – even if
she agreed not to visit. But, they DO want lots of pictures!