My daughterinlaw was livid when I mentioned that, in our family, its customary to name a boy after his grandfather.
I get on quite well with Charlotte. We live together without shouting or throwing insults. Sure, we have the occasional spat, but we usually patch things up quickly and hold no grudges.
When I learned that Charlotte was expecting, I was over the moon. It wont be long before I have a grandchild trotting around the house.
The fact that it was a boy lifted my son Jamess spirits straight away; hed always dreamed of having a son, and the moment he heard the news he blurted out that the little lad would be called Arthur, after his own dad. In our clan its tradition to give boys their granddads name. As soon as Charlotte discovered the name was already decided, she threw a fit, insisting she would pick a name herself and ignore everyone elses wishes.
I tried to have a calm chat with her, but she flatout declared the decision was final. James tried to back me up, but his wife wouldnt listen, saying her parents would whisk her away from the delivery room and the baby would stay with them.
James treats Charlotte nicely and does everything he can to show his love and care, yet she never seems to appreciate it. Shes rather selfish, unwilling even to keep quiet for the sake of her own husband. I attempted to explain our family customs, but she cut me off the moment I began.
To my astonishment I later heard that James and Charlotte had already settled on a name for the baby and that they intended to run the whole affair themselves, caring not a whit about my opinion. I see things differently; after all, this child will be my grandchild and will carry on our family line.
When the naming question resurfaced recently, Charlotte brusquely told me it was none of my business. I was stunned. Id poured my heart and energy into James, and now I felt utterly redundant in his life. I cant make sense of it. How am I supposed to go on, how am I to communicate with my daughterinlaw and my own son?
