I think Mum will still give the pendant to Leon, but what I’m thinking of is I’ll get a poem I’ve written just for him professionally written up in calligraphy, and then frame it. A close friend of my brother has got him some AFL signed jerseys which my bro is stoked over, because it’s from the players after who my nephew is named.

As for my father…he’s of late given in to telling me that I basically don’t do enough for T or that I’m too lazy or something. I’m not sure why he thinks that, but I can only hope that if T has those concerns, I’m genuinely willing to work on them.

Thanks again hon x

on re-reading, your first sentence caught my eye: “and showed me a ***beautiful*** gold pendant, with a guardian angel.”

beautiful, your word, my emphasis

so, it’s a beautiful gift, that would probably resonate well with your new nephew’s family? and if the almost inevitable handing down of family values happens to your nephew, he’ll probably value it similarly? (assuming he doesn’t eat or lose it before he’s 5

i’m totally with you on your desire to give a gift that is “true to yourself”, tho i can imagine your mum took the initiative to spare you the significant financial outlay, but which inherently betrays your ideal, & probably with no ill _intent_ on her part?

i guess i’d ask myself the question “how much will this matter to anyone else (but yourself) in a month/year from now?” if you were to capitulate? probably not much if at all.

alternatively, if you stick to your guns, you could take a hard line & have nothing to do with it & create grief for yourself and your mother that probably won’t achieve anything. old people can be remarkably thick when it comes to allowing their children to be their own person, a process that can take many years .

or perhaps you could tell your mum that *you* won’t give that as a gift from *yourself*, but perhaps as a compromise, she should give it herself, or on behalf of her, your father, and you?

this is a new-born, who’s not going to appreciate the meaning behind neither this nor any alternative gift at least for a very long time. time enough for many more opportunities to influence your nephew, and your mother .

but um, wtf is your father on about? *hugz*

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I remember patterns in my dreams when I used to write them down. I should start again.

Go get that test

Highly recommended! You thinking of going?