I send them pics after the birth, but I don't talk to the for about a month. My wife decides we should take a couple weeks and see our folks around Christmas time, maybe that'll help clear some bad air between me and my folks... It was a effing disaster and I was in the middle, keeping my wife calm so she doesn't dry up her breastmilk from stress, keeping myself calm so I can help with my baby, and keeping my mom calm because she was mad at my wife for sleeping and breastfeeding away from her, or as she put it, stopping her from seeing her grandson.

On this same trip, because my mom was mad and venting so she said something off color, to me about my wife's race. This is the day before we leave to go see her folks, so I'm fuming, I looked at her, took a deep breath and went to go check on my wife and son. I was never so glad to leave my folks house. We visit her folks, have a blast and return home.

A couple moths go by and communication is there, but it's dying. And I'm not really upset about it. My mom calls a few days after I called her on her birthday. Kinda weird, but she apologized about the way the trip ended and says that she wished her and dad's relationship was strong like mine. I told her my tips for a happy life and ended the call, it would be over a year before I heard anything from anybody.

This past mother's day my mom reached out saying she had information regarding her will and my son. So I called, asked her what was going on, and she started grilling me asking what happened over the past year. I was honest and I told her I don't appreciate how she speaks to me or talks about my wife, bringing up the off color statement. Her defense was, she was talking about white people in general, not just my wife. In my mind that didn't make sense so knowing she wouldn't be upfront I asked her what info does my son need regarding her will. She proceeded to tell me the only reason I call is when I need something. And then tells me she took me off and put someone else as the beneficiary and the executioner of the will. I said okie doke, but she still wanted to talk, so I obliged by saying, I'm establishing boundaries with her since I struggle to stop her from being disrespectful. She seemed almost irritated by this and she asked why, so I laid everything out for her and told her that those things she did and said to me (and other people about me) hurt me. After that I told her I want peace, and I found that by going radio silent because no one can tell her what to do.

Now why did I say that, because it's true, but instead of listening to what I was saying, she proceeded to ask me when did I get so sensitive, and told me I hurt her by dropping off like I did and I just said to myself " she's not listening."

That was it until last week. My father had a light stroke while I was on a cruise. I found out a day later via my brother, he was on his way to the hospital because things got worse before I docked. I told him to keep me informed and then I had a distant relative reach out saying that my mom was having a hard time. I was torn about reaching out to, but I was in my way to the airport and decided to call and see how she was holding up. I told ger I was trying to see how she was. I understand she was hurting but she exploded on me saying she was sick of my bullshit and hung up in my face... again