"Sharks and fish can be friends" from Finding Nemo

[AntoniaB]

Punkin you might have already read it, but IB's thread is on this subject too lately, so it might help, starting around where Beatrice talks about her son's comment about MLCers...

I don't know that this is any "comfort" but my sister has complained for years that her in-laws were notoriously absent for many big events in her kids' lives. They lived nearby and yet she'd invite them for things and they would just decline and they'd not be doing a blessed thing. They just seemed to not want to be involved. They would say things like "we have 10 grandkids" or however many it was and just act like once there were a few of them, the rest weren't as special. I realize a birth is "different", but I think sometimes people just detach even if they aren't MLCers. My sister used to really get upset and feel rejected, and eventually when she saw that her MIL and FIL would also skip other grandkids' birthdays and such, she was able to see it was just how they chose to be in later life.

I do think that like a teenager, the MLCer has this weird sort of "accept the OP and throw your arms around them or I'm throwing a tantrum" mentality. I've seen my XH do it with all the mutual friends who "defected" to my side in that he has ceased all contact with them or liking their posts on FB, and yet, he doesn't defriend them, because he is obviously waiting till they "come around" and I don't think they ever will.