With the arrival of Max in our family, everything shifted completely. Before my daughter married him, he seemed a modest, pleasant young man who would do anything for her. He took care of her beautifully, presenting her with grand bouquets of roses, even on the bleakest winter days. His proposal was wonderfully romantic, and the wedding itself was splendid. They certainly didnt pinch pennies; even when they lived in a rented flat, they never denied themselves any little luxury.
From the very first day we met, I hadnt seen the most obvious thingMax is a true proprietor. He took our daughter from us and has no intention of letting her go. It isnt that hes jealous, but through his selfishness, hes drawn boundaries no one is allowed to cross.
We have a family traditionevery New Year, we gather together in our home to celebrate. My daughter had always joined in gladly, but for the past three years, ever since marrying Max, she and he always seem to have other plans. We used to have another custom too, where at the beginning of August, we would journey to the same cottage in Devon, visiting people wed known for over twenty years. Yet Max insisted holidays abroad were far superior and wished to stay in a proper hotel, not in what he called a wonky cottage with spiders lurking in every corner.
He makes all the decisions in their household, introducing his ideas and rules, slowly allowing our traditions to slip away. My daughter goes along with him; she doesnt want to spend time with us, nor can sheor will sheleave him behind. In the end, she agrees to whatever he proposes. We are losing our daughter and the closeness we once shared. A new family is a wonderful thing, but one should not forget the old nor abandon the traditions that made us all a little happier.
