My only son has just married, and I am not going to his wedding. It isnt because I cant make it, and it isnt because I dont want to; he simply didnt invite me. It feels unimaginable that my own son would leave me out of his own wedding.
I dont deserve to be treated like this. I feel deeply insulted by the whole situation. I have given him everything. My husband walked out when James was five, and I raised him alone. I did my utmost to make sure my son had everything. Some nights I went without a proper dinner, some days I survived on a few hours of sleep
Even though James has not seen his father since he was five, his father, Robert, is invited to the reception as an honoured guest, while I am not. Robert never paid child support, missed every birthday, the school leavers ceremony, the university entrance and the graduation celebration. Yet he gets a seat at the wedding.
Very little is known about Roberts life. Friends tell me he drifted from job to job and house to house, searching for his place. He has been married four times and has many children. Only recently did he return to his hometown of Bath and reconnect with his son.
At Jamess wedding, Robert turns up with his new young wife and a whole brood of his children. My own sister, Emily, also stays away from the ceremony to support me.
It was Robert who insisted that James leave me out of the guest list. How could my son possibly listen to him?
I think the real reason is financial. James asked me for money to buy a car, and I gave it to him. Then he asked me to foot the entire wedding bill, but I only covered the grooms side of the guests. I dont believe its right for me to pay for the brides guests; thats traditionally the brides parents responsibility.
After that, James says he no longer wants to talk to me, stops answering my calls and sides with his father. That is his way of showing gratitude for everything I have done for him.
