Dealing with family

Six months ago today my mother received a letter from an attorney hired by her brother regarding my grandmother's estate.  To say I am saddened and sickened by the entire thing is an understatement.  Last fall, I held out hope that the family relations could be repaired.  My mother even mentioned that although she was hurt and angry, she wanted to make sure that nothing she said or did added to the feelings, and I think she too hoped things might be better, even if only years down the road.  I no longer have that hope, and there is even part of me that hopes my aunt & uncle contact me so that I can express my wishes that they not contact me again and my disappointment in their lack of value for the family relationships I hold so dearly.

My biggest concern in all of this has been how our relationships will be with my cousins who are the daughters of my late aunt.  They are so very much in the middle of this, and understandably have not wanted to take sides.  However, the "take it or leave it" settlement proposed by my uncle, which my mother is willing to accept (in fact she has never been against any of the "requests" proposed in any communication) involve the handling of the girls' trusts.  I've been asked to get involved and explain things from a financial aspect, and let them know that although my mother won't be involved in the trusts, it has nothing to do with her feelings about them.  The girls seem to understand that my mother just needs this legal issue to go away, but there is so much involved and I'm heading to my hometown to be a person who is a little more objective.

I'm not really sure that I am though.  I am tremendously emotional about this.  August 20 was the day this all began with that letter, and I sincerely hope that February 20 is the day this drama can find an end.