Few things test the sturdiness of "family values" quite like the reading of a will. Suddenly, the warm, wholesome bonds of siblinghoodâthe shared memories, the inside jokes, the unspoken alliancesâare reduced to cold calculations of property and percentages.
This magical power of inheritance also acts as the great awakening for siblings who vanished into the thin while you were busy caring for Mom or Dad. They weren't around during the hospital runs, the late-night calls, or those heartfelt conversations where you had to explain to your aging parent why they can't keep feeding the dog chocolate. Those who didn't seem to care the slightest about sharing the load are now deeply concerned about fairness, family unity, and, of course, their rightful "share".
These new finders of fraternal love come armed with a sob story and a moral compass that always seems to point to your sacrifices as their entitlement. Applying guilt like it's frosting on a cake they didn't bake but are happy to split. Wishing "they could've helped more" while adoring "puppy eyes" but ready with sharp accusations and obscure legal precedents to claim a slightly larger slice of the pie when the whining doesn't work.
This magical power of inheritance also acts as the great awakening for siblings who vanished into the thin while you were busy caring for Mom or Dad. They weren't around during the hospital runs, the late-night calls, or those heartfelt conversations where you had to explain to your aging parent why they can't keep feeding the dog chocolate. Those who didn't seem to care the slightest about sharing the load are now deeply concerned about fairness, family unity, and, of course, their rightful "share".
These new finders of fraternal love come armed with a sob story and a moral compass that always seems to point to your sacrifices as their entitlement. Applying guilt like it's frosting on a cake they didn't bake but are happy to split. Wishing "they could've helped more" while adoring "puppy eyes" but ready with sharp accusations and obscure legal precedents to claim a slightly larger slice of the pie when the whining doesn't work.