"We just need to talk about money" at my mom's birthday dinner last week

My sister decided the perfect time to bring up splitting my mom's estate was while we were eating cake. She pulled out a spreadsheet in the middle of the restaurant and started going line by line. The waiter came over to ask about dessert and she asked him to wait because she was "discussing asset distribution." I just sat there eating my cake while my mom stared at the ceiling. Has anyone else had a relative pick the absolute worst moment for a money talk?

2 comments

2 Comments

samward4d ago

Funny, I actually see where your sister is coming from a little. The birthday dinner was probably the only time all year your mom had everyone in one room, and that's exactly when you need to have those tough conversations. Estate stuff gets messy fast if nobody talks about it, and maybe she figured ripping the band-aid off during a public meal meant nobody could storm out or scream at each other. The waiter thing was awkward for sure, but at least she didn't ambush your mom alone later when there was no buffer. Sometimes the perfect moment never comes, so you just have to pick a moment and go with it.

taylorm894d ago

Watched my uncle do the exact same thing at my cousin's wedding reception. He pulled out a binder with tabs during the toast portion, started talking about life insurance policies while people were still clinking their glasses. The DJ had to stop the music because my aunt was yelling about burial plots. It was brutal. Your poor mom staring at the ceiling sounds just like my grandma who literally got up and walked to the bathroom for twenty minutes to avoid it all.