Greek Family
WOMAN WILL BE GREEK ENOUGH FOR HUSBAND’S FAMILY, DEAR ABBY:
I married Greek man whose family never accepted me. Being young and naive, tried everything to fit in, converting from Catholicism to the Greek Orthodox faith, attending family functions, including them in our lives. It was never enough.
My husband and I traveled Crete with his family to visit his relatives there, and some extended family members refused to share the table with me because I was not Greek. One of those family members a priest!
Our daughter, “Athena,” was born four years later. What broke camel’s back for me was a Christmas dinner when she was 6. father-in-law gave cards with $100 to all the grandchildren of Greek heritage. Athena received nothing and cried for wanting to know why her grandfather didn’t love her. My husband just to stay neutral.
Abby, how far should someone have to go fit in with their husband’s family?
— IRISH AGAIN NEW HAMPSHIRE