My mum is currently going through chemo, so her immunity is low and I’m trying to keep things simple and not overwhelming for her.
I originally suggested a small high tea out with just Mum, my sister, and her kids. My kids are older, so I planned for them to see Mum separately during the week to make things easier on her.
I understand this didn’t land well, as my sister felt her partner and his kids should also be included.
Because of that, the plan changed to having it at Mum’s house instead, which I was completely fine with — it was open to everyone and meant Mum didn’t have to travel.
After that, the time (which my sister had suggested) and then the location were changed again — it was moved to my sister’s place, which is over an hour away.
At that point, it no longer felt simple or manageable for Mum, which was my main concern from the start.
I’m not trying to exclude anyone or disrespect my sister’s family — I just wanted something low-key, close to home, and easy for Mum given her health.