Dear Judy,
I’m emailing you because when my sister died last year, she left a pair of chandelier earrings (lots of little diamonds) and two very beautiful 19th century chairs in her Will to her only daughter.
Those chandelier earrings belonged to our mother, and when my sister was dying (a long process…) she had always said she’d leave them to me. Also those antique carved chairs were in the dining room of the house in which we all grew up, and the understanding between us was if anything happened to my sister, who is older than me, I would get them.
My sister’s daughter is 19. She can’t possibly know what these things mean to me. She can’t value them as I do.
I think I should speak up. My husband says I should keep mum for the sake of family unity, especially as a year has gone by without my saying anything.
What do you think?
Gloria
Dear Gloria,
I think about the worst thing you can do to a 19-year-old who’s recently lost her mother after a long illness is quarrel with the girl about a pair of earrings and 2 chairs.
I’m sure these items mean a lot to you: your sister mentioned the chandelier would be in her Will. The antique chairs date back to your childhood.
But think about this: What is it worth to you to upset a bereaved teenager and the rest of the family, just so you can hold on to a bit of property?
Thank you for writing
Judy
