When I was very little, I remember I had much better relationship with my dad than with mum. Then obviously that all fell apart due to his mental health breakdown.

When I was a teeanager and started reading books and articles about complex relationship dynamic I started believing it was my mum who caused my dad’s breakdown as she was jealous I preferred him. I obviously understand now this is nonsense. Things are much more complicated than that. My dad probably had a breakdown because of his job. He was a welder and that means loads of flashing lights, too much sensory issues for someone who was autistic (obviously dad was never diagnosed with autism).

Then he went on disability and never recovered. He never got a second chance at whatever.

That’s when he started focusing so much on where he came from and the old, tiny house house that was left there. It belonged to his niece at the time, but she lives in Germany (I never met her btw). He wanted to get his share.

She was possibly focused on her roots too as her dad, my dad’s brother was an alcoholic and never took any care of her. So the little house and a bit of land was the only thing she had left. She didn’t want to share the house with my dad even though she had no use of it.

Obviously one day she may be able to sell that land so she will at least get some money out of it.