Need Advice/Opinions

[Guest guest]

In one last attempt to get my whole family together, I decided that

I would do Thanksgiving Dinner (thats Columbus Day on the US

Calendar) at my Mother's house and invited my brothers and their

families. One brother declined. The other one is plans to come.

Now...my brother lives about 7 or 8 hours away and due to a very

stressful job, he is not able to visit as frequently as he would

like. My Dad went into a nursing home in March and my brother has

not seen him since sometime BEFORE that. ANYWAY....here's the

problem. My brother has 2 kids, a son who is 14 (not a problem) and

a daughter who is 7. His daughter has nice memories formed of my

Dad, and my brother has concerns about bringing her down because he

doesnt want to traumatize her. It took her 2 years to get over the

death of her (maternal) grandmother, he said. He asked me what I

think, and I encouraged him to bring her. She may never get to see

her Grandpa again and you just cant turn back the hands of time..I

mean, I would hate for something to happen to my Dad at like

Christmas and have them regretting that they didnt bring his

daughter at Thanksgiving. I assured my brother that if Dad is in a

miserable mood on Thankgiving Day, I will not bring him out...and

that if he is in a good mood, I will just get him VERY close to

dinnertime, we'll eat, and I will take him back. I also told my

brother that Dad has NEVER been " miserable " with my own daughter, he

still shows much affection for her. OK, I am not trying to sway you

all, but I would just like your opinions given as if this 7 year old

were YOUR OWN child. Would you leave her with her existing memories?

Or would you explain to her that Grandpa might not remember your

name, and he might say a few things that dont make a lot of sense??

My own daughter Deidre loves to yap away to Grandpa about school and

clothes and her friends and I think he is really cool with her.

Seriously, I wouldnt take her to the NH just to watch him die over

the years! Its because they both still get some joy out of these

visits.

Thanks, guys!

Coyote/