MONEY REALLY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL

My grandparents passed away earlier this year. They were the ones who kept the family together – there are three daughters, of whom my mother is one. We usually spent Christmas together as an extended family on their farm and I view my cousins, nieces and nephews almost as my own siblings.

Now the farm is being sold and each of the sisters has decided to go her own way – but the worst is they’re bad-mouthing one another, whereas previously they really liked one another. There have been arguments about the farm being sold as it’s in a trust and now there’s bad blood.

How do I get them to understand that money isn’t everything? I don’t want to lose my extended family. My mother and her sisters are well off financially so I don’t understand why they’re fighting about money and risking the bond they share. Leslie, email Unfortunately death in the family and issues around inheritance often bring out the worst in people. Also, trusts are often problematic because all the people named in the trust must agree before a course of action can be taken. It’s often easier psychologically and logistically if the parents allocate specific property in their will.

Try to be patient as time may bring perspective. Keep things simple from your side – if your mother is angry with her sisters it doesn’t mean you can’t contact them. The same applies to your cousins, nieces and nephews.

Don’t try to mediate between your mother and her sisters. They need to work things out for themselves and hopefully blood will be thicker than water in the end.