Bridging their distance

Dear Amy: My younger brother and I had a falling out, and he stopped all contact with me for about a year. In fact, he married, and I wasn’t invited to the wedding.

I admit that the incident leading to estrangement was my fault. I don’t blame him for not talking to me.

We reconciled, but our relationship has changed. It is not as close as it once was.

I have lived abroad for almost four years. He’s still in the U.S. I never hear from him unless he needs to know when someone’s birthday is or is asking for a family member’s phone number.

I’m spending $4,000 to go home and be a bridesmaid in his wedding (second marriage), but I feel like he would never spend that kind of money to attend my wedding (should I ever have one).

If I stop making the effort to keep in touch, I feel like he would do nothing to change that. What can I do to have a closer, more meaningful relationship with my brother and other family members? Upset Bridesmaid

Dear Upset: In order to have a closer, more meaningful relationship with your brother and other family members, you will need to share actual experiences with them. Your choice to travel home for this wedding is a great one. The fact that he wants you to stand with him on his wedding day is a sign that he wants to acknowledge your important role in his life.

It is counterproductive — and a curious choice — for you to enter this experience, which is brimming with potential for all of you, and to already be keeping score.

If you can’t freely spend $4,000 without using this large expense as leverage against your brother, then don’t do it.

He could definitely do a better job at keeping in touch, but you two sharing this milestone experience will create common memories and might inspire a warming trend in your family, overall.

Dear Amy: After my father died, my mother moved back to the area. She lives off of her Social Security, and when she is short of money, we help her out. We are glad to do this. It is simply understood that if she needs money, all she has to do is ask and we will help her.

Last week she received an invitation for a high school graduation for a distant nephew many times removed that she has never met, who lives across the country. We also received an invitation.

My mother thinks that now she is obliged to send a check to the graduate. I think that sending an invitation to a widow on a fixed income for someone halfway across the country she has never met is simply a money grab.

Do you think our distant relatives were sincere, or are they simply sending out invitations with the expectation of receiving gifts? Not so Funny Money

Dear Funny Money: I don’t consider giving a modest gift to someone as demonstrating poor money management. However, it is important for all of you to realize that receiving an invitation or announcement does not obligate you to send money or a gift. All that is required is for you to congratulate this distant cousin, and wish him well.

This might have been a “gift grab” (but you needn’t take the bait). Maybe they’re just really proud of their son.