What really made my stomach turn is that my Aunt had a smile on her face. At first I took it as maybe she’s trying to stay positive about the situation or having some odd nervous reaction but it was a huge huge smile as if she won the lottery. My grandma was not well off by any means so I highly doubt she had much in her will and my uncle was clearly not smiling in the picture.
She was also extremely unempathetic when my dad passed away during my mid 20s, telling me I need to man up and do better in life. I was working, in a relationship and doing my best to help my mom out. Am I overreacting or does she come off as a full blown sociopath?
Regardless of your aunts motives, you are allowed to feel the way you feel, and to speak up about it. Best that can happen is she’ll understand and apologize, worst is she’ll be ashamed and defensive.
She’s not one to apologize so I just didn’t say anything. Mostly out of shock and grief at the time.
“I was really quite shocked and appalled by the picture you sent after grandma passed away. I especially wonder why you’d be smiling like you were. What was going through your mind/what were you thinking?”
Would be a very valid question in my opinion, asked in an adult way.
Maybe one day