The birthday that I couldn't celebrate.

My brother Billy has somewhat removed himself from family. I admit that I was still in favor with him until I found that I absolutely would not take his screaming treatment of my mother as okay any longer, so I sent a text telling him what I felt.
I was invited not to contact him.
I sent him a birthday card, but it wasn't the same.
I drove my niece home from my mom's house last night. I her that I was no longer coddling her father. I still wanted to make sure that she remembered his birthday yesterday and was able to phone him. "Aunt Amy, I'm not allowed to have my dad's phone number." She did send a card, though.
Grand.
My birthday wish for my brother? I'd love him to remember how important family and his children are.
My birthday wish for my mom? That my brother takes his head out of his butt (I'm being nice, considering) and starts giving her the respect that she deserves. I mean, I know that it isn't a big deal to him that she and my dad have been busy raising his son, pulling him through school and teaching him to read since October (my nephew is 9), but he might want to consider that perhaps not so many parents out there would do the same. They've fed, housed, helped to clothe and miscellaneous things all with no offer to offset those costs. It is a great thing what my parents have done and the lack of respect and true appreciation astounds me. Frankly, it breaks my mom's heart the way my brother has chosen to treat her and speak to her in tones and words that I would never consider using around people that I greatly dislike.
I hope that my brother can see what matters most and that whatever life he choses to lead allows him to sleep at night. If he finds that it doesn't, that he might consider adjusting likewise and to make life improvements. Until then, I pray for him to consider reconciling with his family- the very same people he has called on and has bailed him out on numerous occasions.