That's very common. It happens a lot more than you might know.
Only you know the reason she hasn't been in your life until now. Ask yourself this: if she's all about showing love for her children, is bribing them the best way to go about it ?
@QCDog2659 She gave up visitation when she got on drugs again, no parental rights after my parents met in court when I was 5. But she’s slowly getting them back now.