My mother has been emotionally abusive toward me since I was a teenager. I left home at 18, borrowed money for college, and moved several states away from my parents. My mother pursued me (she once drove to visit me at school and actually kidnapped me, driving me back to her home) but every time I had anything to do with her or went to visit, things quickly deteriorated into criticism of my career, my appearance, my finances, my interests, my friends, and, eventually, my husband. Understandably, over the years I have told my mother less and less about my life. To my shock, when she was 70 she moved halfway across the country to the city where I live and rented a condominium there. She was offended not to be given a key to my house, though when I invited her over it was constant criticism of my furniture and my housekeeping and how I was wasting money. She would invite me to her place and ask me not to bring my husband (who I love very much) because "he makes her sick to her stomach." The only reason had any contact with her was because I wanted to see my father, whose life she controlled. After my father died, there was about a year when we got along. Then the complaints about what a terrible daughter I was started up again. Fortunately, she then bought a condo in Arizona and moved there to be closer to some friends. I now visit her four times a year, during which time she criticizes me (often in front of other people) and urges me to divorce my husband "because he's a loser." He is amazingly patient will all of this, even though this means that all of my vacation time from work is spent with my mom — he and I make do with long weekends. My husband and I both went part-time last year and are semi-retired, but have hidden this from my mom because she is so critical of what she insists is our terrible financial situation. We are not rich, but have good careers, plenty of money, and a nice house with the mortgage paid off. When I tell her this, she demands to see our tax returns so she can see how much we make. That of course, is none of her business. I am tempted to just walk away from her now, while she is still healthy. She has plenty of retirement savings, so all she really needs from me is a target for her meanness. I've been to counseling, but am still not sure. My father, who I loved very much, would have wanted me to put up with her. Sometimes I tell myself that well, I only need to see her four weeks of the year and the rest of the time I can just pretend it's all a bad dream. I realize I'm fortunate compared with people who have mothers and mother-in-laws like her who end of moving in with them. Ideas?
If you are not sure whether this is a good thing, you left counselling too soon.
I guess that sounds harsh. Sorry. I really am more sympathetic than that sounds. But I'll tell you this: I would NEVER listen to my mother (or my father or my siblings) call my husband a loser a second time. It just would not happen. Of course that is easy for me to say because those words would never come out of my mother's mouth once. If you are raised in a dysfunctional situation, it may be a lot harder to see that you are not obligated to allow your parent to disrespect you and treat you only as a target for her meanness.
I know, she's your mom and you feel that you have certain obligations to her but when someone treats us with so little respect and in such a cruel manner as your mom has treated you I think your obligations are to yourself and your husband and not to your mother.
She seems to have a life. I'd let her live it. Without you.
I wish my mom didn't live right behind me. I am an only child, also. At least you have distance between you.
Your husband comes first. And as I type that, I realize that I have to say something the next time my mom says something about him. She doesn't like him because he stands up to her. Same with my daughter. And she talks negatively about them all of the time. It's up to me to stop this. So I understand the position you are in.
Sharon
Sell the house, move across country, get unlisted phone numbers and block her phone number. This nonsense has to stop.
At this point, you've lost your sense of boundaries and what is normal behavior. Your mom's comments aren't acceptable and shouldn't be tolerated. Warn her, then take action. If she can't stop her attacks, quit seeing her and let her live her life. Your first priority is yourself and your husband, NOT your mother.
Anyway, you said she is healthy and has retirement savings. Has she got Long Term Health Care and a good Medicare Supplement policy? If so, this is good. It's less likely that someone will call you in the future and say you "must" take her in and take care of her. Do you have a Regular POA and Medical POA for her? Those documents can be helpful. Even if you are not POA, if you know who is and trust them, then you can direct some calls and concerns to them without having to go do this at your mom's house. Mine would call (I live in another state) and say she had to "talk about business" but it was usually a ruse to get me into conversation -- most of it her "rant" for the day. She would create situations to get me to go there to "fix" things -- and then she had me trapped and at her biddng. Don't do this -- don't fall for it. The 'net has helped with a lot to do some things long distance. You do not need to go to her just to get hurt. Let folks who know you both how hurtful this is. I used to go thinking that family members, friends, aquaintences all were expecting this of me. Not always so, only in her mind! They did not think that I was a horrible human being for not being there all the time. It took decades to finally understand this. I wish I had not wasted so much time. Set boundaries and stick to them and if 4 visits a year isn't working under this current situation, then scale back to less. Some of us have just tried too much and all for naught. Your family, your finances, etc, are YOUR business. If you have an obligation to her for something, then make a one-time reparation and walk away. Don't be tricked by her words. HUGS.
You can be too!
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