It stinks to feel this level of resentment for your own parent!!

Hi Oldmovies - I haven't checked this thread in a while. My heart is heavy for you. It is such a difficult situation. I also ask myself why certain people are the way that they are. I'm very analytical that way. I must know why certain people are so mean, why others are so rude, and why certain others are so negative and needy. In my mother's case, I think a LOT has to do with her childhood and growing up feeling unloved by her mom. My mother is very afraid and I think feels inferior so she must tear other people down to feel better. She is very sad so she must surround herself in negativity and depressing news to feel comforted in a sense, I guess. It's hard to understand when you don't think like they do. As far as your sibling situation goes, I believe your mom is trying to win over the Golden Child, who you say hasn't given as much of himself as you have. She seems to take you for granted, but you will never have regrets, so keep strong if you can. My uncle who passed away 5 or 6 years ago left his home to one son and nothing to the other son. You know what happened? He created enemies. The brothers don't speak anymore. Very sad, isn't it? What a sad legacy to leave behind, and we have a small family to begin with. You are dealing with so much right now - keep telling yourself that the situation is temporary, for nothing is forever. That's what I try to tell myself. I also try to think of situations where life could be MUCH MUCH worse, like having to deal with a sick child, etc. I guess it's a coping mechanism. You aren't alone. There are many caregivers out there - I hope we are earning our wings down here on Earth. Praying helps lots too! I can relate to so much of what you've said. I'm glad you came across my post and were able to share your story. It does sound a lot like my mom but even more like my aunt, who has never had any friends. She claims that she doesn't need anyone except for her family. I do think it's an inferiority sort of complex. I also think people little idiosyncrosies (sp?) get a lot worse as they age. I often wonder what I'll be like if I'm lucky enough to reach that kind of age!

Energy Vampire
I have never posted to any site anywhere but I was so struck by your post, I joined and want to comment. If someone has not lived through what you have experienced, they just cannot understand. I do. My mother long ago started isolating herself from the world. She never was too fond of socializing and going out to begin with but when I was a child, she did have at least have other relationships other than with my father, her kids, etc. She always kept them at somewhat of a distance and while I did not realize it then, "it" was far from what was normal that I observed with other mothers and families. She was very involved with school activities and things like that, and even worked at a few different jobs and had work/acquaintance relationships with them -- but still not what most would call "close friends". The other factor was there was always something wrong with everyone. I was well into my late 30s before I really realized this - most of her sibling's in-laws, she didn't like the wives so she had minimal contact. In summary, there was always something wrong with almost everyone in her life. Either they stopped talking to her or coming around, or she just cut them off. As I grew older, this came to include everybody else that had been in her life, and I mean everybody. The only people that she wanted contact with was me, my 2 brothers, and her grandchildren (who are still just teens or preteens). Period. For well over 10 years, the only "friends" she had were cashiers at the supermarket to say hello to. This all leads to a VERY lonely place in life. Right now, I can think of at least 10 others that would be visiting her in a nursing home (where she is now) at least a few times a week -- but they won't -- because she long ago cut them off, or to use one of their terms "snapped them up" -- she is very critical, very easily offended, very suspicious, and often reads way more into every comment or situation than was ever meant. She does not see herself this way, and I used to think it was me -- but it was not. What this all has meant for me, and my husband and family -- is decades of if I didn't call her nightly for very long calls or multiple times a day - if not at work or on weekends, that she said I didn't "care" enough. The burden for honoring and remembering her fell 100 percent at my door as my brothers did very little in this area (if anything) and one lives out of state. We (my husband) were the ones that had to DO everything and I mean everything. Whether it was preparing 25 plus years of holiday dinners (buy it all, cook it all, clean it all up) - no help whatsoever -- it never occurred to anybody that we might like a meal made for us, or a birthday cake. Yet, if I didn't do it, there would have been no holiday/bday celebration -- and it always seemed easier to just do it --- my husband also helped her maintain her own home etc. etc. after my father died --you name it -- -- we did it. I was often made to feel guilty (I know I know, I let myself feel it...) that I didn't do enough. She often would comment over the years how this person she knew or that person she knew -- how THEIR kids did more -- that look at all she did and sacrificed raising we kids --- and now it is OUR TURN to take care of her. That is her world view --- that we should do MORE for her, and not just since she got much older either. In fact, no matter how much we did, it was never "enough" -- there were numerous holidays she was still sad because the out of town sibling wasn't home. In fact, for the past 25 years, what the out of town sibling did, or did not do, rotated how our holidays were (she was either satisfied or not) -- no matter what we did -- if he didn't remember or honor her --- what we did never compensated. A crumb from him was better than a whole loaf from us. It was a pretty rotten feeling, still is. We were (are) supposed to fill up all needs in her life, because everyone else is out of her life (by mostly her choice). I have NO CLUE why people do this, if someone does, please let me know. She also always thinks she knows everything and is always right, never wrong. She was very ill for over the last 8 months but refused to go to a doctor, or would make appointments and cancel them --- went to one or two and then never followed up...would even tell us she would not get in an ambulance even if we called one..you can't make someone go and get help if they don't want to.... It became a vicious cycle of calls and pleading for us to come over with her saying "I'm so sick, please help me" but then you'd go, and you'd try to talk some sense into her to go to the doctor (had not done much other than stay in bed for almost 2 months, had not washed hair for just as long...staying in the house with all the curtains drawn and dark etc....) -- then we started getting her groceries, pills, and all outside world errands -- which I tried to avoid for as long as I could -- because at least when she did errands it was a reason for her to go out. She absolutely would not do what was right. She also would not follow doctor directions. Anyway, it got so bad, she finally did go into a hospital and we now know she is loaded with cancer and who knows how long she will live. I literally begged her for months and months before to get help and how this was all caused by something - but you can't tell her a thing. Even a month ago when told to get a biopsy, she refused that, which then delayed any treatment by several more weeks (long story)...once again the decisions SHE makes for herself are often no good for her, but you, or doctors, or anybody, can tell her anything. There is nothing wrong with her mentally. Even now, at age 80, when we go visit, I can be in the room not more than 30 seconds and she is disciplining or criticizing for something I said or did, or whatever -- it has always been this way. She is always right, on all topics, always. It has been exhausting for pretty much my entire adult life watching all this. After my father died 15 years ago, we encouraged her to have her own life and hobbies, part-time job, whatever, to keep living some sort of life. She never did. More and more people dropped away, and it is indeed very sad but I don't think she has been "living" for at least a decade or more - not in the sense in what living really is. I have gotten thousands of phone calls all ending with "it is a -----y life" and "what's the point" and all the rest. If you tell her she should seek treatment for depression or whatever else, she would not hear of it. If I told her to go to the senior center, reach out to this one or that one, all my ideas were shot down. In addition, as she grew older, it would be calls about how sick (just general sickness, not the cancer) she was, or how lonely, or sad, or whatever. When you offer good or sensible solutions to the problem, she turns into a "baby" - saying "why are you yelling at me" and "you're making me sick" -- this escalated to new heights these past few months. The call of "I'm sick" and then you give suggestions to fix, or get treatment, or go in to Doctor, she then responds "why are you yelling at me" and turns the baby routine on. This same cycle repeated for years to some extent, but got much much worse this past year, when she really was very ill. So now, even though we both work full time, her expectation is that we go to the nursing home to see her daily (40 minute commute round trip) - which we pretty much do, and we also do all we can regarding getting her help/treatment and into another facility for what she needs. Our lives right now are either working, taking care of our house/child/pets, or doing nursing home, insurance nightmare, visiting her, or phone calls re: her, bank accts, and the whole ball of wax. If we don't do it, nobody else will. My one brother pays her bills on a joint account, but that is all. Nobody else would be doing all this research on homes, insurance and all the rest. It just would not get done. The other sibling out of town has not volunteered to do a thing.
She is pretty much also leaving everything she owns (in her will, we have read it) -- to just one of her children - long story on that too. No, he is not special needs, he is just like any of us, but that is what she did. That hurts too. Not because of the money, but because it is so painfully obvious that one child must be "taken care of" and not the others. None of that ever mattered, we still cared for her all of her life and now in the end of her life, we do the same thing we always did even though we have known for decades that only one child inherits everything. None of us are rich --we are all working class folks -- as were my parents -- but let me tell you, after what we have done over the course of my entire adulthood -- well it just hurts that is all. In fact, the child she is willing everything to has done the minimum (even now) for her. The children that did the least, ignored her, never visited on holidays, never cooked for her, forgot her birthday or mother's day most the time -- she values them both MUCH more -- I suppose because she always knew we would do for her no matter what -- she never had to "work" to obtain my love, respect, or obligation to her. I just did it because I thought that was what God would want from me you know? Honor thy parents? But she values the other "minimally involved" children way more than me, that is also very obvious.
I guess I now realize that I let it happen, and I should have controlled "it" long ago. I did set many more limits and tried to carve out my own life, but as energy vampire knows, this person is STILL your mother, and you try to keep hoping you can cope, or it will change. My mother had many good qualities too, but her stubbornness, and her refusal to listen to anybody, in the end, has now I think cost her -- her life --- or at least shortened it. It is all a very sad ending.
But my comment is why? Why do people do this? She had many quality people in many areas of her life, all shut out. Except for us. Why?
So while I have not technically been a "caregiver" in that she never lived with us, we live close by, and instead it was numerous requested visits to her house, many many phone calls per night, and on and on it has went. She has expected me to be her emotional "fix" for years and years -- and I have had my own problems! No matter, she always wanted more....Now she expects that any time we aren't at work to be with her in the nursing home, and while I go 1.5 to 2 hours daily, sometimes I can't, or sometimes I just want to do something other than work or go to a very depressing nursing home. On top of this, I have had other issues (sick husband on and off with his own medical problems), problems with unemployment due to layoffs, money, and the list goes on. Life has held almost no joy for many many years. I do keep trying to find some. I do. However, my entire adult life has been forever changed by all of this. Too bad I didn't realize what was going on much sooner....I have often felt that my entire life is spent worrying about everyone else's needs, my husband's, her's, my daughter (who is the least of my worries, a wonderful person!) and on and on it goes. There has always been some other crisis, drama, problem to fix. I too am SO ENVIOUS of when I hear other women and their relationships with their families, or families that all mix together -- that too was never allowed. She never wanted anything to do with any of my in-laws or my husband's family and called them strangers. When I watch how families were in old movies and TV shows, well it is just too bad that is all. Sorry so long, I had a lot to say!

I am glad to have this forum. I can understand the opposing views on this subject. For me personally, I am much in the same situation as 'energyvampire' so I feel her frustration and pain. I came to live with my mother following my father's passing to help her out. Shortly after, she suffered a stroke which resulted in vascular dementia and is rapidly getting worse. She is also insulin dependent and does not drive. So, in short, I became her caregiver. It has been a road of many challenges including my mother's personality changes (in me as well). She is hard to get along with and few people want to spend much time with her. I think the hardest thing for me is how it challenges me as a human being. Many times, I am not happy with what I see. Also, my relationship with other family members has deteriorated---some to the point of not speaking to each other. I find that it is very easy for others to have an opinion about the situation but I will say emphatically that one cannot understand completely until they have lived it. IT IS HARD. And, yes, I do seek outside help.

Energyvampire you just keep feeling how you need to feel. Sure it stinks to feel that level of resentment, but at least you are honest with yourself. I have read some of the negative comments to your post. Ignore them! I have dealt with negative comments on my posts and realize opinions are like aholes every has one. Feel free to express yourself and just embrace the comments that help with your situation and pity those whose comments show them as nothing more than what they are, insensitive and lacking in empathy.

Thanks for your comments. It helps knowing someone out there understands. My dad WANTS to go on like this. He has congestive heart failure, COPD, MD and is a bladder cancer survivor. He has outlived doctors' estimates by 10 years. That's why I am so angry that he is not grateful for the extra time he has been given. He would rather lock himself in the house than spend time with us. (We are his only family.) When he had stomach troubles, he wanted the doctors to order more testing "so they could catch any 'possible cancer' as early as they could." He wants extraordinary measures, if needed. My dad used to isolate himself from my mom and I for hours and pray. There's nothing wrong with prayer, but when you won't participate in your family's life to pray for hours and hours at a time, there is something odd. My mom used to say that my dad really should have been a priest or monk. I understand her words much more now as an adult. My mother gave me a wonderful childhood. I can only imagine how much worse things would have been for me without her. I miss her daily. As silly as it sounds, I sometimes get angry, though, that she left me to contend with this mess. This mess includes the fact that I have to clean up my dad's home so we can sell it. He was a hoarder--never threw away mail, washed out every food container and collected it for future use, etc. He never got rid of my mom's clothing. I have to get his house in decent condition, in addition to taking care of him, my own house, and of, course, my lovely daughter. I have made it clear to him that unless he has a medical emergency, my daughter is my priority.

EnergyVampire, I have received so much help from members on this board. It's been wonderful. When I am stressed out I have gotten wonderful advice. Funny thing is that when I read your post, I had to take a double take. I thought it was one of mine! It so accurately describes what I am going through, sadly, as well. The best advice I can give you is to take time for yourself. If you can get someone to watch your mother, paid (caregiver) or unpaid (church volunteer, neighbor), do it. It may not make the situation better when you return, but it WILL give you a much needed break.

My 22 year old daughter often says that people live longer, but why? My own mother wishes she "was in heaven" with my dad and is constantly unhappy (as am I). I am working on getting even more caregivers to do more hours as I have no one else to help. If that doesn't work, it's assisted living which she will hate. I hope that doesn't happen until she doesn't recognize us as that would be difficult. I look at it like this, if my mom dies prematurely (e.g. from me putting her in assisted living), it would be devastating to me and my kids. But, guess what? There's something even worse than that. If I die prematurely (from all of this stress taking care of her), not only is she up the creek with no paddle (my kids will not be willing to do the 54 hours a week I do), but my kids will have no mother. I choose the lesser of the two evils.

A few points to add--my dad refuses to watch TV (unless it is religious programming or the news). He will not see movies or listen to music. He has no friends. Even when he was in better health, he never bowled, golfed, etc. My husband asked him what he listened to as a teen. My dad said "nothing." My dad lives in a bubble, and expects us to do the same. When my mom was alive, her aunts asked her to go on a trip with them to Vegas. He "forbade"--yes, that was the word he used--her from going. When I was little, he reset the trip odometer on her car weekly. If her numbers were higher from one week to the next, he yelled at her that she was using too much gas. He is a control freak who is trying to control everyone around him. I think his urge to control us gives him the will to live! LOL!

I totally get your feelings! My mother and I were best friends, but, sadly she died more than 12 years ago. I am stuck with my father, who has been a hermit/complainer/crab/general stick-in-the mud all his life. (For example, when my mom was already very ill, she wanted to order an omelet. He refused, yelling that she "should order something cheaper and didn't need a $5 breakfast." Seriously, he did this! He certainly was not/is not poor! He actually refused his dying wife's request for an omelet! My mom joked that even prisoners headed to the chamber got to choose a final meal! That's just one example of who I am dealing with.) My dad is on oxygen 24/7 and had to move in with us last fall. I am his errand person on call at all hours of the day. He has several chronic medical conditions which have gotten worse over the past few years. You think he would be grateful that he has outlived everyone in our family from his generation. (He is 75. My mom, aunt and uncle all died in their 60s.) He is not appreciative. My dad sucks the life out of a room. He told me my 9-year-old daughter should not be allowed to ride her bike in front of our house because "someone will abduct her, and you'll be sorry." I am 42 years old and he told me I should not go to a music concert alone because I "am asking for trouble." (Mind you, the singer is 70 years old and from an oldies group--not exactly Lollapalooza!). My dad injects himself into every conversation and has taken over our lives. We are supposed to go on vacation to see my husband's family, and my dad said he does not want us to go. We invited him, but he does not want to travel. (His doctors have said it is fine for him to go with us.) I feel like I am denying my husband and daughter a life, and I am to the point that I feel I have a millstone around my neck. Even if my dad went to assisted living, he already said he would have a list of errands for me to do and would expect me to get his Arby's, etc, when he wants it! Yikes! I feel so trapped. Yesterday, I just drove home from his errands in tears. My own health is not good. He will probably send me to an early grave, just as he did my mother. My husband feels he can't do anything in his own house without "answering" to my dad. It's like we're 16! Yesterday, my dad was complaining how frustrating it is that he can't drive anymore and that his "life was turned upside down." I told him that 3 other people also had their lives turned upside down, but that he doesn't hear us yapping about it daily. It finally shut him up. I am exhausted. I have tried looking for "the good things," but they are pretty much not there. Sorry to vent, but I just wanted to let the initial author know that there are others out here who understand what you are going through. Some people judge, but they are probably the ones who never had to deal with such difficult personalities. I know that if it had been my mother, I would have a completely different attitude because she was such a nice person. My dad has never been nice. He acts very pious in public, but in reality, is a phony hypocrite the way he treats his family. My thoughts are with you.

Braida, omg, you are NOT going to make me say " I HEARD that, girlfriend."
Yep, you did. You made me say it. :) xo

@Clh777: Did you mean "herd" mentality takes no intelligence? Good comments from Nancy and hillarious from Christina. I like the "sister-swapping" idea too! :))

EnergyVampire, I sympathize with you 100%. Let's work on trying to change things.
How about inquiring about a day care facility? My friend had to fight with her mother and go with her twice; but amazingly, Mom wanted to go back. You might find a facility that will pick her up and drive her home. How about renting Net Flix for her miserable weekends? She can pick her favorite movies or try some new ones. It's not that expensive and may save you from the looney-bin! Also, how about asking her to help you fold the laundry, peel the potatoes etc. Try to engage her in household activities where she won't interfere with the kids or you and hubby. Sending you blessings and love. Hang in there. Corinne

Nancy, you have some good ideas, especially because EV's mother likes to visit with and cook for people. Being out in the country makes it more difficult, but she sounds like just the type lady that thrive in churches and senior events. Of course, she would need a ride, which could be a problem. Taking people everywhere can be very time consuming.

Hey Nancy, oh yea, Mom swapping. Are you watching too much reality tv, Hmmm? Lol. Just kidding:) Not putting down your good idea, enjoying it:D
When my Mother was still talking, walking around, and causing trouble--which she is not anymore--she never got beyond the end of her beautiful nose. Self-centered people are just that and do not respond to anything other than the "me-me" game. But I love the idea of Mom swapping. It would have been great about 50 years ago. And Sister swapping. But that's what fairytales are for:) xoxo

Energyvampire, you're just annoyed is all. Doesn't mean you don't love your mom, or that she loves you, you're just tired of 'it'. Don't we all remember what it was like when summer vacation came around, and the kids whined to us 'mommy, I don't have anything to doooooo'. Oh my gosh, how many of us had bored kids during the summer? Your mom is bored, and needs something to do. Maybe it's time to think outside the box for this. For example, what about a mom swap with someone you know that also has an elder mom or dad that needs some activities? Do you have a church home? Having a church that you are active in is the first place I'd look in to. You might find there are other people out there in your area that are going thru this too. I hate to call it a 'play date', but like when my son couldn't find any friends, I found them for him by befriending the moms. Like I said, outside the box. Who knows? If she's able in mind and body still, what about having her volunteer at your hospital? What person wouldn't feel comfort knowing that you were cuddling a little baby that no one wanted to for whatever reason? Win win to me. You and your hubby do some brainstorming, and maybe you should have mom brainstorm with you. She just can not be happy either. No way. You are all in this together!

Hey Cindy,
Come on out and play with us. All of us have issues and stress. I think you need a hug and some understanding, so I am willing to listen if you want to vent:) xo

Heard mentality requires very little intelligence.

Energyvampire, I just now read this thread....a really good one, and right up my alley, as my Mom sounds very much like yours in her NEEDINESS! And she lives with me and my hub. Unlike your Mom, though, she has dementia, so she's like a little kid in many ways. A sweet little kid, but a pesty little kid. I love her to pieces, but all of that love can seem to vanish in a minute, as she comes looking for me constantly, as well, and expects me to be the source of all her entertainment, just as you describe. I feel smothered. (Notice the word MOTHER hidden in SMOTHER. :) I can't get a break. I liked reading this thread because so many of us are in the same or similar boat. I especially liked Jeanne Gibbs and Christina's answers. Helpful, funny (Christina) and kindly stated. Ch777 is like my sister. All practical advice, and very little empathy. That's what I get from my sis all the time. She lives in a different state, and comes once a year (maybe) to visit Mom. The rest of time I hear practical advice without any understanding and empathy. We're all so different in our approaches to life's little "difficulties", but I would NEVER find your comments and complaints about your Mom to be annoying. And for some reason, I totally understand your perplexing situation about being just plain STUCK with things, in a strange way. I'm also just plain stuck. I can't possibly think of shuffling my Mom off to a Memory Care facility where they lock the doors, and many of the residents wander around babbling nonsense and attempting to escape, not knowing whether they're coming or going. Sad, but so true. Everyone is constantly urging me to just "put your Mom somewhere...she'll be better off, and so will you." Well, I know for sure she wouldn't be better off. She'd be freaked out, panicked, wouldn't be able to take her beloved cat with her, and would probably go downhill in a matter of months, and be one of the blabbering people wandering in the halls, drooling, and attempting to escape. So what good would that do me, because I would be full of all consuming guilt and sadness for a long time. I would hate myself. And right now I love myself. :)) Trust me, I'm not a martyr. I just know I'm doing the right thing in spite of how tough it may be. And I, like you, will make a different choice or decision if down the road things deteriorate to the point where I have no alternative but to place Mom in a facility....and that would be if she didn't know who I was, etc etc.
Energyvampire, I commend you for being the daughter you are. I think you are doing a job worth doing, that you will be proud and happy about in the end. The stress is tremendous, I know all too well. I haven't sought outside counseling, but I have my ways of dealing with it. And am looking for other solutions to allow an escape for a couple of days which is extremely helpful. But Jeanne's suggestion for you to get some counseling to help you through this may be good for you! Meanwhile, many of the other comments were so good...good for me too! Just let many of those "jail" comments go in one ear and out the other, for instance. I hear that stuff all of the time too. When I can't just jump to my Mom's desire to go do something fun, she remarks how she's just stuck in her apartment with nothing to do! Sometimes I go and grab a big load of towels out of the drawers linen closet, and throw them in the wash basket and ask her to please help me by folding them. She likes to help. Or I give her one of those whisk dry mops, and ask her to please mop the hardwood floors. She can unload the dishwasher, and I have her just put all the dishes on the counter, then I put them away. All of those little chores keep her busy for quite some time, and she really likes to help and feel useful. Ok, I've blabbed way too long. That's what I like about this site. Answering or commenting on a post can be a nice way of venting and addressing my own problems. YES! Feels so good to be helpful to someone else (maybe) and helpful to myself at the same time. ;-) Good luck, Energyvampire! I hope you'll post again.

{{{Peace and comfort to all stressed out caregivers.}}}

@clh777: Wow - I'm speechless here. I'm not sure how to respond. if fact, I'm not going to because it will get ugly and I'm not about that. I do have questions for you though: do you really think your response is helpful or hurtful? Are you the kind of person who likes to kick a person when they are down? These are rhetorical of course...I already know the answer.

We all have to "play nice" on this board or there won't be a board. This is the only place some people can vent, share and let it all out so to speak. Not all posts are going to appeal to us and yes, some are frustrating to read or raise the hair on the back of your neck or make you race to get your BP medicine. Those are the ones you must be careful to respond to with your best manners. My gentle father told you can tell somebody off with kind words better than you can by being mean. It really does work.

clh, I wondered why energyvampire's messages seemed to push your buttons. Actually, she feels very much like many of us do. It is usually very difficult to live with parents or have them live with us. You learned that firsthand with your father. I've learned it with my mother. Could it be that you are upset with energyvampire because she is hanging in there? I don't see that as a weakness, and I certainly have not found her messages to be any more complaining than anyone else's on the forum. We vent here -- it is one thing the board is about. If you do not like the complaining in this thread, you do not have to read it.

capn.........HARD ASS,

Your name pretty much says it all for me!

@ clh777,
if someone reaching out for comfort annoys you i think you may be the one with issues. ill bet your bro is ready to change your living arrangements for you too..
im not normally this ornery but i think youve been pretty rude to energyvampire..
you stuck your dad in a home and have convinced yourself that it was an act of selfless heroism. jibberish..

Energy vampire,

Not to be rude or unkind but your complaints of your mother are rehashed over and over which makes you annoying........sorry to sound like a nasty person which many probably think I am by now but I am just saying that if you would actually listen to yourself and all your ranting on and on about how pitiful your mother is and allow a mirror to look at your life you would see that your complaining is rather annoying!

In other words your complaining of your mother is just as annoying as your mother (and the way you describe her)......you to are two peas in a pod.

Like I said before, either learn to love her and her idiosyncratic ways or send her packing somewhere else and move on with your life. If it is just temporary and both of you are moving on to something better and your situation is not ideal for either one of you than obviously both of you will have complaints. But until you do something to remedy the situation you will do nothing but waste time fixated on petty nonsense.


It's similar to having a job that is not ideal. For example, you are not happy at your current job (maybe you have a harassing co-worker who annoys the crap out of you and tattles on you to the supervisor), so obviously you will have complaints but instead of spending all your time moaning about what you do not like, either try to work the situation out with HR and the "annoying" co-worker or look for other prospects and wait till something else opens up. Plead God's grace to deliver you from an unbearable situation and then wait for Him to open some other door.

We all go through times in our lives that are not ideal.......and sometimes we have to wait those times out and yes, we will complain. But if we continue to stay in the same situation and never make the necessary changes, we will never be happy.


Like Jeanne said.........it's a results oriented counsel. Forgive me if I come across as cold or indifferent but some people here know that I could not take care of my dad 24 hours (when he lived with me) because of his chronic health conditions and yes his "neediness" at times. So instead of complaining and being miserable I arranged for him to go into a skilled nursing facility. By doing this, did it mean I cared less for him? Of course not. I think the arrangements I made to make sure his needs are met is demonstrating in action that I do love him and care about him.

So I do understand where you are coming from. Even now as I type this, my situation is less than ideal for what I want because I am living with my brother and his wife and their children (I moved my dad into a facility by my brother so that he could visit as well and I moved back this way too). While looking after my dad from the area where we used to live, I was living in a two bedroom apartment that I loved. I had it decorated just the way I wanted, I had a lovely kitchen which I throughly enjoyed cooking and baking. I had all my stuff and knew where everything was but now I don't have my own kitchen, most of my life is in a storage unit and I don't have my own bathroom or my own fridge and I still can't find my make-up bag (which at my age Lord knows I need). So yes, my life is much less than ideal but this is the way it is and this too shall pass but until then it is hard and yes I may complain at times because I lament what I had but the choices had to be made about my dad's care and eventually I believe and have hope that my life will work out too and I will get my own place as well.

Try to find the one thing about your mother that you DO love. Is there anything that comes to mind? Let us know and then maybe that will inspire you to look differently at your situation.

Energyvampire, you do not sound mean writing this at all. You are among people who understand. And it is fine to come here and vent. You don't always have to be looking for a solution.

If Mom is merely annoying, hey, live with it. My concern is that there is a high stress level in the house, and I think that is not good for your children. I don't think it is always bad for a grandparent to live in the home, and it is good for children to see their parents in a caring role and putting themselves out for someone else. If you could ramp up the benefits and reduce the annoyances, life would be good, right?

Could Gramma teach the kids some Italian? Could she teach them some cooking skills? Knitting? Bocce ball? Would she have less time to dwell on being "unlucky" if she were busier doing something that mattered?

Even though you are NOT incredibly mean, you might benefit from some counseling. Given your mother's life history of being the victim and unlucky and having a husband who apparently enabled her in these beliefs, setting some boundaries and living your own life can't be easy. You deserve all the support you can get.

JessieBelle, she has a few but sadly, they are have full lives - husbands still living, and lots who care for grandkids. I think she's looking for a friend who will take her places like the mall, shopping, etc, just as companionship. She also loves to cook for people and sit down for coffee. I've started bringing her to the local senior center, which is great because she can bring trays and trays of her baked goods there, but the bad part is that it's sort of like a adult day care. Lots and lots of wheelchairs, sickness. Hopefully, it makes it appreciate it her own health.

You sound normal to me, energyvampire. I get the feeling you need to go in the backyard and scream, but then your mother would come out and wonder what the heck you were doing. And you wouldn't be able to tell her because you wouldn't want to hurt her feelings. I wonder if there is any way to dig up a friend or two for your mother.

By the way, I feel incredibly mean writing all of this - I definitely need therapy.

Her new thing is calling me about 6 times a day from downstairs. Drives me nuts. I might have to lay down the law on that one and stop answering the phone. Oh now I"m getting mean...seriously, I could think of a billion things to do if I were free - paint, read, watch movie after movie, cook, organize, clean, work out, scrapbook, etc. Her interests? One only - baking, which none of us wants to eat. I think the Italy plane ticket will be purchased shortly. funny last time she went, she called within 1 week saying she missed home and wanted to come back.

You all make me laugh! My mother plays the victim, the person who always had a tough life and still does to this day. Her motto is "always unlucky" in life. At 80, she still complains about her mom calling her names and treating her like the black sheep. Supposedly, she had to do more chores than her brothers and sisters and was given less love/attention. She most definitely has issues from her youth and I think they have manifested as very poor self esteem, overweight/emotional eating, and very big control issues. Jeanne - could you "kick out" an 80 year old mother, who was nothing more than annoying? I mean, if my marriage was at stake, maybe. I have to admit, I do find that cold-hearted, no offense. If you met her, you'd realize, she's like a big baby. Can't make her own phone calls, can't drive, can't read or write English. Heck, at the store, I have to input her pin number at the ATM!! It's crazy. She just never learned how to get by without a husband or an adult daughter helping her. Kind of gets me mad, but I know that I should just do what I can and pray often. They say God never gives you more than you can handle?? LOL