My 84 year-old mother is 4 miles from my home in an AL facility that is beyond lovely. She won't make friends, won't interact if she doesn't have to, and views everyone else around her as "old". She is suffering from terminal cancer, but on good days is fairly mobile (walker) and self-sufficient to an extent. She is also very self-involved, and expects to be waited on and entertained...BY ME. She expects me to bring her to "visit" every weekend, even though I visit her and do for her nearly daily (I also work full-time). I do all finances, medical, shopping, laundry, etc., etc. I'm pooped! I want a life too!
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I might try a slight tweak to the wording. "I love you very much, and I regret that I cannot be your sole social outlet. I need to have some space, and I need to have a life of my own, as well as a life as your daughter." That wording makes it clearer that you are not asking for her permission and that this is not negotiable. Making it sound like a request (please give me) may sound "nicer" but it is kinder, I think, to be more direct. I love you, and I also need my own life. This is not an either/or ... it is a both/and situation.
Saying it isn't enough, of course. Do it. Cut back on the number of weekend visits to twice a month or once a month. Maybe add in a Sunday dinner or two, sometimes at your house and sometimes at a restaurant.
Does the AL offer a laundry service? Could any of the tasks you do be hired out? Can you simplify some of the others? Working full time and taking on so many additional tasks for someone else is hard!
What is your mother's prognosis? She has terminal cancer. Obviously no one can know for sure, but do her doctors feel she may have several years ahead of her, or is it more likely to end within the year? I think this might influence your decisions somewhat.
Are there other relatives or close friends who could do some of the daily visiting? Could you gently nudge them in that direction? "Gladys, Mom loves daily visitors but I'm not going to be able to see her next Wednesday. Is there any chance you could stop in and play some cards with her?" Do NOT expect others to jump in and help on their own, but many are happy to once they know what they can do.
Could some of your daily visits be by phone?
Experiment and see whether it works better to have shortened visits daily, or longer visits less often.
You work to support yourself. You work to keep your mother's finances and health in good shape. You work to maintain your own household. If you don't also have a life, what on earth do you and your mother talk about 7 days a week? If you have a life of your own, you will have more interesting things to share with your mother. You can tell her how dumb you feel trying to learn to play bridge and ask her about things she's tried that made her feel dumb. You can give her a blow-by-blow commentary on your gardening efforts, and then show her your garden when she visits a couple times a month. You can tell her about the book you are reading and maybe even offer to share it if she still reads.
You must love your mother very much to sacrifice so much for her. Make sure that she knows how much you love her even as you make changes to also have a life of your own.
Good luck ... and let us know how things progress.
That's when our healing can begin.
I read things about other people's parents that honestly make my dad look like a great deal. And he is a nice person, BUT he is also very self centered, willing to step on my toes and make my marriage hell, and then totally unwilling to listen to me when I try to talk to him. He wasn't around very much when I was growing up (traveling salesman), but he has been very generous in many ways. So, when I would like some space and a few days between phone calls or seeing him, I end up feeling guilty. It's hard for me to remember that my husband and I have always paid him back and we have been and always will be there when he truly needs us. But, we have a life too and because I'm not currently working outside the home, he seems to think I should be available at the drop of a hat. He doesn't appreciate my relationship with my husband because, while he loves my mom and is very good to her, they don't have much in common. He doesn't understand that a married couple might actually like hanging out together alone!
Anyway, I guess I'm trying to say (and complain in the process) that I get why it's so difficult to confront a parent who is not treating you the way you deserve.
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