My mom is not elderly - so maybe I'm in the wrong thread. She's only in her mid50's. But I really need advice and I'd be grateful for any suggestions on what to do. My dad left when I was 5 and mom spent much of the time since then either jumping from bad relationship to bad relationship (two of which were very abusive) or going through spells of loneliness and depression. This was hard for me growing up, as you can imagine but I now live a happy adult life with a loving partner and we are currently trying for a baby. I moved to a town 4 hours drive from my mother when I moved in with my partner a year ago. My mom lives on her own. I try and visit as often as I can, but its hard, especially because I have very little money. Also, she is extremely negative and I can find this draining. I always try to be there for her, answer her calls, and when I can I pay for us to do things together. Since most of her relationships have been disastrous, she has very little trust in people or in anything. She also is overweight and has no self-confidence. On top of it all, she has very little money and is in debt, which adds to everything. This might sound hard to believe but she has no friends at all and despite being well educated, life has taken its toll and her lack of confidence holds her back from looking for a good job. I've done so many things to try to improve her situation over the years, but its hopeless. For example I suggest she joins a club or gets out and meets people but she is very negative and usually throws my suggestions back in my face. She doesn't want to come and visit me and my partner because of the cats (she has several cats) but she phones me constantly complaining about being sad and lonely. I just feel at my wits end. I feel that if she were happy a massive weight would be removed from my shoulders. This has always been the way, and just like when I was younger I sometimes feel resentful of her and ask myself why can't she be happy like other people's mothers seem to be. I've always felt like it was my responsibility but nothing I do is right. I have hinted to her that maybe she should see a counselor or a GP but she says that if she could meet someone she wouldn't feel bad any more. But she hasn't had a relationship in over ten years. She won't try internet dating.
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Elderly parents
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Clw1991 ·
29/11/2023 22:30
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