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Uninvited guest. How do I get rid?!

256 replies

Motherproblem101 · 14/03/2024 18:25

DM 57 lives alone. She's an alcoholic who doesn't leave the house. She's surviving on inheritance but it's almost run out.

She rings me up a lot crying, can't cope, wants to end it, etc. She has asked previously if she could move in.

Yesterday she called and it was worse than ever, the crying, threatening suicide, etc. Said she'd had a fall. So I said I'd pick her up and she could stay for a while.

I warned DH. But wires crossed he thought it was only one night. Not basically indefinitely.

Backstory is that DH doesn't like her. Completely understandable. I don't particularly either. She's rude. Controlling. Has said some awful vile things to me in the past. Still trys to control and tell me what to do. She's extreme right wing and has views that DH and I vehemently disagree with.

But I feel a certain responsibility and obligation toward her despite this. Guilt too I suppose.

DHs DC are due to stay with us this weekend but he's said if she's still here he'll cancel their visit because he doesn't want DM around them.

She can't stay. But now she's here I don't know how to get rid of her. It'll just go back to how it was before, constant suicide threats, crying, having 'falls'.

She says she's too unwell to get a job once her inheritance runs out so she wants to move in and sell her house so she can live off the money.

She's been here one day and she's already started cleaning and rolling her eyes. Moaning about things. Wants constant gratitude and praise for the cleaning she's done.

What do I do?

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Nantescalling · 22/04/2024 18:43

Shinyandnew1 · 14/03/2024 18:28

This.

It’s not fair on your husband to have her to stay indefinitely

This !

GoodHeavens99 · 18/03/2024 14:04

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 14/03/2024 18:49

Harsh but honest, you have two choices: Lose your marriage (because there's no way your DH will tolerate this situation long term and have his kids around an alcoholic. Nobody's kids need that.
I speak as a recovered walking Guilt Trip. Your guilt will push you into making the wrong decisions for you and your family.
Don't do this. Don't prioritise your guilt.
Your mum has had her whole life to sort herself out. You can't fix this. You can give love and support from a healthy distance. Self preservation is vital here, OP.
Get her home. DH's kids are coming for a visit and she has to go home. Hard as it is to say this, you have to try and find the words to tell her and the courage to just do it. Get her home and honestly, don't worry about her reaction. Her bad reaction will be waaaay easier to deal with than her living with you. You can hang up on a bad reaction! You can mute it! You can close a door on it and still be kind to it. But living with you is something you won't have any respite from. It will really kill your spirit.
Growing up with a mother like her would have evaporated your ability to set healthy boundaries. I can't recommend therapy enough. Learn to set boundaries and prioritise yourself, DH, and his children. Protect the life you have and the marriage you've invested him. Don't let your guilt undermine all that you've built up.

Genuinely, that's excellent advice.

DisabledDemon · 17/03/2024 18:26

rubyslippers · 14/03/2024 18:27

She can sell her house and buy herself a smaller and cheaper property

This. And tell her that you'll help her to do it, starting tomorrow (Monday). You cannot have this toxic woman ruining your life.

Catdaddy1978 · 17/03/2024 15:25

Take her back to her house, tell her you want nothing more to do with her until she gets help. Then go non contact. She’s damaging your relationship with your husband and ruining your life. Don’t feel in any way guilty by cutting her off. This is all attention-seeking behaviour by a narcissist.

LookItsMeAgain · 17/03/2024 11:06

If your mother phones you with an ailment (of whatever seriousness) you need to tell her that you're going to phone an ambulance or whatever the next best service is for whatever is ailing her at that moment in time. When you're speaking with the agent on the phone you say that you don't actually know her condition as she doesn't live with you but she is an alcoholic with mental health issues and you can't look after her so you need them to intervene.

Stay strong.

suseeq · 17/03/2024 09:54

If she is threatening suicide I think you should report this to social services. They may feel she needs to be sectioned under the mental health act. However, her behaviour changed so quickly to cleaning and moaning as soon as she got to your house, it sounds more like manipulation. You will have to be strong and refuse to have her at your house under any circumstances. But do contact social services if she tries the suicide threat again. Don't be manipulated by her.

Cnf1 · 17/03/2024 09:46

Tell her that she can stay provided she doesn't drink. You won't have to kick her out, she'll want to go!

ITryHarder · 17/03/2024 03:40

"Mom, I'm sorry, but it's time for you to go home". I wouldn't use the children as an excuse either. Tell her the truth about why you want her to go home. "You come into our home and are rude and try to be controlling. I didn't ask you to clean and would prefer you didn't, and I'm tired of your eye rolling disapproval. We don't share your political opinions and don't care to hear them. We don't appreciate the drinking, and it must stop. You're still a young woman and you do nothing to help yourself. Go home, and if that's the life you want to continue with, you've made your own choices. If not, I'll help you to get in a program somewhere for assistance, but today, I'm taking you home". And do it. And tell yourself you have nothing to feel guilty about except inflicting your mum on your husband. You can't fix someone who doesn't want to be fixed. You could add "Mum, I love you, but I no longer want to hear about your self pity". If you have caller ID, stop answering the phone more than very occasionally. If she's unpleasant, say "Mom, are you ready to help yourself. If not, I don't want to talk about this", and hang up.

changeme4this · 17/03/2024 01:44

nononocontact · 17/03/2024 00:00

Why bother? She doesn’t sound like she has a sense of responsibility towards herself..

I think it’s a heavy weight on MP101. None of us expect as we are growing up, to virtually have to parent our parents… that’s my take on it anyhow 😟

nononocontact · 17/03/2024 00:00

Motherproblem101 · 14/03/2024 18:31

I completely agree.

Neither of us wants her here. I'm just struggling with my sense of responsibility towards her.

Why bother? She doesn’t sound like she has a sense of responsibility towards herself..

cerisepanther73 · 16/03/2024 23:54

@Motherproblem101
Start putting your own needs and your family's needs centre of things going forwards,

If she wants to fuck up her life and create chaos and mayhem then that's up to her in her life,
however no needs to allow that self sabotaging mindset suck you into the emotional gutter by the side of her

It's not being selfish to put your own and family needs in the centre,

It's called self preservation, and i tell you something she has no qualms problem's making sure she manipulates you as often like a spolt brat child who is incredibly needy..

Gloriosaford · 16/03/2024 23:50

Sometimes people are just too far gone & unable to change. I'm not trying to defend this, of course in theory they could but in reality the urges/impulses to carry on with a certain behavior patterns are overwhelming and they fall back into old ways. There might be an outside chance you can help them but the far greater likelihood is they will take you down with them.
Probably the only real hope is specialist help, if there is any, if they will engage.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 16/03/2024 23:42

I’m sorry but she should not be staying with you when your DH’s children come, and he should not have to cancel their visit, that’s very unfair on them and their mother who may have plans.

So you have a deadline, and a reason to take her back to her house. Put on a brave face and tell her she has to go home, and that she cannot move in with you.

Judecb · 16/03/2024 23:25

It sounds like she needs an urgent assessment by a mental health team, who may be able to help the situation. It sounds like she is a danger to herself and shouldn't be living alone. Could you speak to your GP about this?

trainboundfornowhere · 16/03/2024 22:19

I am so sorry you are going through this OP I cannot even begin to imagine what you are going through. My DM had an uncle that she felt responsible for due to the “help” he gave her dad (We live 400 miles away). Uncle moved straight from his mother’s house to his brother’s house after my grandmother walked out leaving DG with the two children. Uncle never learned to cope on his own as someone was always there to pick up the pieces. My DM tried time and again to help him but he refused any help offered. In the end he ended up in an old folks home against his wishes. My DM is only 15 years younger than her uncle but she told him when he reached 65 that if he refused to take any responsibility for himself in any way at all that was where he was going end of. It was incredibly difficult for her to do but in the end she had to put herself first. I would go no contact with your mother for a few weeks before going low contact as she has to hit rock bottom before there is any chance of her changing.

keffie12 · 16/03/2024 21:52

@Motherproblem101 Get support for yourself and your family if they want it too. You can't keep your mom there. You aren't responsible for her. We call it a family illness. At least check this link out

al-anonuk.org.uk/

pineapplesundae · 16/03/2024 21:51

Better take her home before your husband leaves! Find other avenues of help for her.

LookItsMeAgain · 16/03/2024 21:39

My honest advice would be to block her number for about a fortnight or put it on your Do Not Disturb list. She can leave a voicemail if she really wants to but you don't have to dial in and listen to it until you're ready to.

Take your time in getting back in touch with her. You've earned at least that much.

Imy06 · 16/03/2024 21:39

I'm so sorry you are going through this OP 🌺🌸🌺 Dealing with alcoholics is a heartbreaking nightmare.
I was one, having babies saved me and gave me the motivation I needed to kick it in the butt. Although very highly functioning, my Dad was an alcoholic and he just couldn't give it up no matter the damage it caused him physically and emotionally through fractured relationships. My kid's Dad is also an alcoholic and we recently separated and as much as he can be a wonderful person and Dad, he just doesn't want to acknowledge the problem and it's so sad to see. I don't want my kids to go through it with me too, and my motivation is being their reliable, stable parent.
Any 'help' she asks for is really just ways to enable her to keep drinking. I know the guilt is absolutely horrendous, and I really, really feel for you. But you do have to put you and your family first, your Mum is only thinking of herself and being able to drink. It's so sad 😞 You can't help your Mum until she is willing to help herself. But you will be an amazing role model to your children showing them how to hold these boundaries to protect yourself and your family in these ever so difficult circumstances.
Are you able to seek some counselling maybe? I have been very lucky to find a counsellor who is a recovered alcoholic and he has been amazing at helping me process everything. I really struggle with the guilt, and it's been invaluable to have that support.
Sending you big hugs OP, it's such a tough situation and I wish you all the best as you navigate through it 🌺🌸🌺

mylifestory · 16/03/2024 21:26

Narcissistic personality disorder. Join a fb group on it and read, ot will make u feel much better.
They won't go to the Dr, itd be admitting there's something wrong & narcs are perfect. There's probably nothing wrong anyway. It's all to get u to do wot she wants. Everything is control, to get a reaction, they have to be the centre of everything.
My mum is the same.
Any contact you have from now on don't reply unless u have to.
If she says she's had a fall tell her ull deal with it, put the phone down, call an ambulance and send it to her. She won't do it again. Bt she will move onto another tactic.
Post this on daughters of narcissistic mothers on fb, the replies will amaze u.
Remember, it's not just u, narcs all do exactly the same thing.
U will feel guilty bt look after yrself or she will destroy u and not care.

changeme4this · 16/03/2024 21:25

If your mum has access to Facebook there’s a on line dry April course coming up and the group remains private, so any discussion she enters isn’t popping up in friends comments.

https://sarahrusbatch.com/af-challenge

ive participated in one of Sarah’s courses and the information she provides is excellent. She also has recently printed her first book.

Mum can be free to talk with like minded people in a kind and safe environment. Families can also join in. It’s very educational how alcohol’s hook gets in and why it’s so hard to kick.

Join Sarah Rusbatch's 30-Day Alcohol Free Program — Sarah Rusbatch | Sobriety & Grey Area Drinking Coach, Speaker

Want to explore taking a break from booze? Sarah's infamous Alcohol Free Program is back! Gift yourself the gift of feeling great in this Sober Program.

https://sarahrusbatch.com/af-challenge

Bryonny84 · 16/03/2024 20:32

If your mum still has a home to go to then it's cheerio. Do it or she will ruin your life. People have to take responsibility for their own lives. I'm not saying cut her off but she needs to deal with it. Be there for her but don't give up your own life for your mum.

Tahlbias · 16/03/2024 20:14

You said she was controlling and she still is...

This is classic control at its finest. Send her home and distance yourself ASAP

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