My Dad has form for being narcissistic, he likes to click his fingers and expect that people will fall into line. I grew up trying to please him and it’s taken me a few years of therapy to finally realise now in my 40’s the pressures that were put on me to as a kid keep him happy; I made his priorities my priorities, and even went into a career that he loves.
The last few years unpicking all of this has been painful, but now I’ve realised it, I’ve ditched that career, and DH and I decided to move our young family 150 miles away from where I grew up to a beautiful new area, in large part to be away from my family pressures.
We’ve been back to visit my Dad and enabling Mum twice in 6 months, for a few days each time. (Mum’s life revolves around looking after Dad and keeping him happy, because he bullies and criticises her. Her favourite saying is “everything I do is wrong”.)
Most recently we made a surprise visit 2 weeks ago for Dad’s birthday.
Every time we speak on the phone they say they want to come and visit us at our new town. I don’t want them to, as I am still figuring things out here; we’re in the process of buying a house which is proving really stressful. Our kids are in new schools, and we’re trying to make friends.
They say they’ll stay in a hotel but just want to see us.
But It feels like my parents represent my old life and the pressure I felt as a kid, and I am not ready to have them visit yet. I have explicitly said to them, ‘yes it will be nice when you visit…I will let you know when we’re ready.’
Now Dad has rung me several times this week and told me they randomly are coming to an event 1 mile from us this weekend! It’s a 3 hour drive, so not a casual visit. He said “we’d love to see you if you can”.
I know this sounds unreasonable but I want to scream LEAVE ME ALONE.
My DH suggested we tell them we’re away and can’t see them. He has been witness to a lot of the pressure on me over the years and has been instrumental in helping me feel less guilty about it. He can see the manipulations.
I just feel SO bad. I know my other friends would love their parents to visit them like this. I know they won’t be around forever.
I guess I just needed to vent. Does anyone else have a narc parent and enabling parent like mine?
What do I do! Gah. I hate being unkind. They are old. I keep ignoring their calls as I can’t say what I really think. But I wish they would back off.