My dear dad passed away 3 years ago and I struggle to manage the relationship with my step mum whose lengthy mental illness controlled how the family did things .eg don't say - whAtever - as it might upset her .
She has always been very self focused - for eg when she travels on trains she books a porter to get her overnight case off on the train for her saying she can't lift it - simply not true .
It is her b day in the summer and she has said to my brother and I - no pressure , but I can't be on my own .
She goes out every day of the week except one so is not isolated , goes on trips all the time , nice hotels .in fact she told the bus trip if they didn't pick her up door to door - when there is a car park - which they told her - and its 5 min drive away .
I do understand that she wants family around and if I actually liked or felt neutral about her of course I wd do it .
However, as I know her to be a self absorbed self centred person I'm struggling to do it and also don't want her to set a precedent !! I find it hard to fake things .have had to do so for my dad many years .
Anyone else have similar issues and do you have any tips to keep the old blood pressure down .!
It's a 5 hr rerun trip - maybe just focus on fact that will see my brother !