I was adopted from a very chaotic family when I was two and adopted by a lovely couple. My birth mum has dipped in and out of my life for the last 20 years. The pain when she drifts off is unbearable so around six months ago following the death of my adopted parents I decided I couldn’t cope with it anymore and decided I couldn’t let her be in my life anymore. Just had a big birthday and a card has arrived. Every year it has the same I am always here for you thinking of you etc in, which I am sure she does in her own way but I have learnt it’s only words. She has her own demons and I understand that but after losing my mum and dad I feel vulnerable and just so tired of the emotional roller coaster. She’s never really been interested in my children but I have always kept them away from her as she is so unreliable I don’t want them to get attached to her and not understand when she goes again.
My question is what should i do with my 40th birthday card. I haven’t opened it. We moved a while ago but she sent it to my old address. I don’t know if this reads as harsh but every single time I have let my guard down and started to trust her she has let me down and the pain this causes brought me to my knees emotionally last time when I decided enough is enough. I just want her to love me and act like someone who does but I realised this will never happen and no matter how much this hurts it seems the least painful option. Although this hurts like hell. What would you do? Should I return the card?