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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

caring for my sick mum

7 replies

amber763 · 29/07/2019 21:07

I'm really prepared to hear that I'm being unreasonable just now but I don't feel like I am and my mental health is taking a bit of a battering. I'll try and not leave out any details (unless outing) and appreciate anyone who takes time to read this.
My mum was taken into the hospital about 2 months ago as an emergency in a huge amount of pain and was let home around 6 weeks ago while she waits for further tests to take place. She's been for a couple of these now with the final one in a weeks time then they'll try and work out what they can do for her. This has been a really horrible time for her and she's been in a lot of pain and my sister and I have taking turns staying half the week at her house as she doesn't like to be alone at nights while she feels like this which is fair enough. It's really tiring obviously working full time and then not going home to your own house then caring duties but its what has to be done and that's fine.
My sister is a school teacher with no dp or kids and is currently off work for the summer. She also lives close to my mum and drives. I dont drive, live a bit further away, no kids but dp. I also suffer from a bit of anxiety and have a hard time going to restaurants and bars (this is relevant) although it's always been dismissed by my family as me just not wanting to go on planned occasions to these places (even though I dont go with friends either).
Anyway my extended family had arranged ages ago to come from overseas this week. My mum told them she was unwell and couldn't leave the house but they were unable to cancel and came anyway. I don't have a close relationship with them. When I rang my mum from work today to arrange to go up and take over from my sister tonight, she had had a bad night and was upset. My sister had cancelled plans she had with the visiting family to be there for my mum incase she needed to go back to hospital or a doctor. My mum then got extremely upset with me because since my sister cancelled on them today, she wanted me to meet them this weekend. I told her that this doesnt work for me unfortunately. This is currently the only time i get with my dp. I was then promptly told to fuck off and told I dont care about her. I let her cool off then rang her a bit later, explained that I don't mind doing anything she needs FOR HER but I wasn't free to do that this weekend and I couldn't have her cursing and swearing at me so please keep a civil tongue. This made things worse and I was told my partner was more important than her, she needed me to do this to take the pressure off her and I couldn't even do this for her.

I don't want to sound martyrish and a LOT of people care for their parents and it's not even been that long but I'm already feeling a lot of pressure from it. It's quite hard to stay away from home every week as well as dealing with my mum being ill and working full time. It's obviously way worse for her and I realise this but I dont know how best to deal.
I've came to my own house this evening to avoid any further fights with her as I really dont want to upset her more than I have and I've been really teary about the whole thing but I dont know whats best to do. Do I just do as she asks, for now, to avoid her being upset even though I know it'll be a struggle for me (and i really don't want to) or should I stick to my guns on this one? Am I a terrible person for not doing this for her? It sounds so stupid but its obviously really important to her but I don't appreciate being emotionally blackmailed which is what it feels like. Should I call her again tonight or just send a message to say I'm at my own house? I can't talk to my sister about it - shes always 100% on my mother's side and hasn't been great with communication about anything anyway.

OP posts:
Kko1986 · 29/07/2019 21:38

Who was set to be with you mum at the weekend?

No matter how much pain someone is in they have no right to swear at you. Who is with her now?

amber763 · 29/07/2019 21:42

My sister does weekends which I spend with my dp and I am with her Mon to Thurs - though not this evening as I've came home. I'm assuming my sister is there now but she wont pick the phone up.

I don't think the upset today was due to pain, it was due to the fact she cant "host" the family how she usually does/would like.

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 29/07/2019 21:52

So are you nursing your Mum with her confined to bed, or are you just keeping her company?

She really doesn't have any right to order you to see to the guests, and she certainly shouldn't be shouting and swearing at you.

You are already putting your own life on hold, I hope she's grateful? What does your partner make of it all?

amber763 · 29/07/2019 22:07

Depends on what kind of day she's had. She's housebound all the time and we've got a cleaner to go in to do the housework once a week for her. Some days she sits downstairs and can potter about and some days she's confined to bed on morphine for pain. If she's grateful I don't know but she certainly doesn't say she is. I don't expect her to be really and don't expect thanks - I want to help her and do anything I can but I feel like I need to keep a bit of my own life too. My partner thinks they're being really unfair and that perhaps my mum's mental health is being impacted a little by the situation. I'm worried this may become a long term thing and that I won't be able to cope and I have a lot of guilt about that.
I forgot to add - I don't know if its relevant but my aunt (dad's sister) has offered to come up for a week to stay with her to give us a break but she declined..
I feel like it sounds so daft - all of it and that it sounds like im just upset about the shouting and how she spoke to me. It's more than that - I'm just struggle putting it all into words I think.

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 29/07/2019 22:29

I was going to mention how you saw the future panning out, though you will know better when she has a diagnosis and a treatment plan.

You will need to look into a care plan for her with the SS, find out about nursing homes etc.

Although she' sick, she still wants to be in control of your life, eg her turning away the help offered by the aunt. That was a pretty selfish action on her part, not much thought for you or your sister.
What will happen when your sister returns to work? If sister is always on your Mum's side, watch out they don't cook things up between them so it all falls onto you!

Kko1986 · 29/07/2019 22:42

Hey your health comes first remember that if you are struggling how are you meant to help her.
Your mum needs to accept that you work and you won't be spoken to like that.

MereDintofPandiculation · 29/07/2019 23:11

You might want to come over to the elderly parents board - the whole thing of balancing your own life with parents' needs/wants is something we talk about quite a lot.

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