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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Trying not to cry

198 replies

upsetinlockdwn · 24/11/2020 10:47

NC as don't want this linked to my other posts. This may be long.

I'm stuck in lockdown with my 'D'M and it's becoming unbearable. We both live alone so we decided I stay for a few days because I was struggling with not going out or seeing anyone for months, I assume she was too, although she goes out to work so has more social contact than me. It was supposed to be a few days, then she decided to go on a last minute holiday (I know Hmm ) so I looked after her cats for two weeks, and sorted shit out (food deliveries etc) while she was in quarantine afterwards, and then within a few days we'd gone into Lockdown 2.0.

She's bossy and controlling, but generally I can 'manage' her for an easy life. Mostly this means waiting on her hand and foot which is a double edged sword. If I don't, she huffs and strops about doing anything and calls me lazy and causes a row, and if I do, I make a rod for my own back and she expects it. She sits in her room all day like a queen, all meals cooked, drinks made, I've even ordered and paid for all the food and she's just told me what she wanted.

Anyway I work long hours from home, and have a tight deadline to meet tomorrow. She's gone out to work and said can you do 'x y and z' today, which are not small jobs - think hoovering and dusting the whole house rather than washing up iyswim (she's having a bit of work/DIY done so there's a lot of mess/dust/displaced clutter that needs sorting). I said I'd see what I could get to, but reminded her of my deadline which had to be priority. She started to lose her temper, shout over me, belittle me and call me names. I'm so used to this I clam up and now when I recall the exchange, I've blocked out a lot of details Sad but she wanted me to spend most of the day doing what she wanted rather than working. I reminded her that if I had to go out to work then it would just have to wait (it's already waited weeks and weeks, what is one more day!), and she has this habit of just shouting over me with insults or even just 'lalala' when I reply with anything other than 'yes' to her demands Sad

I have my own place, but she lives rural and I don't drive. I don't even know if buses are running (they're sporadic even pre covid) and I don't want to get on a bus anyway.

I'm just sitting here trying not to cry because she's made me feel as small and insignificant as she did every day of my childhood. I hate that feeling of being stuck and forced to bend to her whims rather than my needs.

She's also spiteful in that she needed an expensive item, so I offered to put it on my 0% credit card and her pay me back, and even researched and ordered a fantastic black friday deal for her. It's arrived and she's ignored it for days. I suspected she felt she was somehow relinquishing control by 'having' to be grateful to me for sorting it, so I've ignored it. But now she's said, 'make sure you send that back, I don't want it'. I know she's cutting her nose off to spite her face just to be nasty and make me feel not good enough but it still really hurt. To be clear, it's exactly the item she wants and I got it far cheaper than she can get elsewhere.

Even when lockdown is over we're likely to be tier 3 so when I do go home I'll be back lonely and isolated again. I just hate that I'm in my late 20s and that I can still be reduced to tears by her tantrums and demands. I feel so trapped and frustrated.

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 24/11/2020 11:24

You are in a typical abusive relationship. You must prioritise your work, you don't want to lose your job!
There are likely to be very few people on the bus. Wear a mask, take alcohol gel with you and clean your hands when you get on and off.
A daily walk in the fresh air will help a lot. We are nearly at the end of this lockdown, things are looking hopeful.
Flowers

CarinaMarina · 24/11/2020 11:25

That's just abuse mate. Meet your work deadline today, pack up your stuff, book an Uber or a taxi, take the Amazon parcel and get back home.

Good Lord, being alone is better than being her emotional punchbag and doormat, fuck that. I know it's easy for us to say, sat out here not listening to her vitriolic diatribes, but you are worth so much more. Write her a letter if you must but you need to go, she is pulling you to pieces and it just isn't on.

Windinmyhair · 24/11/2020 11:27

Return the item.
Go home. Now, Today, if you can get home and still get your work done.
It will avoid the inevitable row when you get back.

or do your work, explain to your mum that you can't put up with this any more, and leave.

DON'T let her do this to you.

ThatsMeChickenArm · 24/11/2020 11:27

Catching covid from a bus might be better than this. Only half kidding. Toxicity from parents is the worst sort. Walk home if you have to. Get out by whatever means.

It might be wise to see this as a turning point. Reduce contact to a large degree.

Sparklesocks · 24/11/2020 11:27

Being alone has to be better than this. You’re essentially her live in skivvy at the moment rather than her daughter. I promise getting on a bus will be far less painful than putting up with this.

Labobo · 24/11/2020 11:29

You must go home. Call an Uber and go. You don't need to explain to her. You are being systematically bullied. My dad does this to my sister and it makes my blood boil because although she is a strong woman with a demanding job and a family, she takes it.

Do not live with anyone who bullies you. You are not a servant. You are not an emotional punchbag and you are not the bankroll for someone more financially stable than you.

Please go home today and sort out your deadline then if you can, take a bit of time off to recuperate from the bullying. Take good care of yourself.

CarinaMarina · 24/11/2020 11:29

I've had Covid, it's brutal even if you're middle aged and portly with no other conditions, but at least it's temporary (for most) and a million times preferable to being abused for weeks on end Flowers

MintyChops · 24/11/2020 11:31

Taxi home OP, anything would be better than staying.

oatmilk4breakfast · 24/11/2020 11:31

Honestly hun, you sound so down. Ignore any voices in your mind that tell you 'what if she does this / that...?' just don't be there when she gets back. I've had to stand up to lots of bullies in my life. Once you've done it once it gets easier and they actually start to treat you differently because you've shown you won't let them get away with bullying. Please go home. There are lots of antidotes to loneliness. Being emotionally abused is not one of them.

cologne4711 · 24/11/2020 11:31

Go home. Even if you get a bus or train the chances of catching covid are very small.

And even in tier three, you can meet people outside, for for a swim and exercise outside in small groups.

goldenharvest · 24/11/2020 11:32

Go home for goodness sake. Youre not handcuffed to her. Transport is still running.

BigCityLife · 24/11/2020 11:33

So sorry OP.

Pack your bag right now. Leave right now. Don't go back.

It's very difficult having an abusive parent. You feel attached and no matter how much they hurt you you always end up going back because you love them. And you want them to love you. You can't change them or their attitude to you. All you can do is look after and love yourself. It's extremely painful though.

Go home OP. The bus will be OK. Wear a mask and wash your hands. Sit away from everyone. Open a window.

I really am sorry you are going through this.

Pack up your stuff. Get on the bus/taxi.
Go home and finish your project for work. Have a bath. Watch some shite tele. Eat a nice meal. Hug yourself. Tell yourself once an hour that you are a beautiful, kind person and you are worth something. Take a walk in the fresh air. Knock on a friends door and have a chat. Chat to anyone really. Chat on the phone or zoom. Chat on here. You can get through this. But you must leave.

Your mum deserves to come home and find you gone. And you deserve some love. X

KaptainKaveman · 24/11/2020 11:34

Please just leave, OP. She is absolutely toxic and abusive; you have devoted yourself to her care and she's treated you like an animal. You are a nice person and deserve far better. You owe it to yourself Flowers

Gumbo · 24/11/2020 11:36

Firstly - it's fine to cry! Have a good raging cry, let it all out... then pack up and leave.

Like all the PP's have said, being back alone is FAR better for your mental health than this. It's not you, it's her - and always will be. Please don't put yourself through this - go home, enjoy the luxury of not having to do as you're told... go and wallow in a bubble bath tonight with a glass of wine and think about what you want to do with your life.

Your mother won't change. Ever. You, however, are not like her Smile. You have choices about what to do with your life - none of which need to include or involve her. Please go - today!

and take any expensive groceries that she's made you buy with you

Beamur · 24/11/2020 11:37

Go home!
Check with the bus company. Buses are pretty safe, they have seats blocked out so people can't sit too close to you. Put a mask on and get your life back.

AlwaysCheddar · 24/11/2020 11:40

Send the present back. Go home. She’s a cow.

Chrissiemcghee · 24/11/2020 11:41

Hold on - she's going lalalalala when you talk? That is absolutely ridiculous immature behaviour. You say you don't want to be lonely at home, but you can be lonely in a crowded room and trying to rub along with someone so hateful and spiteful is the loneliest thing in the world. She's manipulating you. Go home, breathe out and do your own thing. Let Lady Muck find another mug to do her bidding. You don't need that.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 24/11/2020 11:44

@Windinmyhair

Return the item. Go home. Now, Today, if you can get home and still get your work done. It will avoid the inevitable row when you get back.

or do your work, explain to your mum that you can't put up with this any more, and leave.

DON'T let her do this to you.

This.

Now.

If you are lonely (and I can understand that) and you like animals, get yourself a small pet such as a cat, house rabbit/guinea pig or bird - it's surorsinghow much company these creatures can offer.

Don't put up with her horrible behaviour - it's abusive and in a few weeks she has destroyed all of the confidence you have built up living alone.

You don't need this.

LITHIUMcomeasUare · 24/11/2020 11:44

She's vile and treats you like dirt.

Go home @upsetinlockdwn - please look after yourself

00100001 · 24/11/2020 11:45

another vote for just go home!

KarmaStar · 24/11/2020 11:45

Go home,by whatever means you can get there.
You don't need to listen to get being nasty.
Pack up and go home and relish the peace.
Go pack now.Flowers

Ihavepatrick · 24/11/2020 11:48

Take the item, go home, return it and avoid her for your mental health. Put yourself first!

Cheeseandwin5 · 24/11/2020 11:49

I am really sorry for your difficult.
I think moving out may cause other problems, even if it does resolve the present ones.
Could you may move home for a few nights a week , to allow you both to get some time and space. Maybe use work/home/squatters/etc as a reason.

whenyouup · 24/11/2020 11:49

If you don't break away from this now, you'll be crying and feeling like a small child into your old age. It is very hard, especially in isolated times like this, but from experience, any loneliness is better than being controlled and belittled by the person who is supposed to love you more than anyone in the world. You did not cause this, you cannot change it. But you can take yourself out of the situation. You'll be left with the guilt she instilled in you, but you can learn how to manage that feeling. Because that is all it is, a feeling, designed to keep you in line.

HazelBite · 24/11/2020 11:50

Op you must leave, basically she is horrible. It makes my blood boil how some people behave towards their nearest and dearest.
Give up hope that she will ever change because she won't.
Find a localish taxi firm and negotiate a fare, they are quiet at the moment and will be glad of the work.
Just realise there are others out there who will value you, join a voluntary phone line to talk to others who are living alone and appreciate contact.
Good luck Flowers