I just lost my sh!t with my 12-year-old. TBH I know I shouldn't have really done it, but it just happened.
The history is as follows. I have been with DH for 28 years. Since the day I met him his family have been PA towards me, belittled me, treated me with indifference, and gone out of their way to pull me down. My MIL is the head of the snake and has regularly told me that I am not part of the family, that it doesn't matter what I do because no one looks at me and I am not important. Also, according to MIL her DD is cleverer and has a better personality than me. If her DD was good-looking she'd no doubt use that as a stick to beat me with.
Since the day I met my DH he has always had this vibe that he is too good for me. In fact a couple of years ago, after 22 years of marriage, he told me that he was thinking of moving on as we had grown apart he was too good for me.
Now at this point in the reading, you are probably thinking that I am some sad old loser who has no education and has let herself go. In fact, it is quite the opposite. In fact, the couple of times in my marriage my DH has "wanted out" a few of his friends (not mine) actually got in contact with me to see if I was alright and told me he was a dickhead because I am lovely.
I used to have a very good level of self-esteem and confidence but it is just on the f*cking floor right now.
So, last night my DS was asking who he looked like. My DH said that he looked like my side of the family. Then DS got in a mood and said he wanted to look like his dad as he was handsome. I know that this is really insignificant and petty but I just lost it. It wasn't even about this comment. I'd just had enough and broke. It is always about my DH's family. If my DC do well at school, it is because they get their intelligence from DH and his family. My DC have a talent and they clearly get it from his side of the family. Well, actually all my siblings have degrees and own their own businesses. I have 5 direct relatives who share the talent and have made a career out of it. DH's family = zero.
No one in the family (DH, DS's, in-laws) ever say anything nice to me. It is just constant criticism.......drip, drip, drip.......and I am treated as the live-in housekeeper.
My own family are very different but live miles away so I don't get to see them very often. They are very positive people who go out of their way to make people feel good about themselves, not tear strips off others. Honestly, I just feel mentally abused. My confidence is just battered. I just feel like leaving and going back to my own family where I am treated like a human being and feel loved and valued.