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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say no to my mum living with us?

261 replies

Cowardlytiger · 14/11/2022 09:08

My mum is really struggling at the moment. She has a long history of mental health problems and since my dad died 18 months ago this has all got a lot worse. I’ve done my best to support her (sorting probate, sorting out paying all her bills, speaking to her every day on the phone, finding somewhere for her to live jn supported living close to us) but she says things are still terrible with daily panic attacks and feeling anxious all the time and she hates living alone. But I really, really don’t want her living with us - I have two kids to think about too and, although this sounds very unsympathetic, she is quite hard to deal with (she will cry on the phone to me for an hour or so each day telling me about how awful everything is and how awful my dad was to her etc etc) and I just feel I cannot cope with any more of it - and worry it would not be good for my kids either. But am I just being a selfish cow?

OP posts:
iRun2eatCake · 14/11/2022 12:14

Cowardlytiger · 14/11/2022 10:41

@PinkyU that’s the plan - that she moves to supported living about 10 minutes from us (currently she’s 250 miles away) and we could obviously visit far more often. But she has to come and see it first. My lovely DH has offered to drive her there and back but she’s now saying she doesn’t know if she can manage that.

Time for tough love then.

If she can't manage that, then she'll have to stay where she is.

"Mum - Sorry to hear that you don't feel up to the journey. It's such a shame as you'd have been so much closer to us but that is of course totally your decision to not come. I know there is a waiting list so it will soon be snapped up anyway. "

I think you need to put some boundaries in to safeguard your own MH. Grey rock technique when she starts on about her anxiety .... "go to the GP".... or when she says she doesn't see you or you're not supporting her "you had the opportunity to be closer"....etc etc.

I'd also not speak to her everyday to give yourself some breathing space.

Do you REALLY want her living 10mins away though.....

KettrickenSmiled · 14/11/2022 12:14

Cowardlytiger · 14/11/2022 10:41

@PinkyU that’s the plan - that she moves to supported living about 10 minutes from us (currently she’s 250 miles away) and we could obviously visit far more often. But she has to come and see it first. My lovely DH has offered to drive her there and back but she’s now saying she doesn’t know if she can manage that.

She's stalling because she's still holding out on being able to guilt-trip you into letting her move in. If you allow that, your entire life - & your DH's & DC's lives - will become all about her. You will never hear the end of her problems, because - living with you - she will have no need to address them. She'll expect you to do it for her. While bending your ear all evening as soon as you get home from work.

NotQuiteUsual · 14/11/2022 12:15

I wouldn't dream of letting her move in. High emotional needs is so different from physical needs. Plus it's not fair putting your DC through it.

Slig · 14/11/2022 12:15

Yellowdahlia12 · 14/11/2022 09:26

I expect most people will say don't do it, but if it will help her, and that's what she wants, then I can't see any valid reason to refuse. No, she might never move out, but if you could make her final years happier, then why not?

Final years!!!?? She could have 20 more years! OP will be stuck with her long after her own kids have moved out!

No OP! Just say no!

Barney60 · 14/11/2022 12:18

Hi. 18 months is not long she will be still grieving.
Having walked in your mums shoes i REALLY understand how she feels.
Meds alone are not going to help your mum, and DO NOT move her into yours.
Your mum needs talking therapy and grief counselling. Huge waiting time.
Does your mum use the internet?
If not teach her, theres a web site with over 5,000 probably a lot more now of widows and widowers, its NOT a dating website, it was set up by a lady who lost her own family.
There are numerous parts to it, those that just read other posts, those that just pour their hearts out, those that need advice on finances those that paint, craft, knit, sew, draw, garden that talk and swop tips. Those that simply cant sleep. There are outings, meals theatre trips or simply meet 1 person near you for a coffee and a chat, also holidays ,group meet ups, all on their own who are scared, some sit and cry no one judges all just help, and so so much more.
People from all walks of life aged 55 to end of life, you may never need to meet anyone or can be out every night if wish. All private and vetted before you join, all helping anyone and everyone.
Its called Way up, we call ourselves Wuppers. Its amazing and has been an absolute life saver for thousands upon thousands of people.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 14/11/2022 12:23

Speak to her GP and ask for a social care assessment.

Ask her to look at Cruise or use their phone line for bereavement counselling - agree, 18 months is not long.

Give her a choice, come and visit the place near you or sort out support where she is. Set a timer when she phones, tell her you have half an hour and stop the call after that. Gradually reduce the time you are available to hear, you are not providing more support listening to her for 2 hours than you are listening for 2 minutes because nothing is actually changing, you are just a sounding board.

Have a think about your own boundaries and figure out what they are. You are no good to her if you are manipulated or burned out.

Strap in, it's going to be tough - so get your own support in place.

You sound very caring and she is lucky to have you.

nopuppiesallowed · 14/11/2022 12:25

If your mother comes to live with you and can walk to the nearest shop, she will always get hold of alcohol. She might hide the bottles, but there is no way you can stop her drinking. My lovely father has alcohol addiction so I have some experience of this. It's a horrible illness. However, as my lovely children told me, you can be a daughter or a carer. You can't fulfil both roles. Your mum needs to go into a care home to be cared for so you can act as her daughter and do nice things for and with her.
If your mother feels she can manage the journey to your house, she can manage the journey to the care home, too. My dad has never been manipulative but many alcoholics are. Do watch out for this - and take care of yourself. This is hard. Big hugs.

Slig · 14/11/2022 12:26

Oh OP instead of paying for your mum to get counselling I think maybe the money would be better spent on yourself.

I mean this in all kindness but I don't think you can see how unhealthy this relationship is, and if you live her closer to you it will destroy your family.

Please post in relationships about your mother for advice. It sounds like you're iin FOG and they will be able to support you.

KettrickenSmiled · 14/11/2022 12:27

@Barney60 Flowers

Great post btw - compassionate but no-nonsense.

Whycanineverever · 14/11/2022 12:28

Cowardlytiger · 14/11/2022 09:28

I guess the reason to refuse is because it’s not what I want to do, not what my husband wants and not what the kids want. Is that valid or just selfish? I don’t know.

My sister has several mental health issues. She comments sometimes about selling both properties and buying one to share but it is not happening. I'm not cut out to be a carer and hers are linked with addiction issues so there is no way on earth it's happening.

I don't think anyone should be forced into it. Even carers centre I sometimes get support from say it's a bad idea.

lieselotte · 14/11/2022 12:29

Yellowdahlia12 · 14/11/2022 09:26

I expect most people will say don't do it, but if it will help her, and that's what she wants, then I can't see any valid reason to refuse. No, she might never move out, but if you could make her final years happier, then why not?

She's in her 70s, not 90s. She could last another twenty years, and the OP has children.

In the past it was quite common to have grandma living in the family home yes but that was when most people died by their 70s and didn't have the complex needs that they have nowadays

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/11/2022 12:32

Do not have your mother live with you under any circumstances. She has issues with addiction.

Her alcoholism is further fueling her anxiety; it is a common feeling when people drink too much. For people are already prone to either depression and anxiety alcohol will exacerbate both. Alcohol also acts as a depressant and it all becomes a vicious circle.

mandolinwind · 14/11/2022 12:36

Yellowdahlia12 · 14/11/2022 09:41

As I thought, most people will put their own wishes first. In the past it was quite common to have grandma living in the family home.

In the past, it was quite common for married women with children not to have a full-time job or a part-time job.

If the OP works as well as bringing up a family, having a depressed and anxious mother living in her home will add an additional burden to the support she is already struggling to provide. And what if she were to have a stroke or develop dementia or other long-term debilitating condition? That would make enormous demands on the OP who could become both a companion and carer to her mother overnight.

MosmanP · 14/11/2022 12:37

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Mummyoflittledragon · 14/11/2022 12:37

YANBU at all. You need cast iron boundaries for yourself and your family. I see your mum is stalling. Perhaps she is also struggling with the transition. She has had a lot to cope with even without the various addictions.

Would it help at all for her to come for a couple more days, stays with you first eg at the weekend so that you can talk to her face to face about the situation? If she can see you’re serious about her not moving in, but that there is x alternative instead, perhaps she will be more amenable to the move.

Above all, please protect yourself. She sounds highly manipulative and self-serving. If you allowed her to turn your life upside down, I don’t imagine for one minute she would have a scrap of guilt for doing so.

Mlb123 · 14/11/2022 12:39

You're not remotely selfish not to want to take over looking after your mother when you had your children to look after and are grieving too. She is very demanding now and seems to think that only her grief matters and that having you take all responsibility and help her since your dad died should go on indefinitely but it shouldn't and she needs to regain independence and you can support that by looking into support groups for her xxx

crosstalk · 14/11/2022 12:39

OP has your mum got a carer's allowance? It's not great but might help her with cleaning/other help.

WonderingWanda · 14/11/2022 12:48

Op I don't think this will help her and I'm not sure indulging the 2 hrs a day phone calls are helping either. You are not a therapist and cannot provide that service. All that is happening here is building an unhealthy dependency from your Mum. I am sure you care about her but you sound a bit overwhelmed by her grief and mental health. I think you need to step back a bit. Make the phone calls shorter. Call her first but at a time when you can only spare 30 mins. Arrange to do things with her so she has things to look forward to and support her getting help with her mental health. Do not continue to be her crutch at your own expense though. Sometimes you have to be a bit cruel to be kind.

Mlb123 · 14/11/2022 12:53

Cowardlytiger · 14/11/2022 09:08

My mum is really struggling at the moment. She has a long history of mental health problems and since my dad died 18 months ago this has all got a lot worse. I’ve done my best to support her (sorting probate, sorting out paying all her bills, speaking to her every day on the phone, finding somewhere for her to live jn supported living close to us) but she says things are still terrible with daily panic attacks and feeling anxious all the time and she hates living alone. But I really, really don’t want her living with us - I have two kids to think about too and, although this sounds very unsympathetic, she is quite hard to deal with (she will cry on the phone to me for an hour or so each day telling me about how awful everything is and how awful my dad was to her etc etc) and I just feel I cannot cope with any more of it - and worry it would not be good for my kids either. But am I just being a selfish cow?

I missed where your mother said how awful your dad was to her. How manipulative and mean of her, but you can use this to help stop the crying about how awful it is for her since he died, by pointing out that if he was awful to her then it should be easier for her to come to terms with living without him now.

You could also point out that as he was your father and you loved him then it's terrible for you and your children and also hearing her day such things is making you feel anxious and depressed and this is making it impossible for you to imagine continuing to give so much support to her with everything and that it would not ever work having her living with you because you can't cope with it especially from someone who says your dad was awful to her.

This will likely lead to her at least stopping saying awful things about your dad and will make her think about how she is damaging her relationship with you though it's not likely to worry her in a good way and only bother her that it's harmed her chances of moving in with you and being looked after so she doesnt have to take responsibility for her life xxx

FMHK · 14/11/2022 12:53

The easiest way to make the right choice is to put yourself in her shoes with a sound and calm mind and think of the pros and cons and what you'd want someone to do with you in such a situation without being selfish either side.

MaybeIWillFuckOffThen · 14/11/2022 12:53

Hi OP I had to reply to you at length because I feel for you so much. I have been in a very similar situation.

My mum had profound mental heath problems from a young child. Depression, anxiety, a couple of episodes approximating psychosis when a teen. She also had a terrible hard life - tragic bereavements, difficult relationship with her mum, abusive marriages. When she was approaching 60 it came to a head when her then husband (who she already had a difficult relationship with) had a stroke and then got cancer, she was thrust into a carer role she was totally unable to fulfil, there was mutual abuse, it was awful. Eventually they broke up acrimoniously and he moved out. She didn't cope well with being alone, leaned heavily on booze to cope (always a crutch but then out of control), had money worries. She became paranoid that her ex was poisoning all their friends against her.

I have always been enmeshed with her, but the timing of this crisis was difficult as I had recently had my first child and it caused me huge emotional upheaval as I reviewed my childhood and our parent-child relationship in the light of my own experience of motherhood. So I was dealing with some hurt, resentment and bitterness that was very new to me, whilst also trying to love and support her through this crisis from a long distance away with a small child. It all felt too much.

Then she made the suggestion that she wanted to sell her house and move in with us.

I said no. I felt like I had to, for the good of my child and myself and my relationship. I didn't want her MH and her drinking around my DD long term. So I said no.

She was initially furious and cut all contact with me, but did in the end get back in touch and we resumed our usual relationship - so I thought.

I later found this was around the time she resolved to end her life, which she ultimately did some few months later, the day she moved the last of her ex's things out of her house, and the day her mental health nurse missed a home visit with her without advising her it was cancelled. When I read her messages to friends etc (she specifically didn't leave me a message) she spoke about having been abandoned and let down by everyone, friends, family, everyone.

There are no two ways about it, to some extent the decision I made to say no contributed to her death. And it has taken me a lot of time to learn to live with that. In many ways I am still trying to come to terms with it, and forgive myself.

But - and this is the crux of the matter - I would still make the same choice, if it came down to it.

I would never have been able to 'make her happy' or 'make her better'. These were deep profound problems that had existed long before I did, that had endured a lifetime of me trying to fix them, that were worsening all the time. Having her live with me would have broken down the only boundary i had with her, that of distance - all my other boundaries, all the normal boundaries of a parent and a child had been overridden long before I had any choice in the matter. I would have been pulled under with her, I could not pull her out.

And most of all, I was right to prioritise my child, to put her wellbeing before my mother's. If it had been put to me as a straight choice, even then, to lose my mother or to expose my baby at close quarters to all that dysfunction in her formative years with God knows what effect - well to be fair, I know personally some of the effect - well I don't know. I don't know if I could have made the choice. But if I look at it cold-eyed after the fact, try to ignore the huge love and responsibility I felt and still feel for my mum - the choice I unwittingly made would be the right one. Because my first responsibility is to my children. Has to be.

So that's my story. That's the 'worst case scenario' of you saying no to her, and someone who has been through it telling you, for what it's worth, that I would not judge you for choosing your children. You sound like you're doing and have done so much already for her, stuff a child should never have had to or experience. You have given up your own boundaries, and may not be able to redraw them again as the lines have long since faded away. But you can and you should draw an iron boundary round your kids. You decide where that line is but don't for a second hesitate to draw it and defend it. It's your main job as a mother, and the only way we can avoid rewriting our own histories.

Mlb123 · 14/11/2022 12:54

WonderingWanda · 14/11/2022 12:48

Op I don't think this will help her and I'm not sure indulging the 2 hrs a day phone calls are helping either. You are not a therapist and cannot provide that service. All that is happening here is building an unhealthy dependency from your Mum. I am sure you care about her but you sound a bit overwhelmed by her grief and mental health. I think you need to step back a bit. Make the phone calls shorter. Call her first but at a time when you can only spare 30 mins. Arrange to do things with her so she has things to look forward to and support her getting help with her mental health. Do not continue to be her crutch at your own expense though. Sometimes you have to be a bit cruel to be kind.

Very much this. Said much better than I could get it across xx

BlueHotel · 14/11/2022 12:55

Your mother is a long-standing addict and you need to see her as such. You didn't cause it, you can't cure it and you can't control it. The fact that you love her doesn't change the situation, it just makes it harder for you to resist the manipulation.

Do not under any circumstances have her to live with you. Social Services and Mental Health professionals will just let you get on with it.

She will almost certainly get evicted from the assisted living arrangement They won't be able to lock her in so then you'll have her turning up at your home. You probably won't have the strength to actually physically turn her away and then there'll be pressure on you to take her in. With this in mind, I would drop the idea of moving her. Unfortunately there will have to be a crisis before she gets the help she needs.

You're the one who needs some counselling, wasted on her. Read the Stately Homes threads. Restrict the phone calls as others have suggested. Read up and practise tough love. I know it will be very difficult but you absolutely must prioritise yourself, your husband and children and your marriage.

reesewithoutaspoon · 14/11/2022 12:56

WonderingWanda · 14/11/2022 12:48

Op I don't think this will help her and I'm not sure indulging the 2 hrs a day phone calls are helping either. You are not a therapist and cannot provide that service. All that is happening here is building an unhealthy dependency from your Mum. I am sure you care about her but you sound a bit overwhelmed by her grief and mental health. I think you need to step back a bit. Make the phone calls shorter. Call her first but at a time when you can only spare 30 mins. Arrange to do things with her so she has things to look forward to and support her getting help with her mental health. Do not continue to be her crutch at your own expense though. Sometimes you have to be a bit cruel to be kind.

Absolutely this. 2 hours a day is too much, especially when you have your own job, family and home to deal with. Your mum is using you as an emotional crutch and she will never move on with her life while you are there to sound off too.
You cant keep doing this, you are not a trained therapist and this kind of emotional load is going to damage your own mental health in the long run and isn't helping her to sort out her own issues.

Canthave2manycats · 14/11/2022 12:58

Yellowdahlia12 · 14/11/2022 09:41

As I thought, most people will put their own wishes first. In the past it was quite common to have grandma living in the family home.

Doesn't mean that it was a good idea...