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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not accept "gifts" from mum anymore

6 replies

eelieza · 03/12/2022 13:19

As a child, whenever she would give me a gift, for christmas, a birthday, whathever, later on she would tell me to do things for her and if I refused she would say something like "I bought you that toy" and if I still refused she would then threaten to remove the things she has bought me over the years/destroy them/give them to other kids. She followed through. They were really jobs that she should have been doing as the parent. No I wasnt doing her taxes. When I was older, she gave me a ridiculously tiny amount each week to feed/clothe myself it was also to cover anything I needed/wanted and I was meant to be greatful for any small treats she gave me. She would not pay for things I needed if I had recieved even a small amount of money, she would tell me to use that until it was gone. Then at an unreasonable age she made me pay for most and then all my food/needs/wants out of my tiny wage. Even years later she has been reminding me of the things she has bought me as a child to get me to do things for her now and started keeping reciepts/order confirmations for everything to tot up her spends and even requested the money for it all back on numerous occasions when we have fallen out.
I havent been paying for anything back and know I dont owe her but I am sick of her hanging it over my head.
I am really disgusted by her and dont understand why shes always been like this.
There are numerous other questionable things she still says/does to me. shes fine to my DD, so i havent gone no contact and want them to have a relationship.
If i decline a gift from mum she will not care and tell me to suit myself or if she is insistent I know she has already thought of something she wants me to do for her.
Christmas is coming up and she is doing something "big" so I dread to think what she expects from me now.

OP posts:
IDontWantToBeAPie · 04/12/2022 15:09

Sorry OP that sounds very emotionally abusive.

You have a number of options.

  1. Cut her off. She doesn't deserve your attention and kids don't need a grandparent.
  1. Refuse any and all gifts and refuse to engage in her manipulation.
  1. Do it back. Buy her random gifts and when she's annoying remind her of them. Her own medicine so to speak.

I believe you're trapped in a FOG triangle. Please search it up. You also may be suffering from the wound of betrayal or abandonment. Maybe search this up as well.

I hope you manage to free yourself from her treatment.

ilovechocolate07 · 04/12/2022 19:24

I really feel for you. This is not ok, it might be a learned behaviour she gained through not having her needs met but instead of raising you better she hasn't been able to. It's not your fault and you don't need to feel guilty even though you will. I've been looking into parenting your inner child. What did you need as a child (that wasn't met) and how can you give that to yourself now? I wouldn't cut off completely but I would distance. I've felt pain from childhood in a different way and one thing that has helped is distance even though the guilt felt hard at first. I love my family but being an empath I was pulled into a negative cycle and was exhausted. Not sure when/if I'll heal but I'm doing better each day.

Moonshine74 · 04/12/2022 19:33

I'm sorry you are experiencing this and like PP has said it is emotionally abusive & when you were younger sounds incredibly financially abusive too. Is she manipulative in other ways? I understand you say she is ok with you DD but is that really an excuse to maintain such a damaging relationship with her?

sue20 · 29/12/2022 10:02

I thought I knew where I was with this until “when I was older she gave me a tiny amount to feed/clothe myself. Huh? How old? From there on it sounds completely confused. Except where you reveal you are old enough to have a DD then I’m amazed. By this age presents although to be expected between mother and daughter can be casual or non existent. Tasks done by you for mother well that’s completely separate and down to your judgement and willingness. Not connected. So if you decide to say no to her presents it’s a different matter how much you help her. Emotionally I would just say no presents for me this year thanks. But be careful she doesn’t start up the same weird twisted stuff with grandchild

Poppyblush · 29/12/2022 10:11

What did she get you for Christmas OP?

user1262085 · 29/12/2022 10:15

My mother is like this. My sibling and I have refused "gifts" of money as we'd be beholden to her (if that's the right word!). Being manipulated this way is horrible because you feel guilty about refusing a present or put upon if you don't. That's your choice, the former sounds better to me.

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