Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feeling suffocated by mum

233 replies

Moonchild009 · 27/08/2023 21:42

Hi all, hope you’re enjoying the bank holiday weekend.

just a quick vent about how I’ve been feeling about my mum for some time now. I’m 33 years old and have 1 brother, I live and work from home with parents (they’re separated, just cohabiting). I have a boyfriend, we’ve been together 2 years. He also lives at home with his sister (who travels frequently). His parents live abroad, so he is living at home quite comfortably. He is a business owner and is choosing to continue building his business while he has the safety net of his parents home. I would like to have and live in my own place before getting a place with my BF as I would like to learn and gain independence and truly step into my womanhood first (sometimes I feel like living at home has mentally stunted me. Also my mum treats me in quite a child like way).

Anyway my relationship with my mother is very strained at the best of times. She is 67, retired and doesn’t have much going for herself. Her days consist of doing a daily food shop and watching tv. She has friends but doesn’t socialise and family are all abroad. She has a huge expectation of me to fulfill all her needs; shopping, cooking, going out, travelling, errands, you name it and it makes me feel suffocated, but not only that, I have no desire to because of how she makes me feel. Honestly, I don’t think she did a great job of raising me. She never taught me life skills, how to cook, clean, never invested in my emotionally or spoke to me about boys, becoming a young woman, life skills and I can’t completely blame her because she was dealing with my alcoholic father. But she did manage to tell me about how distracted the teachers think I am, which I learnt in therapy is a result of the chaos I was raised in. I think I am white resentful about all of this. We live in a two bedroom house, she shares a bed with my dad which is also suffocating for her so its quite a conundrum. i feel like ever since i got with my boyfriend she has become quite bitter and nasty towards me. she constantly judges, and makes snide remarks about him, me, us. i notice a pattern in her behaviour alot of the time. she will bombard me with messages, if i dont respond, she’ll come to my room to ask about the messages, if i say im busy then shell go back to messaging me but this time saying things like "have you looked for a flat", "theres a property ive seen", almost as if shes throwing her toys out the pram about the fact that i cant speak at that time! then she’ll start attacking me personally, my bf, mentioning the fact that he doesnt have his own place and blah blah blah and honestly im sick of it. I’m in this nasty cycle that she has normalised. Arguing and being kind when she’s over it but I never get over it! It causes me to dislike her and not want to be anywhere near her and she doesn’t seem to understand why I prefer my own company than hers. i spend a lot of my days in solitude in my room. I’ve tried to speak to her about how she makes me feel but she dismisses it and thinks she can buy her way back into my good books. I’ve asked for space, I’ve told her I feel suffocated, don’t like how two faced she is about my bf, and quite frankly I don’t feel respected by her.

what can I do?

OP posts:
Goodbookandcupoftea · 27/08/2023 21:45

Move out?

DustyLee123 · 27/08/2023 21:47

You need to move out, no need to wait for the BF.

Bonbon21 · 27/08/2023 21:48

You need to move out... if you are not ready to live with your boyfriend.. a room in a flatshare... lodging.. anything to get out and start being the adult you should be at 33!!

Kiera220 · 27/08/2023 21:49

Is this a serious post?
Youre 33? Move out and control how and If you want to have a relationship with your Mother

Brightandshining · 27/08/2023 21:52

You really need to just move out. She will cope fine. She's a grown adult and so are you. Stop doing things for her. Rent a room somewhere even if you are just a lodger.. go anywhere just get out of there.

Problesolving · 27/08/2023 21:52

Move out. You’ve been an adult for 15 years. I’m not surprised your relationship hasn’t become an adult to adult relationship as you haven’t flown the nest.

Moonchild009 · 27/08/2023 21:54

Sorry forgot to add that I’m saving for a flat! So moving out isn’t an option for me right now.

OP posts:
ididntthough · 27/08/2023 21:56

Moving out is the only answer though? You must know that.

Caroparo52 · 27/08/2023 21:58

You need to become independent. Get your own place

ChaToilLeam · 27/08/2023 22:02

Move out, do you have money for a rental? Even a room in a shared house would give you more freedom. Get away from this situation as soon as you can.

iminvestednow · 27/08/2023 22:03

Grow into womanhood? You’re a grown woman and nearly middle aged, not a child. You say you do all cooking shopping etc but at the same time have no life skills? Which is true? Get out!!

Moonchild009 · 27/08/2023 22:05

What I meant to say is I learnt those skills myself. It’s hard for me to see myself as a woman when my mum treats me like a child. I have tried to set boundaries but they are not respected.

OP posts:
MissFancyDay · 27/08/2023 22:08

Just go and rent somewhere, you're way too old to be living at home. I left home at seventeen, nobody taught me to cook and clean and do finances. It's not that hard, I picked it up myself.

How much longer are you going to wait to start your life.

ImNotReallySpartacus · 27/08/2023 22:10

You need to move out. If that is really not possible, at least get a job that does not involve working from home.

youwouldthink · 27/08/2023 22:11

Wow. You're 33 it's time to move out and let your mother have a room/space to herself after so many years with am alcoholic husband and now forced to continue share a bed with him as you have taken the other room!

Heartofglass12345 · 27/08/2023 22:16

When I first moved out it was into a house share, it was cheap and fine! I really think you need to for yourself.

HeatherMoores · 27/08/2023 22:16

Well thank goodness you’ve realised all this.

None of this is going to get better while you’re trapped living in this overly enmeshed relationship with your narcissistic mother. Perhaps that’s a bit harsh as she’s had her challenges to deal with. But she is showing many of the traits. One way or another it amounts to the same thing. The way her behaviour is impacting on you.

She’s obviously terrified that you will become independent and have your own life. Which is exactly what you need to do.

I don’t think talking is going to make any difference. Nothing will change. It’s all too toxic. You need to move out. I can’t see any other solution. (Someone else might have some other suggestions).

LilyLemonade · 27/08/2023 22:21

You should move out immediately. The situation is toxic for you and your parents. Saving for a flat is not a reason to stay; you’ll just need to save more slowly while you pay rent.

Mummy08m · 27/08/2023 22:26

I also think you should move out. I'd live in the tiniest, cheapest box room ever rather than live like this.

It's interesting that your mum won't move away from your dad either. Why are you both so paralysed?

Why are you scared of living in cheap digs, instead of living at home?

I promise, you can learn to cook and clean etc as you go along. There are youtube videos for everything.

iminvestednow · 27/08/2023 22:27

I think I may have come across a bit harsh, which I don’t want to be as there is obviously some weird enmeshment situation going on. You are obviously struggling. I can’t imagine being your age and still living like a teenager. I appreciate you may not want a family of your own but if you do, you need to get on living your life. You’ve had a least 10 years to save for a property, what is suddenly going to change now? Get enough for a deposit, get out and live your life!

Letsgocamping67 · 27/08/2023 22:32

move out even if it’s just a room in a shared house. Why is this even a question you are literally wasting your life and ruining hers.

thaegumathteth · 27/08/2023 22:36

You're 33 and she's sharing a room and bed with her separated ex to give you a room of your own?? The woman sounds like a saint! The entitlement from you in absolutely unreal. This can't be real.

turquoisediamond · 27/08/2023 22:37

You place a lot of blame on your mother but have you thought of it from her point of view. She still has her 33 year old daughter living at home and you admit you mainly stay in your room so you're not giving her company. You say she sleeps in the same bed as your dad who she is separated from... she can't even sleep in another room because you're occupying it. Do you pay rent? Do you contribute to household chores such as cooking dinner for everyone, cleaning etc?

Even if you're saving to buy I would still move out in your situation. If you rented a room you could likely still save some money and you'll get freedom, independence and the experience you crave. You'll get to live independently before you move in with your boyfriend. This is a no brainier to move out.

horseyhorsey17 · 27/08/2023 22:41

If you're choosing to stay in this situation, presumably rent free or very cheaply so you can save for a flat, you can't really moan about it. Your parents are still financially supporting you so it's really a case of put up with it or be independent and move out.

Moonchild009 · 27/08/2023 22:43

I struggle to give her company because I don’t enjoy it. She is very two faced when she doesn’t get her own way. I feel like lives in fantasies by talking about other peoples relationships, family life etc. just the other day she saw her friend who was telling my mum that she was going on a family trip with her son, daughter in law and grandkids. She told me all of this then started an argument with me and can only put it down to her not having that with me or my brother. But I’m not living for her. I will do things in my own time. I get that she would obviously feel suffocated with her situation with my dad and empathise with that but my dad has tried to divorce her several times and she refuses as she doesn’t want to lose the house. Yes I cook, pay rent/bills, take her out when need be. She has accompanied me on quite a few of the last work trips I’ve been on so I think it’s healthy and normal to want space. I can’t be the responsible for her happiness.

OP posts: