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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:
thaegumathteth · 28/08/2023 00:22

'Dunno you said you wanted the room so I'm letting you enjoy it' is pathetic.

Mummy08m · 28/08/2023 00:24

Your screenshot messages haven't changed my view at all that you need to leave your parents' house and stand on your own two feet.

Stop second guessing whether or not your mum wants you to stay or leave. What matters is it's not good for you to be there.

You know that it's a toxic environment but you seem to stay there and blame your mum for the toxicity - instead of focusing on whose fault it is, just take control and leave!

gloriawasright · 28/08/2023 00:28

thaegumathteth · 28/08/2023 00:22

'Dunno you said you wanted the room so I'm letting you enjoy it' is pathetic.

And odd !

Stomacharmeleon · 28/08/2023 00:29

Cultural or not you are assuming the role of the child and are acting as such- see messages- because you need to MOVE OUT.
At your age I had been married, divorced and had three children.
Don't wait for your boyfriend, don't wait and you end up as a resentful carer, or a parent passes away and you feel you have to look after the other one.
Leave and reestablish your boundaries.

Fallingthroughclouds · 28/08/2023 00:30

I don't understand how you can criticise her so harshly whilst simultaneously using her as a place to doss whilst you save for a deposit. You're 33, stop blaming your poor mother for everything.

Mmhmmn · 28/08/2023 00:30

You need to move out. Stick to your plan of living alone before living with a bf. She could then at least sleep in your old bed instead of in same bed as your dad.

And when she inevitably continues to bombard you with text messages/calls you need to tell her directly to STOP because it is not on.

10HailMarys · 28/08/2023 00:32

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.

You have two options. One is to stay with your parents and be suffocated by your weird clingy mother because you’re saving for a flat. The other is to move out and be free and accept that you won’t be able to buy a place as soon as you’d hoped.

You are not going to resolve the situation with your mother while you are living with her. You just aren’t.

How much time do you spend with your boyfriend? Can you at least stay at his place a few nights a week and work from there? It won’t solve the problem of your mother being a pain but at least you won’t have her in your face all the time.

To be brutally honest, the whole situation sounds really unhealthy and codependent and it’s a recipe for bitterness on both sides. You’re 33. This isn’t a normal way to live.

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:32

I’m clearly fed up of my mum blowing hot and cold and would prefer not to engage in conversation.

OP posts:
Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:34

Pathetic? Odd? I am fed up of her blowing hot and cold. My tolerance is low because when I am back here she starts telling me to leave again!

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 28/08/2023 00:37

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.

So if you pay rent to her you can pay rent in a house share.

Move out!

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:37

Tbh I’m very guarded because I don’t trust her. I don’t like her asking me lots of questions because I question her motive and know how flippant and predictable she can be. I’d rather say “I don’t know” than tell her which day and when. That’s me trying to take control. Maybe I’ve gone the wrong way about it but I’m at my wits end here

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 28/08/2023 00:39

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:37

Tbh I’m very guarded because I don’t trust her. I don’t like her asking me lots of questions because I question her motive and know how flippant and predictable she can be. I’d rather say “I don’t know” than tell her which day and when. That’s me trying to take control. Maybe I’ve gone the wrong way about it but I’m at my wits end here

You're not listening

There's only one solution...

Mummy08m · 28/08/2023 00:40

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:37

Tbh I’m very guarded because I don’t trust her. I don’t like her asking me lots of questions because I question her motive and know how flippant and predictable she can be. I’d rather say “I don’t know” than tell her which day and when. That’s me trying to take control. Maybe I’ve gone the wrong way about it but I’m at my wits end here

You're not taking control of anything though. You're just reacting to each of her micro-actions (each text, each question, each request) one by one. Trying to achieve little wins.

Actually taking control would be simply not taking part in that game. Move out, lessen contact, etc.

HTmmm · 28/08/2023 00:41

My mum was like this.. I left home when I was a teenager and am now a parent of teens myself... my mum is still like this with me. If I try to put in boundaries she responds in a toxic way. It's her MH and personality problem. I can imagine how you feel. How much longer do you think you need to save up before you can move out?

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:41

i know but I’m still going to ask. Do you have any suggestions on enforcing clearer boundaries?

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 28/08/2023 00:41

OP there is literally nothing else to say other than move out!

HeatherMoores · 28/08/2023 00:41

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:32

I’m clearly fed up of my mum blowing hot and cold and would prefer not to engage in conversation.

Yes well you’re not going to avoid engaging in conversation with someone while you’re living with them!

You’ve had the answer from everyone either carry on living there and put up with it because nothing will change, or move out.

Therapy or counselling might be helpful but ideally through the nhs as you don’t need another expense.

Mummy08m · 28/08/2023 00:42

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:41

i know but I’m still going to ask. Do you have any suggestions on enforcing clearer boundaries?

Move out so she can't ambush you in person. Don't reply to her texts straightaway. Don't tell her the minutiae of what you're doing.

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:43

Never thought of it like this thanks for the perspective. I struggle with guilt hence me responding even in the coldest way.

OP posts:
Ponderin · 28/08/2023 00:44

Did you live away at university OP? Was she constantly in touch then and wanting a lot of contact? Or is this a recent development since she has split up with your dad - that she is lonely and wants you to meet some emotional needs?

How long did you live abroad for?

I think some posters are thinking you have never lived away from home and you have done!

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:46

I’m currently receiving counselling and learnt a lot about my inner child and how my upbringings affected my adult life hence why I tried to share a bit of that earlier in this thread. I honestly would love to heal the relationship with my mother and would love to go through therapy with her but she refuses which I have to accept. Thanks for your advice

OP posts:
Unicorn2022 · 28/08/2023 00:47

It's a form of familiarity breeding contempt. She is fed up of you being under her feet all the time but your relationship will probably improve when you finally move out. You should move out as soon as possible.

Also the texts were really childish - she's hardly going to be "enjoying the room" if she doesn't know if you are coming home or not. If you told her you were staying out for the night then she would be able to make use of the room.

Perisoire · 28/08/2023 00:47

I’m Asian and lived at home until I got married in my early 30s.

My mum is different, she likes a tidy house and has some OCD traits (her mum had diagnosed OCD too) but she always let me live my own life and game me plenty of space.

I paid mum £250pm rent which enabled me to save most of my earnings.

I don’t mean to sound critical, but how have you got to the age of 33 and living at home and still don’t have the money to rent a flat?

Is your mum taking too much money off you? I chose to live at home and did miss out on some life experiences but on the plus side I was able to save a hefty deposit for a house in London. I don’t feel living at home infantilised me, I was contributing to the house with money and housework.

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:54

Her marriage broke down about 15 years ago. My dad has had a girlfriend for the last few years as fas as i know, which she doesn’t fully accept. I met the woman and my mum accused me of lying/it not being true. This is also a theme that comes up. How she feels towards my dad/preventing me from going through it in my own relationship.

i didn’t live away at university but I lived overseas for 2 years. She wasnt as needy when I was overseas, she still worked and had more of a social life going on and I’m sure me physically being in another country made her accept my absence more.

OP posts:
Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 00:59

Well. She describes me not being there as her enjoying my room hence why I also described it as that. how have you come to the conclusion that it’s about her making full use of the room when she’s telling me to come home?! She’s clearly not making full use of it. If I told her I was staying the night she would still tell me to come home

OP posts: