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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:
Gellhell · 28/08/2023 11:57

With 20k deposit you can buy a house. If you get serious with your boyfriend you can rent out your house and you will always have that asset. Stay out of the mortgage market too long and you would be too old to get a decent term mortgage. Also house prices will keep increasing. I think subconsciously you are waiting for your boyfriend to ask you to buy a place with him. But as a 45 something woman who has learned from bitter experience, you will never regret having your own property. If things with your boyfriend go south you always have that to fall back on.

Ivyy · 28/08/2023 12:01

Ok so she uses is as a threat / something to reject or hurt you with when she has a tantrum. I was confused because pp were saying take the hint she want you gone - but everything you've said suggests otherwise to me. It's not your fault you've been brought up in this enmeshed relationship, honestly even if you move out asap she'll likely want to see you all the time and bombard you with more messages and texts than ever.

Moving out will help with space and independence, but I'm afraid I can't see your mum or the relationship changing.
It's good you're getting counselling, that's the best place to discuss potential boundaries you could put in place. It's going to be hard work though and I imagine boundaries will trigger many tantrums, deliberately hurtful comments etc. Stick with it though, let them roll off you and reframe the behaviour as her problem, not yours. I do get where you're coming from about feeling guilt, that can come from careful manipulation though. Look up FOG (fear, obligation, guilt) and have a read about those dynamics in relationships, especially with very controlling people.
It's taken me many years to break free emotionally, but my dm is a narcissist and very toxic, whereas it sounds like your dm is emotionally immature and there's also the cultural element influencing some of her behaviour.
I'm in my 40's now and dm in her 80's and I've sadly come to accept we'll never have a close bond and loving mother daughter relationship! Not saying that's what will happen with your relationship though, it's good you're going for counselling and I really hope that helps in some ways, identifying some key boundaries and just exploring your own feelings and talking about your family and upbringing can shed light on so many things. I think it's great you asked your mum to come to joint counselling with you, it might be worth asking her again one day when you do move out and both have your own separate spaces to process everything.

hopeishere · 28/08/2023 12:04

Move out and rent somewhere. How long will it take you to save a deposit realistically? You're 33.

Gellhell · 28/08/2023 12:05

It is also possible your boyfriend will respect you more once he sees you are a proper functioning adult human in your own habitat and surely your sex life will improve massively!

Gellhell · 28/08/2023 12:06

P.s. forget renting. That's paying someone else's mortgage. Use your 20k as a deposit on a starter home or flat.

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 12:15

TBH I’ve had challenges with my boyfriend as he feels as though I’m not taking the relationship seriously. He struggles to see how I am whilst he hasn’t met my brother or dad and my mother has barely made an effort. Whereas I’ve been extremely welcomed into his immediate and extended family. Went to his sisters wedding abroad, am ver comfortable in his home, have always been included in family affairs, have attended weddings with him etc. it’s a conundrum for me as she tells me he’s not taking me seriously but doesn’t see that he values family and finds that lack of drive (from me and her) to make him feel that from my family my means anything

OP posts:
Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 12:16

I’m not waiting for him at all. I want my own security and view property as an investment.

OP posts:
GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 28/08/2023 12:24

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 12:16

I’m not waiting for him at all. I want my own security and view property as an investment.

No one would ever leave home if they waited until they could move into their own property. It is (usually) an investment, you’re right. But I don’t understand why you can’t move into a rented room or flat and save from there?

Oh wait - silly me! You can’t do that because you simply don’t want to. You just want to moan about how everything that is wrong is due to your mum and your boyfriend. None of it is your fault. Ever.

P.S. because you’re not replying directly to people your answers are disjointed and not necessarily getting seen by the people you are answering.

Cherrysoup · 28/08/2023 12:27

Is this for real? You’re 33 and still doing what mummy says? Move out.

Heartbreaktuna · 28/08/2023 12:27

Are you wearing horse blinders?
You don't need to buy somewhere. Rent a room. I don't get along with my mum so I MOVED OUT 20 years ago....at 17.

SpamFrittersYouSay · 28/08/2023 12:29

There is a very unhealthy dynamic between you and your mum and the only way to end this is to move away and not just round the corner either.

You also need a physical distance.

She's using you as a replacement for her failed marriage as well as a punchbag for her own failings.
The longer this goes on, the more enmeshed you'll be and the toll on your mental wellbeing will be enormous.

I suspect your boyfriend knows much of this already.

Be kind to yourself and find a house/flat share.

Escapetofrance · 28/08/2023 12:49

Move out-of course it’s an option.

Parents can fail us as we grow up, but most try their best not to. It’s good you’ve had therapy and see where your behaviours have stemmed from. Try to build an independent live whilst still supporting your dm, from a distance.

Harrysarseinthedogbowl · 28/08/2023 12:57

Prescottdanni123 · 28/08/2023 08:08

@LifeIsShambolic

Whenever anyone who still lives at home mentions difficulties with parents, the response always is "Why haven't you moved out?". Do people honestly think that thought hasn't occurred? At the moment, it is a lot easier said than done.

Most people manage it before the age of 33.

Alfiemoon1 · 28/08/2023 13:11

Move out you sound like a teenager moaning about your parents from your childhood bedroom you have out stayed your welcome
your mum shouldn’t be having to sleep in the same bed as her ex husband who has a girlfriend because their 33 year old is still living at home.

Gellhell · 28/08/2023 13:11

Have you looked at 10 percent or even 5 percent mortgages? How much do you earn? Step 1. Google a mortgage broker in your area. They are usually free and include their fees once you get a mortgage. Ask them to help get you a mortgage agreement in principle. Then hit Zoopla to see what you can get within commuting distance of your job.

I'll be brutally honest I don't think your bf is a keeper. You need to do some self development work first and feel like what it's like to just be in your own space and energy (it's bliss). Get a rescue cat and some plants if you need company. Your mum and dad will need their space too as they age.

Gellhell · 28/08/2023 13:12

10 percent or 5 percent deposit mortgages.

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 13:12

More messages from when I left for a week. I’m calling her weird because I don’t know why I’m being told to give my boyfriend a break at 33 years old! I don’t get why it’s necessary to say that after moaning that I should go - which one is it

Feeling suffocated by mum
OP posts:
Gellhell · 28/08/2023 13:13

@Moonchild009 can you answer my post above?

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 13:15

I’m very excited to break free and feel what it’s like to live independently for reasons you mentioned. I’m fine with solitude, probably alot to do with childhood. Curious to know why you don’t think he’s the one?

OP posts:
Gellhell · 28/08/2023 13:18

Curious to know why you don’t think he’s the one?

because I don't think you know yourself yet as an adult woman. And you only attract what you put out into the universe. At the moment you are putting out co depend vibes!

Will you see a mortgage broker..please?!

Gellhell · 28/08/2023 13:18

*codependent

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 13:23

I understand what you mean But I’m far from codependent with my boyfriend. But definitely lots of self development work to be done, I don’t know if I’m making excuses but I find this difficult to do at home.

I’ve seen lots of mortgage brokers and been on lots of viewings. I’ve been advised to save another £5k then try again.

OP posts:
Gellhell · 28/08/2023 13:30

I’ve seen lots of mortgage brokers and been on lots of viewings. I’ve been advised to save another £5k then try again.

Really? Not sure where you live in the the country but a 20k deposit is great.

planningnightmare · 28/08/2023 13:34

you are ignoring the advice everyone is giving you here.

you seem stubbornly close minded and extremely unwilling to see the same point anyone is making.

you want a healthier relationship with your mum: you need to move out

you want your mums respect: you need to move out

you want your boyfriend's respect: you need to move out and live like a adult

you want your mum to change: she can't as long as you live at home

you want to buy instead of renting: go into a shared flat till you can.

do you think you are quite similar to your mum in terms of being unhappy but not implementing any changes to a situation? you sound the same to me

Moonchild009 · 28/08/2023 13:37

London! Prepared to move the outskirts though

OP posts: