Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why do I feel like this around my parents? Is this how everyone feels?

39 replies

Utsde · 29/09/2025 06:57

I’m 38 now and a parent to a 4 year old.

I do enjoy seeing my parents and they can be good fun, kind and supportive.

But there’s always this undercurrent of stress and anxiety, especially if I am in their home rather than a neutral place like a cafe etc. I feel on edge and think I almost revert to child like behaviours a bit, I feel irritable and on edge and often when I leave I feel exhausted and my head is all over the place.

Is this normal? Now I’ve written it out I expect it’s not normal but I wish I could understand how it should feel to be around family. I don’t feel this way around my siblings.

OP posts:
therole · 29/09/2025 08:41

it can be normal to revert back be into childhood patterns. But ideally we aim to overcome this as not having cleared these can hold us back in other areas of life. What exact situations trigger the fraught feelings OP?

WorthyOpalZebra · 29/09/2025 08:48

I've never enjoyed spending time with my parents - it's been 35 years since I moved out, and I'm still reverted back to being a child when I am there. The pressure to be "good" is huge and I find myself being just like Elizabeth from Keeping Up Appearances (showing my age!) because they put me on edge. My mum died earlier this year and I find can't really grieve for her because I never knew her as a person.

I've been very lucky with my inlaws who are as warm and welcoming as my parents are critical. According to DH and his siblings, their house was always a natural gathering place for friends as they were always pleased to see them. I have a significantly better relationship with my own adult children (who pop in regularly now they've moved out) as a result of their influence.

CancelTheTableAlan · 29/09/2025 08:55

I didn't become an adult with my parents until they were each dying.

During that time I learned about them. I understood better their limitations and strengths, what kind of people they were, how they were similar to me in some ways but had responded to different parenting, a different culture, different economic circumstances and so on.

I also, when they died, realised I was now the adult In the front line, so to speak, between the world of life and growth and the void of death. I had the responsibility of protecting those younger. I didn't agree with all my parents' choices, but I saw their life through a different lens once I'd taken on that life position myself.

So to come back to OP's point, there is a point to my digression! I think you feel uncomfortable with your parents when you are still children to them, you haven't fully grown into confidence of your own needs, as others have said upthread, and you want their approval.

I would hope there is a way to gain the full power of the adult, parenting yourself a little, feeling confident in asking for what you need, letting others just be who they are. As I say for me it was when they died - I would love it for others, if they could nail that project earlier.

Now I reflect, I wish I'd understood the nature of that work, and been able to do it when they were alive. I'd love to be "me, knowing what I know now" and from that position have a conversation with each of them.

Maybe we never get to do that! And maybe, indeed, our parents can't hold us when we change either! In which case give yourself a break OP, you just need to be kind to yourself - it's not your fault that you aren't relaxed with them. x

CandleRigg89 · 29/09/2025 09:24

I feel the same OP.

Both my parents are incredibly emotionally immature and my mum has a sprinkle of narcissistic traits too, although not a full blown narcissist. It’s like she still sees everyone as an extension of her, despite me being a 37 year old married mother of two who hasn’t lived with them since I was 23.

I find spending time with them stressful. The whole ‘going to your parents house is like going home’ is such a foreign concept to me - I can’t wait to leave their house to get home to my actual home.

It’s better if it’s not both of them - one on one time can be ok, but when they’re together it’s just chaotic.

SkaneTos · 29/09/2025 12:39

It seems like many people feel the same as you, OP, but not everyone.

I feel very happy and relaxed when I spend time with my parents in their home. They still live in my childhood home, and I love being there.

EllaPaella · 29/09/2025 12:45

Yes I feel like this OP. I love them and enjoy their company a lot but found staying in their house when my kids were young was quite stressful. Now my kids are a lot older I often go and see them on my own and it’s all a lot easier. I guess there’s an undercurrent of family dynamics always present. I don’t think it’s anything to do with whether your parents love you unconditionally or not, it’s more complicated than that.

kerstina · 29/09/2025 12:48

My parents were the people I felt most comfortable in the whole world. I don’t feel so comfortable with my own grown DS though so he possibly feels like this though I guess you have outgrown your parents. I felt like this after he came back home after Uni.

MyPinkTraybake · 29/09/2025 12:51

No I feel quite relaxed when I visit my Dad and SM, same with DM. However I don't like to stay too long as they have a different routine to me. 3-4 days max!

Om83 · 29/09/2025 12:54

I feel this way and it has gotten worse over time- my kids are now young teens. I try my best to go out for lunch with my mum instead of going to her house mainly as I know there is a limited time so easier getaway! I feel awful but I feel the stress now physically in my body- a few things going on I think- not wanting to revert to the expectations of me as their ‘child’, but also parents don’t get on well and constantly offloading into me about the other…

MyPinkTraybake · 29/09/2025 12:55

This is so interesting. I don't feel any under current. Mainly as I was a gob shite young adult so have probably aired any misgivings I had about their parenting. They know exactly how I feel and what I think. I also left the country for a year or so in my 20s which I think helped and spent large amounts of my 20s not seeing them at all.

redskydelight · 29/09/2025 12:58

I think it's normal for dysfunctional families.

You are reverting to the "walking on eggshells; scared of losing approval" feeling of childhood. Which shouldn't be a way a child ever has to feel.

TwinklyFawn · 29/09/2025 13:20

I hate spending time with my mum. Every time i tell her anything she immediately enters in to an endless monologue about herself. I dread it when she invites me round to watch Newcastle United as she won't hear a bad word against them. I don't know what is good about watching a football match where a team has 10 players behind the net for 90 minutes but if i dare to say this to my mum she makes me feel bad about myself.

Christmasplans8 · 29/09/2025 13:21

Alittlefrustrated · 29/09/2025 08:15

Your husband is an absolute gem 🤩

He’s a good one!!

Thundertoast · 29/09/2025 13:24

I have this with one of my parents, they've improved as I've got older, but unfortunately the damage is done and I revert to that feeling of walking on eggshells and shyness/sulking as a teenager due to their mood, criticisms, forced physical affection and critical mean 'banter' that they got annoyed I didnt laugh at.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread