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Elderly parents

Angry Auntie

29 replies

ShinyGreenElephant · 22/06/2021 12:07

Hope this is okay to post here, its my great auntie rather than a parent.

So my great aunties husband died last year, and obviously covid hasn't been a great time for her or anyone else, but she has turned into the most horrible, angry, nasty person. She's in her early 80s and in reasonably good health, has plenty of money, a lovely house, a daughter and grandson and can afford carers to come in twice a day so she is well looked after. But she hates us all and is so nasty. I'm the closest family distance wise so I try to visit twice a week, but she expects to be waited on hand and foot and can be incredibly abusive. For example, she text me at 6.30pm one night to say she was out of milk. I've got 3 kids, I don't drive and my husband has moved out - I was not about to load a baby and a toddler in the pram in the middle of bedtime to get her milk, so I told her I would bring some round as early as possible the following day. I then got maybe 6/7 messages calling me a horrible selfish little brat, saying I dont deserve my lovely life and she hopes it comes crashing down around me, saying I obviously want to see her starve to death so I can have all her money (I'm not even in her will). This is the reaction every time something doesn't go her way. Shes similar with her daughter, constantly sending her horrible texts saying she doesnt visit enough (she lives an hour away and visits weekly plus arranges everything for her eg shopping, carers and phones her twice a day). Tells her she wishes she'd never had her, that her dad would be ashamed of the horrible person she's become, that she's glad her husband left her for another woman etc etc.

She is only like this with us two specifically- she is sweetness and light with everyone else. Her grandson who rarely visits is treated like an actual god, the carers all think shes a sweetheart and extended family the same. She can also be nice as pie with us when she wants something, although she never apologises for anything.

I'm at the point now where I'm absolutely sick of her. I dread going round, I don't like the kids being around her, I'm so so fed up of disturbed sleep from nasty texts in the night and I cant block her because what if she had a fall? Part of me just wants to cut contact but then I'm leaving my poor Auntie to deal with her all on her own, and besides she's an old woman who is lonely and miserable and grieving. But I dont know how much more I can take!

Any suggestions or has anyone experienced similar? Should mention too that she is already on anti depressants and they haven't helped imo but she wont talk to the doctor again.

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 23/06/2021 08:39

It may be that she is taking out her grief and distress on the people she is closest too? It is not right and she needs to be called out for doing to but it could be a reason?

ShinyGreenElephant · 23/06/2021 10:23

@ApolloandDaphne I think its absolutely that which is why I've put up with so much.

@meredintofpandiculation I will speak to her daughter about dementia, I was under the impression that because she's aiming her nastiness at the specific people she can get away with it with then that means shes in control of it, but perhaps not

OP posts:
SinisterBumFacedCat · 23/06/2021 15:48

I’m in a similar situation with my mum and dementia very much is a contributing factor. It’s worth considering that her husband might have been on the receiving end of this too before he died. My DM was calling my stepdad controlling before he took his own life, since I stepped in to take over guess who she calls controlling now? I would happily have left her to it but she has forgotten how to do most of the life admin, however the constant accusations of stealing recently pushed me over the edge so I have stepped back a bit. She has some really “wonderful” men in her life, specifically her married ex and brothers who are so amazing, parachute in, make grand gestures and then fuck off for me to carry on with the donkey work. They are just so amazing apparently. Bloody men.

FinallyHere · 23/06/2021 16:28

like a toddler

My primary school teacher sister was much better than I ever was about handling my mother as she got older snd more anxious.

She said 'just think of them like a fractious toddler'

It really is very difficult.

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