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Parenting

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Struggling parent

6 replies

Bub21 · 03/04/2022 11:21

I am really struggling.There have been lots of things that have happened in the past year that have been difficult such as the loss of my MIL and my parents divorce, but what has topped it all is having my mother and brother live with us as they had no where to go after the divorce. My partner and I have done everything we can to help and make them feel welcome, they pay hardly any rent, we have stored all their stuff, our daughter is 14 months and has never had her own room, loaned money to get a car, helped with getting 2 different jobs, cooked meals for them, cleaning all the time, taken on their elderly dog who would have been sent to the dogs home as they couldn't have afforded to keep him, paying for house hold things like toilet paper washing powder etc and even sent mum for a spa day. I have helped them look for houses and been emotional support throughout the whole time. We have done all these things to help them so they could save money and be able to move house more easily, I don't expect them to be indebted us. They are our family and I would never want to see them struggle when we could help by doing what we have. However, from the start they go and stay up in their rooms and avoid us, even eating all meals up there. They whisper to each other all the time and pretend to talk about something else when we come in the room. They complain about the baby crying at night and say that it's hard for them as they are tired and have to work. This is only the things I can remember off of the top of my head. So after almost a year and a few arguments the last one has really got to me. All my partner asked was could they help out more around the house, my mum's response was to act like it was an attack on her which she twisted into trying to make out that I am a bad mum and lazy, her point being that I should be the one to do everything as I am home the most and then trying to make out that my partner does too much and doesn't even come home to a meal cooked for him. I also work part-time. She tried to get between my partner and I all because he asked her to help a bit more than she was! He didn't believe her as he comes home to a clean house every day and a happy baby. She also tried to make out that I use her for free childcare all the time! She has watched dd a total of 3 times for roughly 2 hours max and some of that time I have made sure was over a nap. I always knew my mother was difficult but I never expected her to treat me like this. I don't know what I have done. I'm not perfect, and I'm trying so hard to be everything to everyone and keep the peace but it's not worked. My mental health is terrible and I've started having panic attacks again. She is always making passive aggressive remarks about me or DD saying she's a dirty child or when I'm overwhelmed saying I shouldn't have had her if I can't cope. I feel like everyone else's parents help out and want to spend time with their grandchildren, but my mother is only interested when it suits her and then chucks what little help she has given back in our faces.
I don't know what to do. We all have to live together for at least another month and now she won't even speak to us. I am so worried about this affecting my dd.
Sorry I know it's long, and thank you for any advise or even acknowledgment that I'm not alone.

OP posts:
caringcarer · 03/04/2022 13:30

Ask them to leave they are damaging your MH and your relationship. Your DH must be a saint and love you very much to put up with a mil like this.

Bub21 · 03/04/2022 13:46

Yes he is amazing and I know I am very lucky to be with him. Thank you for your advice I will try and speak with her again and see what happens.

OP posts:
Bornsloppy · 03/04/2022 14:14

Tell them to leave. It's your house. You've gone above and beyond and they're taking advantage.

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Arewethebadguys · 03/04/2022 14:18

Sounds like your mother has zero respect for you or your home and the more you do for her and your brother, the more they take advantage. I would think about what you want to happen - your mother helping out more and building a relationship with her granddaughter and then honestly ask yourself if you think this is likely to happen? If your mother hasn't engaged with her grandchild until now then that's probably your answer. If your mother can take advantage of your hospitality for this long yet make passive aggressive comments and watch you struggle with panic attacks without stepping up to help then it's very clear she's not much of a mother at all. If someone is showing you their true colours; believe them.

It can be difficult to talk about these things directly as I'm assuming you've been conditioned to think you are at fault. Writing down how you feel can help. If your mother twists things, a letter can be useful so you can explain how you feel.

If I'm honest I would ask them to leave now. One more month at this point isn't going to be a healthy environment for any of you, least of all your wee one. At this point the relationship seems pretty damaged so time and space (and a huge apology!) from your mother and brother is the only thing that might save it. If you even want to. Again, being honest, your family sound like shitty freeloaders and I'm really glad you have a supportive husband to help set boundaries. Or try to.

Good luck! Remember your husband, daughter and your own MH are the priority!

Bub21 · 04/04/2022 09:45

Thanks for your comment arewethebadguys. My DH has said the same thing about what do I want from the relationship, unfortunately I don't think it will happen (a parent that doesn't emotionally blackmail me). Since the argument she has said "I'm sorry if any of what I said has offended you", as I know her I know that isn't an apology as she doesn't say sorry. She has decided to speak normally to my DH and brother, but won't speak to me properly other than a "alright". She has also made a point of vacuuming, mopping, taking out the bins whilst complaining afterwards that she is very tired as she works early. As I was putting DD to bed she washed up a bottle I left in the sink. I came down and said thank you but you didn't have to as I had another one to do anyway, she just snapped at me and said Oh yes I did! So now I'm being punished. DH thinks everything is fine but I feel under even more pressure now to make sure the house is spotless as I can't deal with her passive aggressive comments whenever she does anything as I know what she really means under it all. I know they should leave but I just can't do it. I feel shitty because she does do some nice things like buy DD gifts all the time but part of me doesn't want her to or need her to. Probably because every gift is another potential weapon 😔
I suppose there is nothing anyone can really say that is gunna change anything, but thank you all again for your time responding.

OP posts:
Lostthetastefordahlias · 04/04/2022 11:32

You’ve done so well coping with all of this, a 14 month old, and work outside the home as well. Hope you can get them out as soon as possible, it doesn’t sound like improvement in any relationship is possible while they are in the house. Keep that end goal in mind!

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