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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Mum said I've "stolen her future" because I live an hour and a half away from her. I'm scared to tell her I am pregnant.

338 replies

JessieJackets · 28/07/2025 07:12

Me and my husband live up the coast from our mums. His mum is super nice and supportive. My mum says I have broken her heart and "stolen her future" because she now will not have her dream of idealistic grandparenthood of being involved with them daily. I love where I live because the peace I have helps me heal. She says "I hope your precious house is worth all the heartbreak you've caused me." etc.

Right now, I drive to see her every single friday, but she's always saying it's not enough and she's so sad... It's a big commitment, and I feel like I am burning out. Despite this she shows no gratitude for the effort, and makes me feel like a terrible daughter constantly.

Neither of our mothers know we are expecting yet (early days, only 5 weeks) and I am scared to tell mine because she will make it about how far I am from her and I should move back, and was selfish for buying a house we didn't need, etc etc.

Can I please have some advice? Particularly anyone in a similar scenario raising a child away from grandparents, particularly difficult ones? Thank you

OP posts:
Astrak · 28/07/2025 08:16

I'm so sorry that your mother is being so unpleasant to you. I think the grey rock technique may be useful . Detach gradually.

thebigyearahead · 28/07/2025 08:17

I live 400 miles away from my Mum and Dad and they have never put this kind of pressure on me. My DCs are in their late teens now. It’s not right or normal OP. It’s emotional blackmail and not pleasant to be on the receiving end

Does your Mum have much of a social life? Partner? Work? It sounds like she’s bored and lonely and thinks the solution is you (it’s not). Can you encourage her to make more of her own life, so she’s not so dependent?

Goodideaornot · 28/07/2025 08:19

JessieJackets · 28/07/2025 07:19

Oh I am already in Australia haha XD which is funny because when she had me, she moved away from HER parents in England! Which i mentioned to her, and she said it was "different" for her...

Im sure there’ll be something playing out for your mum to do with her own move to get away from her parents. She’ll be playing something out again in her own mind. I’m surprised after 15 years of therapy you’re so trapped and beholden to her. I wonder if a different therapist might be able to help? My sympathies are with you. Your feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, self-doubt abd worthlessness remind me of feelings engendered by my relationship with my own mother. It’s very very hard. I don’t think I’d have found myself able to get married if my mother had still been alive

bouncydog · 28/07/2025 08:21

Your mother is being ridiculous IMHO. Lots of families live in different countries my own daughter and grandchild included. We keep in touch by messenger and the time DH and I see them in person is even more precious. Your mother is also very selfish to try and guilt trip you into moving back. Stand your ground - if you move back she’ll be interfering in how you bring your children up. Your life now is with your own family. I live 10 minutes drive from my DM and when not travelling (retired) might see her once a week - sometimes more if she needs help with something - sometimes less as we’re both busy people.

BubblyBath178 · 28/07/2025 08:21

Tell your mum that realistically you wouldn’t see her every day anyway so why does your location matter anyway? I’ll admit to feeling a bit gutted that my son is looking to move 1.5 hours away so, when the time comes, I’ll be in the same situation. The MIL always gets a raw deal anyway, let alone being 1.5 hours away 🤷‍♀️ However, it’s not about me (or your mum) You need to make your choice and not feel guilty.

Goodideaornot · 28/07/2025 08:22

Ps when my mother was being a controlling, manipulative nightmare the only thing that I found remotely helpful was empathising and reminding her I loved her but standing firm, eg ‘I love you and want you to be happy. I need to do this (eg live here for the space etc) and I wish you could accept that but if you can’t I’ll have to step away as I’m finding it too hard with the guilt trips etc’

Huggersunite · 28/07/2025 08:22

Geekgirlmum · 28/07/2025 08:15

I could have written the initial post (although my baby is now an adult). Unfortunately my mother lives with us. How do you detach when the person you need todetach from is in your house? She has nowhere to go and can't afford to get her own place. She has very few friends. I feel trapped every day. OP keep contact to a minimum of you can and set boundaries now because if you don't it will only get worse. I understand exactly how you feel when you say you are a bad and selfish daughter because that is how I feel even though I do everything to look after her.

You need to change yourself from the inside.

You have been taught to have responsibility for her from an early age and you have to relearn everything.

I highly recommend you practice detachment with a therapist, ie how boundaried conversation looks and I’ve seen people on here recommend ChatGPT for the same practice. Tell ChatGPT your mothers personality issues and how you want to learn how to have boundaries and then role play typical conversations until you change where you are to where you want to be. You also have to learn to deal with guilt and shame as emotions because manipulative people use them as a remote control to control other people to get their needs met.

If they can’t change, you change it id much easier to achieve.

VictoriaEra · 28/07/2025 08:23

How old is she and why can’t she come to you sometimes.

SardinesOnGingerbread · 28/07/2025 08:24

What a horrible mother. One of mine moved away for university and then work, and is now applying to the forces. I miss him every day, and I couldn't be happier that he's found a city he loves and friends to surround him, and if he gets the forces role he wants, I wouldn't be able to be prouder that he's making his way in the world. My only job as a mother is to love the bones of him and make sure he knows to be the centre of his own world. When a family comes along for him, if that's his path, then they will be his centre. I won't be around forever, and I want to know that he has safety and happiness ahead of him. I feel cross with your mother. Good luck, and keep up the therapy.

Hotandbotheredaching · 28/07/2025 08:24

You aren’t selfish or a horrible daughter. I can imagine your mum is maybe projecting from something in her past and maybe some guilt about leaving her parents in England….or she’s just crazy?!

Being a bit further away from her might be beneficial, I will bet any money she’s will criticise your parenting, make digs constantly how you are doing it wrong.

Don’t move for her, I learnt a while ago, never do anything for others if it’s going to affect your happiness/ wellbeing.

Daisy12Maisie · 28/07/2025 08:25

My mum was the same. Basically cut me off when I moved an hour and a half away for work and she had moved 3 hrs away from her family so it was very hypocritical.

She ended up barely knowing my children until they were 4 and 2 and then I moved back to the area for different reasons not her. She has since admitted to my sister (not to me) that she feels bad for not making more effort to see me during that time.

I had to make all the effort, which with 2 young children was very hard. She didn’t care.

I have since looked at the narcissistic scale with a medical student friend of ours (no not a qualified dr so this is anecdotal) but she scored very highly on it so I think her selfish behaviour is because of that.

My reason for telling you this is:
you haven’t don’t anything wrong.
my son is currently 4 hrs away for an apprentiship. I am fully supportive and proud of him.

My sisters mother in law sold her house and with my sisters blessing moved closer to her grandchildren and helped bring them up.

If mothers/ future grandmothers want to they can be the ones to move and be involved. Loving parents don’t pressurise their children to move closer or put their upset on their adult children. It isn’t normal it’s selfish.

Also, look at all the poor parents who lose a child or they are currently missing. You are an hour and a half away. She is being very selfish.

I am a people pleaser/ not very assertive/ have definitely been bullied by my mum etc the same as you. My advice would be let the not speaking continue. It’s not in your interest to go chasing after her. She is in the wrong.

Accept your mum isn’t going to be supportive and make some friends where you are.

it won’t be in your child’s best interest to be in the car every Friday so stop doing it now. Use this argument/ not speaking as a positive way to re set.

Charmofgoldfinch · 28/07/2025 08:25

You’re not selfish OP - your mother is. If she wants to see you more often she could also travel to you - your relationship sounds very one sided and it all about her needs. She doesn’t sound like a good influence to have on a child, especially not daily care, so you living further away is not a bad thing in that regard. I think you need to decide how often you want your child to see your mother and set that as your boundary - don’t let her make you feel guilty about that.
im sorry your mum is stealing the joy from what should be a happy time in your life. I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant and haven’t told my mum for not too dissimilar reasons to you- ie selfish mother whose behaviour harms others. It’s really hard. Wishing you the best for your pregnancy.

MermaidMummy06 · 28/07/2025 08:25

Come to Queensland instead. It's much better & (slightly) cheaper than NSW... 😂I'm not sure how anyone affords a house in Sydney. It's insane.

Seriously, you need to be happy you are where makes YOU happy & anything your DM says is HER problem. It has nothing to do with you, and you might have to tell her you're not moving back, and she can stop being negative or you will stop calling or seeing her.

I realised too late my MIL was in DH's ear & is why we never left our rural city. We were planning it, and slowly DH decided to be negative about everything. I caught MIL telling him how horrible it was to leave her, how the city is too busy & expensive.... I wish we'd moved to the Sunny Coast when we could afford it. Can't now...It wasn't fair and even though she's passed, I still resent her for it, and DH for allowing her to poison him.

Richiewoo · 28/07/2025 08:26

There's obviously a lot of history with your mum. Remember youre not responsible for her life or happiness. Please put boundaries in place that will help you. You're not selfish for doing it.

SatsumaDog · 28/07/2025 08:28

Your mum needs to realise that you have your own life independent of her and it’s not your job to make her life fulfilled. Children are not pets. Our job as parents is to raise them to be happy and independent, not as servants to make us happy.

I can only tell you what I would do op and that would be to limit the time I spent with her. You are already doing all you can driving a 3h round trip every week to see her. You don’t want to be doing that with a young baby.

HunnyPot · 28/07/2025 08:30

Your mother is behaving appallingly. Her behaviour is abusive and manipulative. I’m surprised you would want her anywhere near your children.

SleepWalkingtoSeville · 28/07/2025 08:31

My parents live 30 minutes away and despite the fact they look after youngest DC once per week, I rarely spend any quality time with them. I probably actually only spend time with them properly (they usually pick DD up from preschool and then hand over to DH before I get back from work but occasionally I’m WFH) once every 6 weeks or so. Plus the odd text. I probably see DH’s parents almost as much, and they live 2.5/3 hours away - and they almost always come to us because they appreciate how hard it is to travel with two small neurodivergent children.

Driving an hour and a half every week sounds like a massive ballache. Especially for someone who isn’t, objectively, very nice to you. Does she have friends and activities of her own? What was your childhood like?

DejaMooo · 28/07/2025 08:31

I can’t understand parents like this, it’s so selfish. The job of a parent is to bring up independent adults who go on to live the life they want and be happy. My niece has finished uni and is applying for jobs all over the country, and is having a similar issue with my sister at the moment - I’ve advised her to move wherever she wants to and go live her life! When my children reach that age I’ll be encouraging the same, regardless of how much I’ll miss them.

There’s obviously an awful lot of history with you and your mum for you to be in therapy. I know it’s really difficult, but you need to put some firmer boundaries in place, cut back on the weekly visits and prioritise the family you’re building. You don’t need this extra stress during your pregnancy for a start. It also sounds like it would be terrible if she moved closer, or you gave in and moved back as she sounds very overbearing and controlling.

CelestialGazer · 28/07/2025 08:32

JessieJackets · 28/07/2025 07:17

I've been in therapy for about 15 years over her haha
Since she blew up at me on the phone over a week ago we have not spoken, and it is probably the longest we have ever gone without speaking. It's tough on me mentally. I am not sure if I truly am a bad selfish daughter or not.

Absolutely you are not a bad selfish daughter but she is a bad selfish mother. Lots of children live an hour or so away from their parents. It’s perfectly normal and for her to try and guilt you into thinking you are doing something selfish is completely unacceptable.

it sounds like you are already going above and beyond by making a weekly trip to see her, and I’d be inclined to tell her that if she mentions the subject again you’ll be coming over much less frequently. Which might not be such a bad thing from what you say of your wider relationship with her.

Needsleepneedcoffee · 28/07/2025 08:33

With an attitude like she has, I think ypu are exactly where you need to be, far enough to hold at arms length.
When your baby is here, you are going to feel lots of very new emotions, and I suspect you will feel angry that she has treated you the way she has, and you will find strength you never knew you had.

When you see the situation as a mother, and you're thinking, I'd NEVER treat my baby like this. I'd never want my child exposed to this! You'll find that you can shut her down with far less guilt than you thought possible.

And for what it's worth, you've stolen her dreams, but you're allowing yourself peace, and a child who will grow up with an infinitely happier mother because of that distance. That is an amazing thing to have been able to do.

Enjoy your pregnancy, enjoy the new start with your lovely baby, and bask in motherhood being what you make it, not surviving the emotional turmoil your mother would bring daily if you were nearer. The argument would be she still wasn't getting what she wanted, in regards to time/control/ say.

Somanyquestions654 · 28/07/2025 08:35

JessieJackets · 28/07/2025 07:25

gosh that must be hard... I'm so impressed you are still being so supportive, I wish my mum was like you! I felt raised to be her caregiver and it's like that's all I exist for. It makes me want to disappear.

Yep! Sorry if this sounds rude op, but I question the intellect, or at least the common sense, of these over-bearing mothers, who attempt to control their relationships with their adult dc through fear, obligation and guilt because it always has exactly the the opposite result to the one they are aiming at!

If you want your adult children and your grandchildren to engage with you, then you take the pressure off, ensure your interactions with them are enjoyable and guilt-free, and accept the fact that they are the star players now! It also helps if you love them unselfishly and you can be genuinely happy for them and the independent life they have created because it means you have done your job as a parent well!

You recognise that their young family comes first now and your job as grandparents is to live your own interesting independent and fulfilling life too, but be on hand to interact with adult children and grandchildren when the opportunity or need arises! Step back and get out of your own way in other words! And everyone else’s!

In your shoes op, I think you need to have a calm, honest face-to-face word with your mum, and yes, tell her that her behaviour makes you want to disappear, even though that’s hard for her to hear, and that from now on you will be seeing her the first Saturday of every month, or whatever schedule you feel comfortable with, take it or leave it, because your patience is wearing thin.

It’s time to take the initiative op and set some solid boundaries. You don’t need permission. You are your own person with your own limits. A boundary is about what is tolerable for you and no one else.

Tell her that she needs to find fulfilment in her life in ways that don’t always involve you. Stay strong op. Your mum has issues that are really far beyond anything you can solve, and probably always will, so every time she kicks back, which she will, suggest the name of a therapist in her area who has experience of treating an older age group. She probably won’t go to therapy but it will make the point that she has options other than engaging with you and making your life unbearable!

All of this will seem very strange and difficult at first and you will feel guilty but you have to stick to your guns so that your mum knows you are serious. Good luck 💐

Edited to say that: I agree with pp, who wrote that you will find a different kind of strength when your own children are involved. In my situation, the overbearing family member wasn’t the mother of me or my dh, but we tolerated their behaviour when it was just us they were trying to manipulate, even though it caused us considerable stress, because we had been brought up to be respectful of our elders, loyal, and to try and always work through family problems in a reasonable way. None of this worked of course but when this person tried to turn their manipulation tactics on to our young dc, we had no compunction about putting in very strong boundaries.

itsmeafterall · 28/07/2025 08:35

OP you say "
No you're right. I'm trapped still but the bars of my cage are inside my head. Yet I seem to not know how to escape..."

How you escape your cage is by imagining how you want to be as a mum. You focus on your family. You create your vision of family and put your energy into creating it. You have control
over that.

Yes your mum will try to rattle the bars of the cage, and then one day you will start to realise that the bars are trapping her, not you. You will know that you are on the outside of her cage, looking in. You have freedom and a happy future in store. The bars are keeping her from happiness, not you.

Also read this book by Philippa Perry. Down to earth and very helpful.

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/book-you-wish-your-parents-had-read-and-your-children-will-be-glad-that-you-did-book-philippa-perry-9780241251027?sku=GOR011083402&gadsource=1&gadd_campaignid=17415899424&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIDqjMVi8Ti25JthSi5QOn77y

I was very stressed when pregnant with my first. I would'nt recommend it but she turned out just fine. She's 25 now and bloody wonderful. My advice and learning is that nothing is more important than looking after yourself and your baby bump. Put yourself first. It's hard to do as we are conditioned to people please. So think of it this way, you are pleasing your baby by looking after yourself. Walk lots. Eat well, do relaxation exercises and yoga. Work to get inner calm. You'll feel smugly wonderful and you deserve it.

And the wonderful MN vipers are here to help as you navigate tricky stuff with your mum. So do come back as we are all here to help Smile

JessieJackets · 28/07/2025 08:35

Laiste · 28/07/2025 07:53

Some great advice here.
Frankly your mum sounds like a bloody nightmare!

Can you imagine upsetting your own child to this extent OP?!

Just because a person is your genetic parent it doesn't make them right, or indeed pleasant.

A lot of people find that when they leave home and start a family of their own they start to see their own parents and upbringing through the lens of of an outsider - and sometimes realise that what they thought was 'normal and right' was actually an unhealthy dynamic.

You might never entirely shake off the feeling that you owe your mother what she wants because that makes you 'good', and doing what YOU want makes you 'bad' - but you will get to the stage where you sigh and do it anyway because you know in your heart that you're not a bad person and your decisions are yours to make. Just as your parents were when they were young.

Can i also say that what ever therapist your seeing is not doing well if after 15 years you're still struggling this badly.

We have children to bring up well and then release into the world to enjoy their life. Like a throwing a bird in the air and enjoying it be free. Not to keep in a cage for our own needs.
💐

Edited

You're right thank you... actually before therapy i was a nervous wreck. I was very badly injured psychologically back then. I'm nowhere near healed but I'm so much better! Maybe it's taken this time because I wasn't ready to stand up for myself til now. I feel more power to protect my peace now but second guess myself a lot.

OP posts:
SupposesRoses · 28/07/2025 08:35

During your pregnancy focus (perhaps with a different therapist) on recovering from what sounds like an abusive or at least controlling parent. This will enable you to be a better parent to your own child and to stop the cycle here.