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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Her demands are overbearing.

171 replies

Sunflowersok · 03/06/2020 09:51

I need a rant about my mother, and how overbearing she is with her demands for me to take responsibility for her life.

She constantly asks for so much off people with a sense of entitlement that you her owe what she needs. She does not work. This was partly due to mental illness years ago but for the past few years she’s been making excuses not to. She will often, often!!! Play the victim. It’s like making up this victim scenario is what gets her by in life. I’ve tried helping her in the past setting her life up, getting a home for her. She has often had solutions to every single one of her issues but it’s like she enjoys playing the ‘poor me’ card.

She asks me a lot for money. Every week maybe. She lives with her son who is a few years younger than me who also is also entitled. He lives like a child in her home and rinses her. Will not cook for himself etc. He’s 25. He’s had so many job losses over his attitude not getting his own way at work I’ve lost count. At the moment he’s managed to keep one for the first 2 years of his life. He earns more than me. But for some reason barely pays anything towards her rent and he blows the rest on himself. If you need an idea of how much money He spends, over the past two years he Must be on to his fourth or fifth sports car. He will buy these, spend thousand on the insurance, pull them apart, kit them up, reckless drive, write them off, buy another outright in cash. Rinse and repeat. My mum is constantly asking for ‘scraps of coffee’ she is that skint. I know the first thought is to blame by brother for his shitty behaviour towards her, but she encourages it from him. I’m here working full time but having to feed my DD and run my home. Before I met my partner I had no savings at the end of the month as my income was stretched. She will not ask him for money because ‘He is only a baby’ and ‘but he works so hard for it’ or ‘but he has just bought another car so he doesn’t have any’ and instead expects me to fund her instead.

If I say no to her, she will make me feel so bad that I either give in, or she will send me nasty passive aggressive messages. I have called her outright once after she had me in tears for going on a night away with my partner to the theatre after refusing her a 100 loan. The night had been planned for 2 months and I wouldn’t have been able to go if I had loaned her.

She’s constantly asking for favours. Constantly. During lockdown it was ‘will you go to the shop for me’ or if you are ‘passing can you drop a scrap of washing powder off...’ (knowing full well i will just buy her a box, and if I say no, she will make me feel bad because it’s “only a scrap” of washing powder). Will you nip here for me. She knows I’m self isolating. She messages me every day with these demands. I live 20 minutes away from her so it’s a 40 minute round trip. I am working from home full time. I am homeschooling. She knows I can not run my daughter around here there and everywhere in the current conditions. Her son is furloughed at the moment but is ‘ Too busy working on his car’. She lives A 2 minute walk from the shop. She has no commitments.

She used to do this when I was working 2 hours away. I would leave the house for 6, get to work for 8, not Return home until 7 most nights. She would ask me to do a full shop for her on the way home from work, maybe twice a week, when I was knackered and all I wanted was to get home, get showered, put the washing on and eat. With the money she borrowed off me. She could have easily been shopping in that time I was working. If I said no she made me Feel bad because I was ‘passing the supermarket anyway’. She has often bitched about me to
her sister making me look like the ungrateful daughter. If I ignore her messages about favours, she will sent passive aggressive messages like ‘oh its fine I’ll just starve then’ or ‘I’ll hide from the bailiffs I’m sure they won’t find me’.

I confronted her after the theatre incident. She denied it all. And then it settled for a bit about the money, she never asked until Christmas came when she ended up getting a loan for a lavish Christmas of food and gifts, knowing she couldn’t afford repayments and would could just ask me to pay it back.

Yesterday she asked me to loan 40 for council tax as she was in trouble. I asked her how much she owed. She said 80 but she planned to pay a bit and then pay more when she could. I told her it might be better to ring them up and ask them to make a payment plan and put a few quid extra on her bill over the year to spread the cost, rather than borrowing off people and wondering where she will scrape the money up to pay people back. She said she will thInk about it. I gave her a perfect solution To her problem but she messaged back and said ‘I’ve thought about it and decided to pay the 40 now instead’. Meaning of my money. She had a solution for her issue and she decided It was my responsibility to pay it.

I don’t mind helping her out here and there but by doing so I am feeding in to my brothers lifestyle and their ridiculous head in the sand attitude to responsibility over their lives. I’m so very fed up. She’s been like this as long as I can remember and I just needed to write it all down.

OP posts:
Electrical · 03/06/2020 11:24

OP just read gutterton and atilla posts over and over. You’re facilitating her theatrics, she’s loving it, you rehashing every detail of that woman’s made up dramas and demanding attention incidents are fuelling her. Opt out. It really is that simple.

MattBerrysHair · 03/06/2020 11:25

Op, don't be guilted into doing any more for her. If she doesn't get money from you it will incentivise her to get a job or sort out some appropriate benefits. The 'sitting in the dark and starving' is totally avoidable on her part. She can choose to sort it out but doesn't because she knows you're a soft touch and loves playing the victim. Seriously, putting firm boundaries in place is the best thing you can do for her.

Bleepbloopblarp · 03/06/2020 11:25

Also:

She didn’t message me for days or answer my calls after that

I would think it would be a blessed relief for her to stop calling you! Why are you calling her when she’s such hard work? Just stop it!

You sound like a bit of a martyr in all honesty OP - stop worrying about what others think of you. YOU know the truth of the matter - it doesn’t matter what your extended family think - I bet they all know what she’s like anyway!

saraclara · 03/06/2020 11:26

So does your brother sit in the dark too? Does he starve alongside her when she can't afford bread? If he spends his wages straight away, how doe he eat?

Come on. You know he has money. You know he's not going to stay there with the electricity cut off, or not eat for three weeks because he's spent up.

Just say no, you don't have the money either.

SpilltheTea · 03/06/2020 11:28

She's the horrible person, not you. Stop enabling her disgusting behaviour and do not give her any more money. I'd be distancing myself from her toxicity, even if she was my Mum.

Sunflowersok · 03/06/2020 11:29

@CocoR

She’s 51.

She had some bad mental heath needs when I was younger. OCD, depression, went through a difficult time when she was abused by a man on the workplace. She lost her job over her panic attacks. As much as she went through hell, she made home life extremely difficult for me. I had to care for my younger brother and Often had to steal from the shop to feed us both. She wasn’t mentally ‘present’. I don’t want to get in to all that really.

I left home when I was 13 and went to move in with my dad.

She had bad anxiety where she couldn’t leave the house for years. Crippling anxiety paired with psychosis at times. I have issues myself (obviously!) so I fully understood her Not working and going off sick. She has somewhat physical disability too After some surgery but she’s all better and on her feet too. She’s been fine for years now, she has no reason why she can’t get a job I think she’s just got comfortable.

Sometimes she gets bad with her money sitch she will ask me to help get some cleaning work or look for a job for her. When I find something, she will make an excuse as to why she can’t apply for it.

Like I said, she enjoys her poor pity me state. She must do.

OP posts:
Coffeecak3 · 03/06/2020 11:30

Your dm will never manage financially whilst you help her out.
Just say no and stop.

BobbieDraper · 03/06/2020 11:30

You have to develop a mantra for yourself and stick with it. "She is not my responsibility. The choices she made put her here. They were not my choices and they are not my problem to fix".

All the money you are handing your mum could be going into a savings account for your daughter, to give her a good start in life when she leaves school. Just think about that. Your daughter could have amazing experiences with that money, or be able to pay towards uni with that money. If something awful happens to your or your partner, she would have a little something aside.

Your mum is taking that from her, and you're letting her do it.

Your brother lives in that house; food and electricity and washing are his problem, not yours.

She is not your responsibility. Her choices put her into this position; it is not your job to fix them. You have a child to support.

Walk away. Stop speaking to her whenever she mentions money. Say your mantra, then hang up the phone. Ignore her messages. If tour wide family start on you, tell them to give her the money if they think she deserves it so much.

You need to be strong here. As a parent, there will be a lot of moments when you need to be strong, no matter how much you hate it. You need to do this now.

Bleepbloopblarp · 03/06/2020 11:31

Mama05

Your dm and dsis sound awful too! I drive and my dm and dsis don’t and they would never, ever ask me to do those things for them. probably cos they know I’d say “get lost you cheeky bitch!” Haven’t they heard of online shopping/delivery? And when you have a baby too!

People like this just make my blood boil. Please continue to tell them “no - that doesn’t work for me”. If they need something instantaneously they can bloody well learn to drive like you did can’t they?

Viviennemary · 03/06/2020 11:32

I agree with going low contact. Say to her please stop contacting me for trivial things. I'll help out in an emergency but otherwise no I work full time and am far too busy for all this. Sort yourself out. She does sound a bit unhinged.
.

Sunflowersok · 03/06/2020 11:32

@saraclara - she borrows off people. And she feeds him. She’s very much in the mindset that he’s her son so he shouldn’t have to spend his wage on himself for food. He gives her board, I think it’s 30 per week, it he spends it and borrows back more off her in the month. I’ve suspected a lot of what I have loaned her over the years has gone straight to him but she lies and denies it.

OP posts:
Studycast · 03/06/2020 11:33

Op she sounds unremittingly awful, but you mentioned she was suicidal when you were young and had mh issues.

I could have this totally wrong (in which case I apologise) but does she leave the house often, could she have a fear of going to the supermarket, could she be agoraphobic or depressed, and that impacts on her ability to earn or do her own errands, but she's too proud to admit it?

I only ask because my aunt had mh issues of this sort but she was was in denial, and it came across as being unreasonable and demanding until she got too depressed to get out of bed.

ThisShitCrazy · 03/06/2020 11:34

She didn't look after you so why should you look after her. Your child and happiness comes first OP

Pinklynx · 03/06/2020 11:36

Have you posted about your mum before? This sounds very familiar.

OP it will be very difficult for you to wean yourself off this situation without having some therapy, ideally from someone who specialises in dysfunctional families and narcissistic parents.

She is a classic narcissist, the way she uses triangulation to get her own way (getting a third party involved to make her target feel guilty so they give in to her demands). If her family and friends feel so sorry for her, why aren't they paying for her council tax, food, bills etc?

It sounds like you are too ingrained in her manipulation to get out from under this without a therapist helping you. I'd be very worried also that she'll try and drive a wedge between you and your daughter. Or at least she'll start on her once she gets old enough to have her own mind.

Les carter does a very good series of videos on YouTube about narcissists and how to manage them. I'd definitely recommend you to watch them.

Leopardprintcurtains · 03/06/2020 11:36

Op your situation sounds hellish.
I’m not making excuses for her but compulsive spending, lack of accountability and inability to manage finances are a huge part of many MH conditions and that behaviour pattern is really hard to fix on a family basis. Your brother sounds like an absolute leeching douche.

Tbh I’d Be inclined to threaten to get adult guardianship and control over her finances via MH services and court because her lack of financial control and foresight re budgets is leaving her very vulnerable. You will give her pocket money if there’s anything remaining after bills and groceries ...See how that lands and I bet she doesn’t ask again.

BobbieDraper · 03/06/2020 11:37

It really doesnt matter if she is agrophobic or whatever else other posters are going to come up with to excuse her behaviour.

She has had plenty time to sort that out and talk to you. She hasn't. She also has another child who earns more and has no children to support so if she needs help, he should be the first one she goes too since he bloody lives in the house and should be paying to do so.

She has chosen to come after you because you're the soft touch. Your brother obviously just says no; he will leave her with no food. So she has conditioned you to feel responsible.

You are not. End the contact. Dont even engage in a discussion about whatever mental problems she might have or might invent to keep you in line. Its past that point now.

sunflowersandtulips50 · 03/06/2020 11:38

I dont understand your desire to support this woman who didnt parent you from the age of 13. Has another DS who lives with her who she panders too whilst being emotionally abusive to you to get money.

Its such an unhealthy dynamic and you are the only person who can break this. She wont be sat in the dark with no money or food, she will get money from somewhere else.

Gutterton · 03/06/2020 11:39

To the poster who asked if I know she sits in the dark with no electric too. The answer is yes and it’s a common thing for her to do. I honestly believe she kinds of revels in it

Yes she does. She makes sure you hear about it. It is manipulation.

She is also now disrupting your career by physically interrupting you in the working day - and you will be less of an attuned, attentive mother, partner, employee because you are preoccupied and burdened with her.

Don’t worry what others say - often you have to “sacrifice” some friends and families in these situations. They haven’t lived your childhood. Their opinions are irrelevant - and often motivated by their own personal discomfort of having to listen to her bitch and bleat on and the real worry that they will be lumbered with her dirty work when you drop it. And they also know what she is like.

She isn’t good to your daughter. No doubt she uses her like a teddy bear for her own benefit not your daughters.

The first thing a good grandmother does for her grandchild is to treat the mother of the child with kindness and respect, and then encouragement and support, so that she is facilitating you to be the best mother you can to her grandchild - by giving you positive emotional confidence.

Bleepbloopblarp · 03/06/2020 11:39

She sounds like a massive “victim” OP. She has turned you into the role of the parent. You are not her parent and you have your own child to take care of. A mother who loved and cared for her child would not treat her like this. You have been brainwashed into thinking you are a horrible person if you don’t give in to her demands.

It sounds like the scales are starting to fall from your eyes and things will become much clearer now. She isn’t your responsibility. I would tell her If she can’t behave like a normal mother and stop using you for favours/money then she doesn’t get to have a relationship with you. That will be a good tester to see whether she’s happy to have you in her life just for the pleasure of spending time with you - not for favours.
If she has a strop and stops calling then you will have your answer and I would use that as a fresh start (one that doesn’t include your dm in your life).

hadtojoin · 03/06/2020 11:40

She is a narcissist, she thinks she is the most important person and no one elses feelings or thoughts matter to her. She wants you to help her out all the time because in her mind that means that she is obviously ( to her) such a wonderful mother that you will do anything for her because she is the most important person in your life and you love her more than anything.
She makes a fuss of your DD because she wants to be more important to your DD than you are and how can you be so mean not to help her when your DD loves her.
Next time she moans about needing money for the rent/council tax etc. Sympathise with her ' I know it's so expensive, we are struggling to find the money as well '
Narcissists usually have a golden child ( her son) who can do no wrong and a scapegoat (you) who is the one who has to look after her and do everything they can to help her. She doesn't care how much her demands affect you, as long as she gets what she wants then she is happy. The demands will get more frequent and bigger the longer it goes on. Like the others have said if you don't comply she will latch onto your DH or even your DD, anyone who she can use to her advantage.

Sunflowersok · 03/06/2020 11:40

@Mama05 oh my days I’m sorry I missed your message trying to keep up before. What a massive strain on you and your baby Sad

I don’t think people realise how much they take off people concerning time and energy and headspace. If my mum isn’t asking me for money or favours she’s constantly barricading me with text messages or phone calls. Or Demanding my time. Or for her problems. It’s that emotional burden with her too. She doesn’t even know what I do for a living!!! A lot of rude and inappropriate messages when she knows I’m at work. If I can’t answer the phone she will keep ringing until i have to switch my phone off.

She picks my Dd up from school two days a week also so I pay for her phone and money to top this up a month in case she needs to ring me for emergencies concerning my Dd. She Wastes all her messaging sending me SHIT, and then doesn’t have credit for two weeks of the month. But if I don’t pay for it, she has no way of getting in touch with me concerning my Dd. It’s like she’s got me in a corner sometimes.

OP posts:
Chamomileteaplease · 03/06/2020 11:43

So last time you fell out, she stopped answering your calls to punish you? Why the hell were you calling her in the first place.

Yes she is an abuser.

Yes you do need counselling about this issue, ASAP.

In the meantime say no, go very low contact and get it into your head that you do not need to feel guilty.

Who cares if she is nice to your daughter now, she is a headfuck and you need to keep your daughter away from her.

Toptotoeunicolour · 03/06/2020 11:44

You can't change her. You can only change your resilience to her and it sounds like that is what you are struggling with. Don't waste time wishing she were different, just focus your energy on developing a more resilient response to her. Good luck, it must be very draining.

Mama05 · 03/06/2020 11:44

How old is DD?

Can she go to a friends house after school until you can pick her up?

I e just had to tell my sister that my son isn’t well, he’s done but I shouldn’t have to make up that he’s unwell. She said it will be 5 mins. Everything always has to be with them two as a priority and it’s a joke.

Keep strong x

candycane222 · 03/06/2020 11:49

OP this is a very expensive chilcare arrangement you have set up. Make a list of everything it is costing you in time, energy, emotions and cash. Next to that put the cost of a professional childminder to pick up your dd two days week. I know which looks the better buy to me!