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Relationships

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

Does my mum need help?

28 replies

oneproudmumma · 18/12/2023 12:08

I'm finding my mum really hard work to be around. She's always been a bit hyper and highly strung but in the last year it's become worse.

She's incredibly critical of me, how I parent and dismissive of my opinions - but always asking me for help with things. Eg I'll find her some tradesmen and if they don't do the work to her standard she'll lash out and say "well you told me to use them!!" Hmm

She will come round and start moaning pretty much the minute she comes through the door. If my DC don't immediately rush to give her a hug (they see her often) she'll accuse them of not loving her, not wanting her there.

My DB has autism and MH issues. A lot exacerbated by her treatment of him (she literally treats him like a baby) and if I try to suggest they do anything differently with him that might benefit him, she'll lash out and accuse me of hating my DB. I'll protest and she'll shut me down.

She ruined DC birthday because she threw a massive strop about something she'd got the wrong end of the stick about and her and my DF refused to come to the gathering. DH family were like: are your parents not coming? I was so embarrassed by them. Then she messaged my DH and said she felt I was shunning them and "hadn't stopped crying" Wth!!!

She has an autoimmune disorder and struggles to sleep due to my DF, so not sure if that has something to do with it, but whenever I suggest she sleeps in a separate room, she changes the subject, or closes it down irritably.

I'm just exhausted by it all. Any advice?

OP posts:
FloweryWowery · 18/12/2023 19:03

You can't please the unpleasable. You are trying to fill a bottomless pit. Set some boundaries - you don't have to agree them with DM or even let her know. Disengage, keep quiet. Must be really hard with your DB, but you have tried. You do not have to be nice to people who are horrible to you.

oneproudmumma · 18/12/2023 19:50

Thank you for all your replies. It's all very helpful advice 🙏 There's an added complication with my situation in that DP moved closer to us recently: this was so that, because of DB long term issues, DH and I would be closer to help them as they get older. DM was for the move but DF was not and had to be persuaded.

OP posts:
lovenotwar149 · 19/12/2023 07:57

The choice to put ourselves first seems to NOT be how we have been conditioned, in my case by my mother. Her famous line to me was and still is...
"I always put others first and myself last."
I bought into it for yrs and yrs. I have now realised she did anything but that. Her needs are what were behind her actions, dressed up as 'I'm doing it for you!'
I am VERY astute nowadays to people who claim 'I am doing it for you.'

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