I need to talk about this and because of the sensitive nature of it, would prefer not to do so with RL friends as most of them don't know the history. I will try to be concise.
My mum and I have a troubled relationship - mainly because of her last 2 marriages - she remarried when I was 7 and my stepfather was an evil man who abused me physically and mentally for 7 years until he killed himself. when I told her about this at the time she told me I was lying and has never been willing to discuss it again. Her next marriage happened in Las Vegas, and she didn't even tell me until she had done it.
She came to stay last week and demanded to know what I was going to do with my life as I am 37 now and I needed to have something to show for myself by the time I am 40.
I have been happily married for 11 years to a wonderful man and we have 3 beautiful children, but I gave up my career when I fell pg with my first as dh and I were in the same profession which involves a lot of travel and we felt that one of us needed to always be there for the children, while the other was away, and we have no problems with the fact that it was me who left, but due to the credit crunch we are now very poor as all my savings were invested into a house which is now in negative equity and we are struggling to bring up the 3 children - but we have never asked for help - it is our responsibility, but it was obvious to her when she came just how much we have tightened our belts.
In one fell swoop she has made me feel comepletely worthless and inconsequential again as if my family are not an 'achievement' enough. How do I respond to this? The dcs adore her, which is the only reason I persevere with her.
Thanks for reading this - sorry it is long