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Need advice on mother-daugher relationship

Littlek

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I'm at the end of my rope with stress. I need non-judgmental advice on a mother-daughter relationship. I am middle aged with grown children of my own and my mother is in her 70s. Very active for her age. I suffer from a chronic pain condition which, really already nags me. I feel like I have never had a close relationship with my mother. There was a lot of marital issues when I was little, been through divorce, lost dad at age of 11, moved out of state and away from family a year after that with my mother. I lived with her for 2 years out of state and that was one of the worst times of my life. I continually cried and wanted to move back to my family. I was very close to one of my sisters, she was more like a mother to me. I did move away from her at the age of 13 and was raised by my sister until I got married. Early 20s. She (sister) died 6 years later from cancer. My problem is my mother was gone for years out of state. Moved back when my children were around 2 to 3. She has moved several times and even moved 2 hours away for about 5 years. Now since she's been back and has moved like literally 5 mins away from me. She is very anxious, selfish at times, demanding, disrespectful and she feels like since she is my "mother" she can have her way with me and have special privileges. I feel that she may have a bipolar personality somewhat. She is very opinionated, and she will say what's on her mind without thinking. She will tell me what to do in a heartbeat and even told me on the phone the other day what to do with my grown children, in a pushy voice and this is not the first time. She will call me sometimes 2 or 3 times a day or at least every other day. It does go a week rarely. She comes over without calling, and I have asked her nicely to call and she doesn't. She showed up at 10:45 am today and I was just getting out of the shower. She over worries about things and I told her we have to give that to God. I do have concerns of my children but I pray to God about it. Don't get me wrong, I love my mother. If she were sick or needed help I would be right there, as I have before. I do care for her, but her personality and what she does to me has made me very irritable and I do not want to be around her at all. I have never really been close to her and I feel she's trying to make up for what she missed years ago.
Is it okay, to feel like this with your mother? I know we are suppose to honor our parents, BUT do we let them treat us with disrespect? Is it okay not to want a close relationship with your mother? I have tried talking to her, but she will change the subject and plenty of times she has said "I'm your mother" like she has some special privilege or can still control me being my age. I feel bad for feeling like this, but if someone is abnoxious, is it okay not to want to be around them?
I get tense, angry and sometimes I am ready to move away. I just want to be left alone. I know life is precious, but when someone, even if it is your parents are acting like this, how do you deal with it? and I feel like God is mad at me for not being a footstool to my mother.
 

ValleyGal

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It is not okay to let her treat you with disrespect. It sounds like your mom needs very firm boundaries. For example, if it were me, I'd let her know that if she comes over without calling first, I may not answer the door. Another thing you can do is screen your calls. If you see her number pop up, don't answer if you don't want to talk with her. It is not disrespect; it is you having healthy boundaries and being responsible for your own feelings towards her.

God is all about love. How can you best love your mom without starting to feel resentment or other "negative" feelings? We are fallible human beings, so if we are unable to love up close, maybe we can love better from a distance.
 
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Littlek

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Thank you both for understanding, because I am feeling like I am being the bad daughter. Yes, she has a cat, and a husband. I think it would be great to find friends her own age around this area. I agree, I need healthy boundaries! and I feel like I can love better from a distance. I just didn't know if my feelings and needing space more was wrong, because she is my mother and we are suppose to honor our parents. I think it has something to do with not really being raised by her...now she wants to be a mom. Too late.
 
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ValleyGal

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It is never too late to start having a better relationship with a parent. However, you have a unique situation in that she has not really had the "mom" role in your life. So I guess my question is, can you treat her like kin and have a kinship relationship without it being the "mom" part of kinship? Yes, we are to honor our parents - it is more dishonoring to allow her to walk all over you for several reasons. You can teach her about healthy relationships. Additionally, Jesus never allowed people to walk all over him, so why should we expect people in our lives should be allowed to walk all over us?

Your mom is older, so it's unlikely you are ever going to change her. You only can control how you respond to her, and if you are going to change how you respond to her, it is fair to give her a headsup and let her know specifically how you are going to change your responses - such as the example I gave earlier with not answering the door if she comes over without calling first. Another thing you can do is maybe have a discussion of all this with her and her husband, so he can also be aware of what she is doing and how things need to change so the relationship improves.

Imo, though, the most important part is about having a hard discussion about the nature of your relationship. Let her know where you stand as a daughter who was mothered by someone else. Let her know how that has all contributed to how you are now, and also let her know that you would like to have a kinship relationship with her, but it must be mutually respectful as two adults both with grown children.

I wish you well as you work this out with your mom... it sounds like a really tough position to be in.
 
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Goodbook

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Its not too late to have a relationship but you have to pray for her and that it be a healthy one.
Most daughters have issues with their mum even if they raised us..if your mum isnt a christian then its harder if you are, so keep praying for her salvation anyway.

But remember that Jesus was asked who his brothers and sisters were, and his mother and he didnt say his birth family...it was whoever does the will of God. So in your case, whoever mothered you is really your mother. You belong to God and if shes hassling you, then ask God to protect you, thats his job. He is our refuge and strong tower.
 
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Mudinyeri

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Sounds relatively normal to me. :shrug: My mother in-law lives about ten minutes away and often pushes boundaries in ways similar to those you described. Unlike your mother, my MIL has no husband or pets. Her other children live on the East Coast (we are in Nebraska). One of them seems to want no contact with her. We are almost all she has.

From a distance, it seems there are some practical steps that you could take to protect your privacy and boundaries. You could even walk your mother through them, e.g. "Mom, we've asked you not to come over unannounced. Going forward, our doors will be locked (may be irrelevant if she has a key, garage code, etc.) at all times (good home security policy anyway). If you want to come over, just give us a call or send us a text message. Sometimes, we just want our privacy."

Amazing things happen when you confront problems head-on!
 
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