Help with mother-in-law

[frieda]

I don't even know where to start, so I will start with what is most current. My husband has taken a job overseas and I am left behind to care for my mother in law. We will move to join him in a month or so. That might seem like a small problem, but the thing is she has been with us for last four years. After she moved in, we stopped going anywhere. I have lost all my friends because they ask me to take my mother in law with me everywhere I go. I dread meeting people. I have gone to movies about 4 times in last one year and for  that too I have heard comments from people that I should have taken her with me. I know I suffer from acute social anxiety disorder.

About my mother in law- she loves to criticize me to others. Whenever she meets someone, she tells them everything about my daily routine. It's like living on reality television forever. I believe people also like juicy gossips. There is nobody I can trust.

There is no hope for me. It's going to be like this forever. When I pray, I hear only one thing that the only solution to this is to die. I sometimes think ways to end my life.

[The_Real_David_Charles]

Dear frieda,

I thought it was bad enough having my mother in law 2 streets away but living with one for 4 years with more to follow must be quite a strain.  Old people love to gossip and tell us young ones how to run our lives.  It's hard wired into their DNA or something.  They've got no job or family to direct on a daily basis like when we are younger parents.   I think the gossip is basically a twisted sense of mothering.  They just can't help checking everything and feeling important.   Well, until they die.

You probably need to do an activity that only suits you - just to give you space to breath.  Exercise springs to mind - walking fast, jogging, running, swimming, soccer, even getting a dog that will not only give you an excuse to leave the house but will also listen to your every thought and vent.  Free of charge.

Overseas work means big bucks - so maybe you're husband can give you a Granny Fund to organise social stimulation for your mother in law rather than feel the pressure of doing it all yourself.    Probably not good in the long term as,even if you do something independant, your mother in law will sellotape you to a chair on return, shine a strong light in your eyes and say "Tell me everything....".

The one great thing about the relationship is that your mother in law is totally predictable.  She'll repeat anything you say.......I mean anything.    Goodbye Social Anxiety Disorder hello Mind Changing Games.  To her friend:  "Yes, Doris, she says she's really working for the FBI and has a piece of Monica Lewinsky's dress in a safety deposit box in Zurich".  Let the games begin.

Adios, David.

PS   Write down all your methods of ending your life in a journal and leave it open for your husband to read when he gets back.    Then have the nursing home number handy.   Your husband has you as the No.1, not his mother.  Sounds like you need to take back some control mentally and physically.  It could be worse - you could be living with teenagers.  Seriously.

[geoff]

dear Frieda, living with parents and/or in law's parents never works out, there's always hassles and the way you want to do things doesn't seem to suit them, so conflict begins, it may start on one thing which can be sorted out, but then it always leads onto other problems.

It never seems to be an option, and hostility begins, trying to do something so that they don't find out, or they are not involved in.

Now what I am going to say may create conflict between you and your husband, and then your mother in law may become emotional, causing a worse situation, however at the back of nursing homes there are units where the person can live by themselves, which means cooking, shopping, cleaning, etc. and their pension pays for this, not all their pension, but a large proportion.

Now if she is unable to do these things then it may mean for her to be placed into a nursing home, ouch I can hear your mother in law and husband saying.

But really your husband has to decide whether he wants to keep you or keep mummy, and if he's a mummy's boy you know the answer to this, and she will also pressure him into doing what she wants.

You have your own life to live, and remember mummy's boy never seems to understand this, as all they want to do is what mummy says. L Geoff. x

[frieda]

Thanks for your reply David

The Real David Charles said:You probably need to do an activity that only suits you - just to give you space to breath.  Exercise springs to mind - walking fast, jogging, running, swimming, soccer...

I go for 45 mins walk everyday. I also go to gym 4 times a week and do yoga. I also meditate several times a day. None of it is helping me. I am just getting more miserable day after day.

PS   Write down all your methods of ending your life in a journal and leave it open for your husband to read when he gets back.    Then have the nursing home number handy.   Your husband has you as the No.1, not his mother. 

I don't need to drop hints. I have spoken to him several times about killing myself. The bitter truth is even if I act upon it, my mother in law stays. She is never going to leave.   

It could be worse - you could be living with teenagers.  Seriously.

I much prefer living my teenager. He was actually my only support system and helped me look after his GM. He unfortunately moved out last year to pursue his dreams.

[The_Real_David_Charles]

Dear Frieda,

My psychologist told me once that when an over bearing relative - like your mother in law - eventually passes away the legacy of control continues.  So unfortunately the air of control will remain for a while.  It's like they never die.

More than anything you need some respite.  I agree some teenagers are vibrant and healthy.  I've just had 3 move out so am enjoying the freedom.    Too bad your son can't visit a bit more and take the strain.  Is he close by ?

Can your husband step in and put some boundary conscience to your mother in law.  You know, will she listen to him if your whole depressive/suididal stuff is explained.  More importantly, can she help you ?   Sometimes, a person in your mother in laws situation doesn't even realise the full consequences.

The exercise is probably helping a little bit but you are stuck on the black mindset of having to deal with your mother in law.   LIke you said, if you suicide, walk or do yoga you are still left with that domestic situation.  It's like you can't win.   It's eating you away and denying your real self time to breathe and exist.

Adios, David.

[frieda]

Thanks Geoff.

David, I am sorry my reply looks quite weird. I don't know what has gone wrong with it and I have decided not to quote now.

My husband has tried his best to change things for better and has succeeded in some ways. Earlier she used to have direct conflicts with me. Now she doesn't. I also don't talk to her, because she has ways of twisting words. Her conversation  only involve  two things anyway- demands and complaints. I find the whole set up weird, two people living together and not talking at all. A few days ago, she asked me to cook a specific dish. I ignored but I feel very agitated and helpless.

Although, I stated that she has been with us for for years, the fact is that prior to that she has been with us on and off for 20 years. She is 70 now. About 15 years ago, she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder. She was treated for it and still takes meditation, however, she stopped doing any work after that. She hasn't cooked a single meal in 15 years nor has done any other household work. Her daughters, siblings and friends put pressure on us to not make her do any work except may be chopping vegetables. Her meal has to be put on table on time, if it is a few minutes late, she calls her daughter and complains. I know she can not do anything more nor can her daughters, but I feel extremely agitated.

[geoff]

dear Frieda, I would go around to all or any nursing homes, don't take any s----t from her daughter, your sister-in-law, they obviously won't have her, nor should you, it's NOW time for her to move into one.

Just tell her that all her meals will be on time, maybe her washing done for her, or tell your sister in law to do it, and does she do anything for her at all.

Nursing home for sure. L Geoff. x

[frieda]

Dear Geoff,

In the cultural background that I come from, we are not supposed to send our in laws to nursing homes, also it's the son who has to have his parents with him and not the daughters. If you are lucky and your husband has a brother then you can be free, if you are not, you are stuck with them forever. There is no solution for this I guess. Thanks for your suggestion, anyway.

[geoff]

dear Frieda, thanks for your reply,.

Does this also include the free standing one bedroom units that are detached from any nursing home where they can cook by themselves etc, but they do have a button to press in case of any emergency.

There are normally a group of these units which do have a small backyard and with gas facilities, stove heater and hot water systems. L Geoff. x

[Vegetarian Marshmallow]

I think I'm lucky in that I don't have any strange cultural rules affecting me.  Other than maybe reminders every now and then that I should find a girl, get married, and have children.

Tradition is nonsense.  It deserves no automatic respect.  In fact, it deserves the opposite - *suspicion*, for the very fact that it's old and thus out of touch with the way the present-day world actually works.  The older generation have had their day, they've lived their lives by those silly rules they chose to enforce on themselves.  That's done with.  Now it's your turn to live, by your own silly rules.  You had no say in the way they lived, so why should they have any say in the way you live?  Oh, they'll sure WANT to have a say in how you live, alright.  And they'll be convincing because for your whole life, you've been used to them telling you what to do.  That doesn't make it right.  It makes them in need of a hobby.