Mom is driving me crazy!

Hi amwe76,

did you feel better after writing? Writing emotions always helps me, it especially helps if someone reads them. Please don't stress yourself out by feeling guilty about feeling resentful, frustrated and unappreciated. Emotions are healthy, don't make them something else to feel bad about.

You didn't really ask any questions, just wanted to get it out eh? Good.

Now if you are having all these emotions because, just maybe, you are actually being driven crazy, maybe its time to consider some other arrangement? Something that would give your mom some of her independence back and perhaps, you, your sanity?

The focus of your home should be raising your children. I don't know the answer here, it would be for you to say. Could mom's widowhood and aneurysm be taking "center stage" in your home? Generations living together have to work to keep the home environment balanced. Your marriage and the raising of your children should be everyone's priorities.

Amwe76- wow. I could relate to your post. My mom had a brain aneurysm when she was 54 -now that I am 50 myself, she was a lot younger than I realized :). She used to say the exact same thing about how we didn't appreciate how her life changed. Our lives were turned upside down also, but she really could not see that. OncehatedDIL has some good advice. It is alot to take that on when you have small children. A couple of questions- can your mother drive? Does she have any ongoing issues related to the aneurysm? My mom had seizures that grew more frequent as time went on. They seemed to take a little bit of her with each one. The resulting damage from the aneurysm is very similar to dementia. Maybe talk to her doctor to understand if her situation is stable- as in you wouldn't expect it to get worse as in alzheimers. If that is the case, maybe she can get her own apartment near you. Some occupational therapy might help her adjust to her limitations and allow her to be more independent. If she can do that at 56, it would be so much better for you. Did she work before she had her aneurysm? If so, did she ever get SS disability? Is she getting benefits from your father? If she is not getting anything, I would check into that. An aneurysm is a traumatic and difficult thing to go through. Your mother, and you, must be very strong to have gotten this far. I would talk with her dr and make sure you understand her current status, and talk to them about what might be available to help her regain some independence. Good luck to you.

What you are going through may not be the worst story we have ever heard of on here, but it IS tough. It IS normal for you to miss your Dad and grieve for the "Gramma's House" experiences you and the kids don't get to have...my only other thoughts on what might help would be cognitive and physical rehab programming for your mom, and a grief group for you too! I went to one at my mom's Hospice for quite a while - it was odd to be the only one losing a parent among mostly people who had lost their spouse but it still helped a lot. God Bless You and your family!

amwe76, You and your mother have lots in common you know. You BOTH hate the circumstances, you BOTH miss a common loved one, you BOTH hate having to either hear or say the same thing over and over again. Your mother is young enough that she could live another 20+ years, so unless you and she want this to go on and on, the TWO of you had better be coming up with another alternative. How about a housing option where people like your mother who have different physical limitations live in an apartment complex? We have at least one place here in Portland Oregon where residents that have crippling problems live in one building in their own apartments. It is subsidized by the state of Oregon or federally I'm not sure, but the rent is on a sliding scale so they hardly pay anything. Start checking around for options like that one. If your mother has to jump thru red tape hoops in order to get government subsidies, then DO IT. You and SHE are not going to want to do this for the next 20 years.

Amwe76- one other thing. Your story really touched me as I went through this very thing. My mother lived 13 years after her aneurysm. It was a horrible road to go down, especially the last five. My MIL now is going through alzheimers. Both are hard. While different, the experiences can be very similar, with the exception that the aneurysm can occur much earlier in life. Also, with alzheimers the decline is generally gradually. you don't really know for sure when it started. An aneurysm is a traumatic event - literally an explosion in the brain. One thing I saw alot with my mother and now with my MIL is the frustration. They can get easily upset when they can't do something or don't remember something they know they should be able to do. It is good to get on these sites and vent when you need to. For a young person to feel the loss of independence so early in life, it can be very difficult. So, any of that independence you can help her get back, the better it is for both of you. I would definately try to understand what her situation is. If she is not having on-going events (seizures, mini-strokes), she could probably learn to be on her own more. That would help her feel better about her situation. Right now she is focused on what she has lost between her independence and your father. That's alot for. 56 yr old to have gone through. You can't bring your father back, but maybe you can help her get some of herself back. Look into what she qualifies for, and as NancyH said- fight for her to get it.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all so much for your comments and suggestions I feel like I have been given a tremendous gift. I have looked into getting her her own place and there are options, one is a low cost apartment which would be the best option, but it is in the town that I grew up in (which is only 15min from the town we live in now) but because of that my mom says that there are to many memories for her to live there again, even though that is where we do most of our shopping, banking, ect. I can't get her to see that it would be so much better for the both of us. There would be a schedule where I would come over to help her clean if she needed it and make sure she was eating properly(I thought it might be fun to have a day where we cook and fill her freezer). I would still take her to her appointments and shopping ect. Both my children are in school full time this year so it would be no problem to do these things with her during the week. However, every time we (or a counsellor for that matter) tries to coax her into the idea she gets upset and says she " knew it would come down to this, that she IS a burden." Sometimes she even goes so far as to say she would die if I put her in a home. I know she is depressed and she doesn't understand that going to these apartments would heal what is happening here. I am stuck because she is so young I would never put her in a home and I don't think she would even need assisted living yet, but she can't drive and she can't work and other than short term memory loss she is otherwise okay. She is very very stubborn and gets REALLY upset when I (or any one else for that matter) tries to talk to her about changing the situation. We live in Canada so she has her CPP and AISH for income which isn't to bad. That is all she qualifies for here financially but like I said it's enough. The other thing she was really stubborn about was a reprieve worker. Someone who would come once a week or so and take mom out to do whatever she wanted to do. It work give us a break from each other and take the responsibility off of me for a couple of hours, but that was a no go because this person would be a stranger even though the counseller said "only at the beginning, then you may make a new friend in her". Honestly and sadly my mom would rather sit downstairs and be alone and depressed than take any help. She wants the option to be alone until she feels like coming up to see what is going on upstairs. (She basically has the entire basement to herself, bedroom, bathroom, and a living room) There is no outside entrance down there however so it's not like a basement suite or anything. I can't even talk to her about boundaries without her getting all offended. This is why I have basically just distanced myself and do what I need to do. It really saddens me. So if anyone has any suggestions on how I might communicate to her better without her getting all offended that would be really great, otherwise I fear what my husband said "That no matter what we try and do, any change, to her will not be well received." In other words it coudl get ugly and I really don't want to fight and disintegrate what is left of our relationship. Our other option is to live it out for a couple more years and then we could get together with my brother and see if we could buy her a house. (I do realize that is probably just a dream and not a very viable one)

Just wondering- is it possible she is afraid to be alone? Because aneurysms can strike suddenly and are often deadly, maybe she is afraid of being by herself. My mother was so hard to communicate with and not offend as is my MIL now. Does she have any friends that could help position a new arrangement with her? Somehow position it as an opportunity. I do think you have to be careful with her age. She doesn't want to feel like she is "old".

That's just it, she is not old so it does put a different twist on things. I don't think she is afraid to be alone but I could probe at that and find out. Her friend and her have in common that they both have lost their husbands at a young age. The difference is that her friend still has her health. She recently switched houses with her son and his family so that they could have the bigger house and she downsized to the smaller house. My mom came back from a visit there and was in such a good mood and commenting on how her friend had such a nice little house. Then the other day we where doing some shopping and she was wanting to by some more laundry detergent, she likes to stock up a little, (since she does the laundry she likes to by the detergent, which is fine) but I made an observation to her saying she likes to buy that stuff because she is so nurturing and she likes to take care of a house, but now that is basically gone, so the one or two things she can do for a house it almost goes to excess. She pondered that for a moment and agreed, "Hmm, maybe your right" she said. When I joked with her and said she wanted a house like her friends she didn't disagree. It depends a lot on her mood. I think if I could present her with a little cozy house she would be overjoyed and accepting but maybe the idea of apartment living is depressing to her. Thank you for your concern and suggestions.

Also, I was wondering, in everyone's experience out there, is finding separate dwellings always the right answer? I mean especially in my case since my mom is relatively healthy, young, and mobile. Is there any suggestions on how we might find harmony with the way things are?

Hmmm. Maybe rather than explore separate housing, maybe go at it from the nurturing aspect and see if there is an outside activity,, such as volunterring, that might help. That would boost her self esteem and make her feel more useful. Might be a baby step to more independence.

olivia76, a couple of things I was wondering about, can your mom's friend talk to her about her becoming more independent? And you may have to just TELL her that in order for you and her to NOT ruin your relationship, she's going to have to move out. You might as well brace yourself for that one I'm afraid. You don't want to be one of the people on this website, who after 10 or 15 years of dealing with this, is wishing their parent 'would just die'. Don't go there. She needs to find her own life before that happens.

Is it possible for your mom to try out the apartment for just a month?
Or something similar? Is there some win-win situation you could present her with? Perhaps with the help of the counselor?

Cybeebe27, thank you for that suggestion. I will find out. NancyH, I have gone down that road, about two years ago. I tried to be gentle and explain how it would be better for all and she just gets all frustrated and angry and immediately feels rejected. That is why I am so confused. She spends so much time alone in the basement but says she doesn't want to live alone. There is really no difference other than she gets to come upstairs whenever it pleases her and interject on what it going on with family life. I know that sounds really rude, but sometimes I feel like there is no privacy. Sometimes I just want to be with my husband and children without her poking her nose in. Anyway, thank you for the advice, and for lending an ear. I will go back to the counselor and see what my options are. I think I am a little bit frozen too. I tell myself that things are fine and if I bite tongue and smile and nod things will stay fine, but I know that is no way to live and it is not fair to my family either. I think my mom is oblivious to a point about how I really feel but I can't tell her, even gently without her getting really upset. What I am saying is she thinks this setup is just peachy. Maybe if I start with something like, "Mom, I want to help try to get back some of your independence......."

After having my MIL in our home for 8 years and dealing with her health decline and now her anger/rage issues - I would ABSOLUTELY, DEFINITELY, IMMEDIATELY find alternative living arrangements for your mother. Perhaps assisted living.

Don't let her tell you that there are too many 'memories' here or there. Memories are in our minds! We take them wherever we go.

Do this for HER - she will have a semblance of independence again - and do this for YOU and YOUR FAMILY. Talk to your doctor and her doctor - talk to your local area on aging - find out your options and ACT.

Consider what you would want YOUR children to do and 'give up' for you under similar circumstances. I never want my children to have the experience and heartbreak that I have endured the last few years. My MIL may not be able to help herself - but that changes absolutely nothing.

Oldcoodger2, thank you for your insight. I will make appointments with these professionals to seek other arrangements. I have thought about it, if something like this were to happen to me one day and I personally never want to live with my adult children. If I were unable to stay in my house I would demand other alternatives that do not include living in my adult children's home. I would never impose on them that way, plus I wouldn't be happy. I need my own place to call home, something I can take care of. That is where it differs for my mom and I, where we own our home, my parents did not, otherwise she could have stayed there just fine or sold and bought elsewhere. Also I have many hobbies and interests ( which I can't wait to pursue further in my golden years), my mom really doesn't, or if she does she won't do anything about it unless I get involved. I know, a bit off topic but it all plays in as to why things are the way they are......

I do like that idea and it has been mentioned before. She seems to like the idea but then when becomes a reality she finds ways of backing out or just plain complaining about it. Plus she doesn't like the idea that for everything she has/wants to do she relies on me for a ride. It makes her feel like a burden, even though I am happy to take her here and there. I am doing it for my kids anyway what's one more

the about comment is in reference to volunteer work:)

Thanks for sharing your story. I feel for you. I like that you are open to seeing if it can be worked out while she still lives under your roof. That can only happen amicably if you both get clear on your needs and expectations, then set down ground rules that are followed (allowing some flexibility).. There have been some good comments here and I have a couple of suggestions also.
Since you said she likes to be alone and will come up when she is ready, you should point out to her that you/your family need private time or alone time too (whatever you want to call it). Maybe you can establish some times and areas in the house that are "open" and some times and areas that are "private." Sometimes having a schedule can be very helpful to someone whose life doesn't have much structure. Perhaps scheduling day trips or exercise walks, etc, can help put meaning into a day. I like the suggestion for volunteering. Set up a family meeting every so often to review the arrangement. It might be helpful to have an outside person be in attendance if family members tend to get defensive in these kinds of situations to sort of mediate the discussion.
I wish you well and hope that your situation improves. You and your mom are both too young to have these problems with each other.

I took mom to a counselor. Mom didn't like her. She doesn't want to go for walks. Or more honestly if she does, I don't want to take her cause I am sooo tired of hearing the same stories over and over again and the talk and grief of missing my Dad. It grates on my nerves. She doesn't want to volunteer. She is depressed I'm sure but doesn't want to do anything about it. I think she is really lonely and I feel like an awful daughter because I feel like I avoid her alot. The low rental AISH supported complex is a depressing little place and mostly mentally handicapped lived there. I could never send her there. I don't think there are any other facilities in our area where she might be able to live. I feel stuck.

Boy, how to "uninvite" Mom to family time! Ugh. It does sound like she needs to do SOMETHING that isn't just sitting around feeling sorry for herself though.

Library volunteer? Community garden? Send her to a nursing home to visit people (who won't mind the stories being repeats) or drop her off at the humane society (er, to volunteer, not to re-home her!). Something at a thrift store? Maybe a shut-in person could use a companion for a few hrs a day (contact Meals-on-wheels or a local church). She has too much good life left to waste hunkered in a basement driving the both of you nuts.
To modify the old bar-closing line "I don't care where you go, you just can't stay here".

Thank you for your suggestions. They are all really good ideas. My mom is EXTREMELY stubborn and sensitive. The two don't mix. I guess if I could get her friend to suggest these things to her it might work but it will never happen if she hears it from me.