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I just need to rant. I’m caught in the middle of a feud regarding the care of my aging and ailing parents. I have been on the phone for hours and hours. Everyone seems to tell me different stories. I live far away from them and am in the middle of my own urgent situation (business opening) and dealing with remaining health issues brought on by stress last year. Now everyone is reaching out to me when the disagreements are coming to a head. They had pretty much kept me out of the loop for a lot of things and they just recently sprung things up on me. Now I’m also told that my opinion is not valid because I wasn’t more involved. How could I be more involved when no one told me what was happening despite contacts by phone or online? Now they reach out to me to find an ally and when I don’t agree with them I’m told my opinion has no bearing because I hadn’t been there myself and done what was needed to be done.

I’m just extremely frustrated. My stress level is through the roof. I have no time to take it easy or calm down. Some days I just want to disappear and hide in a cave in the Himalayas somewhere. I guess I’m not really looking for sympathy or suggestions. But something to take my mind of all this, something funny or silly, would be appreciated.

graceylou 8 July 13
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17 comments

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1

I have some understanding of your situation. Visited my mother this summer and got caught between my nephew and his mother, my sister about my mothers care. Lots of screaming, crying and hurt feelings. I live two thousand miles away but still was blamed at times. They did not even tell me when my mother slipped in the shower and was in the hospital. No one told me but blamed me for not calling or visiting.

0

Thank you everyone. I think my older brother and I have a plan of sorts. I’m also going to talk to my younger brother. I’m tired today so I will put all that in the back burner until Monday.

1

(((((HUGS)))) Screen your calls. Let's go for a ''girls' night".....I'll buy!

I don't know. My girls night might be entirely different idea from most people's.

@graceylou Well...you get the idea, right? Women friends are invaluable...I always tell that to young women. Hang on to women friends...they're GOLD!

@LucyLoohoo Not me. I get along better with men. I grew up with brothers.

@graceylou I understand....however, you might find that as you go through life, your attitude will change. I hope so.

@LucyLoohoo I have my reasons for not trusting female friends or coworkers. I've been stabbed in the back too many times.

2

What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend?.....Homeless! TA-DAH! Best l could do on such short notice. ?

Oh, that is funny, but also sad. Thanks.

@graceylou I don't have a girlfriend and l am not homeless. Musicians have a lot of selfdepricating jokes about ourselves and each other. ☺ Don't let it get to you too much. You can do what you can do. If people shut you out there is not much you can do about it. It does appear they are trying to be hurtful, but l hope not.

@Sticks48 I'm very stubborn and I'm sticking with my own take on this. My grad supervisor when I was a grad student said that I was a pitbull because once I latch on to an idea I wouldn't let it go. LOL.

@graceylou l have no doubt. ?

2

Here is a pic if my fur baby... she usually makes me feel better. Like a virtual hug. Hope your open goes well.

DeiP Level 5 July 14, 2018

How cute. I worked today, and I worked with dogs. Dogs are so much better than people even if the dogs are behaving like asses.

1

Sounds like crazy making. Sounds like kicking the ball to you but not letting you have the ball. The term "sleep on it" is also relative. The brain does reset, restore revive after a good sleep. Cannabis is legal. It can give new insight. Meditate for the call the adrenaline does not permit you to analyze. Canadian law is different from ours down here. But one is required to care for ones children, not ones parents. Tho culture demands we do not abandon our parents, law does not in the USA. Lawyer sounds a plausible option or at least legal advise which I can not give. But talking sensibly about the situation seems unfruitful. They want to be free of the burden but they seem to want it their way. So where is the compromise? Is there one? I wish you luck my sister. You are a good woman. Be calm & carry on. Breathe. This too shall pass.

2

From what you are saying it seems like your sister-in-law is taking over for your parents needs. Why is she being "allowed" do this? She is not blood and doesn't have any legal jurisdiction do so. Only you and your brother/siblings do. Where is your brother in this matter? Why is he letting his wife running the show. I realize you are under stress with all that's going on in the other parts of your life but you won't have inner peace until this part (parents) is resolved. Talk your brother and his wife and tell them that you can't take this anymore. If they won't listen then I think you need see a lawyer. I was lucky I didn't have this problem with my parents when they were sick since I had no siblings. Good luck (and as they say "keep the faith" ) lol.

jsbach Level 5 July 14, 2018

Well, she controls my brother too. My younger brother actually has said almost nothing. He doesn't really participate in any conversations. I can't even try to talk to him without having to deal with her. I am trying to talk to him privately but I get no response. We are trying to have a siblings only conversation but my older brother is suspicious that anything he and I say can be misinterpreted and used against us. What I want is simple. I want my parents to choose what they want for their care. I don't care if they are not of the most sound mind and if it's not the best care for them. They may not have long to live and I want them to make a decision that makes them happy.

4

Thanks for the comments everyone. I have to work early this morning so I can't get to everybody's comments. Just to clarify further, this is now an urgent matter for a number of reasons. The main reason is that my sister-in-law decided to take over care of my parents and is forcing rushed changes that she thinks my parents need but they don't actually want. She claims knowledge and background in mental health and elder issues and she thinks she knows what's best for my parents, MY parents. She is trying to convey to social services and medical authorities that my brothers (including her husband) and I do not care enough or are neglecting our parents, and it could be a very dangerous situation if we lost control over the care of our parents. The fact is, we the children know our parents best and know what they are comfortable and not comfortable with, and we know what can or cannot be done due to finances. I'm trying to make sure that the things that are done for their care is what they want, and whether we think it's the best for them or not comes second. My sister-in-law seems to indicate that she will report us to the authorities for neglect if we don't agree with the changes that she wants to force on my parents now. We agree there needs to be changes but we need to go slower and give my parents time. So, this is the biggest issue right now: my sis in law's urgency and threats against me and my older brother, with my younger brother basically just going along with his wife.

1

I'm the local guy in my family. When siblings appear and demand to know why they feel out of the loop I just shake my head. This doesn't sound like your case though.
If someone decides to swoop in all at once, they should accept that they are a swooper. It's not my fault they live 3000 miles away and I won't be held accountable for it.

I keep in contact with my parents and my siblings as well but no one ever said anything to me about the urgent matter until last month before I came to visit.

@graceylou In my case, my parents were perfectly able to communicate, and people were in touch. If they wanted something said they would have said it themselves. It wasn't my place.

@CallMeDave My parents could as well, especially my Dad. But neither said anything to me.

@graceylou Sometimes, especially with bad news, a person doesn't want to repeat it over and over. Or maybe you are the happy place where they can talk about happy things and not drag the dirt out again. Either way, I don't think it is personal. Maybe you are filling an important role as a sort of escape. I don't think it is one you would choose to take on. But it might be helpful if you could, at least partially.

1

How about changing your number for a bit.

I wish I could but at this moment I can't do that. I've thought of not answering my phone. I've apparently been accused of neglecting my parents already as it is.

@graceylou Whoever is accusing you of that is trying to make you feel guilty and perhaps you are feeling a bit guilty too as you are not living nearby. Having elderly parents is tricky, especially if we are not on the spot.

@Jolanta That would be my sister-in-law, in front of agents from social services. It's not a big deal if she makes me feel guilty but it would be if government agencies believe her.

1

I have nothing funny to offer. However, you need to stop and take a breath. You will not be good to anyone if you make yourself sick over this. Just be supportive as distance and work makes it almost impossible for you to do anything. Just ask them to keep you informed.

jab60 Level 6 July 14, 2018

I'm opening my business next week and there are many things to still get finished. I'm already wearing myself out though I had minor surgery a couple of weeks ago and am not supposed to do heavy work (I'm trying not to push it too much). Now everyone is wanting me to take sides because of the conflicting care ideas. There are very pressing matters now that I may need to take over care plans long distance.

@graceylou this won’t help but we live the life we have not the one we wish for (unless you can make it happen). There will always be difficult times and you can only give it your best shot. Good luck. I hope it all works out for you.

@jab60 Life with my family has ALWAYS been difficult. There is a reason I moved far away from them.

0

Tell them all you are on your deathbed and want them come visit you. See the reactions then.

They'd never believe it. I would never invite them to come visit me.

@graceylou
Damn, I will have to throw a wake for you when the time comes.

@VAL3941 Nah. When I know the time is near I would just walk off into the woods and no one would find my body.

@graceylou
Just make sure there are no bears about.

1

I know it is not easy but you need to make yourself your priority. There is no reason for you to take responsibility for yourself and them too. They sound as if they are only trying to pull you in if you choose their side. They are showing NO CONCERN for your needs and are placing their wants above all else so save yourself hun and then help the ones that are truly trying to do more than use you. They are not worth killing yourself over. They sound like vultures to me...don't feed them...please!

I'm not too concerned about choosing sides. I'm more interested in finding the truth. Clearly I'm not getting facts, just opinions and ideas that contradict each other. I have to be involved to sort things out for my parents' sake.

@graceylou I wish you the best. It sure does sound stressful.

0

This destroyed our family. I feel for you.

Hihi Level 6 July 14, 2018

Sorry to hear that. I thought we could deal with this in a civil manner until threats are involved. But my family never gets along so it's nothing new.

@graceylou Yeah, I thought so too. We DID get along. Now people aren't even talking to each other. It's a mess. I don't understand people at all.

@Hihi I think my brothers and I can probably work something out, just the three of us, with close consultation with my parents. But my sister in law is being fanatical in rescuing my parents from us for some reason. It's gotten insanely complicated when it shouldn't be. Now my older brother is suspicious of my younger brother (because of his wife), and hearing other sides, I've become suspicious as well. I think my Dad has also been saying untrue things to other people, not because his mind isn't right but because he interprets things his own way. So I'm thinking that I can no longer take his word for anything (he recently accused me of something I did not do, though unrelated to this matter).

1

that meets the need to break things up

Oh boy. And it's a world championship at that.

0

It's easy. Forget about them. They didn't consult you, so it's NOT YOUR PROBLEM. Go to a movie, take a walk, forget about it.

I just cut two siblings off today for bragging on being Trump supporters. They tried the "forgive and forget" condemnation cliche but I no longer believe that bunch of lies.

Afterward, I felt giddy with relief..GLAD to no longer have to pretend to like them, or to have to see them at family reunions. I just won't go.

1

I wish I could offer you something silly or funny but I cannot. What I can offer you is sympathy for the very stressful situation in which you find yourself. You are carrying quite a load already, and to add your aging parents into has to be taking its toll on you. Perhaps it will help you to realize that your siblings are feeling underhelped and looking for support, so you can offer them moral support and explain to them your own difficulty right now. The important thing may be to offer emotional support and explain that that’s because that’s all you can do right now and you’re very sorry, but that’s how it is. I hope this maybe of help to you.

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