Suspicious of attempts to reconnect
For background, my SD is 29 and is completely emeshed in MIL and BM. We have very little contact. MIL has chosen BM and SD over my husband for the past 25 years. DH was not married to BM; I am the first and only wife. MIL and SD have no relationship with my two sons with DH who are now teenagers. I have been incredibly hurt by MIL over the years so I had to distance myself. MIL is getting older and uses a walker to get around and can't drive. Shes only 73 but has MS and they suspect she has dementia. She is a narcissist; it's always about her and she is never wrong. Never apologizes. She refuses to go to the doctor about the memory loss. ANYWHO... she and FIL visited in March while I was out of town. They live 8 hours away in another state. DH and I have two homes and apparently she really bragged about our properties, and joked that she could be DH's cook and housekeeper. According to DH, MIL had a dream that she and my mother were living with us. JUST NO.
SO NOW, she says that she wants to "make up" with me. She has not reached out to me in years. My immediate thought is she knows we have nice things and wants her claws back into us. She also knows that BM/SD do not have anything (barely scraping by). And, I also think she is now wondering who is going to take care of her. Her husband is older, and while he is doing okay right now, he has had heart problems. If he dies, she is screwed. DH's only sibling died years ago (the golden child), so it's only him left (the scapegoat). I have NO INTEREST in reconnecting with her. I want peace in my life. I do not want their drama which is always with case with SD - they team up. My thought is that she has consistently chosen BM/SD, so that's where she should turn next. I know I sound harsh, but I do not owe her anything, and I certainly do not want to take care of a woman who has had nothing good to say about me for 25 years. My DH and I have worked hard all of our lives to have what we do.
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Toxic folks
I would feel the same as you about this renewed interest -deep suspicion. Your MIL sounds like the drama queen of the world. Well, give her this, she's not dumb. She sees where her best interests lie. How does your DH feel? If you decide to disengage from her future care, will he go along? Does she have the funds for long term care? Is Medicaid a possibility?
MIL can see the writing on the walks
Most likely, BM and her GD are not helping her enough. Guest BM and GD must have to go shopping for her, she doesn't drive, and have to take her places she must go to. BM/GD don't taker her out to lunch/ dinner/ movies/ hair appointment /. /. /. /.
She see if you don't help her, she will be sitting at home 24/7/365. Don't take the baiting. She may feel like she needs someplace to live in a few years., and BM/GD will not take her.
I am sorry you are dealing
I am sorry you are dealing with this. MIL has chosen a hard path for herself and is stuck with it. But, even if you and MIL were on the best of terms, it would not be realistic for you to take care of an elderly person with both MS and dementia. Even if she had only one of those conditions, it would not be feasible.
Whatever happens, this is going to be hard on DH.
It sounds like your intuition
It sounds like your intuition is spot on. I wouldn't feel any obligation towards MIL if I were you or DH. She made her bed a long time ago.