I don't want mom to move in with my family. Does that make me a bad person?

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Q: Am I bad selfish, daughter if I don't want my mother to move in with me, my husband and our two children?

A: In an ideal world, we'd all have unlimited money, health, time, and energy—enough to do all the things we want to do. In the real world, there are rarely enough resources to go around, so we spend a lot of effort trying to balance needs and responsibilities according to our values and beliefs.

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It would be nice to think that it's always possible to work out a painless compromise, but that really isn't always the case. More often than not, to give to one you must take from another.

From the way you word your question, your primary focus right now seems to be your husband and children, and the life you have together. You believe that adding your mother to the mix would disrupt the life you've worked to build, but you also seem conflicted about choosing which of your responsibilities should get priority right now.

Only you can decide what's right for you, given your particular history and circumstances, and what works for you might be different than what would work for your friends or siblings. Not wanting you mother to disrupt your family's life isn't selfish—but it may be something you need to explore with a therapist, clergy, or trusted friend to air your feelings and feel comfortable with your decision.


Dr. Mary A. Languirand, PhD is a clinical psychologist who co-authored "When Someone You Love Needs Nursing Home, Assisted Living, or In-Home Care." Read her full biography

 
 

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  •  Comments 1 to 7 of 7 
 
 

Julia

Give a Hug

Feb 22, 2010

My own experience makes me want to advise the daughter that she would be selfish to NOT put her husband and children first. If she has doubts about her ability to manage her responsibility to them should her mother become part of the household, she probably has good reason.
I welcomed my mother (with doubts) for what was to be a short time and turned out to be several months of exhausting full-time care. I missed every single monthly parent meeting at my son's school for his entire junior year, I had to drop PhD hopes, I missed my daughter's debut as a professional musician and all of her subsequent shows for 6 months, I was not able to see her new apartment or help her paint and furnish it, so on... all these things we do for/with our young adult kids, and if yours are younger they need you even more!
At the end of it all, my mom survived cancer but ended up in assisted living anyway, with dementia. She is well cared for, but I now have had to turn my back on my hateful siblings who never helped yet criticized and insulted constantly. My extended family life is in a shambles, everyone is angry and depressed, and I can't help but wonder if things might have been better had my mom gone directly to a nursing home when her doctor recommended it over a year ago.
We're not living in the 18th century anymore - a longer life expectancy means more extensive care is required to keep parents functioning at an optimum level. Life now also demands a different set of rules for women as wives, mothers, and contributors to the economy - shunning these responsibilities for the all-consuming duty of caretaking seems an archaic thing to do. This is why assisted/supportive living facilities are now popping up, and there are many good ones out there - some even covered by Medicaid.
The fact that you are in a quandary confirms your love for your mother, so you are not selfish at all to recognize that your efforts must be placed in fostering the development of your youngsters and in keeping harmony within the home. It's good for kids to participate in Grandma's care, but only to the extent that they not be forced to relinquish their own mother and childhoods to do so.

 
 

JaneB

Give a Hug

Oct 6, 2011

I am seven weeks into having my frail elderly Dad move in with us. We made the offer on a temporary basis, until he decided which assisted living facility to adopt as his next home. He lived 8 hours away, and getting him up here was a stop-gap before assisted living and hopefully continuous care. Now he won't consider assisted living. We are adapting -- have some flexibility to finish the basement so part of my "real" family needs can be accommodated down there, installed a chair lift/stair glide. But I am really wrestling with how to balance everyone's needs, keep him feeling somewhet independent, not be resentful of all the money we are spending that he's not helping with (and refuses to). So, from where I sit, be really clear about what you want, and stick to it. It's so much easier to set up the boundaries ahead of time than to realize they've been over-run overnight.

 
 

Ginny

Give a Hug

Oct 6, 2011

It is very difficult to have someone move in so that you can help them. My parents were both ill and we agreed to let them stay with us. We didn't think about what that would turn out to be! My Dad was with us for two years and I then had to put him in a nursing home due to Alzheimers. My Mom became legally blind and so we let her stay with us. My husband and I were just starting as empty nesters in a new condo and here they were. My Dad lived 6 yrs longer and my Mom has been with us "FOR 16 YEARS" she is now 96 and is in very good health other than being blind. My husband has sacrificied so much for me and my parents. We are in our mid 60's and our lives have been noithing like we dreamed of. We love Mom and she has become one of us but it still is hard to realize our lives are passing us by while we are taking care of her. Think long and hard and exhaust all other possibilities before making that final decision. Without the Lord in our lives none of this could have worked!

 
 

Ringo1

Give a Hug

Oct 7, 2011

Gosh, I'm struggling with this one myself and I have a teen-ager; not two young children.

I do feel that your husband and children should come first. Not that you don't love your Mom or want to help her - but loving her and helping her don't necessarily mean she has to move in.

My Dad has lived with us for one year now and it has been one hard year. Things are finally settling down - he has a caregiver come EVERY DAY while I am at work and my son at school. This helps a lot - she takes over all the doctor appointments; scheduling; and chauffers him wherever. He loves to eat out; so he makes lunch his big meal so I don't have to worry about cooking dinner every night.

It has impact my relationship with my son but I feel we have all adjusted. My Dad has a big master bedroom with TV and I think he considers that like his apartment; he is careful not to always intrude on my son and I if we are watching a favorite show together. (You know how rare that is with a teen-ager).

Sorry for rambling. IF I had it to do over again - I would probably consider AL right off the bat. Honestly, I think he would be better off there with other activities and social contacts besides just myself, my son, and his caregiver.

Good luck and you are not a bad person whatever you decide.

 
 

Jaye

Give a Hug

Feb 9, 2012

I think you really have to do what works for your family... It is actually not a decision anyone can make for you. If indeed you feel you cannot handle it, then don't and don't beat yourself up!!! take care and do what you feel is best. I have been in this position in my family, I cared for my grandparents and also my Dad now my Mom. My Mom is in a Senior Housing which is beautiful and she is happy.

 
 

Baumgark

Give a Hug

Feb 9, 2012

Do not do it. I know I am being harsh and of course you need to weigh both sides. I had meeting after meeting with my family prior to moving gma in. We/I had no idea what I was getting into. My experience has been that everyone who had said they would give respite care disappeared. My children are now miserable, depressed and my daughter is failing school. I regret doing this and am now interviewing nursing homes. Every situation is different, my gma chooses to be difficult. Regardless of the patients attitude, you may become a prisioner in your own home. I used to be fun loving, had a professional career and was an active 35 yr old. I knew it would be difficult but, had no clue as

 
 

Baumgark

Give a Hug

Feb 9, 2012

To how much this would affect my babies.

 
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