My mother is disabled, walker bound, lots of health issues but works 2 jobs, drives etc. I live with her along with my 15 year old son. I work full time, go to school at night and do all the errands, gas, meds, pay for groceries and all my bills except cell phone which us a family plan. I'm 35. I have never lived on my own. I have a boyfriend who she hates. We used to use drugs together. I've been clean for 5 years. He is working on it. She has already told me he can't live there, which I get because it's a 2 bedroom apartment. But whenever he comes over she slams her door, turns her TV up full blast and won't talk to me. God forbid he spends the night. Now look, I get it, maybe not the best guy, but he doesn't hurt me, has watched my son grow up, he's definitely a work in progress but I ask my mom for nothing regarding him. I pay for the food already, she says he can't shower at our home. I have to have him in my room with the door closed. Yesterday he came over, we bbq'd and had a nice afternoon with my son, all while she sat in her room, I brought her lunch, she said she wasn't hungry, then she tells me things like "I wish I could die".
I don't know what to do, when I tell him he can't come around, she's happy, I'm pretty bummed. When he's around we have to tip toe around the house. I feel like I'm am doing all I can to help her and I wouldn't ignore her if she wouldn't be so difficult when he's here, but maybe I am wrong. I could maybe afford to move out in the next year but she is so agoraphobic, anxious, depressed and gets very confused so easily I don't think I can leave her, but she functions at 2 jobs and drives, so maybe I can. Am I asking for too much? To me, if I'm making mistakes in love, I'm a grown up and that's my problem. He doesn't disrespect her, steal, yell. I know I don't pay rent but I make up for it. Everything else I do and I think that should buy me a little more freedom. If she was a roommate she couldn't tell me who could sleep in my room. And if I lived on my own I could do what I want. Someone please tell me. He might not be the best boyfriend, but we love each other, at my age, should not I be allowed tohave him to stay whenever I want as long as he doesn't move in or set up shop in my room?
As everybody else has mentioned your mom’s position is understandable, but I would like to ask you a question that you don’t even have to answer here, just some food for thought.
I would imagine that when two people share the process of dealing with an addiction and luckily in your case freeing yourself from it, their relationship gets closer and, in an unhealthy way, stronger. You and your boyfriend have shared a lot together, right? You understand very well what each of you have gone through. You know he is doing drugs but you don’t judge him, because you know what he feels and understand well his struggle, correct?
In my humble opinion, not knowing you, not knowing him, just coming from a place of pure logic, I believe that of course you care about him since you’ve been together for a long time and you’ve shared so much, but here comes the question I would like for you to answer to yourself: If you search deep inside your heart and in your mind, do you really think that he is the man you and your son need and deserve when you think about a better and stable future?
Getting along with your son is one thing, he is probably fun and laid back, but being a good example for him, a good support for your son and for you in every sense, a man with his life in order enough to be the head of a family. Do you think he is all that?
You said he is a work in progress and I am not recommending that you discard him from your life, but from a woman to another woman, I don’t think that if you answer honestly this question you will arrive to the conclusion that he is the person you and your son deserve.
I know your question was about your situation with your mom, but I think the more important point is not that. The most important thing is that you might be wasting valuable time just out of habit and maybe even some pity? Life goes by very quickly, that I can tell you. I got divorced when I was 35 years old, after being married seven years. And how I wish I had realized then that at that exact point in my life I needed to make changes, make decisions that would define the rest of my life. I didn’t, I thought I had time! Time flies Mskaty, and at 35 having freed yourself from your drug addiction you have earned a better life, and I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but you deserve better people, your son deserves better.
if you were strong enough to leave drugs behind now be mature enough to leave anything and anybody that doesn’t add to your life, doesn’t help you to become a better person and be in a better place.
Like I said I’m not even advising that you forget about him, you can be his friend, support him as long as he is trying to get out of the hole of addiction, but make sure that everything and everyone in it’s place in your life.
Sorry if you feel I’m intruding and giving you an opinion that you haven’t asked for. But I feel that I owe it to anyone that needs it to help them open their eyes when it is time, I’m 46 now, and although I truly feel -and I hope look! :) - young, I so wish I could go back to 35 and direct my life differently. Focus less on work and more on my personal life, and choose better as far as who I brought into my life, and specially be mature enough and wise enough to know when to let go, and do it!
I hope my words are of some help. As far as your mom, well think about it, she is old, she is sick, she works a lot yet she cannot be independent, and she is worried about you. And yes, it is her house. If you move out I hope you find a place near hers so you can be close enough to assist her when needed, specially because the older she gets the more she will need your help. And I also,hope that if you move out, you do it as an effort to stand on your own two feet, not to be able to bring to your home someone that hasn’t even helped you to get on your own two feet.
Best of luck and wisdom to make the right decisions!
Best of luck to you!!
Prehaps your mom doesn't like him because you did drugs together; although you are clean now (congrats to you) and boyfriend is well--a work in progress. Mom see him as the guy that got her daughter on drugs. Doesn't mean it's true, it just means that is how she feels and thinks. And she probably feels he will drag you down that road again. Parents have a hard time seeing someone who has shown bad behavior, mistakes and/or hurt their kids as someone who turn over a new leaf. My dad was that way! Once someone hurt me or used me they could never get back in his good graces; no matter what they did! Think about it, how would you feel if your son was in the same situation with some girl? Just food for thought!
So here is a question for you. Where do you see you and your boyfriend at in a year, three yrs, in five yrs? Maybe if you can answer that question would give you a clearer picture of what to do.
You also can get a place close to your mom's apartment, so that you are close by! Another thought is talk to your mom about how you feel and what you want and maybe she will tell you how she feels. This in turn, can open the door of communicate for both of you. Maybe the two of you can find a happy medium!
And you do know the odds are against you and your boyfriend's relationship. Not trying to be mean, but doing drugs/rebab together and finding yourselves and making it through this world--lets just say, it is challenge!
I know this is a difficult situation. You are a grown up and you are doing a lot to help your mom. I wonder if your mom is afraid to lose you to your boyfriend and that is why she is acting like this when he shows up.
Maybe try to have a heart to heart with her about the situation. Tell her what you told us. And maybe there is a compromise.
I know what it feels like to want to help your parents but also want to live your own life. Maybe it would be better to move out and set up your own home. Your mom sounds quite independent working two jobs and still driving. It might be a much needed break for the both of you.
I hope things work out for the both of you.