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Am I selfish/bad for wanting to enjoy my new year’s weekend instead of running errands for my mom?

(98 Posts)
Browneyes87 Fri 31-Dec-21 22:13:11

Hi,
I want to vent about this because I’m not sure if I should feel guilty or selfish.
Yesterday my dad found out that he has covid. My mom took the test and luckily she’s negative, but she might retake the test on Sunday.
So now my dad is at home quarantined in his room and my mom is sleeping in another room. I offered my house if she didn’t feel safe but she said my dad might need assistance and that she’s not sure of what to do and she doesn’t want to go out until she retakes the test.

Yesterday my mom asked me to get some basic things for her like gloves, and sanitizers, etc. I went after work and delivered it at her door. Today she asked if I could get milk when I go to the grocery store and I said okay. The thing is that she also said: “I also needed to pick up a pair of pijamas at the mall but I can’t go out”. Okay that part is NOT an emergency and I want to enjoy my long weekend because I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had time for myself. My mom likes buying random stuff at the mall all the time and now wants me to sacrifice my time to go get something that is not urgent at the mall.

My mom relies on my dad to take her to places but now that he has covid she can’t rely on him. I am okay buying food for my parents and basic necessities because my dad has covid but I refuse to go to the mall over something stupid. I hate the mall, it’s always packed and I’m already helping my parents with basic needs.
Am I supposed to be a people pleaser?

Before dad got covid I’ve also done plenty of favors to my mom that weren’t considered “an emergency” and that’s why I feel like I need time for myself. I’m going out tonight for new year’s and I deserve to rest too since I also have a busy life.
I’m asking if I’m selfish because my mom seems to be giving me the silent treatment. Can I say no to some things or I always have to say yes?
Am I selfish for not wanting to go to the mall?

nadateturbe Sun 02-Jan-22 22:51:10

Well Browneyes it doesn't seem as black and white as it did originally. It seems like your mum likes shopping a lot. If she didn't learn to drive of course her husband will take her. But that problem is between her and your dad.
But you weren't her "chauffeur" just because she got out of the car five minutes before you. And she does thank you when you do "favours". But then you say she's quiet the rest of the day. I'm not sure what you mean.
Maybe someone could do the minivan journey with her once or twice and she might realise it gives her some independence.
You sound very tired.

AmberSpyglass Sun 02-Jan-22 22:52:50

OP, ignore the aggressive posters - it sounds like you’re starting to establish some good boundaries which will stand you in good dead.

Chardy Sun 02-Jan-22 23:17:34

Aveline

I expect your mother had a busy life too but somehow managed to care for you when you needed it. She deserves some consideration now.

We chose to have children, run round after them, wipe their noses, feed them, to be a slave to family for a couple of decades.
We didn't chose to be a slave to aging parents Aveline

Hithere Sun 02-Jan-22 23:38:12

OP

I would put in a calendar how many hours a week you invest on your mother (her wants)

Being a good daughter doesnt mean becoming her servant

Thank you can also be expressed with actions - your mother doesnt seem to appreciate what you do for her.

Hithere Sun 02-Jan-22 23:57:59

May I ask if you do any mother daughter activities?

How often and why does she initiate contact with you?

V3ra Mon 03-Jan-22 01:37:50

No you're not selfish or bad Browneyes87.
You've provided appropriate help to your parents in their current situation.
As your mother is reasonably young still (ie similar age to me!) and has no physical or health problems, she really needs a nudge to be more proactive and stop expecting you to run around pandering to her.
You could have another thirty years of this... ?

Cabbie21 Mon 03-Jan-22 13:15:03

Exactly. She is no age, not disabled, normally healthy. She sounds like the selfish one.

Calistemon Mon 03-Jan-22 15:41:38

Cabbie21

Exactly. She is no age, not disabled, normally healthy. She sounds like the selfish one.

I thought she should be isolating if her DH has Covid?
Perhaps it's different in the States.

Calistemon Mon 03-Jan-22 15:44:25

Why can't she drive, Browneyes
I thought everyone drove from a young age in America, I'm surprised she doesn't. Or use the internet.

Perhaps I've missed something that explains why.

Aveline Mon 03-Jan-22 16:35:58

Chardy no one said anything about being a slave to ageing parents. Just not complaining when asked to help out when they can't get out themselves. Obviously, people have different standards and expectations of care on this forum.

MayBeMaw Mon 03-Jan-22 16:45:25

The fact that you are still going on about the other things which irritate you about your mother , OP says to me it’s a lot more than the impact on your NYE social life. Has the relationship always been as bad as this?
Running a few errands is hardly being a slave to ageing parents, unless your resentment has made it seem that in your eyes. It all sounded initially like an enormous over reaction, but then you go on about the fact that you say your mum was ungrateful when you drove her to your brothers for Thanksgiving. Why? You were going anyway and leaving work an hour early is not a massive sacrifice unless that chip is already firmly wedged on your shoulder. So she got out of the car to greet the family. Thoughtless maybe but hardly “treating you like a chauffeur”. Isn’t giving our parents lifts to family events what most of us do or have had done for us?
So it’s more than “going to the mall” or doing some favours for your mum/parents.
And that is something only you can address.

Calistemon Mon 03-Jan-22 19:41:56

I find it very odd that the OP didn't like Mom jumping out of the car to to greet the OP's nieces/nephews while OP was taking a phone call.

The world doesn’t always revolve around her
Nor you either, OP.

Actually, this is all very odd indeed.

Bobbysgirl19 Mon 03-Jan-22 19:55:19

Oh dear Browneyes87 , I don’t know whether you are being selfish or not without knowing you personally as yours seems such a complicated story. I also remember your previous post where you thought your husband was also being taken for granted by his son your step son. So all in all maybe all this pressure weighs heavily on you both.
Do hope you work things out soon.

MayBeMaw Mon 03-Jan-22 21:15:31

When we arrived dad called to make sure I had picked up mom. I was on the phone and my mom couldn’t wait 5 minutes for me. She just got out of the car and went to greet her grandchildren
Did it not occur to OP that her mum was letting her have her conversation in privacy ?
Would most of us not rush to greet our grandchildren rather than earwig on a phone call?
Perhaps OP was being selfish chatting on the phone, does it take five minutes just to say, yes, we’re here ?
Whatever - mountain, molehill.
But one very resentful and disgruntled daughter who would rather moan to total strangers than sort out her family relationships

Msida Tue 04-Jan-22 05:35:41

MAYBEMAW I feel you are being very harsh

And definitely below the belt to say that gransnet members are a bunch of strangers that she would rather speak to

I personally have found gransnet members to be very helpful and kind to me Yes I guess you could say they are strangers to me but sometimes you need to speak to someone that is not family and that are not involvement

For me that is the beauty and benefit of gransnet

Please be kind with your words they are powerful and we don't really know the state of anyone's mind and only want to be responsible for making them feel better and not throw them over the edge with our words

GagaJo Tue 04-Jan-22 08:09:51

I remember my mum complaining that my GP had no idea what it was like trying to run a home, work full-time and cope with being a parent/grandparent herself.

Certainly my mum complains a lot less about 'needing' things that my GP did.

Browneyes87 Tue 04-Jan-22 20:53:35

But I still didn’t get any responses about my mom using the silent treatment on me. Is it okay for parents to give their adult children the silent treatment if they’re not always available to help them?

I asked here if I should feel guilty of not going to the mall for my mom because whenever I don’t say yes immediately my mom doesn’t speak to me or seems mad.
Let me point out something that happened a few weeks ago and you’ll judge based on that. One time she asked me for a ride. This is how the conversation went:

Mom- can you please drive me somewhere tomorrow afternoon? I’m not sure if your dad will come late and I don’t want to spend money on Uber because it’s expensive. I’d rather pay you for gas instead of Uber.

Me- okay just comfirm with me tomorrow if you need the ride but please try to go with my dad.
(I said this because I normally have responsibilities after work so I would have to stop doing some things to help my mom)

The next day comes and I don’t hear back from my mom. I start to guess that she’s mad. I text her before leaving work to see if she still needs a ride from me and she says: “No, I took Uber”. So she basically ignored me instead of confirming if she wanted me to pick her up as I had told her. And why would she take Uber if she said it was expensive? The way I see it is that she victimized herself and wanted me to feel bad for not saying yes. Like she expects me to say: “Oh sure mommy, even though I have a busy schedule I will always be there for you. I will go wherever you want at any time”.
That’s why I feel a little bit of resentment. I cannot say no because my mom will act like this. It’s not like I said: “No, I won’t drive you” but told her I would do it but try to go with dad if it was possible. I have to even be careful with my words when I speak to her. And I thought it was rude that she did whatever she wanted, took Uber, and decided not to talk to me.
Also, if she spends money at the mall here and there, why is Uber so expensive? She has money to shop but not for Uber.

Hithere Tue 04-Jan-22 20:57:10

No, silent treatment in this case is NOT ok

She wanted to know you would jump as high as she wanted you to

Aveline Tue 04-Jan-22 21:03:49

She offered to reimburse you. Probably doesn't speak to you for fear of wasting your precious time.

nadateturbe Tue 04-Jan-22 21:12:38

I think the two of you need to improve communication.

valdali Tue 04-Jan-22 21:36:16

Sounds to me like your mum's acting the martyr cos, as you say,you didn't jump high enough. As your dad has Covid you're going to be ringing & checking in anyway, so I should just ignore the "silent treatment" I know it can be hurtful -but -only if you let it hurt you. Just act a bit thick-skinned and brash and pretend not to notice she's any different. She'll sulk less if she thinks you haven't noticed her sulking.Hope they are both OK btw

Aveline Wed 05-Jan-22 10:26:05

Given your reaction to her request for a lift to the mall anyone with any pride at all would not ask you again.

I think nadateturbe's suggestion is spot on. There are clearly communication issues here.