Broken by my adult daughter

Dear Elaine, I do feel for you. You need someone in your home with you who could speak plainly to these horrible relations you have.

I think you don't have the nervous energy to talk at length with these great cuckoos in your nest. Could you possibly just say to whoever is currently bullying you "Bugger off!" ?

Why don’t you ask them to leave? It’s your house. I would set a time limit and if their disgraceful treatment of you continues then they need to find somewhere else to live.

don't ask them to leave. tell them. in writing.
if you make yourself into a doormat, people will walk on you.
stand up to them.
this is a kind of domestic abuse, and you can seek police advice and support. ring 101.
good luck.

Give them an ultimatum - be civil or move out. Their behaviour sounds outrageous and you don't have to put up with it in your own home. i know it will be difficult to do but they are adults and need to know they can't treat anyone, least of all their mother, like they have treated you. Be strong!

My best friend lived like this. The more she let her daughters bully her the worse it got.
I advise you to give them in writing a short time limit to leave. After this time, if they whaven't gone, seek legal advice on how to remove them. And do get some much needed xounselling. Do not hide away. Live as if you are alone. It's your home. Time to assert yourself.

Hello, first post on here. I recently read a quote that said ‘don’t look back, you’re not going that way’. I think it is apt in your case.

So a 25 year old woman went through your phone, checked your personal messages and reported back to your ex? Your daughter has behaved like a 12 year old. Please do not put up with this.
Do not carry this burden.

In this scenario if it was me, I’d tell the lot of them you are moving house & downsizing.

Our daughter lives away from home. Her behaviour if I documented it would shock you. I have now decided that if a friend treated me the way she does then she wouldn’t be my friend. So we are very low contact with her.

Out they go. Be firm and strong with them. They are adults and it is time to fly the nest permanently. My eldest was hard work but once she had left we got on really well because she realised all the responsibilities you have as a householder. Eviction eviction eviction. Don’t let them wheedle their way round you they are affecting your health and well being. Get someone to help you evict them if necessary. Preferably someone big strong and unemotional.

Could I ask how much rent these four people (daughters and their partners) pay to you?

I do know, from experience, how unreasonable some adult daughters can be -however, never would I have permitted such behavior whilst they are living in MY home.

How can anyone get into your phone? Surely you have a security lock on it!!!!

YOU should not be locking yourself away in one room, nor creeping around YOUR house at silly times to avoid them.

Lay down some house rules, YOUR rules, either they obey them or get out, THEIR choice.

One of my friends, used to take all sorts of verbal abuse from her eldest son. The more he gave and she took, the less respect he had for her. In fact, when I was there once and he was ranting and raving and swearing at her, he then turned and apologised TO ME for his language.

If you do not respect yourself then they will not respect you.
I am sure you would not have accepted this behavior from your children when they were small - do not do so now.

Franbern Your friend’s son sounds a real arse! How could she deserve less respect due to HIS abuse

Everyone deserves respect even if they have low self esteem!

How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child - probably a misquote but very true. Ask them all to leave...

Sorry to be so blunt, elainec, but why on earth was your 25yo daughter able to look at what should have been private messages on your phone? You have a right to privacy. She is totally out of order but you should guard your privacy more carefully if only to avoid such screaming matches.

You should not leave your own house. Your daughters and their partners should.

Please get help with assertion.

Elaine Elaine Elaine, I would not be putting up with this crap, and nor should you! I’m horrified reading this, who do they think they are! They would be out on their ears if they were ours! You say your daughters very arrogant and tells you repeatedly what she thinks of you! What a charmer and what language to her mum! She saying or I should say shouting she doesn’t want you in her life anymore! Well there’s the door I’d say, I’d have packed her bags there and then, and you having to spend your time in your bedroom, and cleaning up at 5am!!! ( when everyone’s asleep! ) please Elaine just sit and think what you are doing! This is your house and you are pussyfooting around your bullying AC they are showing zero respect to you, obviously you are very worn down by this I am not surprised, please get someone to help you get them out,and you will feel such a weight off your shoulders, also elaine I’m concerned you have put up a lot of personal info on this post I’m hoping your user name is false, please take care of yourself and put yourself first, and stop living in your bedroom, good luck please let us know how you get on, I’d try and help you myself if we weren’t in covid times, and I lived near,

Oh I am so angry !
What right or reason did your daughter have for going through your phone in the first place ? Has she not heard of the word privacy?
You need to gain control, as hard as it will be. Maybe you have a friend that can back you up in this.
Set a few house rules - your home, your rules. If non of your daughters are happy with your thoughts that have been expressed on a PRIVATE conversation over your phone, they need to leave.
IMO, and sorry to be harsh, the daughter and boyfriend that have lived there for years "saving" for a house, really need to seriously start looking for their own home.
The daughter and boyfriend that should be at college -need to understand that they are guests in your home.
The one that started all this - she obviously expected to swan in and be treated like a lost child and when it didn't happen, ran to daddy where she could very well have gone in the firstplace!
When all is said and done, the only one that knows how your mother treated you is actually just you. Please carry on with the counselling. It will take time, but help you put yourself back together.
Oh, as for the ex husband? There is obviously a reason he is an ex and really has no right to have a say in your life.
Go girl ! You got this!

Elainecoley1957 ... how are you?
I dont think you've written since your first post.
Has anything changed?
Please If you can let us know how you are.

Having a bullying mum all your life saps your confidence. For years I was not able to answer back to anyone treating me like a doormat. I would disappear off and sob. One day I turned on someone and was shocked to see their reaction. I have done it a few times since and now have confidence to not let anyone tread on me. You are you and your home is yours let them all go. One day they will come back with a different attitude to you.