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Vengeance Therapy

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arfie

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Rough night last night. My 33 year old son threw an all-night text tantrum telling me what a horrible mother I am and declaring my responsibility to support him for life because of it all. His lifetime, not mine.

Sure wishing I could end it now...
 
Arfie, Your 33 year old son is responsible to take care of himself. While he was growing up did you: provide reasonable shelter for him? Did you feed him? Did you clothe him, even it if was resale clothes? Did you nurture him to the best of your ability?
It is not your fault, nor is his upkeep your responsibility. You hang in there ok?
 
Feeling squeezed from both sides. Got three octagenarians disapproving from the other side...
Go take a walk, or go get your hair done. Go do something constructive for yourself that you enjoy. In other words give yourself a break, and remember what I said before; it is not your responsibility to take care of your 33 year old son. If you have to; show him the door.
 
Not sure I wanna outlive the octagenarians, either.

Yea, I should do something nice for myself. I hear Patagonia is lovely this time of year...
 
Oh Arfie, what was your history together? That being said, no one has the right to be screaming at anyone else, let alone all night (though I have been in that position).

As to support, absolutely no doubt you are not required to do that, and it sounds like he is dealing with other issues, perhaps expressing fear under the guise of rage, or dealing with his own guilt?

I think such language and behavior really contributes to SI (suicidal ideation), as does exhaustion, shame, guilt, trying hard to get well or manage under (extreme) stress.

Octogenarians? Agreeing as to what? :confused:

:hug: if that's ok.
 
@Junebug
octogenarian = a person in their 80s. My family has 3 times as many octogenarians as children. Only one grandchild. Different son, thank God. Octogenarians are even more expensive than babies and over-aged dependants combined.
 
Oh, haha @arfie , I realize what the term means (I work work with primarily seniors 10 hours/ day :eek: ), and took care of a senior aunt for 25 years. But thank you, lol, yes I understand, and they have higher expectations and needs.

I meant what is their opinion on this, or more specifically why.

Hugs! :hug:
 
@Junebug
My father-in-law used to joke that grandkids and grandparents get along so well because they have a common enemy. There are entirely too many days I believe that is the most pro-active opinion from the elders.

I do not understand them any better now than I did when my elders were selling me to their clients...

The good news is that I am one of 11 siblings and my mother actually wanted to finish her life in a state nursing home. So she said when she still had the faculties for manipulation and control. Still no fun but not too big a part of my own life 1800 miles away from the family nerve center.

The in-laws are high maintenance with private care standards. Their upper middle class retirement planning is not likely to carry their standards to the end. At present, I am not sure they see the world beyond their private nursing staff.
 
In the rest of the world, I KNOW this wouldn't be considered "funny" (as in "amusing", not "weird"), but maybe here someone will see the humor in it....

arfie, when I read your post, at first I took it that you were contemplating killing your kid and could kind of see why you'd feel that way. (For the record, my therapist has requested that I try to avoid "visualizing" solutions to problems that involve the use of firearms. LOL Seriously, I KNOW better, but the thought is kind of tempting....) So, did anyone else picture "homicide" as opposed to "suicide"? Please, tell me someone did!

Anyway, I see that I took that differently than you meant it......

Sorry you're having a rough time! It always amazes me that people respond to things like your son has. In MY view of the universe, the cavalry is NOT coming over the hill & if you hope to be rescued, you're on your own. Funny how different people see things differently. I suspect you did SOMETHING right. Your son thinks he can count on you. That's "something", isn't it?.

As far as "mothers" go, I have a few issues with mine. But, I KNOW she did the best she knew how. There's a lot I don't know. (Like whether or not she actually did, in her own way, love me.) But, I KNOW she did the best she could. You did too, what ever that was at the time. As far as your son goes, in MY view of the universe, you pick up the cards you've been dealt and either decide to play the game or not. Everyone gets to make that call for themselves. If he feels THAT badly messed up, maybe he ought to get into therapy (like nearly everyone else?). Sounds to me like he's trying to manipulate you.

Beyond that, I don't know where you live, but there's room on my couch. I've read a few of your posts, you sound like you'd be an ok house guest. It's kind of cold here right now. And, you'd have to deal with a pair of excessively friendly dogs. Not as nifty as Patagonia, but it's an option, if you decide to run away from home.

Hang in there!
 
@scout86
I do not know what I mean on that score. Mental health pros have told me my tendency to efficient action worries them on either score. There are folks whose breaking points tend to be unexpected and unpredictablly pointed...

Yup, I am a global league houseguest. Even have offers in Patagonia. Members of my healing network have wondered if my son's failure to launch could be connected to abandonment issues. It is a simple fact that staying in one place long enough to raise a family was really, really hard for me and not entirely successful. The state of Texas is feeling like a gigantic trap these days. I have wandered off as far as Ecuador in recent years and keep getting reeled back in.
 
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