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Get your friend a copy of the book Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud.

Tell him to call you when he is ready to put some into place. Until then, work hard, save your own money and look for a future partner who knows his own worth.
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DILKimba Oct 2020
That’s what I was just about to recommend.
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I suddenly feel validated after reading your post. I felt this way when we tried loving together 20+ years ago. Over the years I distance myself more and more. My husband is her only son and she treats him like garbage. Demanding. Hostile. Had called him with crises including she couldnt get her cellphone to work and left a voice mail that she expected him to be there to fix it.
A few years ago she picked a fight with him, as she usually does, and they didnt speak for months. Mother's Day came around and since they weren't on speaking terms I did not reach out to her. I had my son bring flowers and a card. She spent Mother's Day with my cousin. I think their bond could be borderline personality disorder as neither respects boundaries. Anyhoot, about a week ago she told me that she told someone else who works for our country that we left her alone on that Mother's Day and he told her that's abuse. Abuse is what she did/does to my husband for 54 years.
Didnt mean to hijack your post. My heart goes out to you having to deal with that.
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JoAnn29 Oct 2020
That is not abuse. Its not abuse to step away when another person tries to control your life. A Spouse should always come first. If MIL was still living here, my husband would have been there when she needed him. But...if we had planned something and she called, if not an emergency, he would have told her we had plans and he would do it another time.
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Why IS ANY of your money going to her?

Stop that immediately.

If you have any joint accounts with him, get out of them. Keep your own money. You are being played for a fool.

She is a widow. Doesn't she get SS widow's benefits?
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
you are right. She has been receiving her SS. But always saying that she has already used it for something else... and when we ask where she used it, she will start to get really annoyed.

i will surely add this when I talk to him.
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Why did her having an accident make it necessary to postpone the wedding?
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
Because she doesn't have even a coin. She's a dependent old lady to her children. She never worked! She never even bothered getting an insurance or anything at all. SHE JUST EXISTS. So, the money for our wedding is now being used for her medical bills and surgery. I promised myself, this will be the last time. I will talk to him once the situation cooled down. I can't live a life like this.
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Blair, I hope and trust that you would NEVER move in with them.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
I WILL NOT. I will die if I live with that horrible woman. I will be an instant caregiver and will feel bad for my parents because they raised me to be a woman who only deserves the best. So, NO... i will never live with them. No way 😭
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Annreid is absolutely right. We did this with my mother n law. We both divorced her. She use to be the best mother n law until her husband died. I had 6 great years with her until her husband died. She changed after that.

She was in her 50’ when he died and she was on a mad tear to date much younger men. Like in their early 40’s.

She has absolutely NO time for any of her grandchildren even though we all lived within 20 minutes of her.

When she couldn’t give her grandchildren the time of day, my husband and I couldn’t give her the time of day either.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
YES! My future mother in law is also a widow. Her husband died a year ago. He was a really cool dad. He was sweet to me. That's why I cried so much when he died and I know you might think I'm a horrible person for wishing that was just my mother in law who died, and not my father in law because if that's the case, me and my husband might have been enjoying our lives now and we must've been married already.

when his dad was still alive, his mom used to nag him so much. Like the annoying old lady who doesn't know anything but to be irritated and is always shouting... i really hope it was just her who passed, not my future father in law who is very sweet and caring.
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Blair, your plight sounds familiar, although your name doesn't show any other posts.

Anyway, accept that you aren't going to change your fiance -- his mother will always be his top priority. I'm assuming that you have mixed finances now? If so, then he is using YOUR money to pay for his mother. That means you are being used. How much money do YOU contribute towards his mother's bills?

Stop letting yourself be used. Walk away. This relationship is going nowhere. Look at the resentment you have now, and you only see your fiance once a month. Just think if your fiance had to hear your anger all the time if you lived with him.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
At first, I thought it would be fine to help because I like helping. I insisted on helping because I want to support my partner and I don't want him to carry all the burden. But now, I feel so consumed and tired. No one wants to help people who don't know how to say "thank you" or even show gratitude. I thought it will all be for good. Unfortunately, things have come to light now. ME AND MY FIANCE ARE BEING USED BY HIS ABUSIVE AND NARCISSISTIC MOM!
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I will tell you what needs to happen, and if you do this, you will be able to continue with your life plan and enjoy it.

It will be VERY DIFFICULT, and a lot of it will depend on you, but even more, on him.

TODAY is my 43rd wedding anniversary. I married the best man I’d ever met, 43 years ago today, after having been warned by everyone who knew us (including my own wonderful dad) that he’d NEVER marry me, because he’d never leave his mother.

My husband’s dad had died when my husband was 19, and my MIL expected and DEMANDED that my husband continue to go to one of the most expensive colleges in this country AND get a full time job to support her. She was a narcissist who did NOT want anyone intruding on her turf.

Early on, she said atrocious things about me, screamed, cried, threw things at us, and I attempted to engage her, placate her, and keep the peace.

IT NEVER WAS ENOUGH. What worked? WE BOTH DIVORCED HER. Even though she had tantrums, said terrible things, made a fool of herself? WE STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION TO HER. And that was something I’m not sure either of you are ready to do.

Right now, if your relationship is important enough for you both to do it, your partner MUST calmly tell her that he WILL NOT be responsible for her medical care, but he will help her apply for the benefits available to her. But he MUST state this calmly and quietly, then leave her AND STOP TALKING TO HER to give her time to process what he’s said. That means whatever she says to him, he DOES NOT LISTEN TO HER. and you don’t either.

From what you’ve said, I’m not sure that you OR your partner are ready to do this. But I will tell you, once you’ve BOTH DIVORCED HER in this way, you’ll be in a position to move forward. Keep in mind that my husband lived with my MIL for a year after we’d divorced her. She STILL had tantrums, but they never had the same power over us because she KNEW we’d “walk away” if she did.

You cannot win in verbal confrontation, but you CAN WIN by rearranging her control. Think about this.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
Thank you so much! I think I needed to hear this. It's hard to cut someone off, I know, but I do believe it is the only thing that's best for all of us. I am just scared if the old lady hurts herself again when her son leaves him for me, and then he blames me for it or maybe he won't but his relatives might blame me.
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"Honey, paying your mother's medical bills is a poor use of our money. Since she has no savings and very little income, she should easily qualify for Medicaid. Here's the phone number to call".
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
I literally feel so bad for myself. I feel like I have been working my a** off for nothing. Part of my income goes to this mean and narcissistic lady who doesn't even know how to say "thank you"... I am trying to help at first because I was really hoping everything will turn out good, not until we told her we are going to get married, that's the time she started being so dramatic and pretentious and intentionally hurting herself so the wedding will always be moved and I am really pissed every time I see her face because she doesn't even know how to smile. You know the typical annoying mean old lady next door. Ugh
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Blair, he is 28? His mom must be early to middle 60's? She hasn't even reached the point in her life where many begin to develop serious medical problems. Then what? You don't have money for rent? Food? Raising a family? Buying a home?

You are the only one that can stop his mooching mom! I WOULD NOT marry this man that feels financially responsible for his mom. You are in for a rough marriage if you do not stop this now.

Mom needs to butt out and son needs to stand up to her. Maybe he can do that with your support. But you need to draw the line in the sand and say NO MORE! BOUNDARIES. What a nightmare.

You see him once a month? That is not enough to base a marrying relationship on.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
my parents told me that me and my husband should live in a separate place. Which I want to do. And my future husband told me that he will do it too because he wants some peace and quiet.

but his mom... is showing a narcissistic behavior and she makes my husband feel guilty everytime he is with me. Like, "I WASN'T FEELING OKAY AND YOU WEREN'T EVEN HERE!!! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO VISIT HER WHILE I AM HERE ALONE AND NOT FEELING GOOD?" I only spend 8hrs a month with him and she spends almost the whole month with him yet she still wants his full attention.
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Why would he think that you are a bad person?

You are trying to protect HIS money. If he doesn't see that his mother is using him, perhaps this is not a good relationship for you to pursue.

Perhaps YOU are being used by them both.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
I need to get the courage to talk to him because this is his mother versus me, his future wife.

I think I'll give everything up if this will turn out bad. I am just so tired of chasing. We were supposed to get married already this year, but his mom did something to hurt herself intentionally when she heard that we are already starting to get ready for the wedding.
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Find a time for you and him to be alone, preferably when he's in a good mood. calmly tell him how you feel. Yes, he will feel conflicted, and hopefully notice that you feel conflicted too. Ask him if you two can somehow work out something. For instance, she gets the help she needs, like with medicaid, and you two save for a wedding.

Wish you all the best
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
I really need to talk to him about this because we're supposed to be prioritizing our future now. He already did his part. He was the bread winner of the family for so many years. His mom is acting like, unless she's dead, he can't walk away and leave her. Her mom even said that if we're already married and I live with them, I have to adjust to their lifestyle. She is very old but still very mean.
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It doesn't matter what kind of mother she was. Neither you nor she should be paying her bills, medical or otherwise.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
I want to open this topic to him but I do not know where to start. I don't want him to think I am a bad person wanting his mom to stop using him.
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Why on earth are you and her son paying her Medical bills?

Get her on Medicaid. You are being used, both by your boyfriend and his mom.
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Don't spend any more money on this relationship. He shouldn't be paying his mother's bills even if she WAS a good mother.

Move on.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
Actually, she wasn't a good mother to begin with. She didn't take care of her son. My partner had to work to pay his tuition while she was just lying on the bed like a queen.
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Technically, she isn't your mother in law, since you aren't married to her son.

I don't understand why your savings are paying her bills. Did you agree to this or was the money in a joint account that your partner used without your consent?

I hope you aren't all living together.
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
Good point!
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I agree with worriedincali, you are dating a mammas boy who won’t say no to her. It will only get worse if you marry him.

She will be a BUTTINSKEE or however you spell it once she becomes your MIL.

I would rethink this relationship. If fiancé can’t stand up to his own mother, it’s time to move on.

The old saying is NOT true “marry a man, marry his family.” WRONG!! Not true. Not if they are a BUTTINSKEE!!

BUTTINSKY is the correct spelling. Someone who BUTTS IN. An intruder or a MEDDLER.
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
I was blessed with a wonderful mother in law. I would hate to have a mother in law from h*ll!

I wouldn’t wish anyone dead but I wouldn’t want them in my life either.
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Sounds like a nightmare! It’s normal to have resentment towards her. She has caused tremendous grief to you and your partner.

I hope you and your partner will find a viable solution soon.

It seems apparent that no matter what this woman has done in the past or present that your partner is committed to his mom. Have you spoken to him about your feelings? Has he told you his feelings?

He obviously feels responsible for her. Does he have permission from his mom to speak to her doctor? Does he have medical power of attorney?

If he does, speak to the doctor about her prognosis. Then ask to speak to the hospital social worker for direction. Make it clear that you no longer wish to pay for her care.

How old is she? How old are you and your partner? How long have you been involved with him?
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
I am already 25 and my partner is 28. We are already engaged. I don't know how to start this conversation with my partner as I don't want to upset him or make it look like I am the villain. T_T this is so hard. I love him but his mom is really a pain in the a**. She was never a good mom to begin with, but now she wants to be the top priority of her son!
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Why would your savings go toward her medical bills? Are you sure you want to marry this guy? You don’t have a MIL problem, you have a relationship problem. You’re in a relationship with a man who is apparently still attached to the umbilical cord. Your MIL is a grown adult. Her bills are her responsibility. If she can’t pay her medical bills she needs to look in to Medicaid or work out a payment plan with the hospital. And you need to reconsider marrying this guy because clearly his mother comes first and he can’t say no to her.
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Blair1234 Oct 2020
We talked about it and I don't want to be the bad guy as I want to be supportive of him so I said yes. :( this is really hard! I love him. He has a good heart and won't say no to everyone as long as he can provide. He is a very responsible man. Maybe that's why his mom is taking advantage of him. She wasn't a great and responsible mom to begin with. My partner had to work his a** off while in college just to get a degree and his mom was just lying on the bed waiting for his kids to provide things for her. LIKE A QUEEN!!!
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Yes.
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