I wonder about this sometimes. I haven't seen my criminally abusive father in almost 25 years. How will I feel when he dies? My mildly abusive bipolar mother, on the other hand... I work hard to keep the relationship minimally intact so I don't feel guilty if she gets ill or when she someday dies. I'm not sure if I'll miss her or not, but I certainly am not going to overlook her faults and enjoy her while I can. Being around her makes me a worse parent and a general basket case. I'm going to continue to keep my distance for my own health and sanity. But most importantly, I agree with all the others that big problems don't need to invalidate small problems. We are all living our lives and trying to rise to the challenges with which we're presented. It's OK to acknowledge small or petty annoyances, and to feel the feelings we actually have about the people in our lives. |
But why is it only OK to complain about "super shitty, abusive situations"? Why can't we complain about the little minor BS stuff? Those things you're listing wouldn't bother me, but lots of things that bother me don't bother other people. |
| I’m not Op but it was a vent. She’s allowed. I had to take my mother off life support when she was 63 years old. She never met my children. So yes, having people complain about things like in-laws buying your kids too much stuff or wanting to see them too often upsets me. If you don’t understand that you lack some serious empathy. |
I'm the poster with the abusive Dad, and I totally understand this perspective. |
Again, abusive Dad poster. Totally agree with the above also. I think sometimes people that have seriously abusive parents are constantly mourning the loss of what could have been. The fact those abusive parents are alive and will die is a special kind of mental anguish and torment. Both situations are very difficult. My condolences to you. |
My parents have died and only knew my kids when under 3 (ie, my kids didn’t know them). I miss them, but I can totally get how grandparents can be irritating at moments. It’s one thing to feel sadness about your own loss; it’s another to begrudge people their personal circumstances. |
PP, you seem pretty wretched yourself. |
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I think the nuance some people are missing is that OP fully admitted this was a rant. Not all the posts complaining about minor family issues do, so if you’ve lost your parents, it stings.
My heart goes out to the posters whose parents were shitty human beings. Empathy, people. |
I’m the poster from a few posts up who lost my mother young and this is exactly it. I absolutely understand not all parents are wonderful. I have massive amounts of sympathy for those with incredibly difficult relationships. It’s the minor complaints and the lack of appreciation - like what i stayed in my post, wanting to come to things etc - that really get me. I’m guessing people with abusive parents would feel similarly. |
I don't think anyone is missing that nuance. We are just wondering why OP has to view every post about family issues through her own lens of loss and grief. If she were able to read those posts objectively, then they wouldn't sting and she wouldn't need to vent. She'd just laugh, or roll her eyes, commiserate or present an opposing view like most of us do depending on whether we identify with an OP or with the people in the stories OP is telling. |
I agree with the need to take a break from the forum sometimes. I find some of the replies unnecessarily rude and condescending. I don't think people are immature for venting though. People have tough days why make it harder on them. I think it's immature to put people down for venting it doesn't make you any better but actually just the same. |
You’ve completed missed that many people will simply be deeply relieved and unburdened when their parents die. |
| Some people “lose” their parents and some just lose chains of dysfunction. |
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OP, you sholdn't complain about what you read here. Don't you know my friend lost her sight last year and would LOVE to read all of this petty snark.
You shold be ashamed of yourself. Just let got what is bothering you about this thread because there are people out there who can't read it right now but would love to. You would miss reading this when you go blind. |
| I'm the OP of the thread about my in-laws visiting too much. I'm very sorry for your loss, but that does NOT give you the right to attack other people. |