Anonymous wrote: their almost constant rudeness. (Coming and going with no greeting or comment, refusing to converse at family meals, swearing...)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did you call them out on their rudeness when they were teenagers?
I spoke harshly to them when they were young and I blame myself, but I can't undo the past, I can only try to be supportive now. However, I don't think I'm doing them favors by excusing their almost constant rudeness. (Coming and going with no greeting or comment, refusing to converse at family meals, swearing...) Only one lives at home but the other is in and out a lot due to babysitting and I can start to see her behavior reflected in grandkids (3 and 5), who always resist going home.
I like the part where you gloss over how shitty you treated them as kids and then explain it off as "the past."
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did you call them out on their rudeness when they were teenagers?
I spoke harshly to them when they were young and I blame myself, but I can't undo the past, I can only try to be supportive now. However, I don't think I'm doing them favors by excusing their almost constant rudeness. (Coming and going with no greeting or comment, refusing to converse at family meals, swearing...) Only one lives at home but the other is in and out a lot due to babysitting and I can start to see her behavior reflected in grandkids (3 and 5), who always resist going home.
I've apologized and worked to make many amends. I don't think that enabling their rudeness, towards me and others, is going to improve on the past.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did you call them out on their rudeness when they were teenagers?
I spoke harshly to them when they were young and I blame myself, but I can't undo the past, I can only try to be supportive now. However, I don't think I'm doing them favors by excusing their almost constant rudeness. (Coming and going with no greeting or comment, refusing to converse at family meals, swearing...) Only one lives at home but the other is in and out a lot due to babysitting and I can start to see her behavior reflected in grandkids (3 and 5), who always resist going home.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did you call them out on their rudeness when they were teenagers?
I spoke harshly to them when they were young and I blame myself, but I can't undo the past, I can only try to be supportive now. However, I don't think I'm doing them favors by excusing their almost constant rudeness. (Coming and going with no greeting or comment, refusing to converse at family meals, swearing...) Only one lives at home but the other is in and out a lot due to babysitting and I can start to see her behavior reflected in grandkids (3 and 5), who always resist going home.
Anonymous wrote:Did you call them out on their rudeness when they were teenagers?
Anonymous wrote:They're not "kids" in their 20's. They're just adults.
And there's a term for them: assholes
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was a bit of a disaster in my early 20's (dropouts, transfers, depression, anxiety, laziness, social isolation due to said transfers) . My mom gave me unconditional, loving support - not financial, mind you, but she LISTENED. Didn't try to crisis manage or give advice. When I (finally!) finished undergrad with a shitty GPA, she was proud of me for getting through it. Her support, as well as her offhand remark that there was no reason I COULDN'T apply to grad school, gave me the boost I needed. My self-esteem was destroyed after being a successful high school student whose friends and peers passed me by. Bit by bit, I got some self-esteem and self-respect back, and worked my ass off to finish a not-impressive Master's Program. Nearly 10 years later, I have a healthy life and a good career.
Be a source of support, not strife. Your kids KNOW they are letting you down. They are likely watching their former hs friends kick ass at their careers, get married, have kids, buy houses. You can't help them succeed by getting involved in their work and academics. I cringe at some of the rude, selfish things I once did to my parents. I threw a tantrum when they stopped paying my rent at 23, but it was the best thing for me. I still got financial help when, for example, I needed money to move to DC to take my first postgraduate job. Disengage, but be kind and welcoming, No snide or side remarks about work or money. Take them out for dinner, one-on-one, and don't mention school, money, or work. Try relating to them as adults. I'm sorry this is happening to you. I imagine it was my parents' biggest parenting challenge.
Thanks. I think this is what I needed to hear. Sometimes I just want to change the lock on the door but I was hard on my folks at this age, too, just seldom intentionally rude.
Don't assume they are being intentionally rude. Parents often assume they know everything that is going on in their glistens lives, but they don't. And it may not be your business or maybe they don't want to burden you with it. You can't read their minds. You sound like someone who tends to take things too personally.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was a bit of a disaster in my early 20's (dropouts, transfers, depression, anxiety, laziness, social isolation due to said transfers) . My mom gave me unconditional, loving support - not financial, mind you, but she LISTENED. Didn't try to crisis manage or give advice. When I (finally!) finished undergrad with a shitty GPA, she was proud of me for getting through it. Her support, as well as her offhand remark that there was no reason I COULDN'T apply to grad school, gave me the boost I needed. My self-esteem was destroyed after being a successful high school student whose friends and peers passed me by. Bit by bit, I got some self-esteem and self-respect back, and worked my ass off to finish a not-impressive Master's Program. Nearly 10 years later, I have a healthy life and a good career.
Be a source of support, not strife. Your kids KNOW they are letting you down. They are likely watching their former hs friends kick ass at their careers, get married, have kids, buy houses. You can't help them succeed by getting involved in their work and academics. I cringe at some of the rude, selfish things I once did to my parents. I threw a tantrum when they stopped paying my rent at 23, but it was the best thing for me. I still got financial help when, for example, I needed money to move to DC to take my first postgraduate job. Disengage, but be kind and welcoming, No snide or side remarks about work or money. Take them out for dinner, one-on-one, and don't mention school, money, or work. Try relating to them as adults. I'm sorry this is happening to you. I imagine it was my parents' biggest parenting challenge.
Thanks. I think this is what I needed to hear. Sometimes I just want to change the lock on the door but I was hard on my folks at this age, too, just seldom intentionally rude.
Anonymous wrote:I was a bit of a disaster in my early 20's (dropouts, transfers, depression, anxiety, laziness, social isolation due to said transfers) . My mom gave me unconditional, loving support - not financial, mind you, but she LISTENED. Didn't try to crisis manage or give advice. When I (finally!) finished undergrad with a shitty GPA, she was proud of me for getting through it. Her support, as well as her offhand remark that there was no reason I COULDN'T apply to grad school, gave me the boost I needed. My self-esteem was destroyed after being a successful high school student whose friends and peers passed me by. Bit by bit, I got some self-esteem and self-respect back, and worked my ass off to finish a not-impressive Master's Program. Nearly 10 years later, I have a healthy life and a good career.
Be a source of support, not strife. Your kids KNOW they are letting you down. They are likely watching their former hs friends kick ass at their careers, get married, have kids, buy houses. You can't help them succeed by getting involved in their work and academics. I cringe at some of the rude, selfish things I once did to my parents. I threw a tantrum when they stopped paying my rent at 23, but it was the best thing for me. I still got financial help when, for example, I needed money to move to DC to take my first postgraduate job. Disengage, but be kind and welcoming, No snide or side remarks about work or money. Take them out for dinner, one-on-one, and don't mention school, money, or work. Try relating to them as adults. I'm sorry this is happening to you. I imagine it was my parents' biggest parenting challenge.