Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't have the best relationship with my Mom.  When she called me saying she wanted to visit 2 months ago, I was filled with dread.  After dragging my feet for awhile, I booked the ticket and wished for the best.  After day one, I am ready to throw in the towel...

Yesterday she got upset because I work from home and she thinks I live a lonely life.  I do work from home, but I make sure to go out and enjoy myself.  If I tried to hit the streets while she was in town she would find fault with that, so that is a no win solution.  Last night after dinner on the drive home my Mom kept harping about this shaver that I promised to buy my Dad awhile ago.  This threw me for a loop because she was acting like I do nothing for my Dad.  She even had the nerve to tell me that something bad would happen to me if my Dad died before receiving his shaver.  I wanted to stop the car right then and put her out the car on Lake Shore Dr, but I just kept my mouth shut.  I had already told my Mom I was having cash flow issues and I couldn't write her a check on cue like I used to.  I wasn't even in the mood to defend myself.

We had a similar argument in June and I couldn't believe that she was really upset about this.  On Father's Day I sent my Dad a card and called him.  A few days later my Mom called me upset because my Dad was disappointed that he didn't receive a check.  She ordered me to buy another card and apologize to my Dad for not sending him money.  WTF?! I almost cussed them both the fcuk out, but I did as I was told.  I later found out that my other siblings had only called my Dad on Father's Day.  After that I didn't want to talk to both of my parents.  I almost told my Mom to not speak to me for awhile...  I was disgusted that the proof of MY love was being measured by a $50 check.  If that is the case, I will just send them a check each month and we don't have to deal with each other. We already have issues because I feel that they never call to see how I am doing, I only get a call when something breaks or when money is needed.  When I confronted my Mom about this she started calling my sister and having her tell me they need money instead of calling me directly...

This morning after I came home from the gym, my Mom asked me why I turned off the TV and lights while she was asleep.  I was confused because I went to bed before her and hadn't gotten up to turn anything off.  I explained that my television was on a sleep timer and went off on it's own.  The lights I turned off while she was awake on the couch.  For the record, my living room is full of windows and there are no curtains on them.  It doesn't get that dark, but my Mom has bad vision and thought I was being mean or something...  I didn't think anything else about it, but made a mental note to NOT set my daily sleep timer.  I jumped in the shower and got upset after thinking about some of the things my Mom has said to me.  I stayed in the shower crying for 30 minutes.  After I got dressed and sat in front of my computer, my sister sent me an email saying that my Mom had called her going off about me turning off the lights and not buying my Dad the razor.  My sister felt like my Mom had said some hurtful things about me and wanted to know what was going on. 

What do you say to a person who has treated you like this for 32 years and only sees their side?  Even if I correct all the issues she brought up above there will still be something else for her to complain about. I can't win, believe me, I have tried. And all I have to show for it is OCD.  Someone suggested that I apologize and think positive, but I may need a plan C.