Progress

[pam1]

You know, it's funny how things work out sometimes.  This is the first year that I did not rush around to meet MIL's demands for Mothers Day.  There were attempts to hijack the day, guilt tripping calls and emails, the entire works.  All while I'm not feeling too well and she knows that.

Anyway, on Sunday it was the first time MIL actually uttered the words "Happy Mothers Day"  to *me*  My goodness, I about fell out of my seat, it's a good thing we were on the phone lol.  The woman has never acknowledged anyone else on Mothers Day before.  Not that I think of MD as a day to celebrate me all day but it was nice for her to finally recognize someone else.

It's not great, I still struggle whether I'm doing the right thing.  I recently unblocked her from my email and received 4 guilt trips in just 4 days lol.  I struggle with keeping up these defenses but I keep seeing payoff from doing so, if that makes any sense.  The stronger I hold firm with her the nicer she is to us all, DH, DD and I. 

[Pen]

Go figure.....

That's great, Pam1. Isn't it empowering?

[luise.volta]

Lots to learn from all of that…and you are doing a great job! Congrats!

[Pooh]

Such a nice lesson Pam.  And kudos to you for taking the higher road.

[pam1]

It is empowering!  For so long I felt at the mercy of them but I'm starting to feel "equal"

I could have sworn on actual MD since MIL didn't get what she wanted, well that she was going to be worse than years past.  How wrong was I? LOL

Pooh, I'm not sure if this is the higher road or what.  I know that she and I have had two heartfelt conversations in the past month and she openly stated that the only way to raise children is on guilt.  It was like something clicked in my brain, she's relying on these guilt triggers to get what she wants from her children and it is so wrong.  It would be wrong of me to participate, wrong of me to set an example for DD.