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Author Topic: "Happy New Year, I now have pneumonia."  (Read 910 times)
pursuingJoy
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Who in your life has "personality" issues: Inlaw
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« on: January 02, 2020, 10:43:19 AM »

For 7 years my MIL has stayed with us for 3-5 days over Christmas. This was the first year she wasn't invited. I was very nervous about extinction outbursts and how my H would handle it. It helped that my family spent a good bit of time with us, and my H loves them.

We'd planned on going together to my MIL's siblings' annual get together but H got really sick. I ended up suggesting that he think through when he was going to see her. He spent a full day before Christmas with her. I had to work that day but I sent a gift for her with him.

He came home in the usual funk, feeling guilty, making comments like, "Next year maybe this will be different." The following days were hard for him. At one point he was calling her 3-4 times a day. She spent Christmas day and the day after with her aunt who is like a mother to her. I thought that was great self-soothing. H was disappointed and depressed that 'it had come to that.'

He is currently feeling major FOG because he got a message from his mom around 10 am yesterday saying, "Just called to wish you a Happy New Year, son. I now have pneumonia." He was still sick when he went to see her and probably kissed her on the mouth as he does, so he feels it's his fault that she has pneumonia. I expressed sympathy and asked if she was receiving medical care.

Things to discuss in MC: he only calls his mom when he is alone. If I walk into the room he wraps up the call. I only know about his calls to her because he leaves his phone out (he and I both have an open phone policy so I am not violating a boundary by checking). I've expressed curiosity and asked if I've done something to make him feel uncomfortable about talking to her in front of me. He insists that I have not.

Anyway, we survived. I'm working hard to let them feel their feelings and now own them as mine. Glad to be back on the boards. I'm trying to catch up with everyone's holiday updates. Missed y'all!

pj

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   Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? ~CS Lewis
SepiaScarf

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Relationship status: estranged
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« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2020, 03:48:56 PM »

Excerpt
"Just called to wish you a Happy New Year, son. I now have pneumonia."
I wish your H could see how much this is just mom baiting him. My mom does the same thing.
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pursuingJoy
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« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2020, 04:00:13 PM »

me too, Sepia.  Virtual hug (click to insert in post)
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   Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? ~CS Lewis
Methuen
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« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2020, 05:13:48 PM »

PJ it's good to have you back!  Way to go! (click to insert in post)

I've been wondering about how you were doing Virtual hug (click to insert in post)

You know, when I read your posts about H, it's pretty clear he's stuck wanting to believe the myth he must hold about his mom being a great mom.  

About 5 years ago, my H was going through something similar with his sister.  I'm confident she has some kind of PD, but can't say what.  She's just so destructive in her relationship with my H, and also at least 2 of her DIL (who I heard say they can't "stand" her), and also her mom (who is now deceased), and who knows who else.  Could write a book about her too.  At any rate, she was treating my H horribly, and playing all the same shan-an-a-gans that we all write about on here with our BPD SO's.  Anyways, back then, I kept pointing out the facts to my H, "supporting him", and I suppose huffing about his sister's daily antics.  My H resisted all of it.  He got annoyed with me.  Of course I couldn't stop pointing out what she was doing because it was so crazy and so hurtful and destructive (and clearly about POWER), and the more I pointed it out, the more defensive my H became.  It was definitely affecting our marriage, because she was invading our life daily, and he just wasn't ready to accept that his family wasn't perfect.  I can't remember what the breakthrough was, but eventually it came.  I wish I could tell you more about why it came or how it came.  But I can't remember.  It's all a hellish blur.  He's been LC ever since.  Only communicates with her about his dad - a few times a year at most.  Once his dad passes, he acknowledges he will probably have NC with her.  

See where I'm going with this?

Somebody recently posted about a breakthrough event.  I think that's what I had with my mom last summer.  I think that's what my H eventually had with his sister.  

I hope that's what your H eventually has too.  You see his mom for what she is.  Your H is still not seeing it.  I'm hoping his breakthrough event will come.  
In the meantime, I've had a very small taste (compared to you) of what it's like to not be on the same page as a spouse.  I remember how frustrating and painful it was for me to observe and participate in what was going on with his sister, and for him to be in such denial.  It definitely brought stress into the marriage, daily.  And that compounds over time of course.  But my H's breakthrough did come.  Now he supports me with my BPD mom.  I've mused that I think his sister was the training ground for navigating our struggles with my mom.

I can only hope your H has his breakthrough event.  I have nothing to offer about how to facilitate that happening sooner for your sake.  Maybe others do.  Or maybe he just has to figure it out himself in his own time.

Excerpt
"Next year maybe this will be different."
 

The fact that he said this gives me hope Doing the right thing (click to insert in post).  It suggests that on some level he is recognizing that something is wrong.  This is a good thing Way to go! (click to insert in post)

Excerpt
"Just called to wish you a Happy New Year, son. I now have pneumonia."

OK, again I'm hopeful that one of these comments or actions will one time be one too many, and the breakthrough event will happen.

Meanwhile, we're here for you.

Good to have you back. Virtual hug (click to insert in post)



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kiwigal
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« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2020, 06:33:31 AM »

PJ,
I so get it!
The obligation with the illness.. and also the 'hushed' phone calls. My H does the same.
I wonder for them, if there is enough self awareness around a sense of co dependency, and shame with it.. while also lacking the tools to know how to unhook?
Keep us posted. I love knowing how others successfully navigate these things!
 
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