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Thread: My estranged family wants back into my life after 30 years.

  1. #1
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    My estranged family wants back into my life after 30 years.

    I am a 45 year old female. Parents divorced when I was 6 - my sister was 18 at the time. Dad and I moved out of the family home - a house my mother had inherited from her family. I lived with my dad. My mother was very very comfortable financially - she inherited lots from her family and also had a regular paycheque from her family's business. When my parents divorced, I know that my sister moved out of the house and went traveling the world. I actually don't remember much at all about my mother and sister. The only thing I do remember is the explosive fights. I remember my sister physically kicking my father in the back at the top of the stairs, sending him crashing down the stairs. I remember my sister physically punching my dad several times. When dad and I moved out, that's the last I heard from my mom or sister - no birthday cards, no christmas cards, no phone calls, etc. I tried to call mom once a few months after we moved out and the number was disconnected - and she had sold the house. It was tough financially for dad and I. Mom never sent a penny in terms of child support or even a gift or anything once in a while. We lived in small rental units. I had a good childhood; I was lucky, because my dad was supportive and loving. Fast-forward 15 years to when I was 21. I had taken a pause from university to take care of my dad who was going through cancer treatments. My sister (33 at that time) contacted my dad through social media. She and her mother had been arrested and needed bail money. They had been arrested for a serious violent crime. I told dad not to get involved. He didn't listen. Gave them every single penny in his bank account. They said they wanted to be a family again. I stupidly believed them. My mom said had some work lined up and needed a car to get to work. I stupidly stupidly gave her my car, the one I had just worked so hard to pay off. A week later.... not a word from either of them. The phone numbers were disconnected. Fast-forward 14 years to last week. Now I am 45, my dad is 70. Dad has barely anything to live on; he lives with me, I pay the full rent etc etc. My sister contacted my dad through social media last week. That she misses her father and she misses her sister (me). My dad's bday is coming up next week; she wants us to meet and be a family again. Honestly, I know this sounds awful - but I want NOTHING to do with them. I don't want to know her number or how she is doing. I don't want to meet her, not for dinner and not for anything. Since I was 10 years old, I have been telling people that my mother died when I was a baby and I am an only child. To be honest - I had no clue if my mother was alive or not because she never wanted to be in my life, so for all I know she could have been dead. My dad says I am the problem right now, that I need to give them a chance and that I should have never told people my mother was dead and I was an only child - because that was never the truth. I don't know what to do. My dad told me this would mean the world to him at his age - to have his daughters be sisters and love one another. I want nothing to do with her. Am I in the wrong here?

  2. #2
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    Not in the least. He is towards the end of his life, so there will always be regrets (like sisters not being sisters), but it takes both to make that happen. If he wants to meet her somewhere and visit with her (not your house), fine, but she would actually have to prove change first.

    I had family I never knew, once contact me from their deathbed. During that conversation, I was blamed for the sins of my ancestors and told I was going to be just like them. It has messed with me most of my life. You can choose family, but you can't choose blood.

  3. #3
    Senior Member catherine's Avatar
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    No, you are certainly not wrong. Your story reminds me of the parable of the scorpion and the frog. You might know it

    A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river. “Do I look like a fool?” said the frog. “You’d sting me if I let you on my back!”

    “Be logical,” said the scorpion. “If I stung you I’d certainly drown myself.”

    “That’s true,” the frog acknowledged. “Climb aboard, then!” But no sooner than they were halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the frog, and they both began to thrash and drown. “Why on earth did you do that?” the frog said morosely. “Now we’re both going to die.”

    “I can’t help it,” said the scorpion. “It’s my nature.”

    Your sister and mother have shown you their true nature. You are wise to not let them back in your life. You can still feel some sadness and regret over your mother's abandonment and you can still have some feelings for them, but it doesn't mean you have to expose yourself to their dysfunctional and narcissistic behavior.
    "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
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    Thanks @ToomuchStuff. I really appreciate it. Yes, this situation truly has messed with me most of my life - more than I like to admit. To be honest, it was really difficult when I was a kid and in my teens. It got easier when I was in my 30's. And now that I am in my 40's, I finally felt like I had moved past this - moved past the deep pain of this. And as soon as this resurfaces - the pain just comes right back, maybe even more than before.

    Thanks for your kinds word, they really helped me feel like I am not completely wrong for feeling the way I do. I will let my father do as he pleases, it's his life and his decision. I will use my own good judgement and remind myself to keep using my brain.

    That's the problem. I don't think change is possible for these two - they've proved it before. I know what the problem is. I had a chat with my dad and he told me that I'll understand more when I am his age. That at his age he just forgets all the bad stuff that happened and all the hurt that people caused him - and he just openly forgives everyone, no matter what they have done. Unfortunately, I think that is how he will proceed with this relationship again. All I can do is do what I feel is right for me, and that is to protect myself.

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    Thank you @catherine. Thanks for sharing that parable - I have not heard it before. I think that's what is really bothering me - how painful this is for me. I've spent many years in therapy because of this. And I actually thought I had moved past this - moved past the pain of this. But now with them popping back up - it just shows me how much this still hurts. I hate how this can just paralyze me and my life. The worst part is knowing that it's truly in their nature to act the way they do, no matter who they hurt in the process. The scary part is knowing that I am blood related to that "nature". I guess the worst part of this for me (and I often tiptoe around it) is that I have lied to everyone I know and love - I told them my mother was dead and that I have no siblings. That's a lie and I am a liar for saying it. That hurts the most. That I lied and continue to lie to people I love and respect.

    Thanks again for your words and advice. They really helped me feel like I am not crazy.



    Quote Originally Posted by catherine View Post
    No, you are certainly not wrong. Your story reminds me of the parable of the scorpion and the frog. You might know it
    A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river. “Do I look like a fool?” said the frog. “You’d sting me if I let you on my back!”

    “Be logical,” said the scorpion. “If I stung you I’d certainly drown myself.”

    “That’s true,” the frog acknowledged. “Climb aboard, then!” But no sooner than they were halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the frog, and they both began to thrash and drown. “Why on earth did you do that?” the frog said morosely. “Now we’re both going to die.”

    “I can’t help it,” said the scorpion. “It’s my nature.”

    Your sister and mother have shown you their true nature. You are wise to not let them back in your life. You can still feel some sadness and regret over your mother's abandonment and you can still have some feelings for them, but it doesn't mean you have to expose yourself to their dysfunctional and narcissistic behavior.

  6. #6
    Senior Member rosarugosa's Avatar
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    Good parable, Catherine.
    Good luck with these difficult family dynamics, Abigail.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Tradd's Avatar
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    I’ll all for keeping the drama out of your life. I kicked toxic parents (alcoholism and the other an enabler) decades ago. Made my life much else stressful.

  8. #8
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    I agree with the other posters. First and foremost, you need to care for yourself. Toxic family members are NOT your responsibility and cutting them out of your life doesn't necessarily mean you hate them/don't care for them - it means you are taking care of yourself and that you are a better person with them excluded from your life.

    As a just-in-case scenario - if your dad wants to go out and meet with them, let him - but NOT inside your home! Put some chairs outside in case they come by (for whatever reason - dropping him off, etc) and let them sit outside, but you do NOT have to let them in or entertain them in any way!

    Good luck to you!
    To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." Mahatma Gandhi
    Be nice whenever possible. It's always possible. HH Dalai Lama
    In a world where you can be anything - be kind. Unknown

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by happystuff View Post
    I agree with the other posters. First and foremost, you need to care for yourself. Toxic family members are NOT your responsibility and cutting them out of your life doesn't necessarily mean you hate them/don't care for them - it means you are taking care of yourself and that you are a better person with them excluded from your life.

    As a just-in-case scenario - if your dad wants to go out and meet with them, let him - but NOT inside your home! Put some chairs outside in case they come by (for whatever reason - dropping him off, etc) and let them sit outside, but you do NOT have to let them in or entertain them in any way!

    Good luck to you!
    I agree with this but would not let them onto my property, either. Seriously. Think of it like the vampire stories--the vampires have to be invited in. Don't invite them in, don't let them cross your threshold.

    I get where your dad is coming from but he is in a very different place, lifewise. You are not a liar, you are someone who created a story to protect yourself from intrusive thinking/judgments that would have been completely inappropriate for your situation. If you can reframe this--you operated out of self-protection and that was very wise.

    If your dad wants to uber somewhere to meet them for a meal, then that is on him. I would stay far away from the other two people; you have good reason to.

  10. #10
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    So sorry for what happened to you and your Dad.

    If those you love and respect love and respect you back they will understand why you declared your bio mother dead and you being an only child.
    If they don't understand you better learn that now before you invest more love and respect in them.

    You absolutely have no obligation to give bio sis and bio mother a second, third or forth chance to disappoint you again.
    As Happystuff wrote, do not let them into your home or entertain them.
    Their interest in your Dad will go away once they realize that there is nothing to gain from him.

    Take care!

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