OT -- Am I obliged?

I had a blowup with my mother a year ago. I realized then that the family dynamic I'd lived with all my life was bad for me and I wanted to change it after the blowup, but how do you change an entire miserable family?

My mother refused to clear the air with me -- she flat out told me she would not discuss it.

So I disengaged from my mother -- just for a little while at first, then it became a year because it just felt so damn good. Because my sister also played a silent role in the blowup, I also disengaged from her. No big loss -- I only heard from her when she felt like it and it usually sucked for me because...she's exactly like my mother.

Although this fight didn't involve other family members, everyone has avoided me for a year without explanation. Because I took a stand? Because I'm stirring the pot? Not sure why -- I never discussed any of it with anyone except my mother. (My mother is a classic narcissist and borderline personality -- I'm sure she poisoned the well and they fell into line against me like the good little soldiers a narcissist counts on to keep the power!)

So for a year, my husband and I have not been invited to any family gatherings, got no holiday cards, I have no idea where anyone spent the holidays or what they did for birthdays...it's as if my husband and I stopped existing.

Now my niece is pregnant with her first kid. They always know where to find me at gift time, so I received an invitation from my sister-in-law for the shower this summer...my sister-in-law who has not reached out to me once in a year...

Am I obliged to go to this shower? I am on good terms with my niece, but she doesnt' bother with me since her wedding. I don't want to sit with my mother and sister, but I won't know anyone else there. I haven't seen my sister and mother in a year. This would not be the best venue for a reunion that will be chilly at best.

If I don't go, I'm sure everyone in my family will treat it as me just being petty, and then extended family will probably hear what a shit I am too for not going. It will DEFINITELY offend my sister-in-law, who thinks everyone should be there to celebrate her kids whenever she sends out the call, but my sister-in-law has avoided me for a year, so why should I be uncomfortable for even a moment on her account?

I'll add this. The people who will be offended if I don't go could have reached out to me at any time over the past year to keep me part of the family. They might have even tried to mend this rift between my mother and me if celebrations like this are so important to them. They didn't.

And here's the other thing. Emotionally, I don't know if I could even make it through the shower. Since I've disengaged from my family, my head has been host to a lot of thoughts I never had before and it's all been overwhelming. I'm not ready to face those people, especially alone.

For a year, everyone in my family has quietly taken sides against me. Now they want to be one big happy family because they have something to celebrate and they want warm bodies there to cheer on the procreators. Would appreciate any thoughts on what my obligation is. Thanks!

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Growing up you never think

Growing up you never think your family can be toxic but some are and I've learned that it's ok to disengage and remove yourself from those dynamics in order to save yourself. Whether its family, friends, coworkers, etc...you need to take care of you.

You see from stepping away how much peace you have been feeling. I know its tough because the rest of the family takes sides and they have their own perspectives on things but this is your life Marble. People will always have their opinions but this is about you and healing yourself. Regardless of what others think do you want to go to this shower? If you feel it will set you back and trigger you I wouldn't recommend it. Do some soul searching and dig deep. You are not ever obligated to do ANYTHING you dont' want to do, especially if it physically, mentally, and emotionally impacts you.

Wishing you much peace, clarity, and healing.

No, you are not obligated.

I have a dysfunctional family, as well. Last year, I heard through the grapevine that my SIL was pregnant. Did anybody actually call me and give me the news? Nope. Not my brother (technically, half brother), not his mom, not my dad, not SIL, nobody. But I sure received an invitation to the baby shower. For a baby that I wasn't even told about.

I did not go. I did respond that I was unable to attend but that was it (didn't send a gift, either). And I don't feel bad about it. I have nothing, personally, against my brother or his wife but it just showed me how much I am thought of as "family" and it's not a lot.

I did family things for years out of obligation and frankly, I'm tired of it. I'm only family when it suits them, like when they want to show off what a great blended family we are (haha). I'm done.

Of course you are not

Of course you are not obligated! These people have not been in contact with you in a year. They know NOTHING about your current situation, real obligations, or commitments.

So... DON'T GO. Send a small, thoughtful gift IF you want to. If not, send a card. You are under no obligation to attend NOR give them any explanation as to why you are NOT attending.

I'm certain your narc mother has spread her own BS version of events and the sheeple have either bought into her lies are are too intimidated to rock the boat. Don't destroy your peace for toxic people.

The "black sheep" of a

The "black sheep" of a dysfunctional family is usually the one that is most psychologically healthy, and won't accept all the BS that is propogated by the rest of the clan. Just saying. Of course you are not obliged to go, nor are you obliged to apologise for not going. Saying to the person who issued the invitation, that you will not be going, is fine.

Ain't that the truth...

I hope I am getting healthier

I hope I am getting healthier, Kes. I am trying to understand what was, apparently, a more traumatic childhood and family dynamic than it seemed before I disengaged a year ago. All this insight is flooding in and I can't get through a day without breaking down lately.

I want to own my part of the problems and make sense of today's rift and the history, but I don't have anyone to ask if I'm wrong or way off base.

Since this happened, I am seeing things so clearly and it's so frightening and painful. Years ago I went to therapy briefly about some work and boyfriend issues -- NOT about my mother. But somehow the subject of my childhood came up and I told her a little. She concluded, "Well, you didnt' feel safe in your childhood home." I thought the woman was nuts because I wasn't talking about my dad beating me or there not being food to eat.

Now it makes sense.

You're not obligated. I find

You're not obligated. I find it rude when people who can't include you in their usual celebrations and events manage to send an invitation when there's a gift grab opportunity. If you want to go, go. If you don't want to go, decline. If you want to maintain a good relationship with the niece, send a gift. If you don't care, don't bother. I personally would not go to an event where I'd feel awkward or uncomfortable, or where I'd be forced to be with relatives I did not care to spend time with.

Don't go, Don't respond

I have a very large extended family that I haven't contacted for over 17 years, they are the most dysfunctional group of people I have ever seen. They love to draw everyone into their drama and expect the whole family to pick a side in a stupid family feud. I want nothing to do with any of them. The only time I hear from any of them is for something that involves giving a gift or a death in the family. I receive birthday, baby showers, & anniversary invitations for cousins, aunts & uncles, nieces & nephews, with a list of items the person is wanting. I don't respond to any of this crazy entitled crap.

Every once in awhile, one will call to let me know that a family member has passed away, no information about funeral services, just the person has passed away. all I say to them is sorry for your loss, please pass my condolences onto the family. I usually get the big, F.U. and they hang up. It's not worth putting yourself back into the drama.

Don't go if you don't want to

Don't go if you don't want to go. You are not obligated to be anywhere, being an adult though you can realise that where you go can have consequences. If you go, it sounds like you will have an awkward time. If you do not go then the family will see that you are continuing to ignore them and stay away, they may make their own judgements as to why.

I am not sure though how you can blame your SIL for not reaching out to you when you did not reach out to her. If you do not like your SIL that is fine, but to me it doesn't seem healthy to project your resentment at your mother on the rest of the family that you have been ignoring equally as much as they have ignored you.

You do not know what everyone is thinking because you have not heard from them or reached out to them yourself. If you are happy to continue being outside of the family circle then stick with your guns, it seems to be working for your mental health. If you want some contact and inclusion from indivudual family members then you are as equally responsible for reaching out to them as they are to you.

If you want a middle ground, send a card and/or a gift directly to your neice. It doesn't have to cost a fortune, but does show that you are thinking of her. Equally, if you like the neice you could give her an excuse for the baby shower but meet up with her for coffee or something to catch up with her another time.

I did not disengage from

I did not disengage from everyone in my family -- only my mother and sister, and I do like my SIL, so I have reached out several times over the last year, but there is a real chill in the air. I suggest getting dinner or getting together, but it just never happens anymore. I haven't asked their "feelings" on my fight with my mother because it has nothing to do with them -- I won't put them in the middle.

So why this chill is in the air with other family members who have nothing to do with this disagreement? I don't know.

I specifically reached out to my SIL less than a year ago when she had surgery. I offered to do "anything" she needed -- cook, clean, drive her, keep her company. She lives an hour away, so I can't just pop over there, but I was willing to do whatever she needed. She graciously said she didn't need anything. That's the last time I heard from her.

I typically talk more with my brother, but he's been distant since this happened. We still talk, but he never took me up on any offers to get together. What more can I do?

When the holidays or events came around in the past, someone usually floats an idea, someone passes the info onto others and the plan is made. It is rarely at my house because all the other women compete to have it at their houses, so I don't even attempt to have anything at my house. It's a pissing match. Still, no one ever called me about anyone's plans. I sent everyone holidays cards, as I always do, even my parents, and got none back.

When my father got sick, my brother wrote me an email to let me know and opened with, "I don't want to get in between you and mom, but she wanted me to let you know dad is in the hospital." I greatly resented the insinuation that I had put anyone in the middle of anything -- he needs to put that manipulative shit right where it belongs -- on his mother. I had never even mentioned the argument with my mother to anyone! I very kindly wrote back to my brother that I had not put him in the middle of anything and what happened with my mother has nothing to do with him and I'd no intention of it having a negative effect on my relationship with my brother or his family. I reminded him that for decades, I was the one in most contact with my parents so I always let everyone know when someone was sick and it was never considered anything more than considerate -- passing along important information was never regarded as "getting in the middle" of anything. So this was telling to me.

I never heard back from him, but I did contact my parents regarding my father's illness because I thought it was the right thing to do. And that was that.

Ok, so this gives a different

Ok, so this gives a different version than was implied in your OP. You are in control of your side of relationships. Choose to do what you want and accept the consequences. It seems like not going will keep you out of a difficult situation and avoid confrontation/awkwardness but will not give you and your familily a chance of starting to re-build relationships right now and may cause them to judge you. Neither choice is good or bad, they are just different. You know what you want to do, I think that you are not quite ready to accept the consequence of not attending and want permission to decline the invitation.

I don't feel in control of

I don't feel in control of anything. I feel as if I got the consequences either way because they're already giving me the shaft and the shower hasn't even happened yet!

My big power move was telling my mother last year, no, it's not OK for you to treat me this way. She stopped talking to me. When we finally talked again, I tried to be a big girl and asked her if we could talk about the rift and how to avoid similar things in the future because they are painful to me. She would not engage in that discussion.

I told her if she refused to talk about it to find a new way to resolve things in the future, I didn't know when I could reengage with her because going on as things were was too painful to me. It didn't matter. She would not talk.

So that was my big-girl move, my healthy-person move, my I READ OPRAH MAGAZINE move.

But instead of this improved communication and dynamic with my mother, I got chucked by everyone else.

Things got out of my control almost as soon as I tried to take some control.

Comments

Growing up you never think

No, you are not obligated.

Of course you are not

The "black sheep" of a

Ain't that the truth...

I hope I am getting healthier

You're not obligated. I find

Don't go, Don't respond

Don't go if you don't want to

I did not disengage from

Ok, so this gives a different

I don't feel in control of

Toxic people don't like it

You are not obliged to go

Thanks, everyone. I think the

You are here

OT -- Am I obliged?

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