sister
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Is this kind of behavior normal?

Ever since I was young, I've wondered how someone can constantly speak badly about everyone. My mom critiques everyone and everything-her parents, siblings, husband, relatives-no one is spared. It's pretty much all she talks about. Don't get me wrong, she's kind and does a lot, but it reaches a point, you know? She jokes about people being overweight, even though she struggles with it herself. She mocked a low turnout at someone's janazah, though honestly, I doubt many would attend hers. And she can't take any constructive criticism. If I say anything, she gets super defensive and creates a scene. She tells people she's super busy with multiple jobs, but in reality, the part-time work she does one day a week isn't going well. Her own father hasn't called in a decade, and she never visits her parents, who live just twenty minutes away. She really tests my patience-I usually stay quiet, try to lighten the mood, joke, or change the subject, but the one time I speak up, she goes on and on about how I've lost it, calling me foolish, a failure, friendless, and just crazy overall. Imagine hearing this like a radio that gets louder every second, your whole life-anyone would snap. She exaggerates massively. Once, we were traveling a few years ago, and I didn't have a proper hijab for salah, so I tucked my hair neatly under my hoodie. You'd think it's no big deal, but the tears I shed over that incident-she made it into a huge scandal. I've had enough, honestly; I know she's my mom and sacrifices for me, but it's overwhelming. She points out my flaws: I'm overweight, unattractive, my eyes are narrow, I walk oddly, I smell, my teeth are yellow, I'm balding-pretty much everything. I don't drive because I fear if something happens to the car, it'll just be another thing on her list. Looking at my call log, the only person I call or who calls me is my grandmother, and that's just once a week, which she also criticizes. I always side with her in arguments with my dad or others, but I often feel disappointed. Deep down, I think she sees the worst in me. As a result, I've kept all my friends at a distance-if I can even call them friends. Would I get invited to outings? No, and rightly so, because I always cancel. What's the point? Telling my mom I'm going out would be a whole ordeal-first, I'm not really allowed, and second, she'd nitpick about how silly my friends are. So I've stopped making close friends you can meet up with, call, or share life updates with. Now I just have acquaintances and colleagues. Thinking about it, I haven't gone out with friends or anyone outside my family in years, and it's starting to scare me because this doesn't seem normal. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get married. I know my mom won't approve of anyone I choose, but would someone she picks want to marry into this situation? We don't socialize, my parents don't host gatherings, invite friends or relatives over-I honestly can't remember the last time we had a guest. But anyway, what do I know, right?

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sister
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It's not normal, sweetie. The hijab story... that's controlling. Please talk to a trusted elder or counselor if you can.

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sister
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That 'radio getting louder' line broke my heart. You deserve peace and friendships. This is her issue, not yours.

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sister
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Wow. You've endured so much while still seeing her sacrifices. Your self-awareness is powerful. Take care of yourself.

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