It is hard to admit; I've dealt with it a long time; there is now a very comfortable 3000 miles between us. I actually get anxious when I think she may visit-she never has. She likes anyone who is not in our immediate family (except her exhusband) better than us. We're both on FB, (she's not in my favs that I see regularly) so I shoot her an email every now and then but it's pointless. Which is what I did yesterday. I think the rest of the family only in the last few years acknowledges how she is. My parents spoiled her as a kid, now that she's the only one with kids, they are very careful with her so she doesn't cut them off from them. No interaction would be best for me, but how weird is that? It's a shame how she's kept the kids contact at a bare minimum, but that's done, they're 9. She is toxic for me, there is absolutely no other way to describe it. It must be hard that your mom was that person too. It's comforting to hear other stories...

Do you believe we pick our families we're born into to learn whatever lessons are needed? Or that it's the same people over and over, sometimes they're our kids, sibs, parents, lovers, bosses, friends, etc...that has always fascinated me.