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Exploring thoughts on family relationships


14 years ago 0 910 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Today's last installment:

My dad's wife:

1.  What do you value about the relationship you have with them? What do you gain from the relationships?
She is smart and capable. She takes very good care of my dad. When she wants to be she can be very helpful and giving.
2.  What do you feel is lacking in the relationship? What do you want to get out of the relationships but you are not?
I would like to feel part of my dad's family and I feel like she made sure I was not. I would have liked to be part of more family pictures! I would like to see my dad more often but because of my relationship with her being difficult I cannot. She meddles in me and my dad's relationship. She tries to control him and me and everyone. I would like it if I could know for sure she would not call me again on the phone yelling and insulting me over something I did or something my dad did that she did not want him or me to do. I would like it if she could have learned to accept me and like me if she can't love me. I would like it if I didn't feel like I was something bothersome to her. I would like it if I did not feel like I am something disappointing that does not fit in her world, in her plan. I would like it if I did not feel like she wishes I did not exist. I would like it if I could stop feeling paranoid every time she is nice to me. I would like it if she would stop competing with me for my dad's time and attention. I would like it if I could stop being so terrified of her. I would like it if she had been nicer to me while I was growing up. I would have liked her to love me and accept me as I was ready to love her and accept her. I would like her to stop saying mean things about my mom. I would like it if I could stop feeling like a lost, helpless scared child every time I see her.
14 years ago 0 910 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Today's second installment!

My step-siblings:

1.  What do you value about the relationship you have with them? What do you gain from the relationships?
They are very interesting. They are fun strong, smart women. They love me. I love them. We can have very deep conversations. We share a past history. When I was younger my relationship with them made life easier. They are nice. I enjoy my time with them. 
2.  What do you feel is lacking in the relationship? What do you want to get out of the relationships but you are not?
I would like more time with them. I would like to see them without feeling so darn lame compared to them ( yes, I know that is my problem, my issue not theirs!).
14 years ago 0 910 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey guys, 

I guess this is my new installment on this subject lol. So here goes.

My dad:

1.  What do you value about the relationship you have with him? What do you gain from the relationship?
He is my dad and I love him. We talk more and share more now. He is becoming more and more understanding of me. He loves me. He does his best to be a good dad. He helps me with stuff. We discuss philosophy and meditation and how we are feeling which is new to the last 5 years or so. We sing together. We like music and walking. He asked sorry for how it was when I was younger. I forgave him. He is a good example of overcoming tough odds. I think he is proud of me. I am proud of him.
2.  What do you feel is lacking in the relationship? What do you want to get out of the relationships but you are not?
I would like to have more time with him. I would like to get to know him more, for him to share more with me. I would like for him to defend me more and put more value on his time and relationship with me. I would like him to not let his wife control our relationship (him and me) so much. I would like it if we did not have to keep secrets  from her (like if he helps me with something she gets angry so we don't tell). I would like it if I did not feel like he chose his relationship with his wife over his relationship with me.
14 years ago 0 910 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Ashley!

Thanks for the advice. I will look into answering those questions.

Hey Matman,

Thanks for stopping in and reassuring me! It was very nice of you.

Hey Furgitit,
Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. Big parts of what you said definitely resonated with me. If you have more you want to share or discuss with me on this topic I would love to hear what you have to say!

Hey Mom of 3,

Thanks for the advice I will keep that in mind! And thanks for stopping in. Your caring always helps.

Hey KC,

Thanks so much for your reply. When you said I was a kid and she was a grown-up, it almost made me cry. It felt good for someone to acknowledge that. thanks for reminding me. And thanks for sharing your perspective with me!
14 years ago 0 4 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, Diva.
I haven't read much of your previous posts, but I think your father's wife was a real *****! Sorry for being straight. If she did't love you and tried to create some complexes in you only because you are not her child, she is a real *****, and I can't respect her. You were a kid, and she was a grown-up. So, she is the one who has to analyse her feelings now, not you.  You should just understand, that it wasn't your fault.
 
My parents were divorced, for example, but I lived with my mom. My brother lived with my father. Me and my brother had perfect relationships with our father's new wife, bacause she was a really nice. So, it really depends on the person.
So, please realize, that your dad's wife's problems are not your problems.
14 years ago 0 3043 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Diva,
 
I just read some of your other posts about your family and how you've been feeling.  Your feelings about each of your family members shows quite a wide range of emotions.  Reflecting on the questions Ashley posed seems like a very good idea.
 
I wish I could give you some advice that would make a difference in those relationships, but the only thing I can come up with is keep the lines of communication open.  Be open to them even when it's hard.  You can't change or pick your relatives in most cases.  You're just sort of stuck with who you've got. 
 
I don't think this is very much help Diva.  I just wanted to let you know that I'd like to help you because I know this is a bothersome area for you.  I guess I have some bothersome family relationships myself.  These aren't easily resolved but I've learned to think there's room for hope!
 
Hang in there.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14 years ago 0 271 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Diva, how did you know.  This is me to a T except I had 2 step brothers 1 step sister and a 1/2 sister.
Thankfully, my dad divorced the crazy, psychotic, attempted murderess of a wife (when he finally realized she was way too far gone for him to help), she told me that she wished I were dead on more than one occassion (probably because I could see through her facade).
As a kid, he always chose them over me.  I had my special times with him, but not nearly as much as he did with them.  Must have been because I was so self sufficient.
I loved the steps, they are gone now, they pretty much don't exist now that their mom has gone off the deep end.  I miss them, but cannot summon the energy to attempt a relationship with them.  I don't have the energy for my 1/2 sister, she has too many of her own problems for me to deal with, special needs kid, pedophile husband, 2 more kids, broken this and that, no money.  My mom is nuts and needy and my dad is there when there are no women in the picture.
So I completely understand the need, ambivalence, sadness, loneliness, abandonmnet, forgiveness, renewal. love, fear, helplessness, sadness, panic, anger, frustration and rejection, etc.
So feel free to whine, I do.  You are entitled to your feelings and thoughts and to heck with those who don't understand.
14 years ago 0 30 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Diva,
 
You don't have to worry about whinning. I think I've worked my way to the top of the heap when it comes to whinning. I have nothing to ***** about (but whose keeping score?), yet you've all read my long ramblings on here and offered me good advice.  
14 years ago 0 11214 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Do not apologize.  It is good to explore your feelings
 
The feelings you mentioned are interesting to read.  
 
Here are a few questions you might like to consider
 
1.  What do you value about the relationship you have with them? What do you gain from the relationships?
2.  What do you feel is lacking in the relationship? What do you want to get out of the relationships but you are not?
 
 
 

Ashley, Health Educator
14 years ago 0 910 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey guys, 

Not sure what to call this thread. Ashley suggested I explore my feelings about certain relationships in my life which have been difficult for me for a long time. So I guess this is what this thread is about: Me trying to figure how I feel and why I feel that way about certain relationships in my life. So bear with me as my ideas on this subject are far from clear and my writing will most likely repeat itself and meander like a brook through a forest. Feel free not to read this thread as I guess it is just my thinking out loud. for those of you who do read it, thanks in advance for your patience and any insights would be more than welcome! I mean it, any insights!

So to begin, I would like to name the relationships I will explore first. 
1. My dad's wife
2. My dad's wife's daughters (I call them my sisters)
3. I guess my dad will have to come into this after all...

So what are the first feeling that come to mind when I think of these people?

When I think of my dad I think and feel: Need, ambivalence, sadness, loneliness, abandonment, forgiveness, renewal, Love.
When I think of his wife I think and feel: Fear, helplessness, sadness, panic, anger, frustration, misunderstood, little, as if she wishes I was never born, fear...
When I think of my sisters I think and feel: Love, joy, kindness, ambivalence, judgement, envy.

Ok, this is enough for now. I am off! Sorry for the long whiny thread this is gonna be!

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