Toxic And Selfish Mother Holds OP's Money Hostage Until They Talk To Her

"My mom never told her brothers or father that I cut her out. She probably didn't want to look like she failed at parenting."

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• October 25, 2023

In the complex tapestry of family dynamics, OP, a 30-year-old woman, found herself at a crossroads with her mother, a woman whose behavior dripped with toxicity and manipulation. After enduring years of emotional pain, OP made the brave decision to sever ties with her mother, hoping for a life free from the shackles of her mother's control.

For OP, the choice to distance herself from her mother was not impulsive; it was a culmination of endless patience wearing thin. Encouraged by the support of others who recognized the detrimental influence her mother had on her life, OP took the bold step to cut the cord that tied her to years of hurt and manipulation.

Yet, liberation was not immediate. The insidious nature of familial ties crept back in when the holiday season arrived. A seemingly innocent tradition, the exchange of Christmas money, became a battleground.

The very financial gesture meant to foster connection and warmth became a tool for manipulation, highlighting the depths of her mother's selfishness.

This saga unfolded not just as a personal catharsis for OP but also as a testament to the resilience of individuals breaking free from the clutches of toxic relationships. Just take a look at the original post...

After seeking advice on dealing with their entitled and selfish mother, OP ultimately decided to cut ties due to the overwhelming pain she had caused over the years.

Four months without her southern "sweet" voice spewing negativity, and life feels delightfully liberated from her wishes and prejudices.

Life has improved since cutting ties with their mother, except when their sisters relay her latest antics, leaving them all equally infuriated.

OP's mother never told her family about the estrangement, leading to an unfair distribution of Christmas money meant for all four girls.

Instead of dividing the $1200 Christmas money fairly, OP's mother bought cheap gifts and pocketed the majority, remaining in debt while her children received far less.

As teenagers, they started working and taking care of their own expenses, and they demanded their fair share of the money meant for their upbringing.

When asked what they wanted for Christmas, the daughters requested cash, and after a pointed reminder of the funds received from their uncles and grandfather, their mother agreed to deposit the money into their accounts.

Their mother refused to send the money, planning to hold it until they spoke to her again, causing their older sister to accuse her of manipulation or theft. The sister then informed OP about the situation.

Frustrated but not surprised, they suggested their sister handle the money and split it among their other siblings since they no longer had a relationship with those family members and found it wrong to accept the gift.

Frustrated by their mother's behavior, OP saw her response as a manipulative hint that she might re-enter their life when she pleased, expecting forgiveness and reconciliation.

Manipulation won't work; they won't let their mother back in until they see real change.

This serves as a reminder that sometimes, cutting out toxic parents is a valid choice, and giving in to manipulative tactics only reinforces their negative behavior.

OP was surprised and grateful for the attention, expressing thanks for rewards and comments, with plans to clarify questions in the comments.

Some other info:

Frequent moves and safety concerns led their family to send money to the person's mother instead, and she now controls their grandfather's finances due to his poor health.

OP decided not to tell their uncles and grandfather about cutting ties with their mother, as they had no prior relationship with them and didn't want to involve them in the situation with their toxic mother.

The uncles and grandfather are aware of the mother's actions but refuse to intervene, and OP is determined to cut ties with them too, feeling they enable her behavior.

OP cut ties with their mother due to her manipulative actions, including falsely accusing and mistreating their father, ultimately leading to his incarceration and passing. Her continued negativity reinforced their decision.

Coming out at 16, OP endured abuse and conversion therapy from their mother. She broke her promise of marrying only with their approval, wed an abusive man, and developed a drinking problem.

Scroll down to see what people had to say!

Their family should send money directly; why let mom play middleman with the gifts? Time for a more direct approach.

Ah, the classic "gifts as bait" trick. The person made the right call by sticking to their no-contact stance and not taking the bait in that manipulative game.

Their stepmom thinks she's the puppet master, but they've pulled off a disappearing act that even Houdini would applaud. Her loss if she can't see the magic in it.

The person should phone Dad and the uncles and spill the tea: Mom's playing money roulette, and they're folding. Thanks, but no thanks for the financial gamble!

Cut out the middle-mom and go direct for gifts and connections—it's a relationship upgrade with no extra fees! Time to bypass the gift gatekeeper and enjoy the direct route.

Hindsight's 20/20, but at least now the road ahead is clearer.

Cut the rope, dodge the monkeys, and stay stealthy with moves. In the hide-and-seek of life, make sure Mom never finds in the first place.

Spill the tea with the relatives and put a stop to surprise acts by "Mom's Entourage." It's time to close the circus ticket booth!

It's time for the person to let the relatives in on the secrets and prevent them from contributing to the craziness. All aboard the sanity express!

Sending a card is the polite way of saying, "They're out, but still civil to others." Keeping it up, letting her stumble, and remembering they don't owe her a spotlight in their life's theater!

Time to break free and go direct with the relatives. The person's heart mailbox is open for love and cards, no mention of gifts—the priceless reward is avoiding contact with mom!

Historians remember the past, they don't live in it. Let the boomers keep their "heirlooms" for their nostalgia trip.

Time for the Uncles to skip the middlemom and send gifts and cash directly to the person and their siblings. It's a foolproof "Mom-avoidance" plan!

In this narrative, we delve into the intricacies of a daughter's struggle for independence, examining the lengths a toxic parent can go to maintain control and the emotional toll it takes on those striving for freedom and healing.

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Sophia