The final straw
Mother had always been manipulative. "We didn't bring you up to be...". Where did I go wrong, I did well at school, good job, nice friends, no drugs, police or pregnant girlfriends.

It must have been I wouldn't let her take total control over my life. When I started work she wanted me to hand over my wages and she said she would give me pocket money ffs.

Her second finest moment was the first time I stayed out over night, bearing in mind I was in my twenties. I turned up next day about 12ish, my dad standing there, just got back from night shift looking tired and well nagged.

"Your mother was up all night worried sick, she didn't know where you were", she stood behind looking all hurt and upset.

"Oh right dad, so she didn't tell you about me ringing and trying to tell her where I was going, but she hung up half way through telling her? Anyway I'm going to bed".

I heard him giving her one or two choice words before I fell asleep.

When I was about 30 my dad rang me up to tell me she was not very well and was going to hospital for tests. A couple of weeks later he told me she had some form of leukaemia. He said she didn't want me to know because I would worry and it would affect my job, she never actually worried if I was ok it was always my job. So I said I would never mention it.

Anyways a couple of years later me and Mrs YC are visiting, bearing in mind I still "don't know". We were chatting about gas bills or something unimportant I've forgotten the details.

"You should change supplier you'll save money" I said.

"No we won't, we know what were doing"...

"I have, I'm saving £50 a year"

"No we won't"

"Mam don't be silly, you will trust me"

"You can't tell me what to do I've got leukaemia"... wtf... She then storms upstairs for a cry.

The wife then says "You've upset your mother". Knowing look between me and dad follows.

Next time she started the manipulative stuff I just said "you can stop that nonsense it's never going to work again", I think my dad actually looked quite proud. Or was it him thinking bugger I wish I'd thought of that.

I'm so glad I was adopted. Real mother is so much nicer.
(Yellow Car is now red, Fri 14 Oct 2005, 9:10, Reply)