@Fallon: I hope I can take your advice and follow your example. I know it was intended for
@herron1345, but I felt like God was talking to me through you too. For me it's my mom too. You helped me to see where my sister is coming from, because she is much closer to where you are, and I have tried to talk her out of it.I too am the one who is called upon to be the voice of reason and mediate for everyone else. Either my mom has asked me to talk to my sister(s) for her, or the other way around. I have had my share of fights with her too, but somehow we always manage to make up. And she has helped me through some really difficult times in my life (granted, it was begrudgingly and with strings attached), but I feel like I owe her somehow.This week, instead of doing all of the many things I needed to do to prepare for the holiday, or spend time with my precious daughter who is only here for one week, I have been trying to mediate a feud between my mom and my sister, who invited my crew for Thanksgiving, but not my parents. I have wasted hours upon hours with this, and not only are they no closer to a resolution, now my mom is mad at me too. She didn't like my idea of celebrating Thanksgiving again with them on Friday, at MY house, where I would be the one cooking. She doesn't want to be told the truth, that she creates the drama and conflict with everyone, and that she is the one who needs to change in order for the relationships to work. She has alienated herself from everyone but me. My kids have asked me why am I the only one who loves her. My intuitive DS10 pointed out over a week ago that she was manipulating me, and I didn't want to see it that way. I constantly give her the benefit of a doubt when she is suspicious of everyone else's motives. I am exhausted. And I feel guilty, and angry, and hurt, and irritated. But I don't feel like I can say all of the honest things I want to say, mostly because she is in poor health and I don't want to contribute to that. I don't feel like I can break free from this vicious cycle. Because, like Herron said, it's my mom. 4951