All my life I planned to help my parents if they ever neede help. I was there for my mother, moving in and helping her until she passed away nearly 12 years ago.

Last year I did all I could to help my father, leaving myself in a bad financial situation as a result. I moved in with him too, hoping to help him as he went through several foot surgeries. I wanted to help, but it was not to be. Instead of embracing my help, he resented it. He then spent the next year destroying our relationship and making it clear that he didn't need me. At the same time, he spent his retirement years telling everyone who had ears that I wouldn't help him. He even called my boss and told her the same thing, all this while I was suffering one of the greatest losses of my life.

I knew that I had to do something to save myself. And I did. I turned him over to God and walked away. When I say walked away, I mean emotionally. Physically, I still visit, still call him each day. But when he has his tantrums, like he did yesterday, I go home. And when I get home, I switch my phone to answering service.

I don't know, I can't say this method would work for everyone, but for me it has been freeing. I no longer worry about him, knowing that God is there to care for him. I've told him what I've done and that we can never live in the same house again. He knows what that means, and as an only child with no biological children, my future is similar.