my decision, Jan 2012

How to take care of my own mental health while having to deal with my major tormentor in life.  My mom seems to have the need to control her families lives.  Her methods include insults, embarrassing us in front of friends or even acquaintances,  making us feel guilty if she doesn't get her way.  We are sure she has some control over herself because she doesn't do it to her own friends or she can show a much nicer side to them.  Her own sister couldn't stand to talk to her at all for the two years prior to her death a few years ago.
She broke her hip a few weeks ago and of course, I'm a terrible daughter for not dropping everything to come and take care of her when she returns home when she could have went to the assisted care facility for a short period of time.  She didn't want to come stay with me either so I am exercising my own right to remain at home instead of putting myself out to take care of her when it wasn't necessary to do so.