🚀 go-pugleaf

I feel horrible ranting about this, but I just need to get it off my chest.  My
husband and I still live in the area of the state we grew up in.  Both sets of
parents (and one grandmother) also live nearby.  His siblings moved across the
state years ago and mine suddenly moved over a year ago (right after she
learned of our mother's illness and need for "help").  This leaves US as the
official "babysitters" of the parents.  Yeah I know that sounds demeaning, but
essentially, that is what we have become.  Our siblings rely on us to be the
sole caretakers of both sets of parents.  While that does not bother me, I was
born a "mother hen", it does bother me that they don't seem to think they need
to ever give us a break from our duties as caretakers.  Instead, they run off
on vacations with the parents while we are left home taking care of everything
they left behind.  Wow, how I would love an extended vacation right now, but I
am forced to keep them short, because of my family responsibilities.  Sure we
could invite the parents along on our vacations too....but we are taking these
vacations to get a little break from our daily grind.  Taking them along is not
a break, it's just carrying our responsibility with us.  I know this seems
minor in the grand scheme of things, but it is something that has been bugging
me lately.  I know I know I hear all the time how I will be rewarded for taking
such good care of our parents (you see I am the one doing all the
caring...lol), but waiting for that "reward" is becoming increasingly
difficult. Just the other night my husband reminded me of a great job offer he
got out of state......way out of state.....across several states...lol......and
while it is so tempting to take that leap of faith and move the kids.....the
guilt would kill me!  Leaving my sickly family members behind to care for
themselves?  Yikes!  What kind of daughter would I be?  Putting my own sanity
and happiness above theirs?  Just thinking about it shocks me!  I have 3 kids. 
Sometimes....not often, but sometimes I am so overwhelmed with my own
responsibilities, trying to raise 3 loving and compassionate humans, that I
just wish I could shut out the rest of the world.....especially the "family". 
I have never once asked anyone to help me raise my children.  I brought them
into the world, it is my responsibility to care for them.  Even when times were
really tough...I stuck it out.  Our siblings have no trouble at all demanding
help.....whether it's with their children or $.  They always seem to get the
help we so desperately need, but don't have the balls to ask for.  My inlaw
siblings had an enormous amount of help paying for college, buying their new
home, paying for outrageously lavish weddings, etc.  My husband?  By the time
it was his turn he got the old "I have already put 2 kids through college, I am
sick of paying for it.....if you want to go to college then get a job!" 
What??!!  WTF?  Ok, no biggie, we can deal with that.  No problem.  Whatever. 
He ends up getting a good paying  job, joining a union, getting benefits, etc. 
When he is talked about by this person I spend a great deal of time "caring
for" she says "he's just a construction worker".  I guess the fact he is the
BOSS escapes her.   Since he does not sit in an office all day pushing paper
around like his siblings that makes him a "lesser citizen"?  Running
multimillion dollar projects means nothing.  He does not wear a suit and tie to
work so he must be a scumbag.  Now....why am I spending so much time taking
care of this woman when she talks so horribly about her own child? 
:::scratching her off my list, she's a bitch::: Let her call one of her "golden
children" and have them take time off from their fancy office jobs to come
handle her next crisis (which by the way she creates because she loves being
the family "martyr") and if she buys my son a bicycle for his birthday when I
specifically said WE were getting him one and she was  NOT to buy him one, then
I just might shove it, pedals and all right up her fat ass.  Ok, I better quit,
I feel the blood pressure rising.  Ranting is supposed to make us feel better
not make us want to wrap our hands around someone else's neck!  LOL.