... other partner left the family with 5 kids. I have my own family commitments so cannot contribute but my siblings don't talk to me because of this. I feel bad they cannot accept my decision and have branded me the bad son. They don't contact me for that reason. I know my single parent plays the pokies and lives well but when I do visit her, I pay her bills / buy groceries or spend money on her. I lost my job 4 months ago but every time I get in contact with her, its all about her expenses with disregard to my financial commitments or my families wellbeing. She does not try anything to bring her kids together, let alone taking care of my kids in return. Its all take , take from her side. As a result, my siblings don't keep me in their lives no longer. I have been attending to my younger sibllings since I was 15 and today, they keep away from me and my mum does not do anything to bring us together. I am a quiet person who will not say things to family members and for that reason, my other siblings find it easy to say things to me. I don't know what to do as there seems no end to this situation in my family
Answers (1)
It's completely natural to feel that way. You did your part, played your role in the family and now your life has continued in it's own direction. Your family needs to be supportive of you, and if they can't do that then don't worry about it, know that you did your best, but don't give up completely. Call your parents and your brothers once a week each. Invite them out even though the answer is always "no" or even if you know they won't pick up. If your mom wants you to help pay for something, tell her that you guys can discuss it over dinner at your house with your family. Find a way where your mother and brothers can see that your goal isn't to their lives miserable, it's just that you have your own path, but you want to share it with them. And every time you see them give you an inch, you give them a mile, because they will react, and it's something they have to slowly get used to, till they realize what's going on.