Countdown to Mom moving in -- [View all]

She has lived in another town 3 hours away for over 22 years, but finances and health require her to move back to the family home where I currently live. I pick up/pack up her and her cats in 2 weeks. She is in relatively good health, mentally 100%, and can take care of herself for the most part, though I know she longs to be taken care of.

With that said, I know it is going to be a huge challenge for us to be in the same house together (I am menopausal, which adds to the fun). The house is small, with one tiny living area for TV/computers/hanging out. We have always complicated relationship that I have spent years in therapy working on. I am terrified about how this will effect my life -- my freedom, my independence, my emotional health, -- I have worked long and hard to achieve them all, and to have any of them compromised would feel like a major set-back and burden.

I know that last bit sounds terribly selfish, but I have really been caring for my Mom since I was a young teen, almost 40 years -- emotional, physically and, lately, financially. I am dealing with my own issues with my health and mental health, and wonder if I will have the internal resources needed to make this new situation a success.

I am trying my best to mentally put a positive face on it, and hope that my fears are unfounded. Wish me luck!