I don't have any answers, ita. Just that general feeling that I'm failing, badly. Seeing the ex probably made it worse because it reminded me of that feeling of someone genuinely liking who I am. Everything feels jumbled and painful.

Tried, len. Got the speech, I know I was a terrible mother but please don't go. I can't handle it. I'm kind of just here because I feel awful that my mother is in mental and emotional pain. Making it worse would be harder than making myself feel better.

Oh, man, Allyson. I am sorry that you are in such distress. Families can just break you sometimes. That rootless, aimless feeling happens to all of us and it's painful as hell, but it can often presage good changes. Really.

I know I was a terrible mother but please don't go. I can't handle it. I'm kind of just here because I feel awful that my mother is in mental and emotional pain.

This is not your responsibility. If you are unhappy and in pain, and going to a hotel (but still seeing your mother at some point?) do what will help YOU, because you being all sad and bitchy is not actually going to help your mom anyway. Please put the oxygen mask on yourself before attempting to save others.

There's a hotel close by that I am longing to go to and just sit with my guitar in peace and let my mind get back to some semblance of sanity.

Can you go off to a Starbucks or something and read?

There's a hotel close by that I am longing to go to and just sit with my guitar in peace and let my mind get back to some semblance of sanity.

You should go, Allyson.

In other cheerful news, the neurologist called my sister today and reported that my Dad's cognitive abilities are slipping rapidly. My mother already has an Alzheimer's diagnosis.

I don't even know what to do. I jumped through a bunch of hoops in January to try to get them more help, and they flatly refused. They need live-in support, someone to track their meds and appointments, drive them to the doctor, feed them and entertain them.

And I can't do it. And they have utterly refused to have more help from strangers than ten hours a week, which doesn't even come close to covering what they need.

Oh Allyson, I'm sorry. That's unfair of your mother, she should let you go be with friends for a while. Making you feel trapped at home doesn't do either one of you any good.

Just that general feeling that I'm failing, badly.

I think you should distrust those feelings right now, Allyson. I know you can't stop feeling what you feel, but by any objective metric you are doing well, and everyone here will vouch for you being an amazing woman.

I think you should distrust those feelings right now, Allyson. I know you can't stop feeling what you feel, but by any objective metric you are doing well, and everyone here will vouch for you being an amazing woman.

What Burrell said. Also, what meara said. I know it's much easier said than done, but her wellbeing is not your responsibility.

Oh, Consuela, I'm so sorry. I wish I had advice or something for you.

Suela's right, go to the hotel, Allyson. That way you can control how much time you have to spend with your parents.

And I can't do it. And they have utterly refused to have more help from strangers than ten hours a week, which doesn't even come close to covering what they need.

Have you tried laying out their options and pointing out that refusing the in-home care that IS available means they need an assisted living facility? Which makes me think, have you and your sister toured any of the nearby facilities? It's probably time to start making some hard choices.

And okay, to both Allyson and Suela, I apologize. I realize I sound like I'm telling y'all what to do, and you're both smart enough to make your own choices. Sorry.