.....i don't often post about myself and forgive me if this is somewhat of a hijacking of the original post.......but all of the previous accounts of "life with mother"....or more correctly.."without mother"....hit me like a ton of bricks.....i relate to all of you in one way or another and my heart aches for all the pain that you have all been through and are still going through......i've been there too and it is the worst pain of my life....after a lifetime of abuse and emotional neglect from my mother,i was put in the position of caring for her for the last 3 years of her life after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor which slowly made her completely dependent on me and my family who gave up our home and everything we had to move in with her and take care of her and for as long as she was able,she made our lives hell....but we all persevered....i...because of the promise that i had made to my dad on his deathbed.....during this time i had to have back surgery and eventually i was no longer able to care for her at home and she was put into a nursing home...by now she was in a comalike state.....6 months later.....i got the call that she had passed away.......alone.........in spite of all that she had put my family through.....this thought consumed me for years........but through the love of a wonderful husband and family i was finally able to let it all go.......my life after that was wonderful and continues to be so........please......to all those who suffer from the lack of love and support of a mother.....try hard to not let it consume you....get help.therapy if needed.......God bless you all.......julia