I need a subforum for dysfunctional families because most of my relatives are. I guess the ones that impact me the most are my codependent sisters and mom. They all live together in one big unhappy mess. My mother is passive aggressive, my youngest sister is the bossy one who always gets her way and shares her advice/opinions whether it is wanted and my older sister is a recluse.

Veteran's day reminded me of my attempt to do a good thing that only brought criticism from my family. My step-dad (the good dad who loved and raised me) died when he was only 56 years old. That was the reason I became a paramedic and then cardiac RN because I didn't want other young children to lose their dads (my sisters were 8 & 9 y/o at the time). My dad served in WWII. My mom wanted him to have a military funeral but the local whoever-they-were said they only got allocated one flag per month and had already used theirs. This seemed so wrong to me. I thought about it for a long time and earlier this year I wrote a letter to my senator telling him about my father and how wrong it was that his widow never got his flag. Within a few weeks they sent me a flag that had been flown over the capitol in his honor and a nice letter commending his service. Thinking I had done something good I took the letter and flag to my family and gave them to my mom. She was like, how nice, hmmm what's on TV. My youngest sister read the letter and her only comment was, they spelled his middle name wrong. Well, I spelled his name wrong. I am still not sure if it is Emory or Emery. I was so disappointed in my family's response to my trying to right a wrong done to my dad.

A few years ago my older sister got a war medal that should have been given to her great, great grandfather and everybody was so excited about that but I feel like a big nothing in their eyes.

I think they think I am a sub-par person because I have PTSD and have not worked for ten years but when I talk about wanting to go back to work they treat me as though I no longer CAN work. I know I need to study and I have been going to the medical library and catching up on stuff. I have updated myself on the standards of care for ACLS and would like to teach that again. When I mentioned to my mom that I thought I might like to go to anesthesia school (long time goal - got accepted 16 years ago but didn't want to go with a toddler) when my son leaves the nest and I know I am bright enough but worry do I have the energy she simply dismissed the idea and said, I don't think you do [have the energy].

Is it them or is it me that is the froot loop??