I had to pull away from my family for quite a few years - it was completely unhealthy. Every time I would go there or call, I would end up crying hysterically. (That is one of their tactics - push buttons like crazy, say whatever they feel like (then vehemently deny it), then make you look like the crazy one when you get upset).

I moved about 40 miles away. Not a lot, but my mother was very ill and I was her power of attorney.

Sadly, she passed away in December. I did finally get all of the closure I needed with her, but it was because she couldn't respond! I did it for me, selfishly.

Some people just aren't cut out or able to be good parents. Unfortunately, their offspring are the ones hurt by it - innocent bystanders.

What I did - tried to make my own "family" out of friends.