Thank you Mendingmysoul! I'm proud of myself. And you're correct, we don't have to explain why we are putting up a boundary. Good for you for not explaining yourself when you said 'no' the first time, too.

Just now, my sister sent me a fake empathy text. I say 'fake empathy' because she NEVER in her 49 years has shown me genuine compassion or empathy...ever.

Here's an blog I found online about the types of fake empathy that narcissists use on their victims.

Here's what she texted (and notice she tries to bait me again in her text. I bolded that part b/c it's so blatant an example of her narcissism).

"Ok, I’ll find another situation for [dog's name].
If I can help support you in any way let me know, I’m not sure if I’m part of the problem but if not, just let me know what would be helpful."

So I grey rocked her again, refusing to take her emotional baiting.

I texted back, "I can't dog sit for you on [dates]." I don't owe her an explanation. She didn't get one from me.

I feel good about myself today. I decided that today is the first day of the rest of my life. And, at 51, it's not too late for me to find happiness with other people who can be psuedo-family roles who are healthy people to have in my life instead of the toxic family members that I have around me.