The sad middle man

Since I have been needing rides in order to go places, I tend to have a conversation with the person driving. The two main people that drive me places is my mom and my older sister, Emma. I have become my moms best friend. She tells me everything. My sister and I have always been close and she tells me everything.

I feel as if I have taken the role as the middle man. My mom and sister have been fighting with one another. My mom has been pressuring Emma to get all her finances in order for college, and she is feeling stressed. Emma doesn't like being home because my mom is there, so she is rarely ever home.

My mom rarely ever leaves and when she does, the topic is Emma and how she needs to stop procrastinating and so on. I feel like I'm a therapist and have patient doctor confidentiality. I can never say much because I can't say what is really on my mind. My mom will say something like "She doesn't ever save her money." And I know she does.

I feel extremely... Stuck. I want to go to college myself to get a degree in business. But after hearing the things they are saying, I find myself doubting myself. I just feel college is unobtainable to me. I am taking my HiSET because my anxiety disorder prevents me from finishing a day.

Since the fight has been going on, I find that I have been depressed. I am considering going back to school because all the scholarships I see are for people with good grades. I don't know if I would be able to even apply because I dropped out of high school to get my HiSET. I don't know how that goes. I just don't know what to do...

Hey PinYoda

Never doubt yourself until you see the result. You need to start acting and see whether you really can do it or not, because if you were to sit were you are and just overthink the problem without solving it, you'll only be lost and you'll be going around in circles forever, but if you stop thinking and start acting, you'll find the ultimate answer What might be applicable to your sister doesn't meant it also applies to you. You said that your mom and sister both love you individually, right? They can be great supporters, and your mom will most likely not say what she said to your sister Emma. Your mom only wants to see her girl perform well in life, that's why she seems so hard on her

And you have ambitions, so don't let anxiety and depression get in the way of getting that awesome business degree, okay?

Never let anyone influence your decision(s) in life.

Hi, it's hard being in the middle but it doesn't make you a bad or inadequate person. Wait and see your results, RenouncedTroglodyte is talking sense. If you can put some of your worries in that box marked 'forget about me until you have more information and can do something' it will help. Not easy, I know! I hope you can confide in your Mom and sister as well as listening to them. You sound like a lovely caring person. Be kind to yourself, you deserve it.

I am sure you are right not be a go-between.

But perhaps it would be in order to say to your mum, 'I think you might be underestimating Emma, have some confidence in her, she is after all nearly grown up' and to Emma 'Cut mum some slack, she worries about you, and will miss you when you leave home'

You cannot be responsible for resolving their differences.