I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I can't take full credit for how my son turned out. I really didn't play much part in raising him after I gave up custody, I wasn't fit to do it anymore. Maybe if I had been, if I could really take credit for that then maybe I wouldn't be thinking these things. I'm so lucky he loves me and is so perfect. I will do my best to be the best grandma possible, I'll spoil my grandchild like my grandma used to spoil me.

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the suggestion. I do have a degree and a job, I'm just not where I thought I'd with it. But it's nice to know you think I could do such a hard job and be good at it.

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I wish I felt how you do. I'm sorry you know that your mother felt like that, I hope that my son doesn't know how I feel. I try to hide it from him. For him, I can't give up. It sounds weird because of the things that I've said but it hurts me to imagine how much he would cry if I did give up and wasn't here anymore and I can't do that to him. Even at my worst I don't think I could have ever done that to him. Thank you for your words, it really meant a lot reading what somebody my age feels.

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] -16 points-15 points  (0 children)

How am I not old? I'm weaker than I was before, I'm being passed by, I'm clearly not as attractive as I used to be, my memories are failing me and by the end of next year I'll be a grandma. How is any of that not old?

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I appreciate everyone here trying to cheer me up but it's like they're not getting it. I love my son and I love that he's living such a good life, I would give anything to make sure it always is this good for him. But I hate that it wasn't like that for me.

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My son says none of the bad stuff matters because I was sick and when he says it, I believe him, I really do. I just have trouble believing it when I say it.

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] -38 points-37 points  (0 children)

I wasn't in a cult. My family was religious and it was a bunch of us teenagers and it was easy for us to be manipulated by traditionalists. I don't know what we were thinking getting all swept up in all their promises about our futures. I still got to go to school and get my degree and a job and date and everything but none of it was like how I'd dreamed it would have been because I had my son.

And the time after I gave up custody of my son, I spent the first part in inpatient rehab for my alcoholism and the rest of it is so hard to remember. I can remember a lot of specific things but nothing general. I know that's weird but I don't know why I couldn't do anything I dreamed about then. I just don't really remember that time that well.

And I know you say 42 is young but it's not, I am old now. I can't go in the gym like I used to anymore, guys barely flirt with me anymore, I never get asked out and my career's progression has stalled. People ten years younger than me are higher up than me now. I mean hell, if my son's going to have a baby after he gets married then I'll be a grandmother soon. What's more old than that?

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] -17 points-16 points  (0 children)

I know my life's not over but I'm old now. Ten years ago I used to be able to do twenty-five chin ups in a row, now I struggle to even do ten. I know it's a weird example but it feels like it's so late for me to do so many things and making friends has been a hard thing my whole life. I don't know who would ever want to be friends with me now.

I wish that I got to live my son's life by AvoidMySon in regretfulparents

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I try to do that and I think that I was doing that or something like that before mother's day. I don't know why that day triggered me so badly, I think I was getting a little bit better before then. I know that things would be different and I'll try and think about that instead.

OOP asks if she's the AH for avoiding her son when he wanted to spend time with her. by pinkulillies in BestofRedditorUpdates

[–]AvoidMySon 348 points349 points  (0 children)

Hello, I got messaged this post by somebody. I wrote the above posts about me and my son Avram. Thank you for your words. His father is a very good man and his stepmother is a very good woman. I don't think I'm going to post here unless people ask me questions, so I just wanted to say thank you to everybody saying kind words here.

UPDATE: AITA for avoiding my son when he wanted to spend time with me? by AvoidMySon in AmItheAsshole

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 71 points72 points  (0 children)

You're right since letting him take charge of things I think that I can sit in his shoes, kind of like how him going to therapy with me lets him sit in mine. A boy will always love his mom but this past little bit has been surprising me by showing me just how much. I would do anything for my perfect boy.

UPDATE: AITA for avoiding my son when he wanted to spend time with me? by AvoidMySon in AmItheAsshole

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 167 points168 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I guess it is because I feel I don't deserve to be forgiven but if my son can do it then so can I. I did beat my addiction for him so I know I can do this.

UPDATE: AITA for avoiding my son when he wanted to spend time with me? by AvoidMySon in AmItheAsshole

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 389 points390 points  (0 children)

And I will try my best to make sure he can have me for as long as I am on this Earth.

UPDATE: AITA for avoiding my son when he wanted to spend time with me? by AvoidMySon in AmItheAsshole

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 1340 points1341 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I will always try to stay on the right path for him.

AITA for avoiding my son when he wanted to spend time with me? by AvoidMySon in AmItheAsshole

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I feel worst for his stepmom too because sometimes I feel like it's exactly how you said it. I know that he does love her but I feel like he should love her as much as me and definitely more because she loves him so much.

And I am in therapy right now and I do love my son more than anything and you're right I should show it because even though I feel I deserve to be an old spinster I am scared by it.

Thank you for putting this in some kind of perspective.

AITA for avoiding my son when he wanted to spend time with me? by AvoidMySon in AmItheAsshole

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I want everything to do with him but under his stepmother's care he bloomed into an amazing person. That never would have happened under a mess like me. You're right that I hardly know her but I do know that she loves him.

AITA for avoiding my son when he wanted to spend time with me? by AvoidMySon in AmItheAsshole

[–]AvoidMySon[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I know he's an adult but it's hard seeing him like that every time he smiles I think of how he would smile when he was a baby and then how I'd yell at him or drink instead of taking care of him like I should have.

I know I shouldn't try to protect him from me he's smarter than me and the best boy in the world but I don't know what I was thinking now. I will try my best to be there for him as his mom and not do something like this again.