Is it just me or has my mom completely lost her mind? I mean someone tell me when does your parent let go??!!! Anyway, things came to a head last night. Erin, my 17 yr old, was being insensitive and had been kind of ignoring Brian as if he were not here. Though the only reason she "can't" stand him is that she thinks he took me away from her and that we got married too soon. Well, Brian does all of the cooking and we sat down to dinner at 5:30 when Erin announced to the girls that they had to leave in 15 mins because she had drama practice and if they wanted to go they'd better hurry up and eat. Brian was offended and told erin this was BS and she really should have said something sooner and that he would have made dinner earlier so the girls would not be rushed thru dinner and we could sit down and eat together as a family. Just to give him the common courtesy of even acknowledging that he is there. Not to hurt but to help. Erin made some snide remarks and Brian had had enough and he snapped back at her and I agreed with Brian and Erin became upset and an arguement insued. Something said about her being selfish and not thinking of her younger siblings. I tried to calm things down and Erin went to her room and Brian went back to the kitchen, so I went to call mom in my room because earlier she informed me that she and Dani, (my sister), would be taking Ambrose from Brian while I was on my trip. Seeing Brian's current and ongoing frustration at not being taken seriously or respected by my family, I suggested that she not do that because they had not asked my or Brian's permission.

Meanwhile, Erin was texting Dani and telling her that Brian yelled at her and that he had no right to tell her what to do. She in turn took all of the kids with her to drama practice. I didn't know till I came back out to the den that they were even gone. I sent her a text asking why she took the kids and her reply was that "she wanted to and she could". (THIS CHILD HAS LOST HER MIND!) Just then, Dani knocked on the door and when I let her in, she proceeds to disrespect me and Brian by "telling us off". Standing over us at our dinner table, saying that Brian was not Erin's father and should not be allowed to say anything to her and that he should deal with his own daughter. (Who is 16 by the way and not living with us just yet.) She also said the Brian and I got married to soon and that I was so wrapped up with Brian that I was neglecting my kids! (Folks, I'm on my kids school council (as chairman) and volunteer for everything from serving to monitoring and proctoring tests for the 3rd-5th grade CRCT testing.) I was so angry at that point that I told her she needed to leave because this is my house and she didn't know anything about the situation and she should mind her own business. (at 20 yrs old, still living at home with mom paying for her car, no decent job or high school diploma, what the hell does she know about parenting?) Well, she left and I sent Erin a text to bring the kids back home or I was coming to get them. She sent no reply and I was truly angry by then and weak from a kidney infection and on pain meds and antibiotics, so I had Brian to drive me to church and get the kids. When I get there I discover Dani had taken Ambrose from Erin without my permission and when I told her to bring him back, she hung up on me and refused to tell me where she was. In the meantime Erin takes off in one of the vans and doesn't go home but goes someone where else! I called mom because Erin was driving one of her commercial vans and explained the situation. Does she help? NOPE! An hour or so passes and no one calls me back so I call the police and tell them what happened. The police come out and try to contact Dani for me. They finally get ahold of Dani and I find out that mom and erin were both with dani and that they would be returning with some paperwork about me! When they arrive dani dumps ambrose in the den and runs back outside! I was in the bathroom and Brian tells me they were here and we both go into the den to find my screaming 2 yr old son Ambrose on the floor. Brian picks him up and we both comfort him. I go outside in time to hear the officer tell Dani never to take him again without my permission and since we are family he would hate to misinterperet the situation and bring her up on kidnapping charges. Mom interjects with her "paperwork" which turned out to be an old power of attorney that I'd signed when Erin was baby in Texas giving mom medical power of attorney which mom thought meant custody. I laughed while the officer explained to her that it did not give her custody but rights to get medical for Erin in the event of my absence. She was trying to take my daughter!!! Dani tells me to shut up and I told her to shut up at which point she "flexes" on me and I tell I wish she would so I could press assault charges on her hot-tempered behind! Dani made threats and the officer told her to calm down before he took her in for assault. The officer told erin she had to stay and could not leave without my permission being she is only 17. She could only live with her grandma if I said so. Mom, realizing defeat then pulls the officer aside and asks him that if erin feels "unsafe" or "threatened" can she be taken from me?!!!! WTF? I could not believe I was looking at my own mom. That did it! It truly hurt me. There was no going back now. I may forgive her, but I'm seriously considering severing all ties.  I think I'm done for now.

Meanwhile, Brian put ambrose to bed and when he came outside, mom charged at him blaming him for losing me and that its all his fault. At which point in time I reminded her that Brian is my husband and to stop disrespecting him. Again, she interjects that he is only considered the "head of household" if he is working. The officer holds her back and tells her and dani to go home. I tell erin to go inside. Mom tells me that I'm fired and she wants back the 20 dollars she gave me earlier. I give it back to her saying that her anything that comes from her comes with too many strings. So here I sit today, no longer working for my mother (which paid nothing anyway but for gas) and so relieved. Today all is quiet, kids are at school, the sun is shining and my loving husband feeds me dried cranberries to help me heal. Ah, he takes such good care of me and the kids. He makes sure I eat healthy, rest, take vitamins, massages my back and feet. He loves my kids and helps with homework, he cleans, he cooks, he prays with me and the kids each day. Not a day goes by that he doesn't tell me that he loves me. Sometimes "mother" doesn't always know best.

Any thoughts or advice?