Dear Trixie:
Reality is you don’t OWE your mother to take care of her. It is not your legal responsibility. To take care of one’s minor aged child is a legal responsibility and there is a reason for it- the child is defenseless and didn’t choose to be born. But taking care of one’s parent is your choice. You state she didn’t do a good job at mothering you. If she was a good enough mother to you you would probably feel differently. Society, starting with the biblical commandment to respect thine father and mother, is FULL with messages that no matter how BAD a parent was- well, they “did their best.” Even if a parent’s best destroyed a person’s life- well, they did their best. F*** that.

Take care of yourself and your family of choice, those who need and love you before and IF you choose to take care of a woman who needs you because she needs someone/ anyone- and you are that ANYONE.
anita