My NM lost two sources of narcissistic supply this past month.
First, my younger brother who NM has always told everyone how incompetent he is, how he wouldn't have even graduated high school if she had not intervened with the school system, who NM said has a learning disability, who NM said has never had a job without someone giving it to him. Throughout his life he has owned his own company, has only worked at 3 places (must be doing something right or they wouldn't be keeping him around). However, his business was home building, which was hit hard in this recession. So through no fault of his own he was laid off a year ago. NM lamented he will never ever find another job, he will end up losing his house and live with her until he dies. But he survived, kept his house, and now has a new job. NM can't stand it, everytime she talks to me, she moans about how he won't be able to do this. What she doesn't know is that I also talk to my brother. Bro is doing great in the training, dedicated to his new job, and receiving some positive responses from his supervisors. So now he is not the unemployed loser she makes him out to be, her baby who can't do anything without her intervention. And the rest of us know it. She is not the center of information about bro in our family anymore. AND bro has a job and doesn't spend time at her house and tell her how wonderful she is.
Second, her last surviving uncle died. Younger brother of her dad. Uncle who lived with an N-wife (my dad always said NM will be like N-aunt when she is older). NM always said this uncle was the best of all the brothers in her FOO. Well, sure he was. He knew how to idolize an N.
So NM's craziness began when she started calling me and my siblings to let us know about Uncle's death. I talked to Bro at 11:00 am - he called me about a question about computers. He mentioned NM called him re: Uncle's death. NM called me 1:30 to tell me of Uncle's death. I offered my condolences. THEN I get a call from NM at 4:00 pm from NM. "I don't want there to be any hard feelings" Huh? "Well, I called Bro before you." "I don't want there to be any hard feelings because I didn't call you first." I said, "Mom, I don't care!"
So I have been trying to figure this out. It seems to be an immature reaction on her part (my first thought was that I don't react like a 5 year old to things.) But then I thought about N supply. Could losing her adoring uncle and the fact that Bro can survive without her have something to do with it?
What does everyone else think?
Logy
