My mom told me I was helping too much with holiday dinner

Last Thanksgiving in Cleveland, my mom pulled me aside and said my constant offer to slice the turkey was making her anxious. She said it felt like I thought she couldn't handle it, so I backed off and just sat down. Has anyone else had a family member tell them to dial back the help even when you think you're being useful?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_bennett11d ago

Is your mom maybe the type who needs to feel in control of the kitchen, like it's her territory? My aunt in Buffalo used to snap at me for offering to wash dishes during Thanksgiving because she said it made her feel like I was waiting for her to mess up. Sometimes the "help" can actually come across as a criticism even when you really just want to be nice. So maybe her reaction was more about her own anxiety than anything you did wrong.

jason75211d ago

So you think her snapping was about her anxiety, not about what you actually did?