Mixed feelings about my mom’s choices

I really need an advice, I feel like I’m not doing well with this topic.

My mom and my dad broke up (they were never married) when I was about 8. I’ve never understood why, I thought that was just the way they are. My dad is strictly Catholic. I always thought it was his fault, because he seemed to get angry when she was going out, so he seemed controlling. Especially about one specific friend of my mom. After he moved out, that friend went to live with us. She shared a room and a bed with my mom. I always thought they were just best friends. We moved out to another house. And 7 years later, when I was 14, they told me and my adopted (kind off, he’s son of my mother’s sister that she’s dead, we grew up together) they’re together, and that they’re married. I came out to her before too, but I repented to God, and I do not longer Identify with lgbtq community.

I do not like her fiancée. Shes arrogant, full of ego, and just mean to me sometimes, but I need to add that most of times she does treat me well. She believes in raising me in old fashioned way, she thinks I’m weak, and raised in a way that I don’t know realities of the world. One day I told her in the face, she’s not my family. She got offended. My mom was very hurt by this.

Sorry this got so long, I just hope someone could help me out, I don’t know what do, I want to save my mother from sin, but I have no say in this at this stage, and I really want them both to repent.

(Also my mom is a Christian, but doesn’t really believe in church)

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Hmmmmm…sounds like quite the problem you have there.

So, here’s the deal, because people have the gift of Free Will, unfortunately there’s not much you can really do. Yes, we all want what is best for those we love, but unless someone is willing to change, there’s not a whole lot you can really do.

The best thing you can do for your Mother and her “girlfriend” is to pray for the both of them. Here’s the thing, we have to love everyone, but we do not have to like everyone, or in this case, we do not have to like a person’s sin. Here’s the thing, at the very least, show your Mother and her girlfriend respect. Cause they are a part of God’s Creation, and God never makes mistakes. So, at the very least show them respect. But, you don’t have to agree to their lifestyle. This is a choice your Mother and her “girlfriend” made. They didn’t have to choose to be together, they could’ve chosen to remain single. But they made the opposite choice.

So here’s what I would do. I would ask God to work on the hearts and minds of both your Mother and her “girlfriend.” But the biggest piece of advice I want to give you is, don’t try to change them, because if they’re not open to changing, they won’t change. Don’t bring up the fact that your Mother is going out with another woman, don’t tell her that she’s going to Hell (even if you mean well, cause there’s always a chance her and her “girlfriend” take what you say the wrong way). Don’t feel bad about not attending her wedding (if she plans on getting married). If for some reason she brings up about inviting you to her wedding, tell her in a calm but stern voice “I am not going to attend your wedding. My religion absolutely forbids it. Marriage was originally made to be between a Man and a Woman, and anything outside of that is not considered a valid marriage in the eyes of the Church.” If she gives you trouble, stand your ground. Tell her “I innerstand that your “girlfriend” is important to you, but God made Man and Woman. If God wanted a man to marry another man or a woman to marry another woman, than there would be certain men that’d have a uterus and there would be certain women that have a penis, but that’s not how God made men and women.” And if she keeps giving you a hard time, you say “You know what it is I believe, so please respect that!” And walk away and if you need to, go to your car and leave your house for a while.

Just pray, show both of them respect because they are huemans after all, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you need to. Your Mom and her “girlfriend” need to realize that just like they have the right to make these choices, you have the right to disagree. People who are LGBTQ+ usually equate acceptance with love. But, the truth of the matter is, acceptance doesn’t equal love. I can disagree with how someone chooses to live their life but still love them. And really, because I love them, I can look past that part of them and love who they are and not what they do. It’s called coexisting, something that a lot of people struggle with.

Gay people are not special, let’s get that out of the way. Gay people are just like straight people, we have to pull our pants up and zip them up. We have to put on a t-shirt or a shirt of some sort. And we have to pay taxes just like everyone else. Just because we are “gay” does not, in any way make us special, cause all it is is a sexual preference. And, it’s really a small part of who we are. It doesn’t completely define us, we’re more than just who we find attractive.

It’s my hope one day that, at the very least, your Mother and her “girlfriend” can come to terms with this and learn that just because they love eachother doesn’t mean everyone around them has to agree that they love eachother. After all, their community promotes loving people of all backgrounds and all walks of life, and if that’s the case then they should love you regardless if you agree with their choices or not.

-A gay man.

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First of all, God bless you for repenting. Your relationship with God is infinitely more important than with any human. Always remember that.

My own parents are divorced and don’t live a Christian lifestyle (they only go to church 2-5 times a year). One time I tried bringing the subject up with my priest and he told me it’s not my place to “tell them what to do”. The best thing to do is try to be the best example of a Christian that you can and hope that when they see how you’re living they’ll reconsider their lifestyle.

As you can probably tell, I’m not good at navigating emotions/relationships, so take that advice with a grain of salt. The only reason I replied is because the one thing I do want to recommend you do is read up on Socionics. As someone who struggles understanding other people, this helped me out a ton. For example, when you type “she thinks I’m weak”, that sounds like a typical Si vs Se conflict.

Actually, another thing I’d recommend is to pray for them every day, if you’re not doing that already. It’s not only about God giving them more grace, I’ve repeatedly noticed that when I start praying for someone regularly the way I treat them and think about them changes.

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I am very sorry that you are in this messed up situation. It totally makes sense that you are confused and concerned for your mother’s salvation.

It would probably be a bad idea to try and confront them (especially your mother) head on about this. As you have already experienced, it will almost certainly create a lot of heartache and tension, without leading to repentance.

Other than praying for your mother and this other woman (which is extremely important), my number one recommendation is to show them by your life the beauty and goodness of living according to the Gospel. If your life bears good fruit, that will more likely impact them than anything you can say to them.

If you feel like you are the only person who can speak the truth to them, then I recommend praying that God will send someone else to be a prophet to them.

It sounds like you are very sincere in trying to live in union with Christ. You have been through a lot in life already. He knows your sufferings and will use them for good.

We know that God makes all things work for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28).

May God bless you!

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@Strvzxx My heart breaks for your situation. I am sorry that you have to endure this. I will tell you what I told the son of our friend, who’s Dad abandoned the family to run off and start a new family with another woman.

Our Parents will make mistakes. We cannot control what they do. We can Pray for them, but ultimately, there choices are their own.

How is your relationship with your Dad? Does he have his own life in order? As a father of two daughters I cannot imagine not being there for them, especially in the situation that you find yourself (through no fault of your own!) Let me repeat this, none of this is your fault.

Know that I am Praying for you as you Pray, Come Holy Spirit in moments when you feel alone or in times that are rough.

I do not know how old you are now, but in a few years you will be able to make your own decisions and right the wrongs that your parents have made. You can be the loving Parent to your own children that they were not.

When I was about your age, my parents were divorced and my Dad drank too much and my brothers and I mad a pact that when we grew up, we would not make the same mistakes that he did. We are all now happily Married and have I personally have never been drunk (I would never want to put my Wife & children through what my Dad put us through).

When my Dad tried, he was a great Dad. But, his addiction to the bottle was just too strong. So, I cherish the good times and I learn from his mistakes. He showed me what not to do.

Do you have grandparents who go to the Catholic Church? Would they be willing to take you on Sundays if you wanted to go to Mass?

I cannot appreciate this enough, really thank you. My relationship with my dad is pretty great, I don’t visit him too often due to long distance, but we talk everyday and he really tries for me, driving to my town to even pick me up from school to see me for those 20 minutes which I am so grateful for. When I am at his, we try to go to the church, my dad introduced me to Catholic Church actually. I always went with him. My first Christmas midnight mass was with last year, and we went everyday during Holy Week. I don’t have great relationship with my grandparents, my father’s parents live with him so again, I don’t see them often, my other grandpa lives long way from here, and the grandma I live with, is barely able to move around the house. I really want to go to church, but I am afraid of my mom’s judgement. Even tho she says she believes in God, she doesn’t appreciate the Catholic Church. I also have pretty bad transport there, and I feel guilty for even caring about this. I feel far away from God lately, I didn’t pray for a long time, but I was so desperate few days ago. I begged God for a sign. I dreamt about Jesus, I don’t remember it very well, but I think it was when He was laying in his tomb. When I woke up I knew that He answered my prayers. I want to get into my Bible again, and live a close relationship with Him. Really thank you again, God bless you

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