u/Erythite2023

Some context: I live by myself but close to parents, my mother’s beloved dog sadly passed away last year. My father had heart surgery last January and he wasn’t feeling a new dog until a few more years but he caved in.

She adopted a three month old Jack Russel. I’ve spent two hours the last three Saturday’s pet sitting because she doesn’t want to cage her while they’re running around.

After my mother asked if I could spend the first few hours of a family party pet sitting so she and my dad could go together I felt taken advantage of. It’s not my dog, you got a puppy and I have my own pets that I rarely ask help for other than asking for help to give my skittish cat flea medicine.

I told her: look you got the puppy, I want to go to the family party, and if you don’t want to cage her it shouldn’t be my problem.

I was told I was being mean and selfish and I’m not helping the situation. And the typically mother guilt “I never help.” I said it’s ok for me to have boundaries in this situation and we shouldn’t sacrifice our time petsitting when we should have fun at our family function. I never raised my voice but held firm to my desire.

Part of the reaction is that my family some how sees me as the default pet sitter since I live alone. And it burns me out. And really, like your children, your pets are your responsibility.

Edit: would like to add I have my father and sister (who also lives by) guilting me for setting boundaries.

My mom and sister have beeb both said they like their dogs more than me at one point

I’m new to the area. I was mentioning to some friends about visiting New Castle, mostly for hiking trails near by.

When I asked about the city nobody has said anything positive, a few told me most people there are a bit “off.” One mentioned hearing gunshots three different times in a short visit

Researching some more on my own I found way more negative comments than positives.

Is it that bad? The downtown looks charming and natural scenery looks pretty. For a smaller town it looks like it has some cool architecture.

If I’m to be honest, and maybe this just my low self esteem but I always hate the idea of “God is in control of everything.” I had a distasteful experience with a Christain group saying that my autism and the other sufferings in my life were in “His full control and for my betterment.” And I should “give thanks.”

I hated that. Why should I be thankful for something that brings mainly suffering and isolation (and not just autism all other agonizing life events like having a mental breakdown during my spiritual journey. And they said all my rejections were in his control ) because it was for my good?

It was so off putting I never want to give any form of religion or spirituality a try again. I hate it all! But there is a part that still wants to believe me n a higher being tgat truly means well.