Lots/Nothing to Worry About

[WorryBear]

I work for my parents for their successful business that I will likely takeover someday. I have struggled to juggle all my different roles with them: their employee, their son, and now the father of their only 2 grandchildren. I struggle to not be dragged down by them and how they make me feel. I know they're not mean to me, they're very nice and loving and take care of us, but their antics just make me feel a certain way and I don't always know how to handle it. It seems like a constant power struggle with them, and since they've run their own company for 30 years, they have always been in charge answering to nobody. So it's not easy for them to accept that I'm grown with my own family. I also know that part of the issue is my own head and I have a hard time treating them like I'm an adult Boundaries have been challenging for me to set and maintain.

I have a lot of great things in my life and often tell myself "there's no way I should be unhappy or depressed," but I often feel very down and unable to pull myself out of it. I'm really good at putting on a front anytime I'm around other people because I don't think they would believe I have anything to be upset about. My wife is the only person who knows how I really feel and tries her best to get me out of it, but it's often short-lived.

Because my situation is so unique, it's really hard to find people to empathize with me or offer helpful suggestions of how to work through things I deal with. I don't have many close friends, and the ones I have would never understand my situation or think there is anything wrong. I have looked for a message board or forum like this for awhile, so I'm hoping to gain some help and maybe help others with their own issues.

Thanks for reading and any help is greatly appreciated.

[Hidden]

Your story resonates with me. I’ll spare my story...but...

My best advice is if you want this work out, find a way to grin and bear it. You parents won’t change, but you can change your own reaction to it and realize they are who they are and how they treat you. It’s super stressful I know, hard to set boundaries, they end up being invisable walls easily torn down. Try to do your work, do it well and try leave work at work. Hopefully you make it much longer than I could. Wishing the best outcome for you.

[SirGrits in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I'm with Roxie on this one. Consider talking to a pastor or elder to help give you pointers about being tactful with your parents and to help you leave that stuf at work.