Thanks all you gals. I appreciate your support and constructiveness.

I've been disenvited from Christmas again. Same thing happened last year, yet was reinvited and treated horribly. My parents have told the grandkids, siblings, neighbors, friends, and other family members that I'm bi-polar. I discovered this some time ago when I heard one of my young nieces talking about it. This is why I'm not invited to gatherings or dinners!

Step-family reunion was a few months ago and my step-dad was upset I was attending and riding with them. Mom invited me, but the family did not want me there b/c of disagreements with nephew! Step-cousins would not acknowledge me! So, I just sat there, ate, and wished I'd brought a book.

Without going into that which was said today, yet I was lied to and carried out a favor/task for Mom, which went unappreciated and I was blamed for the messy kitchen. I did make the mess, why didn't nephew and his fiance clean up their messes? Anyways, Mom took it out on me - why didn't he run her errands rather than I having to alter my weekend? Oh, forgot, he gets to do whatever he wants.

So, my Mom and step-dad were being rude and vindictive on the phone and I played into it and did the same. Got so mad told them I'm returning their Christmas gift. Now, they are turning off my phone service. (I joined their family plan to save $45 month and paid step-dad 18 mths of service - $180 - upfront and have only been on the plan for 3 months, so I'm out $150 and need to buy another phone plan).

My mother is bi-polar and takes meds for such. Now, I'm the bad guy, the grinch who stoled Christmas. So there it is, tit for tat and according to them, its always my fault. My fault I was molested as a child and they never protected nor believed me, either. I've had this anger my entire life.

I need to stop playing into these traps and lies. Enough is enough (gosh, how many times have I said that?!). The things we do when emotion is involved.

I'd like to know what tactics/behaviors you gals have adopted for those of you that have encounted family abuse/conflicts? For instance, are others treated simarily or are you singled out?