Luv,
You are old enough to make up your own mind as to what is, or is not, good for you and your children. Obviously, scary movies neither cause *you *nightmares nor cause you to sin, so where’s the problem?
I agree with the poster who said your mother is abusive. You need to make it plain to her that screaming about hell will no longer get a reaction out of you.
Maybe my method will work for you… My mom used to drive me nuts. My role growing up was to be a buffer between her and my older sister, and it kept up after I moved to the opposite coast.
What I did that was successful was to stop reacting. I even resorted to putting the phone down, just picking it up now and then to say “uh-huh.” I stopped defending and explaining my sister, and neither agreed nor disagreed with my mother. I just said “uh-huh” in a neutral tone of voice. It took a long while, but it worked.
Have you heard of “selective hearing?” My dogs may not hear “come” or “sit,” but they can hear “cookie” from a mile away! You need to develop selective hearing, like I did. Hear the news about her and your dad, and react to that. Don’t “hear” the damaging stuff. Let it be background noise into which you occasionally inject an “uh-huh.”
Learn our faith for your *own *sake, not so you can argue with your Mom! It will help *you *to know when she’s wrong, but arguing with her will only feed the monster.
And pray for her. Use what I call the resentment prayer: “God, bless her with all the blessings you have given me, including love and spiritual joy.”
God bless you,
Ruthie
