Ask Amy: Abusive mother now solicits funds by lying
Dear Amy: My mother often singled me out growing up. She verbally and physically abused me.
I tried to maintain a relationship with her when I got older — after all, she is my mother.
Over the years, I noticed that my relatives on her side stopped talking to me. There was no explanation as to why.
I recently found out (from a very reliable source) that my mother had been telling these relatives I was a heroin addict and "gotten myself into trouble."
She was asking them to send her money because, according to her, she used her savings to "bail me out of trouble."
Amy, I have never had a problem with drugs, nor have I had any legal issues. I've never even borrowed money from my mother!
My mother has never been good with money. She declared bankruptcy a few years ago.
I'm beyond angry that she used me to have her family send money to her!
I'm angry that they believed her!
Should I bother reaching out to my relatives to tell them the truth? Or just cut my losses and carry on with my life?
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