Only the strong

Theresa - "My mother is dying. I have accepted this for a long while now. Every time I talk to her she slurs her words and forgets most of what I tell her. I have separated myself and family from her for years. She has a disease that is killing her slowly so I have watched her dwindle over time. But through pictures and speaking with family we all know its not long before her body gives out. Now here is the part I am having trouble with. She has been abusing her meds for a while and that is why most don't work on easing her pain. Within the last couple years she has had an alcohol problem as well. In my eyes, her life would have lasted longer if she had taken care of herself, taken meds as prescribed, listened to doctors.... I'm having trouble feeling like I care if she isn't going to last long. If she does die, do I want to even attend the funeral? Should I for others sake? She and I have not been close for many many years because she made bad choices and I chose to make my life better by walking away. Did I walk too far? Do I hone into the "she is my mom, she helped raise me?" Do I break down my walls built from many years of emotional pain?"

You can never walk too far. It's an excellent form of exercise. In fact, I say, the more you walk, the better.

The rest of that is shit you would have to answer for yourself. All I would be doing is giving you my opinion from my experiences - oh, wait. This is an opinion column. 

Um, I say - ditch the bitch. There may be a nicer way to say that, but I don't care. Disconnect yourself completely from the emotionally draining succubus. Live your life. YOUR life.  You've only got the one, and it's too precious to fritter away on hopeless cases. 

A more realistic way to look at it is this - no one gets out alive. What makes the life we have worth living is how we live our life. Her choice has been made. Only you can make yours.