I hope things get better,hon.....
Silences like that can get deafening-especially if folks start out not seeing or hearing the
pain and the rage builds up so much inside that the reverberations sound like thunder in your head.
Before you hit meltdown,just remove yourself altogether.
(Physically,if you have to.)
Do the tasks you can't avoid but go on hiatus all you can.
If you've stopped existing in their world,then you aren't there to play Supermom,are you?
While you don't need to simmer in bitter juices,it wouldn't hurt to distance yourself from
the pressures assailing you and try to heal and spoil yourself a bit.
A retreat is not always a bad thing.
Some quiet time will help you listen better,too.
You might hear what your family is saying with this apparent disregard.
Let them know you're available for letters,emails,etc. that lead to real communication
(with those who want to listen to you and have dialog,at any rate.)
But it'll be interesting to see how long it takes them to notice your absence and whether
they choose to see it as a respite rather than a punishment.
I'm sure you have friends,family,colleagues,pets,etc. offline who are glad to pay attention to you and respect you.
This time out might help you notice them more.
If such folk don't seem to be there,go cultivate some!
A salon or SOMEthing!!!
You can't give to others what you don't have.
You need love,respect and all other forms of positive energy within your own being
before you can empower others.
Don't stop at withdrawing from the power drain and being resentful that it's not reciprocal.
Grab some validation for yourself and find some source of feeding your soul before you
become so spiritually starved that you feel like pulling a Lizzie Borden on all the dismissive
people in your life.
I'm sure your family really does love you and realize your importance.
But humans have a bad tendency to take that kind of thing for granted-especially when
the voices they're ignoring are saying things a bit wiser than what they want to hear.
Even if it's more convenient to put Mom on ignore,it deprives one of all the wonderful
aspects of her presence,too.
A little bit of that goes a long way.
They'll want that Aly shaped void filled pretty soon-and not just because you're handy.
And remember,deeds and gestures will speak far more eloquently than anything else.
Good luck!