I am writing this article feeling quite upset at familial issues that seem to occur on a regular basis for me.

You see, my immediate family aren’t particularly well off. Money worries have always been a source of stress for them for as long as I can remember. So, my aim in life became to make as much of it as quickly as possible (a topic to be explored at a later stage).

I did ok for myself and at this point just before entering my forties I am self sufficient and able to afford luxury items for my parents. These include both short and long-haul holidays, as I am always excited to travel and explore new places with my family. Don’t get me wrong – its not a drop in the ocean for me. Our luxury month long get away to my spiritual home of Mumbai took five months of saving up, especially as it was during peak wedding season (December is a crazy time to visit India!)

We are due to travel this week to Greece with my aunt and uncle joining us. Although I can afford it, I chose to share a room with my parents (me on the sofa bed naturally!) just to spend quality time with them one last time before I move on.

Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication with them, I landed in hot water about taking matters into my own hands over some issue, and WW3 broke out between mum and me. I got so worked up about the fact that I did so much for them recently to help them out and generally make life better for them and hopefully happier (or so I thought), but it backfired spectacularly. I was never shown any gratitude for the efforts I made with them, but I was forced to take an earful over the smallest of issues. I know this would never have happened with my friends who I treat closer than family sometimes.

A good friend of mine (he knows who he is) talked me off the ledge, explaining that you cannot choose who your family are, but you can choose your reaction towards them. That made me think about why they trigger me so much, but I suppose family know how to do that better than anyone. Although I come from a very family orientated background, I know they do my head in all the time as they never back down from pushing those so-called trigger buttons. Once, they even used my ongoing health issues as a reason to put me down. No one else would ever do this in civilised society. How dare anyone think it’s ok to say this to anyone, let alone your only child!

Needless to say I am now no longer looking forward to the holiday which is a shame as it will technically be our last one together, before I cut the purse strings for good this time. Do you think this makes someone selfish? Or is putting their own mental health before other’s needs more important?

What would you do in this situation if it were you?

Remember, family don’t always have to be your friends.