Mum claims her daughter is anorexic to get time off ‘to help her recover’

A woman has been left fuming after her mum said she was anorexic so she would be given time off work so she could help her daughter recover.

The 32 year old took to Mumsnet to reveal that her mum was given the six month break from work because she told her boss she needed “time off” to help her daughter “recover from an anorexia relapse”.

The woman went on to add that her mum made the claim in spite of the fact that she hadn’t suffered with the eating disorder since she was 24.

She began:

“My mother has just informed me she has been granted a six month sabbatical from work. Lovely! She’s off to the Canaries on Friday and she plans to do a few craft projects around the house.

“She needs this break, apparently. don’t we all How did she get it?

“She told her work that she needs time off to help me, her adult daughter, recover from an anorexia relapse.

“I am not, nor have I been, suffering from anorexia since I was 24 years old. I am now 32. I am fit and well and living in London, 200 miles away from her.

“What is laughable, as when I did have anorexia and was attending an outpatient clinic bi-weekly, she didn’t want to know.

“She did not drive me to appointments. (I walked, it was four miles each way) she did not attend the joint therapy session.

“Her general attitude at the time was ‘what do you want me to do, force you to eat?'”

The poster added that her then-boyfriend helped her overcome the eating disorder – and the pair later moved to London.

She continued:

“She’s not much interested in me really except to have the odd dig, although she very much adores my brother, who has provided her with a grandchild, and stayed living close by, and is married even though he is younger than me, to a woman my mother affectionately refers to as the ‘daughter she never had’.

“So, she had a meeting with her boss at work and has told her she needs to be able to go down to London at least twice a week or so or just whenever I need her to support me through this oh so serious relapse.

“I am skin and bone and could die don’t you know, if I do not have her unwavering love and support.

“There’s nothing wrong with me.

“But since I do not visit my home town more than once a year if I can help it, it’s likely that no one will know any different to what she’s told them.

“I feel like calling her work and telling them. I’m livid.”

The original Mumsnet post was quickly flooded with comments – with many people thinking the woman needed to tell her mum’s boss.

One person said:

Another added:

“Much kinder to just pop in one day a picture of health and ask to see her. ‘What, Mum’s not here? Has she got the day off then?’

“Then be totally shocked to hear that she has time off to look after you. Mind you, any remaining bridges will be truly burned!”

A different person wrote:

“Do it. That’s atrocious.”

But others cautioned the woman against getting involved – and just encouraged her to distance herself from her mum instead.

One person told her:

“I can understand the temptation but I also think it would be better just to stay out of it, and cut or minimize contact with her.

“The fallout for you could end up being very stressful.”

Someone else added:

“Definitely DON’T do it. Yes, she’s done a despicable thing, but leave her to it. Step away.

“Don’t engage with this at all.”

Another person agreed and encourage the woman to distance herself.

They said:

“You don’t need it and it will feed into the madness.

“It’s worrying that she used you in her weird lie and that she has told you. Don’t play the game.

“Distance. Distance. Distance. Don’t let this touch your life.