Can mothers get jealous?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Sometimes my mother gets and acts jealous with me because I help out and spend time with my father's widow and my half-brother.

She makes snide "jokes" about how the woman first "poached" her ex-husband and now wants to "poach" me, although nothing weird is going on and my involvement with her is primarily to administrate my father's estate and take care of my half-brother.

Today I visited for my usual check-up and we played tennis, and my mother griped that I never play tennis with her - note that she never expressed interest in doing so and never got involved when my wife and I play it.

[OlderAndWiser]

Her jealousy is not sexual in nature, but she wants to be the center of your attention (other than your wife.) There is always resentment towards the woman who "stole" your husband and, she may not say this openly, but she would like for you to choose sides in her battle.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I understand that, and I see why she gets like that - but still, I find some of her "jokes" to be way out of place.
I had to propose to take her somewhere she likes one of those days to make her stop.

[OlderAndWiser]

Some people say very mean-spirited things as "a joke" so they can deny any serious intent in making the statement. Such people never admit any malicious intent if you confront them, and they rarely change their behavior.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

That's true.
It's a way to avoid taking responsibility for what they say.

[NathanDavis]

a jealous mother... the base and foundation of every good novela...

[Jamie05rhs]

Yes. I don't blame her, though.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I understand her feelings, but I also think she has to suck it up.
As the man of the family, I have to take care of my half-brother and her "rival" too.

[Jamie05rhs]

@Sun_Kim-Ai Okay.

[NostalgiaSenpi]

Oh yeah. That's the tell tale signs.