Would you be uncomfortable if you were in this situation?

[Anonymous]

My aunt recently moved in with me, and she's having an eye test soon, and if she fails it, she's no longer allowed to drive. Or at least that's what she says. That would be a HUGE deal. It would disrupt her life in almost every way. I'd have to drive her everywhere. Anyways, she won't stop talking about how worried she is, and it's driving me crazy. She almost starts crying. I just try in say positive things. Now she wants me to hold her hand when she goes to take her eye test. I know if she fails it, she will bawl her eyes out in front of everyone. Maybe I'm just being selfish, but I really don't want to deal with it.

[Oliverlogan263]

Dude, I can totally understand why you'd feel uncomfortable in that situation. Having your aunt move in with you and then having to potentially deal with the fallout if she fails her eye test seems like a lot to handle, especially if she's constantly stressing about it.

I mean, I get why she's so worried - losing the ability to drive would be a huge deal and completely disrupt her life. But having her break down and cry in front of everyone at the eye test? That's gotta be tough to deal with, especially if you're not the type who's super comfortable with that kind of emotional stuff.

I can see why you wouldn't want to have to be the one holding her hand and dealing with her freaking out. That's a lot of emotional labor, you know? You've already got your own stuff going on without having to be her emotional support animal.

At the same time, I can understand why she'd want that kind of comfort and support from you. She's probably really scared and just wants someone there for her. But you shouldn't feel obligated to be that person if it's going to make you super uncomfortable.

Honestly, I think the best thing you can do is just be upfront with her about how you're feeling. Let her know that you're there for her, but that you might not be the best person to lean on emotionally during the eye test. Suggest maybe another family member or friend who could go with her instead.

You could even offer to drive her to the appointment and wait in the car or something, if you don't want to be in the room. That way you're still helping out, but you don't have to be the one holding her hand and dealing with the waterworks, you know?

It's a tough situation, dude. But you gotta take care of yourself too. Don't feel bad about setting those boundaries if you need to. Your aunt's emotional well-being isn't your sole responsibility, especially if it's causing you a lot of stress and discomfort. Just try to find a compromise that works for both of you.

[Anonymous]

Not really.