Making Decisions

I feel like my mother and uncle think I'm an idiot.   That's the feeling I get when I make decisions about financial matters, home improvements, child-care.   The thing is I've always felt like they thought I was intelligent; in fact, when I was younger I was always told (by them!) that I had a good head on my shoulders.  That head hasn't changed.  I've actually become more cautious about everything I do, worried by the potential fallout of any (and every!) decision.

The thing is--my mother is exactly this way.   She has spent her life being paralyzed with fear over making decisions and that the consequences will be.   She rarely acts impulsively and actually over thinks every decision to the point where she cannot make one and lives her life somewhat stuck.

Now I understand why this has happened to her, in that she's always been the one in the family who has had to pull everyone else out of their messes.   In doing so, she's never been able to really build up a nest-egg for herself, hence the moving in with us.  

But I don't want to be paralyzed with fear over decisions, but I see the writing on the wall.   I just hope the knowledge of this problem can help me to begin to overcome it.

And I really hope that my mother and my uncle come to realize that I'm doing the best I can.

A little background info

First let me say that I love my family more than anything in this world.  I feel I have to get that out there, because I am likely to complain quite a lot in this blog and I don't ever want this to be in question.  

So, who am I?  The name's Amanda.  I'm 31 and have been married for almost eight years.  I have a beautiful 10 month old daughter.   I grew up in a multi-generational household, being raised by my mother, grandmother and uncle (mother's younger brother).   My daughter is now growing up in much the same manner; living in the home my husband and I purchased last year with us, my mother, and my uncle.   

Our four bedroom home is full.  Generally it's full of laughter and love, but quite often there are small tensions and hurt feelings that just ... well, they drive me crazy!   

It's no wonder that the journal Heart published a story in 2009 that stated that women (and only women) who live in multi-generational households are more likely than other women to suffer heart-attacks/problems. 

Welcome and I hope to hear comments from others of you who live in similar situations.  Any advice is welcome! 

-Amanda