I've asked myself that question many times since my wife and I had to move into my FIL's house to take care of him when he came home from the nursing home.
I have done things she refuses to do.
I'm on disability for anxiety and panic disorders, also depression.
It seems like the ONLY reason we moved here was to preserve her inheritance! Which I find sad.
I'm the one making up his medication, feeding him breakfast and lunch every day. The man eats better than I do.
Here is my predicament.
My wife acts like I don't do anything.
Here I am taking care of her Dad and keeping the house clean and in order. I do everything around here and it's beginning to wear on me. I haven't been out of this house since February 17th! Maybe once to get the mail at our house but that's only a 5 minute drive.
Our relationship wasn't the best before any of this happened.
But I feel as if I'm being used by her just so she can have her full inheritance. I don't care about the money, we will be fine without it.
I feel as if I'm just an unpaid, unappreciated worker in the house.
There's no intimacy on her part. She can never make the first move. I just want to know, since I'm basically the only person taking care of him can I leave her and her Dad?
I've been playing these little games with her for years now. But this time it's totally different. She HAS to keep me around because if she doesn't she will have to get rid of most everything he owns if he has to go back into the nursing home. Which is where I truly believe he belongs. He can no longer take care of himself.
I just feel bad for asking, but living like this has got to be worse than going through a divorce.
I even make her lunch for her every day, so it doesn't take time away from her lunch.
Am I being too nice??
Is there any love left in this marriage? Is the marriage worth saving? Would your wife be willing to go to counseling with you? Is her father getting the care he needs? Is bringing in hired helpers for him a realistic idea? Is your resentment of the situation affecting your caregiving? None of that is asked in judgment, knowing I have compassion for what’s being asked of you and that only you can decide how to proceed
There is a post going now where the man is in a similar position.
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/my-father-in-law-moved-in-with-us-my-wife-is-ill-our-marriage-is-struggling-help-457514.htm
Maybe the answers will help you. My opinion, ur wife is selfish. You may want to tell her Dad needs more care than ur able to give him. You have no life caring for "her" Dad. That she needs to take on some responsibility here. If she starts yelling, let her. Then say if she is not willing to care for her Dad then he needs to go back to the NH. If she refuses, then say that then you will have to leave because you are no longer going to be her slave. This is not an ultimatum this is a fact. But before that, see a lawyer to see what your obligations are to her.
If you are preparing his meals, why does he eat better than you?
Have you thought about a caregiver contract that pays you for your time?
Have you ever stopped doing what you do to show her what you doing nothing looks like?
You already know what she is if she is willing to sacrifice her dads wellbeing and yours so she can get some inheritance.
Can you survive if you left?
If you are not a contracted caregiver, she is the next of kin and she in the responsible party. You would need to contact Adult Protective Services if you leave and report a vulnerable senior.
Have you ever asked her what she sees happening if you leave? She may be so stuck in her money grubbing that she hasn't really thought about the consequences.
If you stay, make sure that you see change or you know she is only condescending to you to ensure her inheritance and speaking as a woman, that tells me she will drop you like a hot potato when she has the money she is after. Sorry, but women will walk on a man if they are allowed to.
Is there a marital home you left that you can move back to? If yes, get packing and move back. You can just say 'it's on you now, hon; I need a break from both of you.' If not, then find and move to your own place and separate. That would give you respite from doing it all, and time to regroup, recharge, and think about what you want to do.
Financially, there are considerations, so speak to an attorney before you jump off.
Your wife needs a wake-up call if she believes she can take care of her father being a senior or almost a senior herself. You might want to let her know that up to 40% of family caregivers die leaving behind the person they were caring. Not good odds. Now what?
Also, family caregivers will develop new health issues being 24/7 caregiver for a parent or other family members. I wasn't even hands-on, and I developed cancer caused by the stress which changed everything for me. My bucket-list is down to a thimble list. Wonder if your wife would think her inheritance worth that risk?
She's in assisted living, a wonderful place back home. Do I get any help financially for her? A resounding NO! Just went to Court to get an asset protection divorce for Mom, Ugly step-spawn of the devil walked away with, all together, half of Mom's inheritance, over $100.000.00 of community debt daddy owed. All of this money was Mom's sole/separate. Last night I was filing all of my 3 yrs of compiling my research & proof of the $$ she stole. I had to forgive the community debt, 75% of an investment (Mom's money)and I just found out of all the insane, not properly index, mixed up bank statements, she took another $20.000.00 from some other source I can't find because she didn't provide the Court requested documents to my attorney or me.
I have asked myself why me, asked my therapist why me, and I asked Mom's Chaplin, why me and where was God when I needed him to help protect my Mother.
3 years I've been fighting the battle and lost the war to 4 step-spawn of the devil who will look you straight in the eye and be pious liars by telling everyone they are Christians
I told the Chaplin I was raised by a Pentecostal Mother whose Grandmother was a preacher and several family members are ministers, but I do believe in God and 'claiming' you are while you're stealing a woman's hard-earned money all because Daddy didn't have 2 nickles to rub together and you all grew up in a single wide mobile home out in the middle of BFE NM. BTW, Mom took her money out of her investments and repairs done, added on to it so it looked like a home. The effing floor was ready to fall out!!
So why am I here? I was appointed by the Court to protect Mom and the Courts AND the laws failed me and the step-spawn of the devil is laughing her way to the bank!
Give your wife an ultimate, stick to it and let her take care of her Father. Let her use her inheritance it's still daddy's money. BTW, just because you're a family member doesn't entitle you to diddly squat.
Your wedding vows never mentioned anything about your being Cinderella to her ugly step-mother routine.