My grandmother was like this…it’s a terribly toxic way to parent. Mothers like this program their children by way of inconsistent and unpredictable actions. Their behavior ping-pongs between the extremes of attachment/detachment. They forge unhealthy bonds with their kids, who either grow up to be completely dependent on others or cut all ties with family to escape her grip.
Gives me chills to think about my grandmother and how her children ended up.