Mariah Carey is mourning the loss of her mother Patricia Carey.

Before she confirmed to PEOPLE that both her sister Alison Carey and her mother died on the same day over the weekend, it was already known that the 55-year-old singer has a strained relationship with her family members.

Here’s everything she’s said about her relationship with her late mother.

They were together before Patricia died

“I am heartbroken that I lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day,” the Grammy-winning singer said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Monday, August 26.

“I feel blessed to have been able to spend the last week with my mother before she passed,” Mariah added. “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”

No other details are known at this time, including the cause of death of Patricia and Alison.

There was talk of “pain and confusion” early on

Mariah was born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, New York, to Alfred, an Afro-Venezuelan aerospace engineer, and Patricia, a white opera singer.

Her parents’ interracial relationship caused conflict with her mother’s family.

In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah CareyShe recalled her childhood with Patricia, writing that their bond “caused me so much pain and confusion.”

“For my sanity and peace of mind, my therapist encouraged me to literally rename and reframe my family,” Mariah continued. “My mom became Pat to me, Morgan my ex-brother, and Alison my ex-sister… I had to stop expecting them to one day miraculously become the mom, big brother, and big sister that I fantasized about.”

There was “betrayal and beauty” in their mother-daughter relationship

Furthermore, the “We Belong Together” singer wrote in her memoir that their story was “one of betrayal and beauty. Of love and abandonment. Of sacrifice and survival.”

“I have freed myself from slavery several times, but there is a cloud of sadness that I suspect will always hang over me. Not just because of my mother, but because of our complicated journey together.”

Patricia “did her best”

Mariah dedicated a section of her memoir to Patricia.

“And to Pat, my mother, who, despite everything, I believe, actually did the best she could,” she wrote. “I will always love you the best I can.”

As for her siblings, sister Alison and brother Morgan, the “Butterfly” singer revealed that it was “emotionally and physically safer for me not to have contact” with them.

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Patricia was also a talented singer

Mariah wasn’t the only talent in the Carey household. Patricia was a Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach.

“You just have to hope that one day you’ll be half the singer I am,” Patricia is said to have once told the teenage Mariah.

“To this day, what she said continues to haunt and hurt me,” the singer recalled in her memoir.