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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask the worst things your parents have said to you?

313 replies

BradleyGreenToes · 04/01/2025 19:33

I’ll start -
I’m a slut
I’m a failure without any friends
I’m irrelevant to the family because I don’t have children

OP posts:
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Jigglypuff82 · 09/01/2025 17:54

Some of these are so sad....Rememeber though, for some parents...they did the best they could with the tools they had.....and I say that looking back at a mum who had me when she was 16. Grew and learned as I did and forever in survival mode.

Hope some of you are now at peace.

Shodan · 09/01/2025 08:35

GwensOmlettePan · 08/01/2025 17:28

Reading this thread has brought tears to my eyes and has made me thoroughly ashamed that I ever complained about anything my parents said to me. I'm horrified so many of you grew up with people who did not deserve to have children. I hope you have all found love in your lives with people who value you as they should.

That's so sweet of you, thank you.

I'm the luckiest woman on earth, I think- I have two wonderful sons with whom I have an incredibly close relationship. They're kind, funny, loyal and protective, not just of me but of each other, their friends, and girlfriends (actually only ds1 is at that stage but ds2 will be the same I'm sure) and still like me/each other enough to want to come on family holidays.

I also have DP who had a fairly awful mother/childhood himself so we understand each other and love more fully because of it, I think.

Like I say, I feel lucky.

I hope everyone else on this thread has gone on to feel the same joy.

wellington77 · 08/01/2025 18:46

Thanksforchatting · 05/01/2025 02:37

That’s awful wellington I hope you are ok!
my dad said to me “I can’t walk you down the isle or say nice things about you when I don’t mean them”

this was a response to me choosing my friend instead of my sister as my bridesmaid and then saying they were not coming to my wedding. Despite me explaining my choice which was followed up by a “I don’t believe your reasons it’s just selfishness or jealousy..”

Thank you😊. Wish we could pick our parents! X

GwensOmlettePan · 08/01/2025 17:28

Reading this thread has brought tears to my eyes and has made me thoroughly ashamed that I ever complained about anything my parents said to me. I'm horrified so many of you grew up with people who did not deserve to have children. I hope you have all found love in your lives with people who value you as they should.

mjf981 · 07/01/2025 09:11

All gay people should be shot at birth
Not great when you're 13 and just figuring it all out...

NonPlayerCharacter · 07/01/2025 09:05

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 21:11

I think because there are so many parents here, it hurts them to think that their children might not love them if they don't treat them right. so it's easier to make out the child is the unreasonable one, and a parent can't be at fault.

I just hope things go smoothly, and they never have to learn the hard way that nobody owes you unconditional affection and interaction. if you break their trust, make them feel bad about themselves etc. they're within their rights to cut you off.

I think because there are so many parents here, it hurts them to think that their children might not love them if they don't treat them right. so it's easier to make out the child is the unreasonable one, and a parent can't be at fault.

Bang on, I think. It's much easier to accept that your child is just a nasty piece of work, or inherently insane beyond redemption, than that you were an appalling parent and caused the damage. If you had an abusive parent yourself, it can be unbearable to think that you became the thing you hated most.

That's one reason why there's usually a golden child alongside the scapegoat. If you elevate the child who doesn't display the damage you did in such a revealing way (in my experience they are usually damaged too but they show it differently) then you can use them as "proof" that you're not to blame because this child turned out great, doesn't blame you, etc etc. And then you can weaponise that dynamic among the kids to deflect everything from yourself, and punish the scapegoat for not falling in line. I don't think many abusers do this consciously, but they definitely do it.

It is very interesting how many kids, faced with a golden child/scapegoat dynamic, do indeed blame each other and not their parents. I'm not religious any longer but I remember as a teenager, looking at the story of Joseph and thinking, "Don't blame him, brothers, blame your arsehole dad!"

But I lost any need for my father's approval at a very young age.

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 23:56

BradleyGreenToes · 06/01/2025 21:09

Same. My therapist at the time told me that it was likely that the grief would hit me further down the line when I told her I didn’t care he had died. It’s been three years now and still don’t give a shit. Good riddance.

the only thing I was sad about was the fact that I had the kind of dad that I wasn't sad he'd died.
my stepdad on the other hand. I love him DEARLY. he's only 12 years older than me. took on a teenager in his 20s because he was so in love with my mum. he's been there for me through thick and thin.
he's a moody, sulky git sometimes, but he's my dad in all but biology. when he had cancer (since had the all clear) I was devastated.
I can't imagine taking on what he did at that age, but he's always been reliable and caring, and looked out for me.

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 23:50

NonPlayerCharacter · 06/01/2025 20:46

nobody with dark hair gets a man.

And that's why dark hair genes have died out...

Was he actually insane?

I mean, he did later develop dementia, but he was very shallow about women. he'd be telling you about something that happened at work and it would be , oh, so Susan, very plain woman, said..." even if it was utterly irrelevant to the story he was telling.

Freshflower · 06/01/2025 21:40

I was adopted, and my adoptive mother said no wonder you were put up for adoption whilst pulling me by the hair , all because I got my socks wet , was only 5 at the time so many horrible things she said and done

ABigBarofChocolate · 06/01/2025 21:33

I went on the pill when I got a new boyfriend at age 20. I had split from my ex over a year before. My dad called me a slapper and said I don't waste any time. He constantly makes comments about my weight when he has a massive beer belly.

When my mum was in hospital recovering from a brain operation we were talking about Freddie Mercury in the way to visit her and he said " if something happens to your mum, I'll obviously have a new woman and I'll definitely be using protection because you never know what you could catch" Prick!! He also didn't want to leave space on her grave stone when she died for his name because he will probably have a new wife and will be buried with her! Again ... prick!

StasisMom · 06/01/2025 21:25

purplehue · 04/01/2025 20:18

I love you but I don't like you.

Mine too! She called me fat, a c* and was generally often a witch, but it was this said to me when I was about 4 that has really stuck with me.

Kaleidoscope101 · 06/01/2025 21:20

I've never felt the need to give up on a child but I feel the need to give up on your son.
He was 3.

StasisMom · 06/01/2025 21:20

InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom · 04/01/2025 19:43

Oh god i wouldn't know where to start with my mother.

Some childhood gems include "you have to suffer to look beautiful", "I never wanted a girl", "You're so fat" (size 8 and she was a size 26), she also made a massive speech the night before my wedding telling me she forgave me for having an affair with her husband (I was 10 and he was 50) and that when i realised she knew about the abuse all along.

Then after my sons death she told me I fucked up the only good thing I've ever done.

I could write a book on the crap she's said to me, been NC for a lot of years now and life is so much better, although she tells people I'm mentally ill and that's why I'm NC, so that's fun too.

Jesus, I'm so sorry.

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 21:16

JHound · 04/01/2025 21:09

@InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom

me she forgave me for having an affair with her husband (I was 10 and he was 50) and that when i realised she knew about the abuse all along.

Fewer people need to be parents. I mean that seriously.

so, she FORGAVE you for being raped by her husband.
that's disgusting.

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 21:11

Fishystripe · 04/01/2025 21:02

It really isn't. That's why it annoys me when people say, oh but you've only got one mum, as if they're all lovely!

I think because there are so many parents here, it hurts them to think that their children might not love them if they don't treat them right. so it's easier to make out the child is the unreasonable one, and a parent can't be at fault.

I just hope things go smoothly, and they never have to learn the hard way that nobody owes you unconditional affection and interaction. if you break their trust, make them feel bad about themselves etc. they're within their rights to cut you off.

BradleyGreenToes · 06/01/2025 21:09

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 21:06

I was told would regret not contacting my dad when he was dying.
guess what.
no for a second.
he had four daughters, and the only one still in contact with him when he died is too nice for her own good. even though he was VILE about her daughter. it was okay to visit with her son, but not her daughter, because "I just can't take to her"

how did I find out. the youngest of my older sisters texted me "it's dead" and I texted back "oh well"

Same. My therapist at the time told me that it was likely that the grief would hit me further down the line when I told her I didn’t care he had died. It’s been three years now and still don’t give a shit. Good riddance.

OP posts:
CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 21:06

Fishystripe · 04/01/2025 21:02

It really isn't. That's why it annoys me when people say, oh but you've only got one mum, as if they're all lovely!

I was told would regret not contacting my dad when he was dying.
guess what.
no for a second.
he had four daughters, and the only one still in contact with him when he died is too nice for her own good. even though he was VILE about her daughter. it was okay to visit with her son, but not her daughter, because "I just can't take to her"

how did I find out. the youngest of my older sisters texted me "it's dead" and I texted back "oh well"

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 20:47

AnnaBegins · 04/01/2025 20:11

Both parents told me I was a mistake. I'd worked that out from the short gap between their wedding and my date of birth to be honest!

When I had my first DC, they told all my family that I wouldn't let them see the baby. I had concerned aunties ringing me up telling me to include them. They'd seen us twice a week including being the first people to meet the baby. Hmm

my mum has always been honest about the fact I wasn't planned. but as she said "you were an accident, but you were NEVER a mistake"
she didn't find out until late in the pregnancy and I was born premature. she literally had about two months to get used to the idea she was having me. but she has loved me INTENSELY since the moment I was born.

NonPlayerCharacter · 06/01/2025 20:46

nobody with dark hair gets a man.

And that's why dark hair genes have died out...

Was he actually insane?

CrowleyKitten · 06/01/2025 20:39

Amicompletelyinsane · 04/01/2025 20:02

I'll never be attractive or get a man with the way I am..I was 14.

I'll never forget the day she sat me down to explain why my sibling was her favourite🙄

My Grandad expressed his concern that I'd never get a boyfriend, because I was blonde, and dyed my hair black. apparently, nobody with dark hair gets a man.
then when I got engaged, he sent a cheque, IN MY COUSINS NAME as he assumed that if any of us was getting married, it wouldn't be me. this is the only one of the cousins who is not married in our 40s.

Dita73 · 06/01/2025 04:09

Getting called “a fat cunt” wasn’t great

Usernamenope · 06/01/2025 03:54

InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom · 04/01/2025 19:43

Oh god i wouldn't know where to start with my mother.

Some childhood gems include "you have to suffer to look beautiful", "I never wanted a girl", "You're so fat" (size 8 and she was a size 26), she also made a massive speech the night before my wedding telling me she forgave me for having an affair with her husband (I was 10 and he was 50) and that when i realised she knew about the abuse all along.

Then after my sons death she told me I fucked up the only good thing I've ever done.

I could write a book on the crap she's said to me, been NC for a lot of years now and life is so much better, although she tells people I'm mentally ill and that's why I'm NC, so that's fun too.

I'm so so sorry you experienced this 😢

Thepossibility · 06/01/2025 03:11

All from my stepmother.
I was "an ugly wog looking thing".
My brilliant sister was a fat arsed retard.
This is while we were children who could do nothing but take it on the chin.

AbbyBradley · 06/01/2025 02:54

Justtobeclear · 04/01/2025 21:18

There’s been so, so many. The most memorable that caused me absolute shock was a few days after I discovered my ex DH’s affair. I was staying with my parents and she was helping me feed my 9 month old. I said she couldn’t give dc chocolate for breakfast and she said “mummy is such a bitch isn’t she! No wonder your Daddy has found someone better.” After nearly 30 years of abuse for some reason that one was the one that made me go low contact.

My guess, that you went low contact at that point, was because you saw her starting that wicked, evil behaviour on your child. You put a stop to it straight away.

You couldn't protect yourself as a youngster but you can protect your darling child.
Instantly!

Such a heartwarming thing to read. Congratulations 💕 x

AbbyBradley · 06/01/2025 02:54

Justtobeclear · 04/01/2025 21:18

There’s been so, so many. The most memorable that caused me absolute shock was a few days after I discovered my ex DH’s affair. I was staying with my parents and she was helping me feed my 9 month old. I said she couldn’t give dc chocolate for breakfast and she said “mummy is such a bitch isn’t she! No wonder your Daddy has found someone better.” After nearly 30 years of abuse for some reason that one was the one that made me go low contact.

My guess, that you went low contact at that point, was because you saw her starting that wicked, evil behaviour on your child. You put a stop to it straight away.

You couldn't protect yourself as a youngster but you can protect your darling child.
Instantly!

Such a heartwarming thing to read. Congratulations 💕 x

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