Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mother didn’t congratulate me on engagement

62 replies

Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 05:17

I split with my ex H in 2022. He was abusive in just about every way, violent, mean, we walked on egg shells around him. I’ve told the story of reconnecting with my now DP on here before - he was my high school boyfriend when I was an overseas exchange student. We started a relationship in mid 2023 and are very very happy together. It is a slightly unusual scenario in that it is a long distance relationship, but despite that we have spent a lot of time together, met each other’s friends and family, he’s spent a lot of time getting to know my kids, has met all my friends, my workmates, extended family including my many cousins. A week ago he proposed at the airport with a ring he had chosen for me on cahoots with my best friend. I said yes and we are very very happy. Our plan is that he will base himself with me and travel home as necessary. (Just trying to anticipate questions here!)

I called my mum after the engagement immediately to tell her - it was 7pm on a Saturday night. She ignored all my calls, I texted to tell her the news, no response. I called again and eventually she picked up and I got a very half arsed “that’s nice” response.
I didn’t hear from her for the rest of the weekend. This is in contrast to my best friends who have met DP and who knew what a shit my ex husband was who were loudly THRILLED for me.

Yesterday it was mother’s day here (not UK), I went to DM’s house with flowers and some nice food for lunch and took my DC to see her. We sat there for an hour while she talked about church, random people she has gone for coffee with, family members I haven’t seen for years. As the clock ticked on I kept thinking - any moment now she is going to realise she’s forgotten and ask about wedding plans, ask to see the ring etc. No …an hour went by and eventually I made my excuses and we left. Nothing. We had had her over for dinner a week prior to the engagement while DP was here and she had gushed about what a lovely evening it was and what a lovely man he is (which he is).

AIBU to think this is a no-contact line in the sand?

To make matters worse, I called my aunt (mum’s sister) who said “D”M had had told off my aunt for telling people and hadn’t told the rest of the large extended family (v unlike her as she’s like a rat up a drainpipe with any bit of news usually).

For context, DM is Catholic and a total narcissist and my exH was external v successful (the right school, jobs etc) so I think she’s embarrassed by me & the divorce (though I’m professionally successful and have done a bloody great job as a full time working solo mum with no help from anyone).

I usually take her idiocy with a grain of salt but it’s really hurt me - my dad died in November and he would have made a big fuss so it really makes me feel his absence more 🥺

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
thepariscrimefiles · 16/05/2025 07:57

Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 11:38

I’d be worried for my grandchildren if I was 🤷

OP's mum should be more worried about her grandchildren who have a father who gave their mother a black eye, rather than still supporting this abusive man.

OP's mum is objectively awful to her daughter so any concerns she has about OP's forthcoming marriage aren't due to concerns about her daughter's and grandchildren's wellbeing but are just part of a continuing pattern of abusive and uncaring behaviour towards her daughter.

User37482 · 15/05/2025 11:39

Go no contact, if a man gave my DD a black eye I’d want to bury him. She’s not normal, you are fine, congratulations OP 🥂

Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 11:38

Endoftheroad12345 · 15/05/2025 11:31

Is that you Mum 🤣

I’d be worried for my grandchildren if I was 🤷

Endoftheroad12345 · 15/05/2025 11:31

Is that you Mum 🤣

OP posts:
Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 11:29

You crack on op
you will
but maybe you should revisit all the threads earlier this year where you repeat that you won’t move DP in for years because you prioritise your children. They’ve know. The man barely a year and he lives 18,000 km away.

Good luck to them is all I’ll say

Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 11:24

Endoftheroad12345 · 15/05/2025 11:15

Incredible that you would comb through my prior posts @Superkitchen, land on one where I was sharing my experience of leaving an abusive husband in an attempt to help a woman struggling with a similar situation and present it as a smoking gun for my kids not liking my partner. Give your head a wobble (and work on your reading comprehension ffs)

Oh I remember you

you’re all over mumsnet talking about this love affair of the century
that began May 2023
kids only met him for the first time barely a year ago
he has a young child

oh and you’re always telling OPs to wait and prioritise children and you won’t be moving DP for “years”. And you posted that a few months ago!

Endoftheroad12345 · 15/05/2025 11:15

Incredible that you would comb through my prior posts @Superkitchen, land on one where I was sharing my experience of leaving an abusive husband in an attempt to help a woman struggling with a similar situation and present it as a smoking gun for my kids not liking my partner. Give your head a wobble (and work on your reading comprehension ffs)

OP posts:
Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 10:58

But they’re talking about your ex? My mistake. And you won’t move in DP for a few years? Jan 2025

maybe your mum is just worried more than anything

Mother didn’t congratulate me on engagement
Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 10:44

Endoftheroad12345 · 15/05/2025 09:37

Not that I owe you an explanation Internet Inspector Morse, but DP doesn’t have a 3 y.o, isn’t leaving his children to live with me, has spent plenty of time with my kids and the last post of mine you’ve snipped out of context - my kids don’t want to live with my ex H and are almost of an age where their wishes will be taken into account.

And no…. The post was clearly you saying that you won’t move in DP for years because your children don’t want him to. In Jan. 2025

Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 10:42

Endoftheroad12345 · 15/05/2025 09:37

Not that I owe you an explanation Internet Inspector Morse, but DP doesn’t have a 3 y.o, isn’t leaving his children to live with me, has spent plenty of time with my kids and the last post of mine you’ve snipped out of context - my kids don’t want to live with my ex H and are almost of an age where their wishes will be taken into account.

Odd that you say on another thread he has a young child from a brief relationship

S0j0urn4r · 15/05/2025 09:43

I've experienced similar. This is who she is. You can't change her. Don't let her suck the joy from this. Focus on the people who are happy and excited for you.

Endoftheroad12345 · 15/05/2025 09:37

Not that I owe you an explanation Internet Inspector Morse, but DP doesn’t have a 3 y.o, isn’t leaving his children to live with me, has spent plenty of time with my kids and the last post of mine you’ve snipped out of context - my kids don’t want to live with my ex H and are almost of an age where their wishes will be taken into account.

OP posts:
Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 06:28

I have a boyfriend but he doesn’t live with us and won’t for a few years. They do not want to live with him and are almost of the age where their wishes will be taken into account.

the OP earlier this year

Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 06:18

DD says he is “too nice” to me (which speaks volumes about what she saw from her dad 🥴)

How often has your DD even seen this man given you only got together with him in… mid 2023! And he lives the other side of the world to you 😕

Superkitchen · 15/05/2025 06:16

I don’t think I could love a man that is leaving his 3 year old child thousands of miles away to live with me and my children

BruFord · 14/05/2025 01:47

@Endoftheroad12345 😂 I’m sure he doesn’t view it as the shitty end of the stick.

Ponderingwindow · 13/05/2025 23:29

I definitely agree with the take that children know far more about adult lives than we tend to give them credit for.

Endoftheroad12345 · 13/05/2025 23:06

😂 @BruFord I very much doubt that, we’re in NZ and he’s from a wealthy western European country so he’s definitely getting the shitty end of the stick relocating here! We have spent sustained amounts of time together doing normal stuff e.g. working, normal daily life, so it’s not all been delulu holiday time.

I can understand your comment @Ponderingwindow and would probably think the same thing if I read this post on MN. All I can say is that I’ve done everything to prioritise my kids over the last few years. I did massively agonise over the idea of even having a new relationship (Catholic guilt again) but I’m comfortable with the pace of the relationship and how I’ve integrated DP. I talked to a child therapist about how best to do it - I didn’t introduce DP to them for a while but she told me that if I was serious about him I should do it, because children figure out more than they let on, and not sharing information with them (within reason) damages their trust.

I genuinely now feel that DP improves all of our lives, and I am not just saying that because I am starry-eyed in lurve. I feel like my kids are finally seeing a healthy loving relationship role modelled. DD says he is “too nice” to me (which speaks volumes about what she saw from her dad 🥴)

OP posts:
heidyho · 13/05/2025 22:19

I just want to say that I don't think your mother deserves to have you in her life. I'd go nc until she cops on.

BruFord · 13/05/2025 22:16

I hate to throw this out there, but could she be unenthusiastic because she thinks he’s after a visa for where you live? (I’m guessing North America as we’ve just celebrated Mother’s Day here :-)

Ponderingwindow · 13/05/2025 22:13

I’ll be honest and say I would have trouble being enthusiastic as well.

Especially given the long distance aspect of the relationship, your children haven’t been given a sufficient chance to get to know him. Now you are going to being engaged and moving him into the house. It would be much better if he had his own home and the progression of the relationship to cohabitation or marriage and as truly optional and child-focused.

You need to remember that your children escaped abuse just as much as you. They need stability and they may have serious issues truly trusting a new man in the house that suddenly takes even a light parenting role.

minipie · 13/05/2025 22:08

Yes I agree that in your family’s case it doesn’t sound like it’s down to doubts about your relationship. More self centred ness. Sorry.

Pices · 13/05/2025 21:59

You never know how it will go with him and your kids until he’s in the house. There’s no way you can commit to something you haven’t tried!

OrangeCrushes · 13/05/2025 21:23

Congratulations!

Sorry that your family isn't supportive, and commiserations. I have found that my nutso family contributed to my becoming the type of person who accepted abuse and now I have very low expectations of them.

Endoftheroad12345 · 13/05/2025 21:17

It’s fair to have reservations re the long distance aspect. He will be moving in with us before we get married.

I don’t agree that I need move anyone in before getting engaged - I think the opposite really. I’d only move someone in with my kids if I was 100% committed to them. I’ve known DP since I was 17.

I don’t think this is the reason for my mother and siblings’ reaction though. They don’t have a track record of being interested in/supportive of me (or remotely tactful in a way that would support the “they have concerns about the LD relationship hence the lack of interest” theory).

OP posts: