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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:
Pices · 13/05/2025 19:53

They think it’s a bad idea. They aren’t going to congratulate you because they clearly think it’s a bad idea for whatever reason. It does seem fairly foolhardy to marry a man you’ve never lived with when you have kids…

minipie · 13/05/2025 16:58

Must say I would struggle to get enthusiastic about an engagement in a LD relationship. It doesn’t seem like a good idea especially with kids involved. IMO he should move to live with you, see how that goes, then get engaged if it works.

However - this is clearly not just about her reaction to your engagement. There’s a whole history. It sounds like the history may warrant NC more than this one incident. (Although I wouldn’t go NC if your child has a decent relationship with her as that’s not fair on him).

Coldcourgette · 13/05/2025 15:06

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AnneLovesGilbert · 13/05/2025 15:04

She may be thinking you’re mad to get engaged to someone you’ve never lived with - holidays don’t count - especially within a couple of years of a traumatic divorce and even more especially when you have young children.

She wouldn’t be alone and even if she’s always a nasty cow she wouldn’t be wrong about this.

Coldcourgette · 13/05/2025 14:54

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Endoftheroad12345 · 13/05/2025 08:25

Yes @Holdonforsummer my friend’s nanna wrote a family history and got my friend’s step dad to help her organise it, do all the graphic design, self publish it … and when he came to read it, there was no mention of him, only the 1970s wedding pictures of my friend’s mum and dad (who was a philandering alcoholic). Friend’s mum and stepdad have been married 20 years!!! That said her nanna is about 100! My mum is in her 70s and considers herself very worldly, well read (debatable), lived in London in the 70s - it’s not like she’s spent her life in a parish in Connemara.

@thepariscrimefiles we are getting married in New York and they are not invited! I’d already decided it would be best if the wedding was kept well away from them and this all validates that decision.

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Holdonforsummer · 13/05/2025 08:17

I definitely think the Catholicism has something to do with it. When my Nan remarried (a long time ago!), her Catholic priest told her the second marriage wasn’t valid in the eyes of the church and told her to abstain from sex with her second husband. She obeyed and needless to say, he ran off with another woman. Catholic opinions on second marriage can be very odd - even to the point where some people would prefer you to stay in a bad first marriage than divorce. I think you did you! And surround yourself with people who understand and celebrate you. Congratulations!

thepariscrimefiles · 13/05/2025 07:47

Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 20:07

@Sunshineandgrapefruit Yes it’s not a Catholic thing for most Catholics I agree - all of my family are and they are delighted for me. Most of my school friends are too (not strict though) and they are thrilled too, as are their parents. It’s a factor in her weird reaction treating it as though it’s a shameful secret but I think it’s a her problem.

My younger brother lives with her - he has MH issues - and also sat there for the whole hour and didn’t mention it.

My older sister has also barely acknowledged it. One perfunctory text when I
told her “Cute”, hasn’t called, hasn’t asked to see the ring, wedding plans etc. One of her children is sick and I got a series of texts last night telling me about it in great detail- not one question about me (even how I am apart from any wedding stuff!)

They are fuckwits

Don't invite your mum, your brother or your sister. It seems as though the support only goes one way, from you to them.

Invite the friends and family that are happy for you and leave the self-involved narcissists at home.

Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 20:07

@Sunshineandgrapefruit Yes it’s not a Catholic thing for most Catholics I agree - all of my family are and they are delighted for me. Most of my school friends are too (not strict though) and they are thrilled too, as are their parents. It’s a factor in her weird reaction treating it as though it’s a shameful secret but I think it’s a her problem.

My younger brother lives with her - he has MH issues - and also sat there for the whole hour and didn’t mention it.

My older sister has also barely acknowledged it. One perfunctory text when I
told her “Cute”, hasn’t called, hasn’t asked to see the ring, wedding plans etc. One of her children is sick and I got a series of texts last night telling me about it in great detail- not one question about me (even how I am apart from any wedding stuff!)

They are fuckwits

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Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 20:02

Allseeingallknowing · 12/05/2025 13:25

Legal implications of marriage, security etc. Marriage is not just a piece of paper!

To be fair this is purely about love as I’m financially independent 🤣 I just want DP to be my husband.

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Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 20:00

I have of course mentioned ir to her. Clearly my aunt had asked her if she had seen my
ein and she texted me saying she had asked as she didn’t want to say anything in front of the children and because I was “so busy talking about work” (I’ve been working on a big matter over the last two months and I mentioned it had finally ended …I talked about it for all of 3 minutes after we had been there close to an hour” ).

She clearly completely forgot. I texted back telling her not to bother and got the full “my life is full
of worries/I’m sick of trying/you were ima. bad mood when you came in (I wasn’t at all))/ your sister’s life is so hard … etc etc

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Allseeingallknowing · 12/05/2025 13:25

DustyLee123 · 12/05/2025 06:42

TBH, I’d struggle to congratulate anyone on an engagement now as I can’t see the point in marriage any more. It’s not something I’d ever do again.

Legal implications of marriage, security etc. Marriage is not just a piece of paper!

thepariscrimefiles · 12/05/2025 13:22

TimeForTeaAndToast · 12/05/2025 08:49

She probably doesn't approve and is keeping quiet about her feelings rather than discussing it with you. She's probably trying to avoid a row.

Do you want her to fake enthusiasm she doesn't feel?

Going no contact would be ridiculous.

Going no contact with a mum who supported her daughter's husband after he had given her daughter a black eye is absolutely not ridiculous. In fact, it would be ridiculous to keep in contact with such a dreadful mother.

OurManyEnds · 12/05/2025 13:19

I mean, obviously you can go NC but surely firstly you should’ve said ‘mum are you not going to ask me about the engagement?’

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 12/05/2025 13:09

I think I would need to talk to her and say that it's a big deal for you and you had hoped you could celebrate with her. Tell the ret of the extension fee ed family yourself. Hopefully they will be more gracious ( and it's not a Catholic thing, we are all catholic and not one of my family would behave like that. They would be delighted for me).

Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 08:53

TimeForTeaAndToast · 12/05/2025 08:49

She probably doesn't approve and is keeping quiet about her feelings rather than discussing it with you. She's probably trying to avoid a row.

Do you want her to fake enthusiasm she doesn't feel?

Going no contact would be ridiculous.

Yes actually, I think that’s a normal thing to do. I am 43, I’ve been self sufficient since I was 18. I’ve built a great life for me and my kids without any help from anyone, I’ve escaped a shitshow of a marriage and have met and fallen in love with a wonderful kind man who adores me. I think most mothers could “fake enthusiasm” under those circumstances, or even not need to fake it!

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Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 08:49

PhaseFour · 12/05/2025 05:44

Congratulations on your engagements, OP.
Sorry for the loss of your dad, and for your mother's lack of interest. Your fiance sounds wonderful, and so do you.

Thank you, this is so kind. He is wonderful
and we are very lucky to have found each other again 🥹

OP posts:
TimeForTeaAndToast · 12/05/2025 08:49

She probably doesn't approve and is keeping quiet about her feelings rather than discussing it with you. She's probably trying to avoid a row.

Do you want her to fake enthusiasm she doesn't feel?

Going no contact would be ridiculous.

Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 08:29

@Ddakji My expectations are usually non existent so I’m not sure how to adjust them any lower!! which is why I thought I should consider non contact as an option. I went no contact for a couple of months last year after I was nearly hospitalised with the flu and no one in my family checked in on me, but it was hard as I missed out on time with my dad before he died (he was definitely not perfect either 🫠)

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Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 08:22

thepariscrimefiles · 12/05/2025 07:04

Your ex gave you a black eye and she still supported him? Please stop caring about her opinions which are appalling and either go no contact or massively reduce the time that you and your children spend with her.

You are right and I am surprised by how much it upset me. My expectations of her are usually non existent but not acknowledging my engagement was a new low.

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Ddakji · 12/05/2025 07:05

To me, the issue here is your expectations of your mother, which seem completely out of whack with who she is and her prior behaviour. That’s something you need to resolve otherwise you’re going to carry on being disappointed that she doesn’t behave in the way you want her to. Going no contact would be a way but I don’t think it would really resolve things for you.

thepariscrimefiles · 12/05/2025 07:04

Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 06:37

Agree no contact over this as a one off is OTT but this is not her first rodeo! When I split from exH I busted her texting him behind my back (“Endofroad is so angry, I can’t reason with her” - this after I’d told her he’d been violent including showing her a photo of me with a black eye)

Can also understand people taking second wedding with a grain of salt! I never thought in a million years I’d want to get married again after shitshow experience with exH but I’ve surprised myself! Feel so happy and excited and that this time round will be more my “real” marriage. Hence being so upset I suppose

Your ex gave you a black eye and she still supported him? Please stop caring about her opinions which are appalling and either go no contact or massively reduce the time that you and your children spend with her.

thepariscrimefiles · 12/05/2025 06:58

Never2many · 12/05/2025 05:57

You’re not unreasonable to be a bit miffed, but to actually think this is something to go no contact over is utterly ridiculous.

TBH most people don’t see second marriages as a big deal. Once you’ve been married once getting married again really isn’t something to make a big fuss about, even though you may like the new partner. Marriage is meant to be a thing for life, and although many people do get married a second (and sometimes more) time, a lot of people just see it as another wedding, rather than the wedding.

Added to which you’re currently long distance, are still trying to work out the logistics, and don’t know how (and tbh if) it will work out yet.

I’m not talking about the relationship working out but how you’re going to work out the marriage.

Engagement at this point is just a gesture. As yet there’s no wedding on the cards, you live presumably in different countries, and it sounds like it’s not going to be an easy run.

FWIW I got engaged to my DP ten years ago, and at the time someone congratulated us with “congratulations on the engagement, and hope that all goes well with any wedding, should you choose to continue down that route.” I was really put out - after all surely an engagement means a wedding at some point?

Except ten years later we’ve not been able to work things out logistically, life and stuff happened and marriage never did.

And now ten years on I wouldn’t choose to be married, even though we’re still together, and also long distance, although within the UK not countries apart.

Maybe if you’re able to work out the logistics and start planning your mum will be more involved.

It's obvious that OP's mum's reaction to her engagement is just the icing on a very shit cake. She sounds like a horrible mother and that is a good enough reason to go no contact. If she was generally lovely and her reaction was because, as a Catholic, she didn't approve of divorce and re-marriage, you would probably be correct that going no contact was an extreme reaction.

As her mum is a narcissist and generally awful to OP, no contact seems like a reasonable response.

myplace · 12/05/2025 06:45

The history of her behaviour is more relevant than this incident to be honest.

My mother was weird about my engagement too- with none of the history of yours. We were 23. I think she just didn’t want to wind up and organise a wedding, to think about someone else for a while. She likes the attention to be on her.

Your mother lost her husband in the last 6months. She probably hasn’t got capacity to be particularly outward looking and enthusiastic at the moment.

Before going NC, just stop expecting good stuff from her. Go through the motions of having a relationship, but don’t invest emotions in it. It’s much easier than going NC. You do T have to burn bridges with everyone else, no drama, just match her energy.

Endoftheroad12345 · 12/05/2025 06:45

DustyLee123 · 12/05/2025 06:42

TBH, I’d struggle to congratulate anyone on an engagement now as I can’t see the point in marriage any more. It’s not something I’d ever do again.

you old romantic you

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