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AIBU?

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AIBU to be upset my my DF remarks about DS

29 replies

BinnyWeasley · 21/06/2025 12:35

I'm a FTM to a 15 week old baby, I am absolutely loving it (despite previously being someone who wasn't keen on kids/babies). Both parents I don't think ever expected me to settle down and start a family so when I told them I was pregnant they were over the moon and maybe rather surprised.

When baby was born there was a tiny mark on his head which has turned out to be a strawberry mark. It's grown to around the size of a 5p and is about 0.5cm raised. A lot of people comment on it and to be honest I do find it a bit sad that it's the first thing people notice, not the lovely, happy baby attached to it!

Obviously my DP and DSP have seen DS multiple times throughout his 15 weeks and once the GP had checked it out and confirmed it was a strawberry mark, I let them all know. My DM & DSD haven't mentioned it since and absolutely dote on DS. My DF however keeps making comments and I can't tell if it's out of concern or that he is embarrassed by having a DGS with an obvious 'blemish'. The other day he messaged about it again, and stated that 'he'd like to pop it', I explained that it would hurt DS and there would be a huge amount of blood to which he explained he was 'only joking'. This has really hurt me, I was already a little worried about DS getting remarks when he starts nursery/pre school if it's still there at that point, but to have my own DF make such a horrible comment as an adult has really upset me.

DH sort of agrees but feels that people keep mentioning it out of concern - despite constant reassurance that it's totally normal and it's been seen by the HV, GPs and midwives multiple times.

OP posts:
Dawninglory · 21/06/2025 13:09

My son had a birthmark on his head called a sebaceous naevus, about the size of a £2 coin, never grew hair on it, very itchy. He grew his hair longer than normal to hide it. He has just had it removed age 17. A Haemangioma or strawberry mark is a collection of small blood vessels and usually disappear by age 5-7 yrs. Hopefully that is the case for your DS. Tell your Dad a small birthmark is not the end of the world and to stop highlighting it as he is upsetting you. Congratulations on your DS💐

BinnyWeasley · 21/06/2025 12:53

@LittleMG so sorry to hear you're in a similar boat. It's frustrating when it's the people who are supposed to support you, are the ones that let you down.
@Pricelessadvice they're divorced and unfortunately only on acquaintance terms, the last time they saw each other/spoke would have been my wedding 3 years ago. He's always been very critical, he still is of both me and my DB but I wasn't expecting him to be so cruel about his tiny grandson. I think I'll have to snap at him to get him to listen, previous experience tells me that he'll take it on board for about 3 months and then he'll be back to criticising!

OP posts:
Pricelessadvice · 21/06/2025 12:44

Do you have a good relationship with your dad? Could you explain that you feel quite upset that he mentions it all the time?
Failing that, could you speak to your mum and maybe she could have a word with him?

LittleMG · 21/06/2025 12:39

Oh dear OP I can definitely see why this upsets you! My DS is disabled and my dad can’t talk about him without making reference to it. I so so glad my son is lovely happy and mobile but he was very ill when he was born, my dad just can’t get over it and only sees his disability it really annoys me. But tbh I find that friends and normal family don’t act like that it’s just some idiots I’m afraid.