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AMA

I never knew or met my father. AMA

22 replies

skippy67 · 23/01/2023 14:50

Fire away!

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Mistonthemountains · 23/01/2023 14:56

What's the backstory?

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racquel86 · 23/01/2023 14:58

How does this make you feel? Why did you never meet him?
Interested to follow this as...... neither did I! Meet/know my dad that is x

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skippy67 · 23/01/2023 16:12

I don't really know much of the backstory. I have an older sibling by the same person. Dear old dad left my mum when she was pregnant with me. they were never married. She never really spoke about him.

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tonystarksrighthand · 23/01/2023 16:14

Following .... my DS has never met his Father and is never likely too

Has this had an impact on you as an adult?

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skippy67 · 23/01/2023 16:15

racquel86 · 23/01/2023 14:58

How does this make you feel? Why did you never meet him?
Interested to follow this as...... neither did I! Meet/know my dad that is x

Growing up, it never really bothered me. I got used to saying "I don't have a dad" when other kids used to ask. As I got older, I gave it less and less thought. I'd occasionally wonder if he lived nearby, or even knew about me. After I had my own DC, I started to think about it more, because i couldn't imagine just up and leaving them without ever looking back.

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skippy67 · 23/01/2023 16:19

tonystarksrighthand · 23/01/2023 16:14

Following .... my DS has never met his Father and is never likely too

Has this had an impact on you as an adult?

Hmm, I don't think it has. It's a bit tricky when doctors ask if there's any history of this or that in my family, because I've only ever had 1 side. I know he had other dc after me and my sibling, and that he was in their lives. (I Googled his name and got a hit) that stings a bit...

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skippy67 · 23/01/2023 16:20

racquel86 · 23/01/2023 14:58

How does this make you feel? Why did you never meet him?
Interested to follow this as...... neither did I! Meet/know my dad that is x

I never met him ,because all I knew about him was his name, and that he lived abroad.

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SignOnTheWindow · 23/01/2023 16:20

Following as DD's dad died before she was born.

Did you have any 'father figures' in your life, OP? X

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skippy67 · 23/01/2023 16:21

SignOnTheWindow · 23/01/2023 16:20

Following as DD's dad died before she was born.

Did you have any 'father figures' in your life, OP? X

No father figures. just a truly amazing mum.

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FairlyIncognito · 23/01/2023 16:30

Do you feel a part of you is missing or given your mum amazing (I’m so glad she is) is it possible to still feel completely complete without knowledge of him?
i am lucky to have a really lovely dad but ask because a relative wanted to have a baby with a donor but fretted over this and I didn’t have any experience or wisdom to reassure her

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FairlyIncognito · 23/01/2023 16:34

ps I didn’t mean my question to be insensitive as send such warm wishes to anyone in this situation especially when a dad has died . That must be really hard.
Also i guess there are so many variations possible, one of my friends said her DD was more stable and confident when her dad wasn’t in touch and was abroad

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AnotherMeMe · 23/01/2023 16:36

My situation is similar. I found it hard growing up, as I felt different from my peers but in adulthood, I've been pragmatic about it - better to have not known my father than to have had a horrid/abusive one. Agree with it being awkward when asked about family medical history. Apparently he died during my childhood and had no other children, so that's that.

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AnotherMeMe · 23/01/2023 16:39

TBH it's never occurred to me that I didn't feel complete! It's one side of my family history that's missing iyswim, not anything to do with me!

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skippy67 · 23/01/2023 16:52

FairlyIncognito · 23/01/2023 16:30

Do you feel a part of you is missing or given your mum amazing (I’m so glad she is) is it possible to still feel completely complete without knowledge of him?
i am lucky to have a really lovely dad but ask because a relative wanted to have a baby with a donor but fretted over this and I didn’t have any experience or wisdom to reassure her

I've never felt incomplete. Never. Mildly curious at best, but never incomplete.

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racquel86 · 23/01/2023 20:40

@skippy67 I know what u mean.... I was so used to saying 'I dont have a dad' it was fine.... til it wasn't .... and ppl questioned me on why? And even in my 30's my partners uncle presumed I was so spoilt being and only child with 2 parents, one being a 'daddy' to spoil me rotten 🤣 of only he knew the torture he out my mum thru mentally and the hardship we faced because hie had another woman 🤬

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853ax · 23/01/2023 20:49

Do you have his name ?
Did you ever meet any of his family, your granny aunt's ECT ?
Good AMA to start well done

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PoorMeAnotherEggNogg · 23/01/2023 22:23

How'd you feel about the "punchline" of not knowing your dad being used in jokes? Since family member became a solo mam I have noticed this trope / meme / joke crop up in Bad Education, in Francisca Martinez's stand-up routine, in Finding Nemo, etc. It seems like it's an acceptable thing to joke about.

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skippy67 · 24/01/2023 08:33

853ax · 23/01/2023 20:49

Do you have his name ?
Did you ever meet any of his family, your granny aunt's ECT ?
Good AMA to start well done

I've never met any of his side of the family. When i was born, I had my mum's surname. She changed it via deed poll to his so that me and my sibling had the same surname at school. Add i said upthread he left before I was born, so she had to register my birth on her own.

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skippy67 · 24/01/2023 08:35

How'd you feel about the "punchline" of not knowing your dad being used in jokes?
Not bothered by this at all.

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skippy67 · 24/01/2023 08:39

AnotherMeMe · 23/01/2023 16:39

TBH it's never occurred to me that I didn't feel complete! It's one side of my family history that's missing iyswim, not anything to do with me!

Exactly. I know I have 2 half siblings by him. I have zero interest in meeting or contacting them. I was in my forties when I finally saw a photo of my "father". Which is all I ever wanted to do. My sibling is the absolute double of him.

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MySweetBaboo · 25/01/2023 10:24

Do you think it’s easier because you never knew him compared to him perhaps having been part of your life as a child and then disappearing?

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skippy67 · 25/01/2023 11:56

@MySweetBaboo, definitely.

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