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Family problems.....

9 replies

Treespirit24 · 08/09/2019 20:27

This is my first time on mums.net so please bear with me....I'm married to a lovely dh and have a ds aged 15years. A couple of years ago my ds told me he is gay. I have no problem or issue with that other than I can't help feel worried about him for the future. One of the reasons is that we have no extended family we can go to for help/support. My sister has called me names all my life but basically made out it was a joke ie trollop, bimbo, stupid, thick, weird you name it, I was called it. I used to take my 2 nieces away on holiday before my ds was born as it was so important to me to be close to my family. However, when my ds was born I was so scared he would pick up on his mum being called these names and being put down all the time by my sister and brother in law, who was just as bad when it came to calling me names, my sister would allow it. If my dh did that to her I would go ballistic. I would take my nieces to Alton Towers for the weekend as my BIL was in the RAF and wasn't home til the weekends and knew their marriage wasn't in a great place and hoped it would give them space. However, when I brought the girls back, all I got was put downs or called bimbo or just something nasty which quite often had me in tears.

I eventually stopped all contact with my sister for 7 years as the name calling was killing me. After 7 years, my mum called me one day to say my BIL had left my sister and she was suicidal. I genuinely thought enough time had passed and bridges could be built. I called me sister and from thereon and over the past 4 years I was there for her night and day and my son had his aunt and cousins (I knew he adored my sister). I was beyond happy and we had some good times together. My sister eventually met another man and basically started distancing herself and becoming secretive and started putting me down again. I tried to ignore this but did say to her I couldn't put up with how she was with me years ago. She has never taken this on board and says I'm too sensitive or laughs it off. She has always said it would be hard not to be jealous of me as I have everything (my dh has a very well paid job) and that I am much prettier than her. I've never thought that and was shocked to hear her say that. I know she doesn't keep well but I've always been there for her and my nieces as much as is humanly possible but have always been rejected by my sister unless she really needs me. I used to have them all over at Xmas many years running but she has never invited us, but would invite my mum and dad saying there wasn't enough room (that's not true either) although I do have a bigger house, but started to feel as though I was a mug. Anyway, we fell out after exchanging a few brutally honest texts and now I don't see her or my nieces (who have sided with their mum, which I understand) though I thought my nieces would have realised how much we loved them and spoiled them over the years. I am so broken by this. So now my son has no cousins either. My dh's family are abroad and his parents died a few years ago.

Please know I am not bothered by my son's sexuality, only that I am so worried for him as me and his dad won't be around forever and he has no one else to turn to. It's possible he could one day start a family but I'm not so sure realistically if that would happen. My mum is all I have but she is in her 80s and my dad is a nasty piece of work who has always called me a loser and worse, he's the same as my sister. Please know I am not a loser, I dress well, have been told I'm an attractive woman and think I'm kind, very loyal and would help anyone that needed help. I don't have many friends as a lot have moved abroad with their husbands for better work prospects which has been hard. A lot of women can be quite bitchy where I live and I've always had bitchy comments about why I wear make up and always look so "perfect" as some mums have put it. I definitely don't feel perfect and my life is far from perfect. I've been told by friends in the past that I look like I have it all?? I'm incredibly confused by this and maybe I'm blinded or ignorant in some way, but it seems to happen a lot to me and I wonder if I'm putting something out there that I don't mean to, sorry there's so much in my head just now and I don't mean to run off in a tangent.

Is there anyone that has felt/experienced similar situations?? Or am I missing something??

OP posts:
JulietTango · 08/09/2019 20:35

I'm not convinced this has anything to do with your son being gay. I suspect it's to do with you being treated badly by your family and the way that makes you feel.

I don't have any words of wisdom unfortunately Flowers

pusspuss9 · 08/09/2019 20:58

I do in fact think I know where she's coming from.

I used to work in a charity that dealt with a lot of gay people and they often said it's difficult when you get older because they often have no children of their own so it can be a very lonely time. If I understand the OP correctly she is saying that íf she and her DH are no longer around then her son would not have any family members to turn to in times of loneliness or trouble.

stucknoue · 08/09/2019 21:07

Please don't worry about your son, it's very different now from when we were young, he could marry, adopt a child, have a child through surrogacy etc and friends can be better than family. You need help for yourself though, do look after yourself

JulietTango · 08/09/2019 21:10

Ok, i can understand that.

The son is very young still though, he may meet and marry someone with lots of family, and equally may not i suppose.

raysan1 · 09/09/2019 08:17

Your sister doesn't sound like someone you or your son need to be around. You and hubby will be enough for him, don't worry!

As for local women/ mums, be careful of generalizing when one or two of them say something mean. Maybe there is one nice one, or maybe the people saying things had their own problems and don't actually think badly of you.
What do friends who've moved abroad say?

Sending love
Oh and your son was comfortable telling you about his sexuality without fear of judgement.... GREAT JOB AT PARENTING, well done

Rainatnight · 09/09/2019 08:27

You all sound better off without your sister.

Agree with PPs that your son coming out has probably triggered your feelings about the loss of your own family (who are still around, but you’ve lost your DS’s support etc). Your son has as much chance as anyone of going on to have a happy, love-filled life. I’m gay and have adopted wonderful children and pretty much all the gay men I know either have kids or are very happily child free and have lovely lives.

And yes, well done you for being so fab that he’s comfortable telling you.

Treespirit24 · 09/09/2019 09:52

Thank you all for your kind replies, means a lot. I just don't understand why a sister wouldn't want their family, my mum said its because she doesn't need me anymore. How can someone be so cold and hard? She knew I did everything I could to help her yet I'm disregarded like rubbish. I hate her for doing that to her nephew, when I adored my nieces....

Yes you are right about my son, he could decide to do whatever he wants re a family or not. I just can't shake the feeling I've let him down. I wasn't able to have another child and I'm definitely too old now! I desperately wanted him to have his aunt and cousins to go to if anything happened to us and blame myself. I think that's why I put up with my sister's behaviour for so long. It's like the worst has happened and I'm definitely struggling with that.

OP posts:
Purplerain16 · 09/09/2019 21:09

Your son will be fine. He has you and his dad.
Sure, neither of you will be around forever but he will find his own "family". I come from a huge family, but don't talk to many of them, as I am bisexual & they don't agree with that.

I have created my own little family with my DP and friends and I feel more loved than I ever did with my actual blood relatives

Purplerain16 · 09/09/2019 21:09

Also, that doesn't include my parents, they've been amazing through the years ❤️

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