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Abusive mother

4 replies

washinht · 01/12/2025 10:41

My mum was emotionally and physically abusive towards me as a child. My dad was also physically abusive but not emotionally.

My mum favoured partying to looking after me, even when I had swine flu I was left alone. It's like she just couldn't prioritise me, she is still the same now tbh. I never felt loved by either of them however I do have contact with my dad now.

There's a constant up and down in mine and my mother's relationship. She will say things and I will cut her off then let her back in etc. Since I have a 7yo dd this has meant its affected their contact too. Although they never spent time alone and I was always there. She's never babysat or anything like that or had her over to her house.

We haven't physically seen my mother in a year.
She was allowed to be on facetime with my dd and I up until a few months back. I kept allowing her in when I really shouldn't have.
Anyway, I now have occasional phone calls with her without dd if there is something to discuss but otherwise I am no contact. Dd is no contact.

Yesterday she called me and said to me, 'I'm so worried. I think she is grieving.' I said, 'what?' And she responded with, 'I think dd is grieving me.'
Today she said, 'every year I watch dd open her advent calendars. Can you facetime me later?' (She doesn't) I said, 'no.' She said, 'that's awful of you. So unfair.'
BTW dd hasn't even mentioned my mum or her watching her open said advent calendars.

Is this emotional blackmail? She does it every time I speak to her tbh but these were just two stand-out comments.

OP posts:
FuzzyWolf · 01/12/2025 15:03

I think you need to decide if you are no contact or not and if you are no contact, you need to stick with that.

washinht · 01/12/2025 19:39

I'm LC which works for now.

OP posts:
SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 02/12/2025 04:47

I think you need to really ignore what crap she comes out with. Because it’s crap.

Quay · 02/12/2025 06:36

Yes it’s emotional blackmail. Stop feeling guilty - you don’t owe her or your dad anything. You’re CHOOSING to stay in contact due to guilt and a false sense of loyalty. I’ve been in your shoes and probably worse with both parents (i don’t wish to go into details, but it was bad, really bad), my dad died a long time ago and whilst I felt a huge relief there was also great sadness that he wasn’t the dad he should of been. My mother on the other hand has always played ‘the victim’ and still does. Yes I see her - but on MY terms. You need to set your boundaries with her and if you can’t (for whatever reason) then go no contact. Funnily enough I’m due to see her soon with DH - my adult DD always wants to come (she’s very protective of me 😂 not that I need protecting anymore!). However how they both treated me still affects me from time to time and I’m in my 60s now, I’m generally fine now but sometimes a memory or flashback catches me unawares.
I wish you luck - just be firm and stand your ground - you’re equal now and no longer a child so don’t allow her to treat you like one x

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