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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be upset about this?

12 replies

CailinDana · 19/12/2012 09:15

I'm from Ireland but live in England. Parents and sister were due to come over for a Christmas visit on 2nd of January. Mum rang me a couple of weeks ago to tell me Dad isn't coming because he's "still a bit fragile about his health." Last Easter there was another excuse for him not coming, not sure what it was (health wasn't an issue then). WRT to the health thing, basically he had a relatively minor heart problem that has now been completely rectified. He is otherwise well, fit and strong. IMO it's just an excuse.

He will be coming over in March (unless there's some other excuse) as I'm due to have a baby at the end of February.

My father has form for cutting himself off from family and it looks like I'm next on the list. He didn't go to his brother's funeral recently and didn't visit his identical twin brother when he heard he had cancer. I thought being his daughter I would escape this but clearly not.

I feel like just washing my hands of him now because I'm aware from his treatment of other family members that this is only going to get worse - eventually the only time I'll see him is when I go to Ireland (usually once a year) and I feel if he's not willing to make the effort to see me then why should I make an effort to see him.

AIBU to just give up? Or am I overreacting? There is a history here, more with my mum than with him. My family are generally shit, basically. He was an ok father. Not abusive or nasty in any way, just totally detached. I don't feel like I can take any more casual disregard of my feelings. Sigh.

OP posts:
HullyEastergully · 19/12/2012 09:18

It depends what you can cope with...your only real choice is to accept him as he is (and see him once a year), or not. He won't change into what you wish him to be, sadly.

CailinDana · 19/12/2012 09:19

To add, the fact that he got mum to tell me that he wasn't coming rather than ringing me himself also pisses me off. Cowardly.

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AllSnowballsAndNoKnickers · 19/12/2012 09:21

Depends - are you wearily accepting of it or is it hurting? If it's hurting why put yourself through it? Detach yourself from the source of something that hurts - you can only feel better for it.

HullyEastergully · 19/12/2012 09:21

He's just useless.

Lots of people are.

whois · 19/12/2012 09:21

Can you go back there and see him instead?

MrsFlibble · 19/12/2012 09:23

I dont see my dad at all, i saw once in the past two years and thats all because my brother got married 2011 and sister got married this year, if it werent for those weddings i wouldnt see him at all.

I just accepted the fact hes not the best dad, and make do, sadly for my DD shes only ever met him once and that was about 3 years ago.

I understand your upset, because we want our parents to want to see us, and its hard when you start knowing they dont. Just see this a lesson on how not to treat your DC's.

CailinDana · 19/12/2012 09:25

It's definitely hurting because it's a new thing. Up till last Easter he was pretty good for visits, and I wasn't too bothered when he didn't visit at Easter because I assumed it was a one off. But now that he's not coming for Christmas I can see the usual pattern emerging - he just stops making an effort. In a morbid way I can see him not bothering to come to my funeral if the worst happened - I mean if he can't be bothered to go to his own brother's funeral or visit his twin when he has cancer then why would I get any more consideration? I thought up to now that I would get more consideration, because at least he makes an effort for his immediate family, but clearly his uselessness is extending to that arena too.

A complicating factor is that I've forgiven him for a lot over the years as my mother has been the focus of my ire. I sort of fooled myself that he wasn't too bad, and that at least I have one good parent. And now it looks like that's not true either :(

I wish I had actual parents.

OP posts:
hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 19/12/2012 09:26

He was an ok father. Not abusive or nasty in any way, just totally detached.

I think that sums him up. He is detached and emotionally aloof from his whole family by the sounds of things, that doesn't stop it hurting though. He isn't going to change and you have to figure out if you can accept this aloofness or whether you would prefer to cut him out.

sue52 · 19/12/2012 09:28

How old is your Father?

CailinDana · 19/12/2012 09:28

Not at this stage whois - it's too late to book flights and by that stage I'll be 33 weeks pregnant. Besides the plan for months was for them to come to me, and then he just pulled out at the last minute for no good reason, I don't see why I should then scrap the Christmas I have planned and haul my toddler and pregnant self to Ireland in order to suit him.

OP posts:
CailinDana · 19/12/2012 09:29

He's 65 sue.

OP posts:
CailinDana · 19/12/2012 09:40

It's not that he doesn't like travelling either - he was in Thailand last year and I think went to Greece this year.

OP posts:
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