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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Advice needed please !

47 replies

glittertree · 05/08/2013 21:09

Advice needed I need to know if IABU or not...My sister has announced she is getting married I am delighted for her because she has wanted this for a long time but at the same time I am feeling quite emotional and frightened because my mother I haven't seen in 10 years is going to be there...
To try and not bore you all with too much detail she was emotionally and physically abusive to me as a child I grew up to feel worthless and useless she actually made my childhood a misery I would have done anything to have made her love me but she made it obvious that she disliked me by the way she treated ..me I used to cry all the time as a child..
.to cut a very very long story short she fell out with me again and as a woman I decided that I had to protect my sanity ..we never spoke again she never ever made any contact with me over the years to sort it out ?even though she has missed out on 4 beautiful grandchildren I saw her once years ago at a funeral and she just looked me up and down and sneered at me...I felt like a little girl again...
She has an differant relationship with my sister ...
Anyway when my sister announced this i felt so sick inside because I know I am going to have to face her and the thought terrifies me i actually went off and had a cry I feel like a little girl again .
I have to go because I can't let my sister down AIBU to be feeling so emotional ...any advice on how to deal with this?

OP posts:

LEMisdisappointed · 06/08/2013 13:58

Have you had any counselling to help you with your feelings about your mother? It might help you to be able to put her in a place where she can no longer make you feel bad.

Original poster

glittertree · 06/08/2013 14:32

I have tried some form of counselling but it didnt help much I am afraid ....it's left lifelong scars as much as i try to forget ..but I am trying to put it behind me and be a better and stronger person for it ..!

OP posts:

oldgrandmama · 06/08/2013 14:36

glittertree, I agree with those here who suggest seeing a sympathetic GP and getting something to tide you over ... you would probably need to take the stuff a day or two before the wedding, but it should calm you down and enable you to coast through the wedding and seeing your awful 'mother'. My GP will hand over a few valium before I have a root canal appointment with the dentist, and that's pretty small stuff, compared with what you'll be doing. I assume your husband and kids will also be attendance, and perhaps other, nice, relatives, who can all provide a loving and protecting 'praetorian guard' around you? It would be sad to miss the wedding. As for your 'mother', YOU have done nothing wrong but she sounds frightful and almost to be pitied, to have missed out on her grandchildren, through her own nasty behaviour.

Nombrechanger · 06/08/2013 14:47

This woman has absolutely no power over you. She is NOTHING. You are much stronger than her. She is only as intimidating as you let her be.
You know this already but must remember that you are a fabulous mother now and her time to reign has long passed. Don't be intimidated by a stranger. Lock those times away in a chest and throw the chest out/burn it.

It's your time now and YOU ARE IN CHARGE.

You go to your sister's wedding and enjoy the day. Ignore strangers. You have your family to speak to. If a stranger sneers at you, they know they're intimidating you and getting pleasure from it. Don't give them the satisfaction. Just don't acknowledge them at all. If you happen to catch her eye, just smile confidently and walk on. Remember she has no power.

oldgrandmama · 06/08/2013 14:54

Nombrechanger, brilliant reply. Glittertree, that's fantastic advice.

Crinkle77 · 06/08/2013 14:57

I know it's difficult but you need to go and hold your head up high. You are no longer that little girl that she can bully. Make sure you have someone with you for moral support and just ignore her.

lollilou · 06/08/2013 14:58

All the replies on this thread have brought a tear to my eye. What wonderful and supportive women you all are.

Original poster

glittertree · 06/08/2013 15:20

I agree thank you once more for such wonderful advice I shall draw strength from it... I as a child decided that when I grew up that I would never be like my mother and I am very proud to say I am nothing like her I am very close to all my children i tell them all the time I love them through the years as teenagers this drew a few groans but I never wanted them to wonder like I had to....so I shall go and hold my head high I will see if I can get anything to calm my nerves ...it's fine saying this but I know that I will be a bag of nerves on the day..thanks again all you lovely people

OP posts:

Justforlaughs · 06/08/2013 16:15

I would go, but I would speak to my sister first and ask her to ensure that I was sat as far away from this woman as possible, because you don't want to cast a shadow on HER big day. Try to get some counselling beforehand if possible and ask for coping mechanisms. The only other advice I would give, is to stay sober! I'm sure that your DH will be very supportive but the last thing you need is to have a drunken row.

Sparklymommy · 06/08/2013 18:48

glittertree I am sorry that your relationship with your mother is so strained. However I think you would regret it if you didn't go to your sisters wedding. I agree with the previous poster who said that this should be about your sister and her soon to be husband.

On the day itself be civil to your mother. If she approaches you answer her questions politely, but don't give away how much her presence affects you.

for you my dear.

TroublesomeEx · 06/08/2013 19:02

I'm estranged from my mother. It's only been 16 months so far, but I know how much I wouldn't want to bump into her somewhere.

My background with her was similar.

If you don't go, she will have the smug satisfaction of knowing why. Go, hold your head up, don't make eye contact with her. As far as you're concerned, she's a stranger to you and your family, and one you have no interesting in knowing.

She is nothing to you. Good luck. xx

TroublesomeEx · 06/08/2013 19:06

Haha just read Nombre's post and realised she's given the same advice but so much more powerfully.

But it's the truth.

TimeofChange · 06/08/2013 19:10

OP: Maybe go to the wedding and reception, but not the evening do (presuming there is one).

I cannot imagine how bad it will be for you, I went to my DDs wedding and my XH, her Dad was there, but your situation is much worse.

Paint on a smile, hold your head up and good luck to you.

MumnGran · 06/08/2013 19:19

You know OP, the very best thing you can do is to tell your children how you are feeling. From the little you have said, I suspect those "teenagers" who hated the slushy "I love you's" will be an absolute wall against this woman who doesn't deserve the title of mother.

Let your children be the strength in your backbone on the day. Look at them, and the amazing job you have done as a mother, before you look at the failure who called herself your mother.

I know how very scary those feelings are. I was still afraid of how much mine could hurt me, in my forties. But they only have the power we give them OP. So, when she looks at you with that sneer ....look her full in the eye, with your shoulders straight, because she can take nothing of what matters in your life. Nothing.
What you have, with your own family, is worth so much more than any approval she might ever have had to give.
You don't need her approval anymore.

mynameismskane · 06/08/2013 19:25

I think you should go. Don't let your awful excuse for a mother take this away from you. Lean on your husband and children and just ignore her. If she tries to engage a conversation with you, get your husband to physically move you away and tell her no.

Remember, you are an amazing person who has made a good life despite having such a shit mother. You are strong, you have four great kids and a fantastic husband and you won - remember that. You didn't let her best you down so hold your head high and lean on your husband at the wedding. Don't let her engage your children either. If they are old enough, tell them why and just stay away from her.

mynameismskane · 06/08/2013 19:27

Please op come back and update us once the wedding goes ahead? Is it soon?

Original poster

glittertree · 06/08/2013 21:06

Feel actually quite tearful reading these replies and it's making me feel like I can be strong ...wedding is the 6th of sept I will comeback with an update...

OP posts:

CMP69 · 06/08/2013 21:22

I have a horrible nasty abusive father who I mostly pretend to get on with for my DM sake as she chooses to pretend he is a human being
Get through the day however you can for your DSis, and show everyone your gorgeous family and how great a Mum you are!

CMP69 · 06/08/2013 21:31

Also I work with a Psychologist who says counselling can actually bring back the original trauma, what is actually helpful is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or something similar.
Good luck, but they way forward is to stop hating, I am really trying with that xxx

IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 06/08/2013 21:44

I'm really sorry you're in this situation, it must be very hard for you. I can understand you wanting to be there for your sister, but she sounds very dismissive of your feelings.

She had a very different upbringing to you and it sounds like she doesn't realise how awful things were or you, or is happy to ignore it because it doesn't directly affect her. In this way she is expecting you to be there no matter the turmoil it causes. I don't know if I could, but if you want to could you just attend the ceremony but not the wedding breakfast/reception etc. your mum may be less likely to cause a scene that way.

Original poster

glittertree · 06/08/2013 21:44

CMP69 I am just waiting to do cbt I actually can't wait as I just want to be a mentally stronger person x

OP posts:

CMP69 · 06/08/2013 22:34

Good luck Glittertree, I really hope you can do it for your DSis and for you xx

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