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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to tell my mum off?

28 replies

floppops · 07/08/2013 14:38

Was in the playground with my DD-3 and my mum this afternoon.After about 15 minutes my mum wanted to go. She is hugely anxious with DD constantly telling me that DD is doing something dangerous-she isn't..
She said at lunch that DD didn't deserve to go to the playground as she hadnt finished her lunch..
Anyway as she wanted to go she just walked off-she has done this many times before. DD saw her in the distance walking away-mum hadn't said goodbye to her. And DD panicked ran after her and fell-got herself into a state. So I said to mum it wasn't on to walk off without saying goodbye to her and she went off on one at me saying I disrespect her and only want her money?! And I treat her like a skivvy?! Anyhow she stormed off saying that was it!..
So not sure what to do now. She never listens to reason or is able to have a frank conversation. She doesn't give us any money and she doesn't do anything for us so I don't understand her accusations. She doesn't babysit DD. I take DD round to see her once or twice a fortnight. She has bought DD clothes and lunches a few times but I make her meals and pay for lunches also.
I do want DD to have a relationship with her but find her impossible to get on with.

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CailinDana · 07/08/2013 14:41

Has she always been like this?

WestieMamma · 07/08/2013 14:42

Like with most childish behaviour: ignore it. Let her have her little tantrum and get back to you when she's grown up a bit.

TheFalconsmistress · 07/08/2013 14:43

Sounds like a time I went through with my mil hugs.

Yanbu is this out of the ordinary for her? Maybe something is going on in her life? not that that's an excuse.

floppops · 07/08/2013 14:53

Yes she has always been like this sadly. I have struggled to get on with her my whole life and I feel I need to now for my DDs sake. But DD is now being affected so I'm not sure what's best..

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CailinDana · 07/08/2013 15:05

I don't think it is wise to encourage your dd to have a relatipnship with someone you know is likely to hurt her and let her down.

TheFalconsmistress · 07/08/2013 15:33

Im sorry your mum is so toxic. I would cut her out of your families life its not healthy for you and your daughter xx

shellbot · 07/08/2013 16:09

It's good that you want your DD to have a relationship with your mother but it has to be a good relationship for your DD's sake.

I would just leave her to it. I know with my mother if you make the first move then she sees it as you giving in and her behaviour doesn't change.

floppops · 07/08/2013 16:10

Thanks falcon. I'm quite surprised at the responses as I always think after I get the guts up ( not often ) to confront my mum that I am at fault. An old and established habit I guess.

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MikeOxard · 07/08/2013 16:22

I would not engage with someone who spoke to me like that. She was wrong to flounce of without saying bye to dd, that's upsetting for her, how nasty and selfish.

cacamilis · 07/08/2013 16:22

Flop pops serious problems with mothers is more common than you realise only most people myself included do not speak about it in real life. I don't want to sound off again today re my own mother,so if your interested in my opinion read the thread about not "wanting to hear I am letting myself go".

floppops · 07/08/2013 16:35

Yes I would be interested Cacamilis. How do I search for that thread-just had a quick look and couldn't find it?

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cacamilis · 07/08/2013 16:43

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1821653-To-not-want-to-be-told-Im-letting-myself-go
This is the thread, I was going to quote my post but I think you need to read the thread to get the context, hope the original op doesn't mind.

I have to admit its only in the last couple of years that I would have shared with anyone close to me (apart from dh and siblings) what my mother is like and even then it's only my two closest lifelong friends. I honestly think if I told people they wouldn't believe me or perhaps think I was exaggerating or sensitive, which sadly isn't true.

MumnGran · 07/08/2013 16:46

Firstly, you are not at fault in any way for telling your mother what you think, and being cross about something which has adversely affected your DD.
Good mother daughter relationships are based on honesty,trust and mutual respect .... not manipulation, guilt and patterns which belonged to your childhood.
My DD would not hesitate to tell me what she thought about something she was not happy with, and that is just fine.

I think you need to sit down and have a long chat about the dynamics, now you are a grown up and a parent. And that she has zero right to comment on what should or should not be appropriate for your child.
I cannot imagine what my DD would say to be if I told her that she should discipline in a specific way.... or deny her child something because I thought it was the thing to do.

Stand your ground. Its your ground, now you are grown up!

fuglychicken · 07/08/2013 16:49

You say your mother is anxious a lot OP, is there any chance there are some mh issues maybe undiagnosed? X

floppops · 07/08/2013 16:57

Sadly after a couple of these situations happening since my DD was born when I have tried to discuss the situation with her it just goes nowhere. She never ever has accepted or admitted to doing anything 'wrong' she always says whatever the thing was I was upset about was done because she loves us and cannot help caring so much..etc. she also always throws in oh I can never do anything right can I?
There just has never been any real discussion. It's very frustrating. I have written her letters which she has chosen to misinterpret and face to face its just the same.
Another really frustrating technique she has is if I bring up the walking off without saying goodbye as the original issue she will say it didn't happen. Hard to reason with those responses.

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Feminine · 07/08/2013 16:57

My Mum behaves/behaved like this. Exactly actually.

unfortunately she suffers from mental health issues, so I try to bear that in mind.

Its tough.

As she has got older though, she has mellowed a bit

during her 50's she was at her worst , I suspect that tied in a bit with the menopause.

Good luck...I know its very hard going. VERY.

Feminine · 07/08/2013 16:59

Once, I ended up locking my mother in my house, in the vain attempt to get some answers from her.

I felt sorry for her, she was getting very hot in her coat...and is claustrophobic ...so I let her out.

We didn't speak for about a month after that.

floppops · 07/08/2013 17:01

Yes fugly perhaps..she has been in AA for many years and my sister has a complex personality disorder diagnosis so is very possible.
I did suggest very gently to her last year that I thought her anxiety around DD was a worry for me and I was worried about her also. She stormed off that time too and just said 'yeah whatever'!! Blamed that on not being able to switch off caring about us. Is all a bit crazy.

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floppops · 07/08/2013 17:04

Can I ask what your mums diagnosis is Feminine?

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Feminine · 07/08/2013 17:16

Its a collection of things.

I mentioned the claustrophobia, that really stems from severe anxiety and major depression. I think she has been on medication for the best part of 45 yrs, she is now 71.

For all my life she has had it. I used to have to help her with therapy when I was still a child. I know why she has it. Unfortunately she had a very troubled childhood. Major issues, that left her scared for life.

I have been through hell over the years tbh, it (as you know) very harsh living with someone who suffers with mental health problems.

When I'm upset by it, I always try to remember her suffering also. :)

I could actually type forever on this, its been my life.

floppops · 07/08/2013 17:21

That's great that you can still feel sympathy and compassion for your mum Feminine. I'm afraid I'd be lying if I said I did.
At least she must have at one time recognised she had an issue and got help and medication.
Mine never would.

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cacamilis · 07/08/2013 17:45

It's hard to have compassion for someone who is so difficult flop pops. However I do feel for my mother she has annihilated so many people from her life it's unbelievable. She is missing out on close relationships with her children and grandchildren, we spend time with her out of a sense of duty not out of wanting to.
At times this makes me feel guilty but then I remember things she has said and done, like when we were younger turning us against extended family by lying about them, discussing private family matters with neighbours then blaming one of her grand kids, listening in on phone calls between her parent in law and their children, banning said phone calls because she didn't like what she heard. Threatening my sibling with a sharp object, wishing me and my family dead, the list goes on and on.

The more attention she gets the more she ups the anti and the same can be said for the less attention she gets. Any event that happens in our family and extended family is turned so she can make it all about her. She speaks out of turn, prys for information and passes it on to whomever will listen adding on bits to make it more salacious. As she gets older the worse it gets.

I think the big difficulty with someone like this is they will not admit to any of their behaviour, they will deny even when faced with facts and turn it back on the person who dares to mention it.

From what I can gather people with personality disorders like narcisst personality rarely seek help as they believe they are right and never ever admit any wrongdoing, they usually present a different side to outsiders than what family see.

Sorry for the long post hth.

floppops · 07/08/2013 18:16

Yes I've been thinking she could have NPD for a while now. Thing with that is as you say she would never ever admit to herself or anyone else. Everyone else is to blame. I'm sure she will blame today's row on my husband whom she hates even though he wasn't there or mentioned. She used to blame my friends influences on me as a child if I spoke up. Has always been this way. So sad to accept it'll never change and a really hard decision whether to carry on putting up with her behaviour or not.

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cacamilis · 07/08/2013 18:38

I think you need to find a compromise that you can live with.
I tried having very little to do with my mother, but felt guilty and didn't want the kids to think its normal for older parents and children not to have a relationship, then I tried pulling her each time she behaved erratically, this made her worse, much worse. I also tried ignoring the things she said and did but this gave her a licence to say anything, I gave up this tactic when she told my dec that their cousins parents (my dhs family) must have dropped the cousin and lied after he had a brain injury.

Now I visit with dh or when she has someone else there, there is less likely hood of her kicking off then. We do things for her like mow the law when she is gone to town and bring her to appointments ect.

Would safety in numbers work for you?

floppops · 07/08/2013 19:00

Yes I've tried those approaches too. DH really isn't keen on ever seeing her and vice versa so that's not easy. She rarely has anyone over but when she does have a party or something familyish ( rare ) it is easier as she can't get away with her usual behaviour. Is always creepy though seeing the change in her when in 'public'. If I only saw her when others were around it would only be a few times a year.
I would feel bad her not seeing DD.

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