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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be hurt by lack of support from my mother? long post

82 replies

Bluebell66 · 05/08/2015 10:10

I lost my DH to lung cancer two years ago. Since then I have had absolutely no support from my mother and she has shown virtually no interest in my two DC who needless to say, have struggled enormously. She was twittering on about her neighbour a couple of days after my DH died, and because I wasn't engaging in the conversation, she said "you don't sound very interested". I had just lost my precious DH, my DC has lost their Dad, I could barely even breathe. How could she expect me to be interested in her neighbour? She told me because I have a house and a car, I should "count my blessings". I said I would rather live in a tent and still have my DH with us. She remains totally obsessed with my sister, who never made any attempt to come and see me, or even pick up the phone and ring me when my DH died. She sent a condolence card in the post. My mother then went on and on for weeks at me asking me if I was going to thank my sister for the card. I said no, I have far more important things to cope with, like just managing to get through the day and feed my DC. I felt I coped really well on the day of the funeral, even though I felt like I was looking down on myself and on another planet, I needed to stay strong for my DC. She told me afterwards I "was funny with them on the day of the funeral". Everyone else told me how proud they were of me, and how strong I was being for my DC. She is utterly self centred and totally obsessed with my sister, who is a complete waste of space. She wrecked her marriage and walked out on her two DSs. Because she now lives in a rented flat, and I "have a house", I am so much better off than her and have so much more. She CHOSE to wreck her marriage and walk out. I would give anything in the world to have my DH back and for my DC to have their Daddy back. But I didn't have a choice. She just doesn't get it, she's so shallow. I have told her how much she's hurt me, but nothing changes. I have pretty much stopped talking to her on the phone as whenever I do, she upsets me. She shows no interest in how I'm doing or in my DC. She just remains obsessed with trivia and my sister. I don't know how to cope with the situation. It's no good talking to my Dad. He has no idea of half the things she's said to me. She's very devious and always does it on the phone or via text, so he doesn't know. He knows what she's like, but he will always back her and defend her. He says she's "the most maternal woman he knows". I'm afraid I beg to differ. I want to detach myself from her completely, but I know that's not possible. Thank you to anybody that manages to get to the end of this rambly post.

OP posts:
Bluebell66 · 09/08/2015 18:24

I couldn't agree more Fantastic - it's because of the failings in my own mother that I made up my mind when I had my own DC that I was going to be a better mother than she was. I can't imagine not being there for my DC, whatever age they are, no matter what the circumstances. But because I have been through such hell, and she still hasn't been there for me, continuing to obsess about trivia and my sister, it makes it even harder to accept. If she hasn't been there for me through losing my DH, I have to now accept she never will be.

OP posts:
FantasticButtocks · 09/08/2015 18:39

Yes indeed. Acceptance of this as fact is key to you being less able to be hurt by them. It is the hope that our parent will somehow realise and change their ways, the hope is what makes us so vulnerable to the pain when that hope isn't realised. Thanks

Bluebell66 · 09/08/2015 19:09

That's exactly what I've been doing all this time Fantastic - hoping against hope she'll respond to me and care for me, but I know now she never will. I feel strangely calm about it all now. I can't thank you enough for everything you've said, it's really helped me and means the world to me xx

OP posts:
Hellionandfriends · 09/08/2015 19:19

I agree with accepting how she is and lowering expectations. Also space

Bluebell66 · 09/08/2015 19:37

Definitely Hellion. That's what I'll be doing from now on.

OP posts:
SurvivalOfTheUnfittest · 09/08/2015 20:35

Bluebell I will pm you now. Look out for it in your inbox on here.

amarmai · 10/08/2015 17:59

really like helion's suggestion re going away at xmas. If that goes in the note it will forestall efforts to make you change your mind . e.g. we've been invited to spend a few days with friends over xmas.

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