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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To finally fall out with my Dad?

64 replies

Cambridgebanana · 10/07/2018 10:56

Name changed, sorry this is going to be a long one!

For background, I have always got on with my Dad very well and found him really funny, we have more of a jokey friend relationship than a father daughter relationship. His sense of humour is a very acquired taste and he has offended many people with it over the years. My mum has always been the disciplinarian and supportive parent, (I am only realising now how difficult it must have been for my mum). My dad has always poked fun at my sister and I and it is always said that you need to have a very thick skin in our family. My sister is 5ft1 and her height has been a constant running joke. I hate to say that I have also joined in when my dad has been making jokes about it, I guess I didn't think being small was something a girl would actually be upset about. I am realising now that it doesn't matter that I wouldn't find something offensive, because someone else might take it differently. My mum has always been fixated on appearances and encouraged my sister and I to always wear makeup etc, she has always had a habit of looking you up and down very obviously and she values us looking good far more than our accomplishments and very much enjoys boasting at any opportunity. She is very critical of my sisters appearance and was the exact same with me when I was younger, however has backed off with me since I moved out and got married. So that is the family background.

I had a really bad mental health spell last year, effectively a mental breakdown, that came out of nowhere and was a big shock to my family and husband. I was prescribed anti depressants, however the ones I was given are known for having a significant impact on weight. I have always been very thin, quite unhealthily so, but it seemed that my mum was actually quite proud of this and would stealthily boast to people about how I just NEEDED to put weight on and it must be so difficult for me but then would also enjoy telling them that I could eat what ever I liked and not put any weight on and always brought conversations back round to my figure Hmm. I went from 8 stone to 10 and a half stone in about 3 months (I am 5 foot 7 so it was still not close to me being over weight) and my parents knew it was because of the pills. The pills made me feel a million times better and that trumped the weight gain for me and my husband was in total agreement (I actually don't think he noticed!). Anyway I was starting to feel like my old self again until my Dad phoned me whilst I was at work and told me that I really needed to lose weight. He said that mum had pressured him to call me about it. I was embarrassed and paranoid, so stopped taking the pills and I ended up gradually losing the weight however have remained at about nine and a half stone for the last year. Which is obviously still slim, but not as waif like and unhealthy looking as before. For clarification, this had not been a call because they were worried about my health, although my mum later said it was, it was because of my appearance. I know my parents well enough to know that. I avoided seeing my family for about 4 months after my dad phoned me as I couldn't face the comments or judgemental looks. I was honest with my mum and told her that the reason I was avoiding them was because of how the comments had made me feel. She has obviously realised that she was going to push me away completely if this continued so there have been no more judgemental looks from her or encouragements to my dad to speak to me. However, my dad has continued to make jokes about my weight consistently. When I first saw them again after the 4 months of avoidance he would point at very overweight people in the street and say they looked like me, 'as a laugh'. He has an incredibly dry and blunt sense of humour. My mum has obviously warned him to stop doing this however he can't seem to help himself and the new one for the last couple of months is to talk about how 'big boned' I am. For the record, I am not remotely big boned. He is just trying to avoid actually calling me fat in case my mum gets annoyed at him. My husband and I were away at the weekend with my family including my aunt, uncle and cousin and we were all sitting round the dinner table. Myself, my husband, sister and Dad had all been out cycling earlier that day and I had been more tired than the rest of them (they are all incredibly sporty and fit, I have dabbled in exercise in the past but am just not naturally as into it as them) and I said how I would like to start going to the gym again to improve my fitness. My dad started on again about how big boned I was and held his arms out from his side obviously imitating how wide I was. The table went silent. He has always gotten away with these comments as he is funny with it and nobody wants to be the sensitive one who makes a fuss. I didn't say anything but sat there in silence. My husband later said to me that he didn't know how my dad got away with the things he said, I would have fallen out with him if he made those comments to me, but he wouldn't say these things in the first place! My mum obviously saw that I looked upset and was glaring at my Dad. She phoned me later that night to say that she had fallen out with him over it. I told her that I have now had enough of it and that if my husband and I ever have children I would feel very uncomfortable with them growing up around my dad as I didn't want them to be made to feel the way I am. I feel the same way about my mum but didn't say that. My dad phoned me at work today and it was obvious it was to see if I was annoyed after the bollocking he got from my mum. I was quiet but did not bring it up. My sister and I have always just laughed off his comments and worry that we would be the 'sensitive one' if we were to make a fuss. It is more of a WWYD than an AIBU as I am finally at the end of my tether with this constant focus on appearance. Maybe it is being married now and considering our own family, I would hate to make my children feel the way I am made to feel. My Cousin actually no longer speaks to my Aunt (my Mums Sister) as she said that my Aunt used to go on constantly about her weight and appearance and it affected her confidence hugely. Clearly this obsession with appearance is deep rooted in my mums family and my dad, who's sense of humour has always been very harsh and focusing on a persons weakness, has latched onto it. Some advice about how to deal with this would be hugely appreciated as I am not sure if I am over reacting to this latest incident because of the years of comments, or if this is the final straw.

OP posts:
Cambridgebanana · 10/07/2018 10:56

Oh gosh that really is long, sorry!

OP posts:
Singlenotsingle · 10/07/2018 11:06

Your dad is way out of order. At 5ft 7" you are still very slim. I'm guessing size 8-10, a size most women would be delighted with. He's a sexist idiot; would he do this if you were a boy? Have you got DBs that he's rude about? It sounds as though everyone's afraid to face up to him.

You could say "did you really mean to be so rude?" next time he does this. Or you could pick on some aspect of his appearance and call him out on it - is he overweight? Bald? Big nose? He needs to get a taste of his own medicine.

Cambridgebanana · 10/07/2018 11:10

Thanks Singlenotsingle. No Brothers, just my Sister and I. My Sister and I have started insulting him straight back, but he has such a thick skin that it just bounces off. I think the problem is also that we have had these comments from a very young age so you do develop a bit of a complex.

OP posts:
rosesandflowers1 · 10/07/2018 11:16

What an arse.

I bet he's the kind of guy who insists it's joking/banter, you're too sensitive, I'm just honest etc.

"My weight gain is related to my medication. I don't see why you find that funny."

Or, make him over explain the joke until he just sounds like a dick.

eggcellent · 10/07/2018 11:18

* make him over explain the joke until he just sounds like a dick*

This.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't get it, can you explain the joke?"
Until he's literally just calling you fat.

What's good is that it doesn't sound like anyone's actually laughing at his shit jokes, so hopefully he'll get bored of it.

GrumpyInsomniac · 10/07/2018 11:23

He's not funny, he's a bully, and it sounds like he's always been that way. Not wanting to be 'the sensitive one' means not wanting to bring down his nastiness on your heads. So let's call him by his real name. Bully.

It seems clear that your mother has supported or enabled this behaviour for years, and even now doesn't feel able to counter his nastiness verbally in company: just glaring isn't sufficient. Frankly, until she's prepared to stand up to him and say "that's not funny and it's certainly not nice, now apologise" he'll carry on pushing at the boundaries to see just how far he can go. It really does sound like a power trip, but that's bullies for you.

I'm not sure whether it's possible to have a relationship with him when he's been like this so much of his adult life. I certainly think you're wise to be concerned about letting him be involved with any future children.

I think you have one last shot, which is to tell him you're no longer prepared to let him belittle and bully you in front of anyone, whether you're alone together or in company, and that until he learns to stop putting you and others down in your presence, you'll have nothing more to do with him. And mean it.

It may or may not make him reconsider and change his behaviour. But I don't see how else you can make him someone you enjoy a relationship with, rather than seeing him out of obligation.

And Flowers by the way. That he should fundamentally be being critical of you for getting treatment for mental illness and working your way to be healthy again must be doubly wounding. He's a dick.

flumpybear · 10/07/2018 11:23

Firstly, at that weight you're definitely no where NEAR anything overweight - but you know this

Your dad is an arse, I'd be avoiding him and I'd tell him outright how you feel when you can do it without raising your voice - if he tries to wriggle out if it walk away and just say 'no more'

PuntasticUsername · 10/07/2018 11:33

Your dad isn't funny, he's a bullying twat. It sounds as if your mum has her own issues but at least she's made an effort to change her and your dad's behaviour, when she realised the effect it had on you.

You aren't over reacting, and you would not be unreasonable not to see him if he can't get his act together and behave like a more normal, loving father. This isn't love, this is you and your sister being his emotional punchbags and not even allowed to object to it in case you're labelled 'sensitive'. What's wrong with being sensitive, anyway?!

Longtalljosie · 10/07/2018 11:33

You poor love. When you said you had a breakdown I wasn’t remotely surprised. If you read back your op, can you see that even now you’ explaining / excusing his behaviour? It’s not dry, it’s cruel. Your DH is in a tricky position with that existing family dynamic, but I’d tell him he had your absolute permission to take your Dad to task every time he insults you. Your Dad isn’t a funny man. He’s a bully, and insecure, and by laughing along people are giving him permission to continue. Which given your mental health has taken a knock recently, is inexcusable. Your mum sounds like a piece of work too, but at least she’s trying to rein herself in...

henpeckedinchief · 10/07/2018 11:38

Oh goodness OP he sounds very difficult and you have the patience of a saint not to have snapped yet!

I think it's time you stopped worrying about being seen as the sensitive one and start pointing out that your dad is the insensitive one. Would it work if every time he made one of these comments you very calmly said 'that isn't funny or a healthy thing to say, and if you make another comment like that I will leave' - and then follow through. If he makes another, get up and go home. I think he might learn fast not to be such a prick! And I also think the rest of the family would support and respect you, as they obviously realise his behaviour is not on.

ohfourfoxache · 10/07/2018 11:40

They both sound like judgemental cunts

Merryoldgoat · 10/07/2018 11:43

I hate this - the ‘unusual’ sense of humour and needing a ‘thick skin’ - it’s just a way to mask bullying and belittling behaviour.

There is no doubt your dad is BU but perhaps you can reflect in how you have enabled his awful behaviour over the years by not calling him out.

It hurts now it’s directed at you, but I suspect your sister would’ve appreciated you standing up for her at times.

Generally your parents sound shallow and damaging frankly - the value of appearance over character shows a very unpleasant type of person underneath.

Merryoldgoat · 10/07/2018 11:44

When I say ‘you have enabled’ I mean the family generally, not just you specifically.

Cambridgebanana · 10/07/2018 11:52

Merryoldgoat as I stated in my OP, I have also always been at the brunt of the comments, just as much as my sister. It subsided for a few years because I moved out. The reason the new weight comments are now bothering me is because I am older and longer in the tooth and have my own separate family and new parents in law so am starting to see that this is not normal. I don't think it is fair to blame a child for enabling behaviour, because that is what I was when it started, I knew no different.

OP posts:
twoshedsjackson · 10/07/2018 11:53

I bet if you decided to be "the sensitive one" and became a bit tearful and distressed, he'd be seriously flustered and try to justify himself, digging the hole deeper as he goes. He's accustomed to you biting it back as "a joke" or "banter".
Try "jokes are supposed to make people laugh; I didn't find that funny"
Or a stricken look, unspoken, while he tries to fill the awkward silence.
One killer line I have used, should he call after his wife has spoken to him again is, "Oh hello, did you call to apologize?" If the answer is no, just continue, "in that case, I don't really want to talk to you just now" and put the phone down.

krustykittens · 10/07/2018 11:55

Your dad is a bullying, abusive cunt and always has been and it doesn't sound like your mother is much better. You joined in with it for years and only now appreciate how awful it is now that you are the butt of his jokes. He's not going to change and your children will also get it in the neck, if you decide to have a family. Speaking from experience here.

Bibesia · 10/07/2018 11:55

When I first saw them again after the 4 months of avoidance he would point at very overweight people in the street and say they looked like me, 'as a laugh'. He has an incredibly dry and blunt sense of humour

No, he doesn't have a sense of humour, dry, blunt or otherwise. How would that conceivably be funny?

It sounds to me as if you have all become conditioned into letting your father get away with cruel comments by this "dry sense of humour" myth. You all of you need to stop, and be prepared to call him out on it. Your DP's reaction is absolutely right. Don't be scared of him coming out with the "You're too sensitive" nonsense: you need to unite in telling him that he's not funny and you're not putting up with it any more. He's not thick-skinned, he's thick.

krustykittens · 10/07/2018 11:58

Sorry, my last message sounded too harsh. Of course you joined in, you knew no better, but if you have children and they hear this from Granddad all the time and no one corrects him, THEY will imitate it as well with no idea of what they are doing. But I am sorry, OP, I doubt he will change. You an try but do you really want abusive behaviour in your life if he doesn't? Whether or not you fall out with him for good is a question only you can answer and whatever the outcome, it won't be easy.

TokenBritPoshOfCourse · 10/07/2018 11:59

My family’s dynamic can be like this. It changed everything when I started snapping back about it, with my mum its the cleanliness or otherwise of my house and how scruffy my kids are, how lazy I am etc etc. In my case it took a lot of therapy and a very supportive DH.

I had to work up to being able to cut them off when they start, a great tip I got from here was to play ‘parent bingo’ with a mental list of phrases and either silently or out loud say bingo every time.

UpstartCrow · 10/07/2018 12:00

Your Dad is a bully, and your Mum is more interested in how you look than how healthy you are.

How is your relationship with your sister?

Cambridgebanana · 10/07/2018 12:00

Thank you for all the great advice, it does seem like we have all become conditioned to this behaviour and make excuses for it, I think it is because my mum has always done it and it's a bit like "oh your father is so controversial, what is he like, teeheehee!". For the record I was teased relentlessly by him for something else (too outing if I reveal what it was) from the age of about 10-18, to the point I wanted surgery to fix this "problem", so being at the butt of his jokes is not new to me!

OP posts:
HellenaHandbasket · 10/07/2018 12:05

They both sound like arseholes. Don't let your mum off the hook just because your dad is the more blatant.

Cambridgebanana · 10/07/2018 12:06

Token, would you mind explaining or giving examples of this bingo tip? And anything else you do? I'm sorry you have to go through this too. Upstart I have a great relationship with my sister, she is 10 years younger than me but we are best friends. I have actually written posts on here about her before under a different name. She is very impressionable and immature (she potentially has undiagnosed ASD, I was only told about this recently but my husband had already guessed that and when I think about it, it is quite obvious) and she idiolises myself and our dad, I am trying to encourage her to be her own person and develop her own interests and she is definitely blossoming. She is a great person.

OP posts:
fieryginger · 10/07/2018 12:12

Your folks would have a field day with my, genuinely, fat ass.

He sounds like a bully. Instead of skirting the issue and ignoring it, phoning you at work means you can't really have a go back.

At this point, don't go NC. You need to go and see him and lay it on the line. Tell them you feel like going NC because they're making you feel like shit. Don't be ambiguous with it, be brutally honest. Don't worry about being labelled the sensitive one, you're not been my sensitive, you're standing up to a bully. See how they respond.

You are not fat op.

Verbena87 · 10/07/2018 12:14

Pp’s suggestions are great. But I am too hot and feeling a bit aggy, so I think you could just respond to every personal slur with “yeah. Must be the shit genes you gave me, eh?”

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