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AIBU?

My son looks like my abuser.

35 replies

grabba · 18/03/2019 20:53

Please bear with me as this may sound odd. My ex partner was very abusing towards me. I left recently and am quite traumatised by it all.

I feel awful and guilty saying this but I'm struggling with how much my son looks like him. He's only a few months old, but he's a spitting image. Everything about him.

My son is so gorgeous, I adore him, he's perfect in every way... so why do I feel like this?

OP posts:
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Ginkythefangedhellpigofdoom · 18/03/2019 22:34

Iv not read the thread yet so it might have already been said but I think that it's hard for you to see yet because your son is so young but personality really does have a massive effect on how you see people. To the point it can alter how he looks to you even if (unlikely) he grows up to look very like your ex you won't see it once his lovely personality completes his person picture

Your child is still very small and he hasn't had the opportunity to develop his personality yet but once he does I am quite positive his looks (who they take after) won't be as noticeable but just now that's all you can see because it's the only part of him that shows at the moment.

The reality is though that his looks will dramatically change as he grows too and the things you notice now may very well fade while other features begging to develop.

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BertieBotts · 18/03/2019 22:33

You're not alone and it doesn't mean you're a bad mother for feeling this way.

Yes babies do tend to grow to look more like their mums as they get older. What also helps - I do admit to slightly encouraging my DS1 to choose hairstyles etc which are nothing like XP would have worn and clothing which is different as well. It really upset and unsettled me recently when my SIL bought him some clothes which were similar to the kinds of things XP would have worn (not on purpose - she is lovely DH's husband it's just that she happened to buy those kinds of things) just seeing him in them. I'm not awful - I didn't say anything, ban them or take them off him, but I mentioned how nice he looked in some other clothing, and after a reasonable time had passed so the connection wasn't obvious, bought him some things which I knew he'd like but were quite different in style. It worked and the novelty of the newer things outweighed the other items I was less keen on. We had a clear out and they were among the things he chose to get rid of. And other things that he still keeps aren't quite so bad because he has so many other clothes he rarely wears that exact combination together. Obviously if DS1 was really dead set on a hairstyle which happened to look like my XP I wouldn't forbid him, but I do feel more comfortable and that he's more like "himself" when his hair is a bit longer.

Something else to bear in mind over the coming years as you heal. It can be common for abusers to behave in ways which are typically childish. That means that during normal phases of childhood development, your child may replicate behaviours that your abuser used to do. Also when frustrated, tantrumming etc they can commonly replicate facial expressions, etc, which are related to traumatic memories for you. This can be frightening for an abuse survivor, not because you are afraid your child will abuse you, although you may automatically react in a victim role rather than a parental role, but because it brings up the fear that the child may grow up to be an abuser himself. Rest assured, this is extremely unlikely. You've removed your child from the abusive environment and they won't have that daily input any more. Even if they have contact with their father the effect of that role model will be many times diluted by your model of a calm loving home. If you find this affecting you a lot I liked a book called When Your Kids Push Your Buttons. But generally it's just something to bear in mind - children don't act like abusers, but abusers frequently act like children. The difference is that children can develop empathy and learn that they are not the centre of the world as they grow and develop normally. We don't know exactly what makes abusers abusive, but we generally believe that it's at least highly influenced by their environment/upbringing. People don't become abusive thanks to genetics alone. If you do find yourself reacting in a victim or childlike role towards your child when they are still young, seek counselling and/or parenting support (classes?) ASAP - it's important to get a handle on how to react in a calm and firm adult way.

I also totally agree with the point about babies not having much personality so people tend to focus on their looks, and that as you start moving into the toddler years you'll find that their personality really comes out and it helps define them as their own person.

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RevealAll · 18/03/2019 22:26

My was a bit of dick ( although not physically abusive was vile mentally).
But I loved him once. My DD looks the spitting image of him. I try and focus on the fact that my ex was attractive to me at one point , which is the looks genes from his sides the family . I am the one that survived and had my wonderful son and that’s where he gets his inner integrity!

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ogidni · 18/03/2019 22:25

Thankfully, now you have left, your son won't be exposed to abusive behaviour from him. I guarantee he will pick up some of your mannerisms, your funny little ways and habits. You will feel exasperated by something he does and then realise that it is totally YOU! He will talk about memories that you share, and you will make plans together that do not include your ex. As he starts to reveal more of his own personality, the resemblance will seem less signifcant.

I agree that counselling would be a really good idea, to help get you feeling more positive and give you strategies to cope with what has happened. All the best!

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PicsInRed · 18/03/2019 22:20

This post has actually helped me realise why I was so afraid of my son resembling his father (who I was still with at the time, abuse ongoing), I was afraid my son would turn out just like him. 😭 I thought it was just me.

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snowball28 · 18/03/2019 21:57

My nearly 8 year old is my twin, but for the first 2 years he looked just like his abuser dad.

But he’s all me, mannerisms, looks, accent and morals etc.

Give it time and also some counselling would probably be really beneficial for you for a host of reasons x

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Joebloggswazere · 18/03/2019 21:55

GoFiguire how do you know that? It may actually be helpful for OP to realise that what she’s feeling is perfectly normal and many women have similar thoughts.

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TwixBix1 · 18/03/2019 21:55

I guess now, as the child is only a few months old, he doesn't have an obvious personality, say stuff, etc. but as he grows up, hopefully he'll have a different personality to your ex and then the similarity in looks will feel barely unnoticeable in comparison.

It's kinda like when a girl meets a guy and she might think he's ugly/nothing special to look at and then she gets to know his personality and slowly starts to think he's the most beautiful man (even their opinion on the guy's external appearance can improve as a result of his personality) - I know this isn't the same and it's almost a harsh example, but I'm sure you'll understand what I mean.

With babies, people constantly focus on looks because they don't talk, have hobbies, opinions etc lol but over time, the importance of his personality will come through.

Also, you might just be seeing what you fear seeing.. it's like anticipating a shadow looks like a scary monster and almost believing it because of the fear & looks change all the time.

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Blahdeblahbahhhhh · 18/03/2019 21:52

I work in a woman’s refuge. This is a very common feeling and many women suffer with PTSD. It’s not something you will have a conscious control over.
I would really, really recommend doing the specialist parenting course for mums who have experienced domestic abuse. It’s called “you and me mum”. What you’ve been through is really traumatic and awful, you will bare the mental scars but you can get support to work through this and develop the relationship and bond you and your son deserve.

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kateandme · 18/03/2019 21:50

remember how he looked didn't casue him to abuse you.the same nose or eyes or little finger nail they might have in common doesn't mean a thing.becuase it was his evil bloody heart that hurt you.and your sons heart is pure.with a wonderful mum that survived and got away and so protecting him.
so now those eyes are his pure and innocent ones.they are his not his dads.his heart is his own and so is his mind.he can now grow into a wonderful boy and then man.how he looks will be his own.what his eyes see what he hears what he touches are all his and yours now.
I know its hard.but your not unusual in this.
could councilling help you heal so you don't worry about this type of thing.are the memorys and trauma too overwhelming at the moment so anything similar to him triggers it.
or maybe time can?
don't beat yourself up.you survived and are healing right now.

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PlasticPatty · 18/03/2019 21:49

Please get help, some psychological therapy. It's not your fault, that you are in this position, but you very astutely have spotted the problem. Please do something positive about it. Don't have your interactions with your child tainted by the memory of the abuse. Get help to separate the two in your mind.

I taught a boy whose mother was in a similar position. It didn't end well.

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Absolutepowercorrupts · 18/03/2019 21:44

I think it's quite normal op to feel as you do right now, it must be a bit shit but if you can try and focus on your gorgeous little baby and put your abusive ex to the back of your mind. I know how easy it is for me to say that but please try.

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Idonotlikeyoudonaldtrump · 18/03/2019 21:39

When my dd was born, she looked like my abusive father. It really affected my bonding with her and contributed to PND (I had other children and no PND with them).

I grew to love her for her. It was a slow burn. And now, when I look at her I just see her. Nobody else. Her personality and my love for her took over at some point.

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RLABC · 18/03/2019 21:36

My son's father was abusive to me and my son. My boy looked like my side of the family until he was about 15-16, then he lost some weight and was the spit of his father. It bothered me for a split second at times but he was still my lovely boy.

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WendyCope · 18/03/2019 21:29

IamaCereal I have also heard that and it is totally true of my baby, for about 1 or maybe 2 years the spitting image of her father, now, not very much at all!

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Palace13 · 18/03/2019 21:28

I've been through this. At the time I thought I was evil for harbouring negative feelings towards my child who couldn't help looking like their father.
The feelings passed and even though objectively they still look like their father I don't give it a second thought now, and haven't for years.

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BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 18/03/2019 21:27

I think that as your baby grows and develops a personality he will become his own person. The more that you spend time with him and away from your ex, the more that you will associate your baby's looks with him and not with your ex. Over time you will stop looking at him and seeing a reflection of your ex, you will only see your darling DS.

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qazxc · 18/03/2019 21:27

As time passes it will become less and less of an issue until you don't notice it at all.
A combination of you recovering from the trauma of abuse and your DS growing up and his little personality emerging more and more.
Be kind to yourself.

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Lweji · 18/03/2019 21:24

Babies are supposed to look like their fathers. Something to do with being sure of being a father.
But they change a lot as they grow older anyway.

I suspect it's still very raw for you and that it will get better with time as your ex fades into memory (or at least his actions) and you develop a relationship with your child.
Why not try to make an effort to spot something different in relation to your ex every day?

This will be a young person who you can teach how to be kind and thoughtful.

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GoFiguire · 18/03/2019 21:20

joebloggs you’re not helping.

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Joebloggswazere · 18/03/2019 21:16

I’m not trivialising what she has been through, don’t be ridiculous. Not wanting your child to look like their father is a common thing, whether he’s an abuser, a nasty piece of shit or just a waste of space. I think OP may be connecting the fact that he was abusive as the reason for not wanting her dc to look like him when it’s a perfectly natural reaction and she shouldn’t feel bad for feeing that way. I’m trivialising the way she feels about how her DC looks right now as many people feel the same way. It will pass, either your dc will change with age or you will notice the differences not the similarities.

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Smotheroffive · 18/03/2019 21:15

It's post-traumatic stress, putting you back to those awful places, someone who's good at trauma therapy will help with the way you are feeling right now.

Speak to your GP for an urgent referral, or find one yourself,and because of the trauma involved, you make sure its the right person, you will not progress without it being someone you feel very safe with.

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Starlight456 · 18/03/2019 21:13

I have an 11 year old by my abusive exh.


He occasionally does or says things that remind me of my ex . I hold it in.

My Ds is nothing like my exh . I agree with the person who said as they grow the become there own little person . I left my ex before Ds was one . I really struggle to remember much about him at all.

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Ridical · 18/03/2019 21:11

I agree with the PP who suggested that counselling might help. It's not surprising that you would feel this way, but counselling can help you to work through it.

I also agree that children change so much as they grow. My son was the spit of his father when he was born and for the first few years of his life. Now he looks much more like me. I also see it in children at school; some of them used to look so much like one parent, now they look like the other or like a mixture of both (or perhaps like another family member I haven't met!). One child I know looked nothing at all like her (single) mother. Then when she was aged around 4 I suddenly started to see flashes of her mother in her. A few years down the track you can definitely see that they're related, which (IMO) you couldn't at all before.

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Smotheroffive · 18/03/2019 21:11

What you're talking about is being 'triggered'

You love your DB,of course you do,there's no doubt. You have suffered at the hands of your abuser. As part of abuse comes the fallout. There will be all sorts of things, another guy could wander by wearing your ex's after-shave, and your brain/body could react badly, you might hear a man shout or be aggressive, and it remind you instantly, its just the same with your DB sadly.

It's important than find a great therapist who will help you overcome these negative associations. Theres no instant fix, but making a start with someone who understands trauma will get you past this.

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