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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

NC for 11 years.. should it continue?

6 replies

coldandfrostyout · 06/02/2020 08:04

NC as don't want this linking to my normal profile.

11 years ago I made the decision to go NC with my paternal family.

My parents divorced when I was 2 and there had been low level emotional abuse through my life.

My father made up lies during the custody hearings about my Mum that she abused me, neglected me and so forth. My grandparents had been the driving factor behind this as they said they wanted me. At the end my my father said to my mum that he had made it all up and he was sorry and that his parents had made him say it. His parents were very domineering and are one of the reasons my parents split up.

My father sold the house and entire contents including my pet rabbit when he and my mum had a weeks break so my mum could consider the options she had.

My mum tried to remain neutral through my childhood and i had access to my grandparents and father. My father openly said at one time he wasn't interested in my as his current girlfriend didn't want children.

My grandparents and aunt came without fail for me every fortnight. My father appeared sporadically through my early childhood.

He appeared at the glory moments like when i gained my alevels. Or went to uni. To be able to say "look at my daughter..." though it was my Mum and long term partner who raised me.

My father remarried when i was 8. His new wife was very pally. Tried to be like a sister with me. Then accussed me of things like flirting with her brother (I was 8!) And begging for money. This was simply not the case.

My father and his wife had my half sister when i was 16. She was my world.

When i was approx 24, i was contacted by someone who said they knew my uncle who had disappeared 10-15 years before and that he wanted to be in contact with his parents. He had leukaemia. I put this onus on my father. It was not my decision to make so i merely gave the information to him to make an appropriate decision. He passed the info to his parents. I asked that my details were not shared as i frankly didn't know my uncle. He had a history of theft, fraud and alcohol abuse.

My grandparents ignored this and he contacted me. I was cross and made my feelings very clear. From that moment of standing up to their bullying, i was ostracized.

Eventually having had enough i cut contact.

My aunt made contact with me as my Nan was dying. She made it clear no one wanted me but she was carrying out my Nan's wishes.

I wrote Nan a letter basically saying i did love her but couldnt expose myself to them and their abuse.

I received my Nan's death notice in the post some time later from my granddad saying i killed my nan.

My aunt contacted me some time later again that my grandfather was starting with dementia and wanted to make amends. I said no. I was not appeasing a man and clearing his conscience because he was now regretting his past decisions.

Note it was never my father who got in touch

I have sporadically sent my sister messages such as wishing her happy birthday. I explained I couldnt be part of her life but i loved her and that one day, when she was older, i would explain why.

She turned 17 2 days ago. I wished her happy birthday a few days before. She said she wanted contact. That me just disappearing had caused her all sorts of emotional problems and she had had counselling.

I tried to explain, without too much detail why i wasn't in contact and when she pushed, i explained in more looser terms what had happened.

She said that she would love to be in my life.

I have a son who doesn't know anything about that side of my family. I have a happy life on the whole and don't want to invite upset and friction.

But i also feel sorry for my sister and my son.

So... TLDR...ive bee NC for 9 years.. should i contact my sister and potentially open myself to further upset...

YANBU. No. Leave well alone.
YABU. Yes make contact

OP posts:
namechangingtime · 06/02/2020 10:17

I think she's old enough to have contact with you independently of your dad and his family, and considering she's the one asking id probably arrange to go for a coffee or something in a public space. I'd keep it in a public place just in case your father found out and decided to come too, although it sounds like he wouldn't bother.
You need to stress that you will not ever socialise with your father and if he was ever to turn up whilst you were with her you'd leave immediately. She's old enough to know exactly what's happened if she asks as well, knowing might make her understand why it's so important you don't see him as well.

yoopla · 06/02/2020 10:38

I think you should do what's best for YOU.

You're worrying about what's best for your son... What's best for your son is for you to be happy and not have toxic people in your life. There will be enough good people in your son's life either way - they don't have to be blood relatives.

You're worried about your half sister. But she is not your responsibility and never was. I would tread warily here. She is almost certainly damaged by her parents and grandparents (not by you - and I would worry that she seems to have inherited their pattern of blaming you for things, e. g. needing counselling. Anyone brought up by those people would need counselling. At 17 she should probably be old enough to see where the balance of power lay and who was to blame for you going NC. She is old enough to know the truth, if you want to tell her, and if she chooses not to believe it then sadly I think you should cut contact with her for your own mental health. You have been through enough grief for one lifetime. )

So in brief:

I would consider contact with your half sister, but strictly on your own terms, and cut contact if it's upsetting. You need to protect yourself.

I would never have any contact again with the rest of your DF's family, even indirectly.

SandyY2K · 06/02/2020 10:45

This isn't your sisters fault, but if you think having contact with her will expose you to abuse, then don't do it.

You could consider meeting in a neutral place and not letting her know where you live.

Take it slowly.

CakeandCustard28 · 06/02/2020 10:49

I vote YANBU but do what’s best for YOU. You could always try and if it starts getting messy cut the contact again to save upset.

Thelnebriati · 06/02/2020 10:55

You can try a trial contact with her and see how it goes. I'm NC with my immediate family but have contact with their children.

Damntheman · 06/02/2020 11:19

I should think 17 is old enough to have a relationship with you without involving the rest of the relatives. Be clear with her that you will not have contact with father and aunt and that inviting them alone or passing information about you will be seen as a gross breach of trust, then give her a chance. You loved her, she's your sister and she wants a relationship. Good things can come from bad people :) Best of luck OP.

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