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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Coronavirus Tearing Family Apart. AIBU?

28 replies

kpdchudleigh · 21/03/2020 19:15

Please help! I'll simplify as much as possible to keep this brief rather than to hide anything.

I had an abusive childhood and sadly went into an abusive marriage. I feel lucky to be alive after it. He used his wealth and influence to take custody of our child so we were cut off for eight years until she became actively suicidal and with the help of social services was reunited with me. She's been with me four years and we have a good enough relationship in the circumstances but it's not a normal mother daughter dynamic like I have with my older daughter.

My ex is a psychopath in the true sense of the word and has harmed her, physically and mentally. She was destroyed in his 'care' and is still under CAMHS now. In the last year he changed tack, I think with an eye on an upcoming CMS tribunal, and has played the good guy charming her with a pink car, money etc. It has felt like he wants to try to establish shared care. I do not believe this leopard changed his spots but teens want to see the best in their parents and my daughter has been so happy that she's been finally getting along with Dad.

Now along comes COVID-19 and I am high risk due to health problems. My daughter also has severe asthma. I have asked her to if not socially isolate then to be very conscious where hygiene is concerned and she has become abusive to me over it. I ended up in fear of her the anger was so out of proportion. I felt something else was going on and this was gaslighting. She told me to off and live in my bedroom. This isn't normal behaviour in recent years from her.

Today she insisted on going out with her father and others in a car to visit his [place of work - edited by MNHQ]. I expressed concern about the elevated risk. She returned home full of beans with the "Good news" that Dad was giving her a highly paid job as till supervisor at one of the centres as he has lost so many staff to the coronavirus measures. [identifying info removed by MNHQ] This will mean she is dealing with staff, public and cash. I tried a sensible conversation and she once again reacted with anger.

I am devastated. I am very alone because of the abuse I've experienced all my life. My daughters are my world and I am a good Mum. But can I go on playing russian roulette with my health or do I let her follow through on the repeated threat during these arguments that she'll just go live with Dad? If she does I can't see a way to bring her back when he reverts to form as know it would take months for benefits to resume and I exist financially day to day. Her leaving would break me mentally too - I'm already severely depressed.

Am I being unreasonable to ask her to consider the impact on me?

OP posts:
BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser · 21/03/2020 19:19

Yanbu. How old is she?

TheSmelliestHouse · 21/03/2020 19:23

Yanbu, she should go live with her dad for a few months

BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser · 21/03/2020 19:24

If she is abusing, maybe longer than for few months....

SkaLaLand · 21/03/2020 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Post contains identifying information. Talk Guidelines.

kpdchudleigh · 21/03/2020 19:35

She is 17 and will be starting uni this year. I really don't want to see her leave as it feels like an extension of the abuse I have suffered from my ex all these years. Those eight years of no contact with her did permanent harm to me so it's not surprising I feel this keenly right now.

I feel damned whatever I do. He will do anything to harm me and said he won't stop until he sees me in the gutter. My emotions are all over the place. Sorry if I'm not making sense, typing through tears.

OP posts:
kpdchudleigh · 21/03/2020 19:42

I can't find a way to edit the post to remove the identifying details?

OP posts:
Batshittery · 21/03/2020 19:43

Report the post to MN and ask them to remove it

Fuckmesideways · 21/03/2020 19:45

Honestly, let her go. Her staying back will only cause death by a thousand cuts.

TooManySocks · 21/03/2020 19:46

How were you 'cut off' for 8 years?

kpdchudleigh · 21/03/2020 19:49

I was cut off because the Family Courts really don't understand domestic abuse so he got himself a QC and persuaded them that my children only reported domestic violence because I'd told them to. That's enough for you to lose your child. As I said, she is vulnerable and was removed from him under the most dire of circumstances.

OP posts:
HannaYeah · 21/03/2020 20:05

I’m so sorry but think if she insists on putting herself at risk by being out in public you have to tell her she cannot come back.

It’s a terrible situation but you have to put your own health as top priority. It will not do her any good if she loses you to this virus, and it’s extremely unfair to your other DC for her to put you at risk.

Lynda07 · 21/03/2020 20:10

You're not unreasonable, most of us would feel as you do with your history, however your daughter is 17 and can do as she pleases. She will see you often enough and, hopefully, is wised up to her dad's methods - she may be getting what she can from him while she can. I know that isn't 'nice' but it fits with this scenario.

I'm sorry you are feeling so down and don't blame you at all but mothers and daughters do tend to have far worse rows than others and right now, everyone is tense. I expect she is sorry, whether or not she expresses that remains to be seen. Is it her or your other daughter who has asthma?

Take care of yourself. x

Greenandpleasanter · 21/03/2020 20:18

It’s a terrible situation but you have to put your own health as top priority. It will not do her any good if she loses you to this virus, and it’s extremely unfair to your other DC for her to put you at risk

Absolutely this.

The best thing you can do for your family is to get and keep yourself physically and mental well. Unless you do that you won't be able to help anyone.

Tell your daughter you are not cutting her off, you just need to protect your health and you cannot stop her making this decision. If she changes her mind and doesn't take the job or go out with her father she can stay. You can keep in touch with her easily by social media.

Ellie56 · 21/03/2020 20:26

Sadly OP I think you have to let her go. Try to be matter of fact about it so that neither of them know that it is tearing you apart.

Keep your other daughter close and stay safe. Flowers

TitianaTitsling · 21/03/2020 20:28

Did you have absolutely no contact between age 5-13 if my very poor maths is right? That must have been awful for you both! How old is your other DC? Were the siblings together at least?

kpdchudleigh · 21/03/2020 20:32

@TitianaTitsling, your maths is faultless. It truly was an awful time I only survived due to the presence of my other daughter who is older. Sadly an eight year age difference and those years apart mean the girls barely know each other. Hopefully this explains why I'm questioning and clinging on because it's been beyond hard.

OP posts:
TitianaTitsling · 21/03/2020 20:36

Op cannot imagine how hard that must have been for you, do they get on at all?

kpdchudleigh · 21/03/2020 20:41

@TitianaTitsling, to their credit they have both made supreme efforts but it's tricky. They haven't argued but breaching that distance is too big a task when one has grown up and left home. The eldest is very protective of me which is unsurprising so shares my sadness that the teenager is behaving recklessly with my health as well as her own.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 21/03/2020 20:54

At this point you'll have to let her go. You can't change her attitude and she is becoming abusive to you. She's also actively putting your health at risk.

Sometimes the right thing to do seems so wrong, but we have to do it anyway.

Nearlyalmost50 · 21/03/2020 21:30

I agree with everyone else, it's such a shame, but you can't really stop her following this path now. I think she will wake up as an adult and see her dad for what he is and what he did to you and her, but for now, he's exciting and supportive and not a kill-joy (I am a kill-joy stay at home and don't go out mum too right now).

I would let her go, I don't see how you can stop her. But so sad and a real trigger for you. Just have faith she will come back, once the initial issues of contact/risk/corona are over.

Xenia · 21/03/2020 21:48

Not esy at all. Could you just keep fairly away from her in the house, make sure she washes her hands when she gets back from the job which is probably not in a place with loads of people around anyway so may not be the highest risk kind of work.

Summercamping · 21/03/2020 22:22

Tell your daughter you love her, respect her, and accept her decisions. Tell her calmly you are frightened of this virus and you have to protect yourself from it. Ask her if she is willing to help you.

If she will not, tell her the only option is for her to move out, which you don't want, but will respect if this is her choice

My stomach is clenched at the notion of being separated from my 5 year old. You clearly are very strong. Good luck to you coping with this difficult time. You have already coped with worse and you will make it. Flowers

kpdchudleigh · 21/03/2020 22:28

I appreciate the kind words and advice given.

@Summercamping, seems you were a fly on the wall as that's how my efforts went but the angry out of character reaction has me suspecting she's been manipulated into this which is where much of my distress is coming from. But you are right, I am a survivor and if love managed to bridge an eight year chasm there will be good times after this.

I can't help but feel if only the government would put us all in lockdown and close his business the problem would be solved but that's selfish of me. Time for bed!

OP posts:
Mixingitall · 21/03/2020 23:01

Given how busy the shops and coastal areas have been today, by 5.30pm on Monday lockdown is looking more likely. I hope that resolves your issues and your daughter apologises for her behaviour. Perhaps she needs to watch the news or take a trip to Sainsbury’s?

HannaYeah · 22/03/2020 02:33

Not selfish at all - that would be best for everyone in my opinion. They’ve done it where I live.

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