Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU not to want to talk to my mum again?

8 replies

Chocstar · 07/04/2021 21:45

This is quite long so you get the full picture…

When I was a teenager, my two grandmothers independently told my sister, who subsequently told me, that they believed the person who I thought was my father was in fact not my father. They told my sister that another man, who my mother had a relationship with when I very little, was my father. (My mother and so-called father divorced when I was just a baby.) I asked my mum about this at the time and she said that it wasn't true and that the grandmothers were stirring up trouble. At the time, I believed my mum.

For ease, let’s call the person who I’ve been told is my dad my whole life “Bob” and the man my grandmothers believe to be my father “Tom”.

Recently, I was going through my childhood things and found a gift Tom had given me when I was a child and it was signed 'Daddy'. I remember Tom, so it prompted me to look in my childhood photos. I found a handful of photos of him holding me affectionately as a baby and young child, but no photos of Bob and I at all until I was quite a lot older. I remember Tom coming to see me every so often, but then he just stopped coming all together soon after my mother re-married. I wouldn't be surprised if my mum told Tom to stop coming.

When I looked at the photos of Tom and I, I couldn't help by see a resemblance in him and me. I don't see any similarity in appearance between Bob and I. We all look like our parents, right?

I think Bob knows that I’m not his daughter, as he’s rarely contacts me, but is in regular contact with my sister.

Anyway, since looking at the photos, remembering what my sister told me a long time ago and finding the gift signed Daddy, it felt like I'd pieced it together for the first time. Now, I’m pretty certain Tom is my dad. Sadly, I have no way of finding him.

I asked my mum about it all again, but she’s not saying anything other than that Tom was my God-father, which I don’t believe for a second. Now, I don’t feel like I can bring myself to talk to my mum again, as she’s most certainly been lying to me about who my father was my whole life and wants to continue to do so. Would you talk to your mum if you were me?

OP posts:
CatherinedeBourgh · 07/04/2021 21:49

Sorry you are going through this. Is there any chance you can get the truth from Bob? Or could you do a DNA test with your sister? You deserve to know.

KarmaStar · 07/04/2021 22:03

Sorry you are going through this.
Can you do a paternity test with bob?
I would maintain contact with my mum,you may be able to talk her round.
But ,I know it's hard,try not to judge her,instead of asking directly,perhaps try from another angle of asking her about her life back then and she may open up.
As Bob is not in contact much and you don't know where Tom is,your mum is your only parent in your life so keep her in it,you only get one mum and treasure her whilst she's here.
I really hope your questions are fully answered one day.Flowers

Chocstar · 07/04/2021 22:31

I don't feel like I could ask Bob. Bob and my sister both live the other side of the world (different countries).

My mum & I aren't close. She never bothers to contact me. If I didn't make contact with her, I doubt she'll make the initiative to contact me.

OP posts:
Wellpark · 07/04/2021 22:35

I'd pursue a DNA test with your sister if I was you. Test to see if you are full siblings.

Catflapkitkat · 08/04/2021 00:04

This is clearly a huge a deal for you - can you just let it go? You feel this 'family secret' reaches way back and had touched many lives. If your Mother doesn't bother to contact you then it won't be hard to stop talking to her. But will that be enough?

If you don't want to approach your mother again then get your sister to do a DNA test. The fact she told what both grandmothers had said when you were just a teenager means she owes you at least that.

KatherineJaneway · 08/04/2021 06:47

@Wellpark

I'd pursue a DNA test with your sister if I was you. Test to see if you are full siblings.
I'd go with this course of action.
Chocstar · 08/04/2021 08:42

Yes, good idea, I think I'll look into getting a DNA test with my sister.

OP posts:
Sellandtravel · 08/04/2021 08:50

If you both do an ancestry dna test it will tell you if you are full or half siblings. Who knows, Tom might have already tested as well!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread