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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mother sh#t shaming me on Fb…

90 replies

cheshirescarf · 15/08/2021 22:57

A long story short…I lost my dad at xmas, on my dd birthday( the apple of his eye and he was her hero), their cat also died that day, I suspect terrified of living with my mother , it’s been hard.
She’s been a truly awful mother. No love, just critical, cold and lots of smacks. We all left home ASAP. My dad was just the opposite but sadly wasn’t always there, not clever enough to argue his case or strong enough to leave, despite coming close several times.
She nagged him incessantly and I believe his last few years broke his spirit, it was clearly co dependent, he wasn’t without faults but she clearly has mental health issues which is why I’ve tried to be supportive.
Since he’s gone, I’ve visited twice a week ( it’s a 3 hour round trip) taking it down to one for past 3 months as tbh I can’t afford it , got her a nice little car ( she paid) but had to clean out dads car , trade it in, bury cat, listen to crap about her lost love, despite her being vile to him.
Suggested and researched support groups, got her a counselling ( won’t go) as she’s had several episodes saying she’s struggling , took her on holiday, spoke with drs etc etc but won’t do anything to change or try to get better, I’ve told her I’m not a professional and will support her when she gets help.
She has now despite it being my Dh last day at home for 6 weeks gone on Fb to say how much she misses my dad etc, how lonely she is( she won’t visit or call any of us)alone all weekend , saw no one all weekend.
I can’t win. This is not an accidental comment, she’s extremely clever but ffs I look like a piece of sh&t.
I could go on about bad she us but I’m trying to balance it with not looking a complete bitch.
I’m furious and need to say something and I don’t mean privately.

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 15/08/2021 22:59

Ignore. She's touting for sympathy

Rabbitheadlights · 15/08/2021 23:00

Comment, really mum? We only saw u on Tuesday? You know where we live ?

rjacksmiss · 15/08/2021 23:00

The chances are everyone on her Facebook will know her true character anyway. Just ignore her! Or if you really can't just type - Awhh we all know that's not true, c'mon!

Condescend the fuck out of her.

Sorry you lost your dad ❤️

Tallisimo · 15/08/2021 23:05

Sounds like you need to step back from this abusive woman. You have tried to help and support her but she isn’t interested.
Could you countenance going low / no contact with her?

cheshirescarf · 15/08/2021 23:06

I know she’s on the road to martyrdom but sadly half don’t see her nastiness and hear comments. She’s a catholic for the 1 hr in church.
The cat had the right idea.

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 15/08/2021 23:08

I shall know not to bother next time

Are you well? You appear to be having severe memory lapses

See you as usual this week

Cherrysoup · 15/08/2021 23:14

I couldn’t help but reply, saying ‘But I was there on Thursday and you refuse to visit us! It’s a two way street....’

Alternatively, remove her from your friends’ list. I had my dad on there for like 5 minutes before realising that I didn’t want him seeing my social media.

cheshirescarf · 15/08/2021 23:16

She phones my uncle nightly ( he lost his wife 16 months ago) but cannot call us, if she ever does it’s to complain.
She bitches about us to each other ( I’m 1 of 4 siblings) we all tell each other and told her we do. She still does it.
Sadly her church friends don’t see this and are all falling over themselves with pity.

OP posts:
cheshirescarf · 15/08/2021 23:17

I only know about this message as dd told me.

OP posts:
me4real · 15/08/2021 23:19

You live an hour and a half away. If anyone expects you to do more than you are when you have your own baby and DH, they're being unreasonable.

sadly half don’t see her nastiness and hear comments

You could be surprised. My ex convinced me he was really popular; it was only after we split up that I realized that a lot of people thought he was a twat.

How're you feeling in yourself @cheshirescarf ? xx

RandomMess · 15/08/2021 23:19

Ask DD to block her.

Honestly withdraw completely and let her church friends run around after her.

OldScrappyAndHungry · 15/08/2021 23:24

I could have written your post except my dm doesn’t have Facebook and just moans to me or my two siblings.

It’s exhausting and I’m so over it.

You have my every sympathy Sad.

cheshirescarf · 15/08/2021 23:25

I’m good in myself , devastated at losing my dad , my dds are actually 20/22 but so sad they lost my dad. Tbh she was decent to them, just not her own kids.
I’m trying to be kind but I’m over her and feel she needs not shaming but held to account .
I’d love to cut all ties but promised my dying dad to take care of her.
And I’m too loyal to him to do that…yet.

OP posts:
cheshirescarf · 15/08/2021 23:28

Old scrappy it’s crap, big hugs to you, it’s bloody hard.
We sorted all of the funeral & crem , told her we needed her eulogy as my dh was doing church reading for her. She sat and wrote it in front of us in 2 mins like a tesco shopping list.
Mine took 3 weeks and 3 boxes of tissues.

OP posts:
AccidentallyOnPurpose · 15/08/2021 23:38

If you're not ready to cut ties ,then you have to accept her for what she is. A Spoilt,selfish,manipulative martyr. Acknowledge and accept it and stop expecting better from her. She'll never give you what you need. She won't. She can't. She's not the person you need her to be. The mother you want her to be. So stop the guilt,the hoop jumping, trying to like her. She is who she is, and for the time being she's in your life. Take all her comments in your stride, uhmm and ahh when needed then let it all wash over you.

My mum's the same but despite being oh so lonely and miserable and hard done by, she still manages to stick in just how much better she is than me. Well, that's all right ,I'm too lowly to help then.Grin

Haffiana · 15/08/2021 23:48

You need to detach and not take it personally, because in fact someone like that is far too selfish to consider you long enough to even have a dig at you.

Her comment was about her. She wants lots of sympathy for poor her. That's all. It wasn't a dig at you, it wasn't a comment about your helping or not, it was just her thinking of herself and needing the sympathy and attention. It is sad that she needs that -completely pointless and ultimately unhelpful - validation from facebook comments.

She cannot imagine a reality where she would post about how supportive you have been, and that her facebook crowd would post genuine warm congratulations. She has seen an opportunity for sympathy and she will milk it for all its worth and exaggerating her woe is the best way to do that.

Again - this isn't about you. She is damaged, that's all.

cheshirescarf · 16/08/2021 00:00

Thanks all..I appreciate the advise, esp those who gave a similar situation.
I need to make some decisions. I know nothing will ever make her happy but I can’t let this go just yet.

OP posts:
Haffiana · 16/08/2021 00:00

I’d love to cut all ties but promised my dying dad to take care of her.
And I’m too loyal to him to do that…yet.

Look, he prioritised her over you. That's the truth. He made his choice and it wasn't the best one for you at all.

Don't for god's sake carry on making the same mistakes he did. Don't heap yet more reasons and justifications for slogging away trying to fix something that is so, so damaged. You need to find the strength to disengage.

BluebellsGreenbells · 16/08/2021 00:01

I’d leave this for her friends to deal with. Don’t get drawn into a public display. It won’t end well.

If this rallies support via friends or church it’s a win win for you.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 16/08/2021 00:05

@cheshirescarf

Thanks all..I appreciate the advise, esp those who gave a similar situation. I need to make some decisions. I know nothing will ever make her happy but I can’t let this go just yet.
Do you mean this incident or the relationship you had with her?
cheshirescarf · 16/08/2021 00:08

Her church friends( only for the 1 hour ) won’t rally.

I’ll sleep on this ( I’ve work at 8) but really appreciate the help.
I’ll check back in later x

OP posts:
cheshirescarf · 16/08/2021 00:09

Yes this incident.

OP posts:
MadameMonk · 16/08/2021 00:10

I agree with Haffiana, think of your mum’s push for public martyrdom as no more than her new hobby. It keeps her busy, makes her happy and puts her in touch with other people. Might even occupy her away from being even more horrible to you and your siblings?

It’s just not about you. You know you have healthy ways of venting, asking for emotional support, and organising a social (and family) life that brings you joy. She just doesn’t have those skills, and won’t learn them. So, like a toddler, she has little ‘look at me’ tantrums, online and elsewhere. Roll your eyes at it, as you would with a toddler.

I’m no saint myself with this stuff, I have a DM who has intergenerational ‘woe is me’ syndrome, and could win Gold in the martyr olympics.

If it gets really bad on Facebook, (yep, been there) I will likely mention it next time I see her. Usually as a warning that she shouldn’t be surprised to see rude or ridiculing comments under posts like that, from people who know the truth. That I’m only only mentioning it since her current fragility (there’s always one) might make that difficult for her to swallow.

It leaves her without a way to whinge, since I’m being caring. But it gets the message across. The only motivation she has in life that’s stronger than gossipy whining, is the fear of what ‘people’ think of her, or might be saying behind her back. Ironic, isn’t it?

On the upside, having a DM like this has meant I’m extra careful not to follow these behaviours with my kids and relatives. It’s definitely made ME a better parent!

arcof · 16/08/2021 00:11

Do the other 3 siblings bother with her?

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 16/08/2021 00:12

@cheshirescarf

Yes this incident.
Sleep on it.

If you really really want to do something, block her on FB (or just hide her posts) and ask your DD's not to tell you anything they see.

An extra step would be telling her you're doing it and exactly why. But let's be honest, you'll never get an apology or acknowledgment. More likely she'll make it all about her and how mean you are. Maybe even some crying. Which will just add to your anger/guilt. I'm well versed in this.Grin

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