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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feeling guilty about Dad at Christmas (MH/TW)

7 replies

EscapeFromHubby · 01/12/2021 11:04

Sorry, this is going to get long but feel I need to give the back story and to not drip feed.

Mental health trigger warning

I've recently gone NC with DF with the support of DH, DM and wider family but I'm now feeling guilty about DF being on his own at Christmas (he and DM separated 5/6 years ago).

It's been a tough year as DD1 (21) has spent most of the year in and out of psychiatric inpatient facilities on sections, had multiple od's including 2 leading to induced comas. She's currently on a section 3 awaiting a transfer to a specialist inpatient facility that can treat her level of personality disorder combined with eating disorders. In the meantime DD has been allowed varying amounts of leave from the ward during this time and it's amended/withdrawn according to her risk level at the time. She is a flight risk as she has both escaped from the ward and run away from staff on her escorted leave numerous times. DF is aware of all of this. When DD hasn't been allowed leave he has visited her on the ward, usually once or twice a week, on a rotation with DM, myself and DH.

DD recently had family leave reinstated and staff were happy for her to go out with us or my DF/DM. We were happy too as it meant DD was able to get a change of scene for a couple of hours when we couldn't take her each day due to work. We would hear what she had been up to and where she had been when we next spoke to her. DF doesn't drive so took her on the bus into town or to a local country park for some fresh air and a walk. All good, or so we thought.

We had a call at home from the ward staff a couple of weeks ago asking to confirm DD's mobile no. as she hadn't returned to the ward and wasn't answering the no. they had for her. As DD went out on leave with my DF, staff had contacted him and he told them "DD should be back by now, it normally only takes her 20 mins to walk back to the ward". DD was missing overnight until police found her the next day and returned her to the ward.

Since then we've found out that DF always used to let DD walk back to the ward by herself after they'd been out so he could stay wherever they were or get his own way home without going out of his way. He also took her to the pub numerous times (she can't drink on her meds and has issues with alcohol related to her PD which he knows about) and on the day she didn't return he took her to London to go for a few drinks. When the train got back into the nearest station to the ward he let her get off by herself to head back on her own while he carried on home on the train. She immediately got back on the next train in the opposite direction back to London and spent the night drinking on the streets!! Anything could have happened to her without her added mental health issues and frequent suicide attempts. Luckily, nothing did happen.

The thing that's made me go NC though is DF's complete lack of regret for any of it. He maintains its not his fault, he rang the ward when DD got off the train and it's their fault for not sending anyone to meet her and escort her back to the ward! He put her at risk by not making sure DD was safely back on the ward. And this is on top of him apparently telling DD that we don't care about her any more, we are just leaving her to rot in that place, the staff are mistreating her, he's going to file a lawsuit against them, next time she goes out with him he's going to not let her go back and she can live with him.

DM says I have every right to be furious and never speak to him ever again. But now it's Christmas and I've always hated the idea of anyone on their own at this time of year. Although he's not completely on his own. He lives in a retirement flat complex and they have a lounge and activities etc.

Am I right to stay NC?

OP posts:
user97533676 · 01/12/2021 11:12

So sorry to hear about your DD OP. You must be in a constant state of worry. I wish her a speedy recovery.

In terms of your DF, I don't think anyone can tell you what is right or wrong or which actions you should take.
For me, personally, I don't think I'd cut him off for this instance alone but I think that's partly due to me not being able to switch my DD as an adult with responsibility to an adult who cannot have responsibility if that makes sense.

How long since you've spoken to DF?

Stompythedinosaur · 01/12/2021 11:14

In truth, this sounds more like an error in judgement than someone who doesn't care about his granddaughter. I would say the fact he is regularly visiting and taking her out shows that he does care, but maybe doesn't understand your dd's needs and risks very well.

Surely you can discuss with the ward staff whether her leave could be unescorted with yourself and escorted with df?

I wonder if there is more of a backstory that's led to going no contact?

EscapeFromHubby · 01/12/2021 11:39

It's been about a month since I last spoke to DF, since DD went missing. We have always been upfront with him about what he needs to do if he takes her out and her risks/how to manage them. But he is completely a law unto himself. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, he knows best. Even better than the MH staff.

Earlier this year he turned up unannounced at a ward where DD was demanding to see her as he was moving 300 miles away and didn't know when he would able to see her again. This was back when no visitors were allowed due to covid. DD wasn't in the right place mentally to have visitors anyway and this caused her to have a further meltdown that someone was there to see her unexpectedly. It was all lies anyway as DF was moving less than 10 miles away. But he decided he had to see her so said whatever he thought would get him what he wanted.

I think by visiting DD and taking her out he's trying to make up for not being around when DSis and me were growing up. He was always in the pub, the bookies or at work. DSis has also suffered with MH issues for 20 years and DF has always dismissed them, even though her diagnosis is similar, although not as severe, as DD's. He always blamed DM saying she mollycoddled DSis and DSis just plays on it for attention.

OP posts:
MuthaFunka61 · 01/12/2021 11:51

This makes me so angry.

He's an adult male engaging in reckless and negligent behaviour and taking no responsibility when challenged.
This is totally his choice but he's now endangering your daughters life,so no,it's not unreasonable to go NC.

Your father is an adult and if he wants company at Christmas he's perfectly able to arrange this for himself.

Your responsibility is towards your DD and the rest of your family.

GooseberryJam · 01/12/2021 12:00

Leave your dad to it. He's made his choices and wants to do things his way. Fine, that means you don't want to be around him right now because of his carelessness with your daughter, his grandchild. Actions have consequences.

HoboSexualOnslow · 01/12/2021 12:09

I'm so sorry your daughter and family are going through this. He is totally irresponsible and NC is totally appropriate, I don't think I'd be able to look at him .

Tal45 · 01/12/2021 12:30

For me it wouldn't be a case of not seeing DF based on this issue alone, for me it would be a case of making sure he is not allowed to take DD out alone again.
It sounds though like he might just not be a very nice person all round. If that's the case then I don't see the problem with you not spending Christmas with him, he's made his bed, chosen to treat others badly, and so he can't be surprised when they don't want to spend time with him.

Is his behaviour malicious or misguided though? If it's misguided then I would put in firm boundaries, if it's malicious then there is no reason to feel guilty for going NC.

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