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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Fathers Ashes - AIBU with my Fiance?

22 replies

103biscuit · 31/08/2022 19:52

Looking for others' opinions, not sure if I trust my judgment or if the situation is making me irrational. May be triggering - death and grieving.

I scattered my father's ashes today, although we were no contact for 10 years (I've only now realised he was an alcoholic, and now my opinion on the no contact has changed and regretted it as I understand now he was ill). For reference, I'm 27, and stopped speaking to him at 15. (Not been easy. I've questioned this decision most days, major whole throughout my life of not having him in my life etc.)

As soon as he found out it was terminal, he asked for me to be made aware - 3 hours later, I was by his side in his arms and seen him every day bar one until he died with me by his side (happened in the space of two weeks), so it was very traumatic and sudden for me to go through everything (reconciliation, his cancer news, his terminal diagnosis, his deterioration
and dying in front of me).

2.5 months later, my fiancé mentioned it this morning, "what you doing after it, who's going" etc., nothing about what I was going through. Almost like errands to run. I dropped him off, no mention, thinking of you today, nothing. Just skipped out of the car into work.

I think I was expecting a text or phone call from him to let me know he was thinking of me or that he hoped I got on ok. I was wailing at the funeral; surely he must realise this is something I'm struggling with?

He also started an argument last night over me leaving food in the sink, resulting in him 'accidentally' slamming the bedroom door closed and silent treatment for the remainder of the night. His excuse now, after questioning him, was that he was tired and pissed off.

I said to him tonight in a calm manner that I felt a wee bit alone and that support from him would have been nice (I walked around the cemetery remembrance garden for 1.5 hours after it, alone and crying). I also brought up last night and that I felt it was poor timing considering what today was. Surely he could of bit his tongue? I know it's what I would have done, and being sensitive to the day he had tomorrow. His response to last night, he was tired and pissed off with me.

He initially responded with it wasn't my place to message you; I just don't understand why you would need me. I can never do enough for you, I came home early, but you don't recognise that. (He came home in a laughing jokey mood and played with the dogs, no how did it go)

Queue an argument, me questioning when I said that I felt like I needed support when I explicitly said I think I just needed support (recognise I have to ask but to not mention it?) he responds with "I just don't understand why you would need me?"

I feel that he thinks I'm not getting over it quickly; he said that everyone dies, the world doesn't stop, and I didn't know the man. I did say, in response to his "I'll never be good enough for you, if I texted you I hope you're ok, you'd have been pissed off I wasn't there", that I wasn't sure that he was the man I wanted to marry if I don't feel that I have his support just now, what will it be like in ten years?

I realise I was out of order by saying that in an argument; I also recognise that I may be needy and irrational. It's not something I've had many experiences with, is scattering ashes just a run-of-the-mill thing? Am I expecting too much? Again, I know I should have told him if I needed him; I didn't feel I needed him there, but radio silence until he came home?

Just looking for another perspective, he stormed out of the house and slammed the front door behind him.

OP posts:
Chikapu · 31/08/2022 20:04

I'm so sorry for your loss, your grief must be very complicated given the circumstances of your relationship with your dad.
You aren't asking too much from your fiance, his support should be automatic and visible. That's what people who love us do, they're there for us when things are too hard to do on our own.
Do you really want to marry someone who has no interest in supporting you?

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 31/08/2022 20:19

Sorry for your loss.
I'm wondering if he is a fair weather partner.

TakeMe2Insanity · 31/08/2022 20:25

I’m so sorry for your loss.

my mum died within the same time frame and I compare how my DH has been vs your fiancé and I am angry for you.

Your fiancé doesn’t get it. There’s nothing wrong in your expectations.

Sunnyqueen · 31/08/2022 20:30

How would you feel if this was your daughter telling you this? Yanbu at all.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/08/2022 20:35

The warning shot has been fired, op, and I really, really hope you are paying attention. This man is never going to give you what you need, and what you see now is what you get. This is all he's capable of. I shudder to think of going through pregnancy or a serious illness with him as a partner.

Do not marry this man. You have been forewarned.

AlsoknownasOther · 31/08/2022 20:39

Very sorry for your loss.

But seriously, leave this guy, this is a glimpse of how utterly selfish and unreasonable he is. I imagine there are a lot of red flags in your relationship.

NoSquirrels · 31/08/2022 20:40

I’m sorry for your loss on the death of your father, and all the losses in that relationship you suffered growing up and needing to go no contact.

You might want to consider how our ideas of healthy relationships are formed by our experiences with our parents, and how having an emotionally absent male father figure might mean your boundaries potentially aren’t brilliant because of your experiences.

Your fiancé doesn’t sound emotionally present for you. That’s not good at all.

meadowbleu · 31/08/2022 20:43

@103biscuit
this has been extremely intense and emotionally draining for you. I think it would be the best thing for you to look up some grief counselling. I don't have any personal experience, but would try this link suggested by MIND
www.beadproject.org.uk/grieving
or
www.cruse.org.uk

We always hope our partner will be our rock, but for whatever reason sometimes they don't come through for us, and even let us down. Get some support for yourself and then address why he isn't the person you need filling that role right now.

picklemewalnuts · 31/08/2022 20:51

In addition to what PPs have said-

I could (just about) understand and accept him not realising you needed support, and handling it badly.

What I don't think you should accept is that when you raised it he was not apologetic. If I'd unintentionally been inconsiderate and thoughtless, then I'd be apologetic when it was pointed out.

He doesn't seem to care.

Kite22 · 31/08/2022 20:58

I haven't voted as I don't think it is an AIBU situation.

YANBU for feeling you need more support but he isn't necessarily BU for not knowing how to react. Partly from being young and likely not having experienced the death of a parent, but more so from the complexity of the situation. As far as he is concerned you couldn't stand the man and had had no contact with him since you were a teen. I can understand it is a lot more complex than that, but I do think that there are quite a lot of people (particularly people who haven't yet experienced the death of a parent of sibling) who might not.
I think, if you felt you needed him to come with you to scatter ashes, then you should have arranged to do that together, not expected him to guess that and then been angry at him for not having done so.

Your emotions will be all over the place. Anger is a normal part of the grieving process for most people, even without all the other emotions you are trying to work through. I agree with a pp who suggested trying to get on a waiting list for some professional counselling and not try to work through all this yourself, and not expecting another young person to be able to help you work through it all either.

winterchills · 31/08/2022 21:14

He sounds awful and no compassion or consideration at all. I would be questioning your relationship with this man! Sorry for your loss x

103biscuit · 31/08/2022 21:36

Thank you all very much for your comments. I'm crying whilst reading them.

I am seriously considering if I want to be with him, after he came home, we spoke and he's refusing to apologise because that means he did something wrong.

I'm not looking for him to apologise, but in times like this, think of what the other person needs as opposed to your own. He sees messaging me as cringy and unneeded. He said if the situation happened again, he would react the same. Fair enough people have wrong judgement calls, but saying well that's how I'll act again is seriously making me dislike him. I've told him what I need, I need that communication, to let me know he's there. Is that too much?

He's aware, that my feelings on my dad have changed, and that it was a loss for the past dad, present who I met, and the father I'll never have.

He's 35, hasn't experienced any deaths bar grandparents, and just doesn't seem to get it. He's reiterated that he was thinking about me, my response - how do I know if it's radio silence and a cheery goodbye?

Thankfully, I was in therapy dealing with childhood issues with my dad before I got the call. It's been my saving grace, having that outlet. My head is completely gone, questioning my entire life and feeling that I was basically single today going through that without a peep from him.

OP posts:
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 31/08/2022 21:42

A lot of worrying things going on here

The silent treatment
The lack of empathy
Blaming you for his own poor behaviour
Not giving you support when you've explicitly asked for it
Pointless whataboutery

And the whole 'everyone dies' statement is just cold and cruel.

I would definitely reconsider your relationship

doitwithlove · 01/09/2022 07:46

Sorry to read of your loss 🌻

My exh was very similar to your partner even when he lost his own mother. He was more concerned how the wake would go & impressing people rather than thinking of how his two kids were feeling

He asked me why I was going to the cemetery a month after losing my mum, I replied at this time I would rather be with my mum than you. How these men can be so callous is beyond me.

I agree with other posters, you need to ask yourself is this the person you want to be with long term.

Snugglemonkey · 01/09/2022 07:59

I think he is showing you the limits of his emotional capacity. You need to ask yourself if it is ok for you to be with a partner who will not support you. That will make life more difficult for you. Especially if you are planning to have children etc.

I think counseling would be a good idea, but I think it would be useful if they were not specifically a grief or bereavement counsellor, but rather someone who can help you understand the impact of your family dynamics and how your relationship with your father influences your choice of partner now.

Please do this before getting married or having children, or binding yourself to this man.

billy1966 · 01/09/2022 08:43

OP,

This is who he is.

Nasty, selfish and petty.

You have chosen poorly.

Be glad that your gut is warning you that this is NOT a good man.

I am so sorry for your father's death.

Of course this has been deeply upsetting.

Let some good come from your father's death.......that you have seen that nasty selfish man for who he is.

Stay with him and you will regret it bitterly.

You have had a tough enough life to this point.

It is critically important you choose your life partner with the greatest of care.

If you were my daughter I would advise you to get yourself organised quietly and find somewhere else to live, be it family or friends.

Move out.

This is NOT someone to have a family with.

He has shown you who he is, not kind.

Believe this and listen to your gut that is warning you and trying to protect you.

billy1966 · 01/09/2022 08:53

My darling grandmother told me 40 years ago that a quick way to see the character of a man was to watch his reaction when you say No to him, and how he behaves when you are ill.

Both give you an unvarnished look at their personalities.

What you know from him is that he has zero interest in you are what you are really feeling, or being there for you.

What exactly is the point of someone like that?

SleepingStandingUp · 01/09/2022 09:00

I'm confused if it's the funeral or the ashes scattering, you say both. If the latter did he come to the funeral with you? Did he offer to come with you to scatter his ashes?

It's an issue that you're going through a huge emotional issue and he doesn't see why your fiance would be the one to offer emotional support. What occasion will he deem it his job? If his Mom died tomorrow and yo u acted indifferent and completely blanked it would he be OK with that?

I think this is a time to really evaluate what this relationship brings you

Anothernamechangeplease · 01/09/2022 09:02

OP, please don't marry him.

This man is not life partner material. You do not want him by your side when you go through the inevitable losses, disappointments and regrets that life will sometimes throw at you. You deserve so much better.

I'm so sorry about your dad. Flowers

CornishTiger · 01/09/2022 09:11

I’m sorry about your dad.

You had an emotionally and physically absent and selfish dad as child and probably never felt good enough ( you were of course - it was your dads issues). However you appear to have picked the same type of cold man. It’s your role modelling.

Please don’t marry him. You’ll never feel enough, loved, safe and secure with him. It’s lonely.

He has shown you who he is. Believe it and end it.

WhenPushComesToShove · 01/09/2022 10:15

This is a wake up call if ever there was one. Please free yourself from this toxic individual. To stay would be to condemn yourself to a life of misery. When life gives you a thumping great nudge like this, you have to respond. Good luck with everything and sorry for your lose 🙏💕

Nagado · 01/09/2022 11:04

I’ve been partially in your shoes, except I chose not to see him again before he died. My DH could not have been more loving, kind and supportive through what was a very emotionally conflicting time where I grieved for what I never had and what could have been.

The lack of care he has shown you is shocking. And what is worse is that he cannot see why he should have shown you any kindness. That is chilling. I suspect that if you broke it off with him, you would be met by lots of people questioning you and suggesting that you’re over reacting and telling you to let it go. But this man is lacking empathy. I think that if you tie yourself to this man, it will be one of your biggest regrets in life.

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