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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or maybe even childish

32 replies

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 18:36

I recently text my mum to ask what was happening at Christmas (my partner has a little one he's wanting to see if child's mum allows and this with a few other things means we need to have a plan). I'd already spoken to my brother who said he'd be spending Christmas with "us" (him and his partner are on/off but he said they'd all be spending the morning together, him and his son would lunch with us and the partner and her daughter would lunch with her parents and regroup).

My mum replied saying she didn't know what was happening as no one had mentioned it. I asked if we should go to her, she wanted to come to us or did she want to go out. She didn't reply. My brother then sent me a screenshot where my mum had gone to him and asked what he was doing for Christmas (he basically sent me it to arrange). I forwarded onto my mum and asked why she had ignored me but tried to make plans first with my brother.

We ended up arguing. I told her she wasn't arsed what we were doing only what my brothers plans were and she was up his arse. She asked why I was being like this, said I like trouble, I'm an upstart (cause drama), I'm going to have her in a low way, there's something wrong with me, I'm always causing grief with people (I asked who and she didn't answer), my behaviour was childish. I told her three times to leave it before she did. I said we would go to my partners mums and not to worry.

A point to note is, I had tried to arrange with them over my partners family as they have more extended family whereas it would only be me and my brother who visit our parents.

To add a bit of backstory.. she is defo all for my brother. She will drive past my house to visit him but never comes to see me. I worked out in august that if I hadn't made an effort to see them, I'd not have seen them since the previous September. Ive had the keys for my current property since December 2020. She's been twice and my dads been once.

My brother never really bothered with them for a few years. I also didn't speak to him (there was a few reasons). In this time, he missed birthdays, Mother's Day, Xmas. When I say missed this went as far as not even a card. During lockdown I had arranged to pick up Sunday lunch from a local pub and have it with my parents for Father's Day. Id agreed a few week before with my mum and ordered it. On the day she told me that my brother was calling at that time (I wasn't speaking to him and hadn't seen him for two years) I said I couldn't change the time as I'd had to book in advance etc. she wouldn't ask him to call later (probably as he'd have not bothered going at all) and so when I arrived he was there and I ended up leaving the lunch on the side in the kitchen. I left and she followed me out telling me I was being stupid. I got really upset and said she wasn't bothered about me at all (I had a lot going on at the time). My dad come to see me the next day and apologised, he said they were wrong and it wouldn't happen again.

Also to add during this period where my brother wasn't bothering with them my dad had an op. I took a week off to stay down near the hospital with my mum. I drove them down etc. my dads a big bloke, could have done with the help when I brought him home to get him inside etc but my brother didn't come. He didn't even text to ask how he was etc. he's recently been for another op and my parents didn't even tell me he was having it done (my brother told me in conversation they'd asked him to take them down).

When we were kids she always blamed everything on me. My brother was sneaky and hed also tell tales. They'd never accept that i retaliated and said I was a "little bitch" etc. i can remember once my mum and brother getting into heated argument when we were teens (it got a bit out of hand) she was totally out of order (although her goaded her). When my dad got home she had blamed me and said I'd been winding him up earlier and I got a right telling off (I was upstairs when it happened) and made to feel really crap.

About ten years ago when out for my birthday my mum fell and smashed her head and the ambulance were called. A friend got me out of the bar and I went to help. She was short and told me she didn't want me that she wanted my brother so I let him go with her. My godmother told her the next day she had been really nasty to me, she said she couldn't remember. Strangely, I'd never even realised as it was normal to me.

When I first left school I worked at the same place as my brother. we'd had an argument at home one night (nothing major) and I think everyone ended up getting involved. He drove I didn't and usually gave me a lift home or I'd get the bus. He left the next day without me (fair enough he wasn't my taxi) but I didn't have any money (I was stupid and 17 and on crap money!). I waited til everyone left and then I started walking home. We are small town so semi rural and the village was 3 miles away. It was a winter night. Eventually they called asking where i was and not wanting to cause a fuss I said I was on my way home (in the pissing rain) and I'd be home soon. They asked how so I had to say i was walking (but it was ok). They come for me and my brother said he'd offered a lift and I was lying. They said I loved causing trouble and obviously believe I'd opted to walk three miles in the rain in the dark.

When on holiday a few year back my partner at the time overheard my dad telling someone how my brother earned more than me. He mentioned it to me and said but he doesn't? I said no (in fact he earned around 20k less at the time) but It didn't matter. He just shook his head. I just moved the conversation on, it probably wasn't an attempt to belittle me but to big my brother up. They did the same at school, they'd say he was brighter (bur never made the grades I did) so I was used with it anyways.

I could go on but I think I've give enough examples.

Am I being absolutely childish to be sick of this behaviour or is it justified?

When I spoke to my partner about it the other night I got the impression it wasn't that deep, he just said what have you done for them to hate you (he knows I make more effort than them)... were you a horrible child? And maybe that's how I'm coming across, like a brat?

I'd like to add that me and my brother are fine now and this is not him. He finds them hopeless too. He lived with us for 6 month earlier in the year when he split with his partner and we spent a lot of time (me, my partner and his 2yo) together. I'd organise days out and weekends away to keep him busy and he sometimes still comes for his tea. This is about how they treat me differently not about his behaviour.

OP posts:
Keyansier · 07/11/2022 20:52

You sound extremely entitled and like you enjoy causing arguments for no reason.

Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink · 07/11/2022 21:01

I think the way you’ve gone from a very straightforward event in the present to a complicated backstory about the past says this is more about past hurts that you haven’t processed yet.

Try seeing it not as ‘childish’ feelings, but as ‘young’ feelings that have never been listened to or heard by anyone since you were younger. Those feelings are still kicking around in you wanting someone to listen.

As an adult you have to work out where to get those feelings listened to by someone who’s capable of listening. Maybe your family aren’t the right people. Not everyone is able to listen to emotional hurt in a way that makes you feel heard.

Counselling could be helpful, or google ‘inner child’ and ‘reparenting’ work and ‘journalspeak’.

serenaisaknobhead · 07/11/2022 21:14

Another vote for counselling. You have a lot of past hurt to process, therapy will help you find the answers you need x

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:18

Keyansier · 07/11/2022 20:52

You sound extremely entitled and like you enjoy causing arguments for no reason.

I've had about four arguments with her in my whole life. I'm 31. You're very odd the mark br appreciate the reply

OP posts:
SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:19

Keyansier · 07/11/2022 20:52

You sound extremely entitled and like you enjoy causing arguments for no reason.

Can you explain what you think I feel entitled to?

OP posts:
SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:19

Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink · 07/11/2022 21:01

I think the way you’ve gone from a very straightforward event in the present to a complicated backstory about the past says this is more about past hurts that you haven’t processed yet.

Try seeing it not as ‘childish’ feelings, but as ‘young’ feelings that have never been listened to or heard by anyone since you were younger. Those feelings are still kicking around in you wanting someone to listen.

As an adult you have to work out where to get those feelings listened to by someone who’s capable of listening. Maybe your family aren’t the right people. Not everyone is able to listen to emotional hurt in a way that makes you feel heard.

Counselling could be helpful, or google ‘inner child’ and ‘reparenting’ work and ‘journalspeak’.

Ok thanks

OP posts:
SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:20

serenaisaknobhead · 07/11/2022 21:14

Another vote for counselling. You have a lot of past hurt to process, therapy will help you find the answers you need x

Ok I don't think that's for me I'll just suck it up. Thanks for the reply x

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 07/11/2022 21:22

You got very upset very quickly about the Christmas thing. It was no big deal checking with your dB.. so in that situation you were childish. But its probably due to being triggered by events in the past. Either let go the past possibly with counselling or set yourself apart from your dm as you are always going to see things through the lens of your childhood ..and that was dysfunctional.

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:27

junebirthdaygirl · 07/11/2022 21:22

You got very upset very quickly about the Christmas thing. It was no big deal checking with your dB.. so in that situation you were childish. But its probably due to being triggered by events in the past. Either let go the past possibly with counselling or set yourself apart from your dm as you are always going to see things through the lens of your childhood ..and that was dysfunctional.

I think it's more that she wasn't going to plan with us until he told her what he was doing. If she'd have said oh I'll checking what ... is doing then fine but she ignored me. It's rude.

OP posts:
DenholmElliot11 · 07/11/2022 21:30

You're very odd the mark br appreciate the reply

What?

808Kate1 · 07/11/2022 21:31

I don't think you're entitled at all. Think you were super-sensitive and flew off the handle though relatively quickly...because your mum's probably been a dick to you most of your life? Totally get where you're coming from actually!

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:33

808Kate1 · 07/11/2022 21:31

I don't think you're entitled at all. Think you were super-sensitive and flew off the handle though relatively quickly...because your mum's probably been a dick to you most of your life? Totally get where you're coming from actually!

She's not horrible at all and I try and spend time with her (always me arranging but that doesn't matter) but she doesn't treat me as nicely as him even though he does nothing for them. I just don't understand it.

OP posts:
SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:33

DenholmElliot11 · 07/11/2022 21:30

You're very odd the mark br appreciate the reply

What?

Apologies. I meant to say you're very off the mark but I appreciate the reply. God knows how it went so wrong lol

OP posts:
PeekabooAtTheZoo · 07/11/2022 21:33

What has happened here is you and your brother have been raised to be in competition with each other for your mum's affection. There's also a bit of a golden child/scapegoat dynamic. Every further interaction like this cements the original dynamic so it gets harder and harder to step back and look at it all objectively. In short, your mum is playing you and your brother off against each other then she pretends you're the villain for getting mad/upset/confronting her.

I think you did well standing up for yourself and that you should tell them to fuck off to the far side of fuck and when they get there, fuck off some more, and then you should go non-contact with them, block the shit out of them, ignore the drama and fallout, and live a happy life free from their silly control games designed to keep you hungry for affection from your mum that is never going to come.

Also check out the Stately Homes thread on here.

808Kate1 · 07/11/2022 21:35

Well if she consistently doesn't treat you as nicely as him there's clearly something not right there? I can't imagine treating one of my kids in preference over the other.

SheilaWilcox · 07/11/2022 21:38

I too think you were oversensitive, but given the history, I understand why.
I find myself behaving like this - kind of defensively, like I expect to be treated badly, so subconciously start behaving badly myself. With me, it is down to my past and counselling would help.
I'd spend a cosy Xmas with your other half if I were you. Who needs the drama of trying to make anything else happen?

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:39

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 07/11/2022 21:33

What has happened here is you and your brother have been raised to be in competition with each other for your mum's affection. There's also a bit of a golden child/scapegoat dynamic. Every further interaction like this cements the original dynamic so it gets harder and harder to step back and look at it all objectively. In short, your mum is playing you and your brother off against each other then she pretends you're the villain for getting mad/upset/confronting her.

I think you did well standing up for yourself and that you should tell them to fuck off to the far side of fuck and when they get there, fuck off some more, and then you should go non-contact with them, block the shit out of them, ignore the drama and fallout, and live a happy life free from their silly control games designed to keep you hungry for affection from your mum that is never going to come.

Also check out the Stately Homes thread on here.

I didn't tell her to fuck off lol I just said she's up his arse, we would have Xmas with partners mum and to leave it at that but she laid into me and played the victim with absolutely no insight into why it pisses me off. She will play on it for ages too and my dad will probably catch it (he rang me today about something different, didn't mention it and was jovial on the phone ... so he hasn't took any sides)

OP posts:
SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:40

808Kate1 · 07/11/2022 21:35

Well if she consistently doesn't treat you as nicely as him there's clearly something not right there? I can't imagine treating one of my kids in preference over the other.

I think the problem is she doesn't see it. I gave examples to give a bit of insight of why I'm sick of it. Now apparently I'm entitled ... not sure what I'm entitled to to be honest

OP posts:
SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:41

SheilaWilcox · 07/11/2022 21:38

I too think you were oversensitive, but given the history, I understand why.
I find myself behaving like this - kind of defensively, like I expect to be treated badly, so subconciously start behaving badly myself. With me, it is down to my past and counselling would help.
I'd spend a cosy Xmas with your other half if I were you. Who needs the drama of trying to make anything else happen?

Yes but like many other years my brother might not show at Xmas and then I'd be racked with guilt that they'd be on their own. This is what I'm trying to say, I'm the backup but nothing else

OP posts:
808Kate1 · 07/11/2022 21:43

I'd say you're frustrated rather than entitled.

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:47

808Kate1 · 07/11/2022 21:43

I'd say you're frustrated rather than entitled.

Yeah, perhaps.

My friends can see it, my partners have seen it, my brothers partners over the years have seen it.

I obviously didn't think she'd invite me for lunch and not him but I'm annoyed she won't make plans with me until she accommodates him first.

OP posts:
KitchiHuritAngeni · 07/11/2022 21:49

I think you're way ott.

You messaged asking what she fancied doing, she messaged your brother asking what his plans were and then you kicked off.

That scenario could have been solved with a family WhatsApp group chat so you could all discuss it together.

The backstory explains, somewhat, your reaction, but on this issue you were in the wrong.

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:50

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 07/11/2022 21:33

What has happened here is you and your brother have been raised to be in competition with each other for your mum's affection. There's also a bit of a golden child/scapegoat dynamic. Every further interaction like this cements the original dynamic so it gets harder and harder to step back and look at it all objectively. In short, your mum is playing you and your brother off against each other then she pretends you're the villain for getting mad/upset/confronting her.

I think you did well standing up for yourself and that you should tell them to fuck off to the far side of fuck and when they get there, fuck off some more, and then you should go non-contact with them, block the shit out of them, ignore the drama and fallout, and live a happy life free from their silly control games designed to keep you hungry for affection from your mum that is never going to come.

Also check out the Stately Homes thread on here.

We don't compete really. We're both pretty easy going. She drives him insane in different ways. He's got a little one and he feels she doesn't make effort with him.

I won't tell her to fuck off lol, I'll just leave her to it. I'm sure at some point I'll have to let it go. Was probably just venting. I think it's difficult for some people who have really good relationships with their parents to understand x

OP posts:
SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:51

KitchiHuritAngeni · 07/11/2022 21:49

I think you're way ott.

You messaged asking what she fancied doing, she messaged your brother asking what his plans were and then you kicked off.

That scenario could have been solved with a family WhatsApp group chat so you could all discuss it together.

The backstory explains, somewhat, your reaction, but on this issue you were in the wrong.

Yeah I can see this too, thanks.

She could have also arranged with me and then he could have added on. It didn't have to be us all work round him (not that he expects that he's easy going)

OP posts:
SheilaWilcox · 07/11/2022 21:56

SweetChild0mine · 07/11/2022 21:41

Yes but like many other years my brother might not show at Xmas and then I'd be racked with guilt that they'd be on their own. This is what I'm trying to say, I'm the backup but nothing else

Yep, totally understand I'd have the "you left us all alone guilt to deal with" even though my brother has moved abroad so I HAVE to host them every Xmas.

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