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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dads behaviour and relationship since my mum died

147 replies

Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 16:07

As a background, my dad has always told me he was bisexual. He has had both male and female relationships during his life, but since 1985 had been with my mum. Sadly she passed away from cancer last year after a short battle with the disease. They were happy, but dad had periods of time in prison for fraud, obtaining funds by deception etc. The last time he was in prison was in 2015 for 6 months. He missed his own 70th, my DS1s 1st and my 30th. I was also aware that my dad was messaging men explicit messages while with my mum because on occasion he would accidentally send them to me.
My mum passed away in October 2021 and in january of this year dad declared he had met someone; a 28 year old young man that he'd bumped into in a hotel and they'd got chatting. Things seemed to escalate quickly, with the chap visiting my dad's home and staying for periods of time. Whereas my dad had said my children and I couldn't sit in my mums chair, this chap could which upset me. They went out for lots of dinners etc but he assured me that they were splitting bills and that actually his new partner was from a wealthy background studying a PhD so had no need to gold dig. A couple of months in, dad told me that his partner had asked him to move up to Manchester to be with him. I suggested this wasn't a good idea, he'd be far away from all friends and family. He told me that he wouldn't, then said he was using some money from my mums estate to buy the house he was in so that we could inherit it when the time came. A month later my dad called me begging for money saying that he needed it for a house exchange in Manchester. I refused. I had no money to offer and I didn't approve of him moving up there. He told me that the relationship had then ended because of that. A few weeks later dad called saying he was getting death threats etc from a man he owed money to. I had calls from neighbours and strangers (I live 3 hrs from dad) saying he owed them money, that he'd taken deposits from people for them to move into the house only for him to then disappear etc. I then found out he hadn't bought the house he was in at all. He's spent all of my mums estate (nearly £600k) and the remainder in shares he can't release. He's spent savings my mum had built up for my children, he's also spent a house deposit mum had left to me. He stole money from my uncle (my mums brother) including off of bank cards, credit cards etc while he was in hospital and my uncle has since died. My cousins now hate my dad and have cut him off. I have now found that the partner was an escort. Dad tells me he never met him as an escort but during the time they were together this guy would msg him asking for money and dad would give it, selling and stealing whatever he could. It also transpires the guy was 20,not 28. My dad is 77.

I am the only person my dad has left. I feel guilty because I don't want him with us at Christmas as I hate him for what he's done. He's my dad and I love him but he's driven a truck through my mums memory and made a mess of our lives. Do I invite him for Christmas? Or do i stick to my guns. AIBU?

OP posts:
Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 16:25

Aware that this is a very complicated thread with lots of tangents but I thought the background was necessary. I just feel very messed up by the whole thing and struggling to see perspective because when I bring it up with my dad he shuts down the conversation and tells me how sad he is.

OP posts:
pandarific · 28/11/2022 16:37

I’m sorry op, that sucks. 💐I don’t think I’d invite him for Christmas. It doesn’t need to be a big drama, just don’t mention it to him, and if he asks say you’re busy, but would he like to meet up for a drink for new years etc IF you want to.

Ultimately you aren’t in control of him and aren’t responsible for anything he’s done. If you want to continue the relationship my advice is keep it light and take no responsibility for him. Again, I’m sorry 💐

iRun2eatCake · 28/11/2022 16:40

I wouldn't invite him.

I couldn't trust having him in my home with his poor judgement and lack of morals.

I would be worried about what he would be looking to steal.

Check your cedit record on site's like Experian, as he has shown he isn't trustworthy.

The fact he won't even discuss it shows he won't take responsibility... and he certainly won't change at his age.

I wouldn't expose my family to him.

He has completely trashed your Mums memory. All her hard work over the years to raise you whilst he was in prison.... to save money for your future is gone.

I'd have nothing to do with him. He chose this path

Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 16:42

@pandarific I've always struggled to put boundaries in place. When he was being asked for money recently he took an overdose as a cry for help. He's done that before. I told him what he'd done had hurt countless people and the he's shown no real remorse, he just keeps saying how lonely he is and how the house is a tomb.

I feel guilty but he's caused such stress over the last few months and all I've heard is how sad he is. We had a bust up on WhatsApp on Saturdaywhere he told me I should just cut him off. He hasn't spoken to me since. But he won't. The conversation is always very superficial and I hate what he's done to us. It's such a mess

OP posts:
Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 16:45

@iRun2eatCake I have an experian report set up as he's done that before...at uni he bounced £6k of cheques through my bank account and I had to pay it off otherwise he'd have ended up in prison. I also had to hide it from my mum. Dad as a person in one level is great - funny, conversational, a great orator. That's what I find hard to separate - the man I like from the man who does these things

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Soothsayer1 · 28/11/2022 16:51

that leopard is very far gone and the spots will not change, not saying you should be overtly cruel but you cant trust him, just humour him....at arms length
He hasn't spoken to me since
make the most of it, dont contact him, if/when he contacts you that's your cue to get in control & keep everything on your terms
keep him on a very short leash

Changechangychange · 28/11/2022 16:52

Given his age I initially wondered if he had some sort of organic brain disease (Parkinson’s meds can cause hypomania/excessive spending, and frontotemporal lobe dementia can cause disinhibition).

But then you said this is basically normal behaviour for him, he has been a thief and a liar all your life, so clearly this is just what he is like. I’d cut him off without a second thought.

I am disgusted to hear he defrauded you when you were a teenager - he must have absolutely wrecked your credit rating as a young woman, and made your life significantly harder than it needed to be.

Soothsayer1 · 28/11/2022 16:54

funny, conversational, a great orator
charismatic/amoral they are part of the same thing, the reason he can be so easy breezy is that there is no moral compass, he just does whatever & experiences no remorse
borris johnson/trump, similar thing

Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 16:54

The kids used to love him. He was such a brilliant grandad and I'm really struggling to articulate to then why we aren't seeing him. No level of detail is age appropriate. DS1 is 8 and DS2 is 6. He had promised us Christmas away this year, obviously that isn't happening and they are really disappointed. But it's not even that that I'm struggling with. It's the self indulgence of it all. Everytime i bring up what he's done, he'll bring it back to his difficult he's finding it without mum. Apparently it's fine for me because I have a family.

OP posts:
Maggie178 · 28/11/2022 16:54

I'd be angry. I wouldn't invite him. If he's lonely it's because he's stolen from his family and friends. You clearly love your dad even though he makes that very difficult.

Soothsayer1 · 28/11/2022 16:56

The kids used to love him. He was such a brilliant grandad and I'm really struggling to articulate to then why we aren't seeing him
he was just scoring points with the intention of cashing them in later, enjoyed the fun with the kids because of the adoration in return but there's no deeper connection

Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 16:56

@Changechangychange yes, sadly. I wondered the same thing but the fraudulent behaviour and lying is part of it. He is a compulsive liar and where my mum would believe it or just go with it I confront him which he doesn't like.

OP posts:
Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 16:58

@Soothsayer1 yes he's very self driven. He's basically cut us off since he started the relationship. We were messy and inconvenient. Even though Christmas last year without mum was actually nice under the circumstances. I thought we'd actually be able to have a relationship.

Recently I've been uncovering lie after lie. A local police officer who knows the background putb the pressure on and told me I should invite him at Christmas as it wasn't fair to leave him on his own despite everything.

OP posts:
Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 17:00

@Maggie178 I do, even though he's made things very taxing throughout my life. He has some physiological trauma from his youth that I'm sympathetic to but I can't excuse what he's done.

OP posts:
Soothsayer1 · 28/11/2022 17:03

A local police officer who knows the background put the pressure on and told me I should invite him at Christmas as it wasn't fair to leave him on his own despite everything
probably one of his old flames who feels sorry for him? Dont let some random person boss you about, wtf, put pressure on you?? Does he know where some bodies are buried? I'd be polite to the pc but quietly disregard his orders (who does he think he is???)

MatildaTheCat · 28/11/2022 17:03

At the very least you need breathing space from this. He’s a dishonest cheat and all this self pity is manipulative. I’d write to him saying how very, very disappointed and distressed you are about all of this and despite his bereavement you cannot forgive him as easily as he’d like.

I certainly wouldn’t have him for Christmas and I would ask him to keep his distance until you feel able to restart some sort of relationship and it will never be the same. If he makes threats you need to report to the relevant agencies.

You can’t change him or what he’s done but you owe him nothing. I’m sorry your dad is who he is. No amount of ‘Brilliant’ performance grandparenting will change him. Next thing you know he’d be pilfering your DC’s Christmas cash.

Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 17:08

@Soothsayer1 he befriended my mum and dad when they originally moved to the village. I find his preoccupation with my family a bit strange and when I suggested I could take my dad to court for improper execution of my mums estate he dissuaded me from doing so which I found odd as I'm pretty sure I'd win.

OP posts:
Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 17:10

@MatildaTheCat I've had months of ruminating on it and I think I've made myself very unwell with it. I've tried everything to get him help and support but nothing has changed. He seems to want to wallow. He was investigated for bowel cancer recently, thankfully all clear but he told his neighbours who he owes money to that he had cancer...I think he was disappointed when he got the all clear because he didn't have anything to hide behind.

OP posts:
Crimeismymiddlename · 28/11/2022 17:16

I would definitely not invite him for this Christmas, it doesn’t mean you won’t ever invite him again but he has betrayed and lied to you while you are grieving, stolen from you and his family and now thinks because he is sad he has run out of money to pay the escort you need to be nice. It doesn’t work like that and at the very least you need time away from him. That policeman obviously has no idea of what your dad has truly done and has just believed his tail of woe of how he is a widower and his family hate him for hardly any reason.

WoolyMammoth55 · 28/11/2022 17:17

OP, the fraud and the spending of your and others' inheritances are financial abuse.

As is what he did to you at Uni with the £6K.

He is an abuser.

With any abuser you have to go NC to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Your kids in a decade will have their own bank accounts that he could target also. This is why you go NC with them now, so that he's not able to access any of that info.

You are not his daughter - you're his potential next scam victim.

survivingeconomicabuse.org/

Please get some counselling, from someone with experience working with victims of abusive parents. Love yourself enough not to let him hurt you, or your family, any more.

Flowers
Soothsayer1 · 28/11/2022 17:19

Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 17:08

@Soothsayer1 he befriended my mum and dad when they originally moved to the village. I find his preoccupation with my family a bit strange and when I suggested I could take my dad to court for improper execution of my mums estate he dissuaded me from doing so which I found odd as I'm pretty sure I'd win.

he has skin in the game, he may have pretended he was looking out for you but he was looking out for himself
had you gone to court something would have been uncovered that makes him look bad....he's covering for your dad in some way
I wouldnt trust him and I wouldnt tell him anything

Soothsayer1 · 28/11/2022 17:22

I've tried everything to get him help and support but nothing has changed
this old dog cannot learn new tricks OP, a silk purse cannot be fashioned from this sows ear.
Back away slowly while making vague soothing noises

Kevinthebird007 · 28/11/2022 17:22

@WoolyMammoth55 I've often wondered whether what I've experienced is abuse. My mum wasn't perfect. She was naive and I think went along with my dad's wishes. I went to boarding school at 11 (not paid for my them, I was on a scholarship) but before then they used to leave me at home from 6pm - midnight regularly from the age of 7/8. They ran pubs and restaurants so didn't have childcare. Once I was at boarding school this settled down but then when I left I had all sorts of issues including the £6k fraud at uni. He used to take credit out in my name for catalogues. Even when I was little they'd put money in a savings account for me and when they got short they'd take me to the bank and ask if we could cash it in. They would always promise to pay me back but never did.

I have brought all of this up with him and he tells me I'm being dramatic or I'm making things up or that I'm not so perfect myself as I've done x,y or z.

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 28/11/2022 17:25

I think an age appropriate explanation for your DCs would be to explain that GF tells lies and steals things including from people who love him so you don't want him with you especially at Christmas.

Young children understand stealing and lies.

Probably not a bad lesson to learn that sometimes saying 'sorry' isn't enough. Sometimes if the lie is very big or a person has stolen something important then even if they are sorry afterwards they are going to have live with not being liked even if they are loved.

Babochan88 · 28/11/2022 17:29

I don’t normally ever advise people to go NC with a parent, but I think you may for the time being. I can’t comprehend how a parent could swindle their child like this. The behaviour reeks of manipulation and deceit and the targets are his family no less…