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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I can't get over how my dad acted when DS fell down the stairs

233 replies

Bigwig1 · 18/05/2023 18:27

I honestly don't know if I'm being a bit too sensitive, because I think where it comes to my father I've lost perspective over the years. There are actually two things that have happened - the second thing is very small and almost certainly sits with me for overreacting, but I need to get them off my chest!

The first thing. When at my parents' house DS (4) fell down the stairs. He was with my mum at the time, just lost his footing and slipped. He didn't hurt himself in the slightest. I was working, heard him fall and came rushing out to find him at the bottom of the stairs. My mum was obviously there and my dad then suddenly appeared. I assessed in the moment, saw DS was standing up and crying from the shock of it but wasn't hurt, wasn't bleeding and nothing was broken. My dad starts shouting and swearing his head off (not at anyone as such, just around everyone), shouting "WHAT THE F JUST HAPPENED, WHAT THE ACTUAL F", with many many more swear words and a very scary face (he can be a terrifying man when something in him just snaps). I know this about my dad so tried to calm him down (I'm annoyed I even did that). So I was hugging my son and saying to my dad "it's okay don't worry he's fine see? Everything's fine, don't worry, calm down it's all okay". I know it can be annoying when someone says "calm down", but I really was just trying to help him. Anyways, he then starts swearing at me, telling me not to "f*** tell him to calm down" and then pokes me really hard whilst shouting.

He then storms off, slamming all the doors. I got upset over it, and didn't want DS exposed to all that. So I just left and went back to my own place, which obviously ruined the rest of my working day.

I've had no apology off my dad, and mum always just says "you know that's just your father, and you just have to handle him in a certain way". I hate that, I feel like it makes it my responsibility to handle his emotions, not his responsibility to treat me with respect. I still feel really funny about it.

Fast foreward to now. My mum and dad came round to plant some things in my garden. They offered, I didn't ask. I wasn't in at the time, and when I got back they were gone. Messaged my mum to say I was back and thanks for doing it, and she then says "oh we'll come back". I didn't want them to come back, I had so much work to do and I was really stressed, but I say yes anyway (followed by "I'm really busy though so can only see you for 5mins"). They came round and my dad knocked on my front door continuously until I answered it. There was literally no pause at all to his knocking, for 20 seconds. I was trying desperately to finish the last line of my email and I couldn't with that incessant knocking. I kept shouting "one second", and he wouldn't stop. It really really stressed me out, so I opened the door and said, rather angrily "did you REALLY have to keep knocking like that?!". I was grumpy, and obviously appeared somewhat ungrateful for their efforts in the morning. But he then responded by stressing me out even more with "ohh look who's stressed, someone's stressed why are you stressed", in a really taunting way that he knows gets on my nerves.

I was then pretty grumpy and irritated for the 2minutes they were there, probably borderline rude.

My mum has taken his side saying he wasn't trying to annoy me...and now we're all just ignoring each other. I may have overreacted, but I cannot express enough how stressful I found the continuous loud banging on my door. And I'm still harbouring a lot of resentment after the stairs incident.

Sorry that was incredibly long. I think I just needed to get all of that off my chest! Was I a complete cow for not saying thank you and being more grateful for the plants? I just can't get over it all!

OP posts:
Azandme · 18/05/2023 18:33

Your dad sounds like a bully, and your mum's response is to shrug.

I wouldn't want my child seeing too much of them.

Wilkolampshade · 18/05/2023 18:37

My dad was like this. All through my childhood though. Still is, but at 79 doesnt have the physical strength to frighten me anymore. Result? I do my duty by him but my kids, now adult, see very little of him. Sorry OP, you have to protect your kids from this. Keep him away.

Oldnproud · 18/05/2023 18:39

There seem to be several issues here.

  1. Your father's reaction to things.
  2. Your mother's attitude towards your father's behaviour.
  3. Your own reaction to their behaviour.

The first two of those sound totally unacceptable. Your mum is condoning his behaviour and I don't think urbu to feel angry.
The third, your own reaction. Well, yes, you might have been a bit rude but IMO not unreasonably so. I certainly wouldn't take that kind of behaviour any more calmly than you did.

TwilightSkies · 18/05/2023 18:39

Yeah he sounds like a horrible bully

arethereanyleftatall · 18/05/2023 18:40

Omg, your dad is a complete and utter arsehole.

Bigwig1 · 18/05/2023 18:42

Thanks all, appreciate the replies. I think constantly hearing from my mum that my dad "means well" and that he "loves us all so much"...and especially after the door knocking incident where she was just telling me he only wanted to do something nice for me. It makes me feel really guilty and I feel annoyed that I feel guilty!

OP posts:
Premiumchange · 18/05/2023 18:44

What do you want to do? I wouldn't want to see him again, and certainly wouldn't want my child exposed to him. Never. It's up to you.

AluckyEllie · 18/05/2023 18:49

Your dad is a bullying twat. I would minimise contact as much as I can tbh. Was he like that when you grew up?

Inkanta · 18/05/2023 18:50

Yes you're dad was very aggressive at the stairs - not nice for your child to see, and your mum does enable him. Then he winds you up at the door. You could do to time limit yourself around him. If you felt grumpy around that its perfectly understandable.

MoltenLasagne · 18/05/2023 18:50

You seem to see your Mum as on your side, or at least neutral, in these interactions. The truth though seems to be she has been enabling your father to avoid taking responsibility for his actions for years.

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 18/05/2023 18:51

Swearing in front of a child and acting like that is an absolute disgrace. I would be flipping furious.

bananaboats · 18/05/2023 18:51

Hes a bully and your mum enables him. I wouldn't want myself or my child exposed to that kind of behaviour.

RoseThornside · 18/05/2023 18:52

I suspect the weird over-reaction when your son fell down the stairs was panic. My dad is the same. His behaviour was very frightening when we were little but our mum did exactly what yours does. My dad doesn't cope with 'sudden' things very well, or with children getting even slightly hurt, or anything unexpected really - we get a similar over-the-top, aggressive, angry reaction. Weird because otherwise he's a super-intelligent person - straight As at school, reads fluent ancient Greek etc.

Inkanta · 18/05/2023 18:53

I think constantly hearing from my mum that my dad "means well" and that he "loves us all so much"...and especially after the door knocking incident where she was just telling me he only wanted to do something nice for me

Crazymaking when she says this. Doesn't look like love to me - very controlling.

Greenfairydust · 18/05/2023 18:54

Your son should not have to witness this behaviour.

Your father is a bully and your mother is enabling his behaviour.

I would distance myself from them.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 18/05/2023 18:55

I would have sat there with a timer to see how long he would knock for! Only once he'd stopped would I answer the door.

I wouldn't want my DC to spend too much time with them tbh

Mummy08m · 18/05/2023 18:57

I feel sorry for your mum... living with him for so long has skewed her idea of what's normal or acceptable.

I'd see them far less often if I were you, and get some other childcare in place while you're working

monsteramunch · 18/05/2023 18:57

He's a bully.

She's an enabler.

I wouldn't be comfortable with them having much to do with my child at all tbh.

Dungaree · 18/05/2023 18:58

I don't like that he poked you hard or in any way. Fuck him. I wouldn't leave my son with him.

Bigwig1 · 18/05/2023 19:00

@RoseThornside you're exactly right, it is panic. He can't handle it at all when any of us hurts ourselves, especially not my DS. But his reaction is to shout and scream and almost blame the person who got hurt.

OP posts:
ConkerBonkers · 18/05/2023 19:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Ailsamary · 18/05/2023 19:02

Your dad is an AH, absolutely no overreaction on your part.
Screeching like that when a child hurts themselves can make the whole incident seem worse for them And it can psychologically make the pain worse.
Ringing on the doorbell like that seems to be him wanting to assert his 'dominence' when in reality he is acting like a child.
If you can think of it at the time then treat him like you would treat a child.
Personally I would go LC with him

ejbaxa · 18/05/2023 19:04

Sounds like your dad is a nasty piece of shit and your mum has learnt what not to say/do.

limoncello23 · 18/05/2023 19:05

No, it's not acceptable to behave like this. How would your father respond to a police officer if he was stopped for some reason? Would he rant and rave at them, or would he be able to behave himself?

Dibbydoos · 18/05/2023 19:05

Be grateful your not like your dad, OP and smile. You'll feel a lot better.

He sounds highly strung. His behaviour is inappropriate too, I hate to add labels but it's fairly consistent with what I experience when I'm with people with ASD - many family members with it. It stresses me out too, until I take a deep breath let it out and smile.

I'd personally still see them but keep visits short so you can run when things get a bit stressful.